Usage of Nanotechnology in Bioengineering
Nano Robots as a better opponent for cancer
Biology without the integration of technology would be merely a pile of facts with no sophistication or elaboration. With all the serious diseases among humans, biology needs a substantial amount of amalgamation of technology. Cancer is one serious disease that devours the human race and which cannot be cured perfectly with the current treatments. Even though it has been addressed by several methods of treatment such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the end result would have other disadvantages such as weakened immune system, neuropathy and breathing issues. Current treatment for cancer either stops the growth of the cancer cells or slows the growth of the cancer cells. The chemicals used to destroy the cancer cells cause some side effects such as constipation, loss of appetite and fatigue. Further there can be late-developing side effects such as heart diseases, infertility, nerve damage and worse, the risk of a second cancer. [2] Hence cancer needs a better opponent and it can be built using nano technology. A nano robot which carries the attackers to cancer cells can be built as a successful consolidation of medicine and nanotechnology to treat cancer in a more effective manner.
Human body has stem cells which have the potential of converting into another type of a cell according to the requirement. These stem cells can be developed into helper t cells and cytotoxic t cells. Helper t cells plays a very important role in adaptive immunity by detecting cancer cells and informing B cells to create antibodies. And cytotoxic t cells deal with cancer cells directly and kills the cancer. [3] A nano robot can be built to carry these t cells to the cancer cells through the body.
Cancer cells have a receptor which is a uniquely shaped and formed from group of transmembrane proteins connected with each other. These receptor cells transport signals from outside of the cell to the cell membrane. After identifying the type of the cancer and the stage of the cancer, the receptor proteins of the cancer cell can be determined. And the respective receptor proteins can be conjugated into the t cell and that combination acts as a powerful weapon to attack cancer cells. The receptor protein injected t cells are carried to the exact location of cancer cells through a nano robot. These nano robots would have the possibility to travel through blood to a target location. The receptor protein in the t cell would connect to the receptor protein in the cancer cell. A signal would be passed inside the cell membrane of the cancer cell. Simultaneously the immune cells of cytotoxic cancer cells would enter into the cancer cell and attack the protein generation system of the cell.
Even though this entire process can be described easily, it includes very complex functionalities. With the help of technology, the complexity of the process can be minimized. For an example to detect the protein sequences of cancer cells in various stages, the sequencing mechanisms of bioinformatics can be applied. And also, nanorobots are perfectly appropriate for intermediate transportation as they can be programmed with a specific function and to reach the precise location. Size of a nano robot varies between 50-100 nm. [1] So, it can swim around the human body to reach the target location easily. And also, the durability of a nanorobot is very high. Even though the initial cost is higher, they can be used for years.
Medicine is one aspect which keeps evolving from the very beginning of human civilization. And the development of medicine can be accelerated with better involvement of technology. with all positive results displaying, nano medicine would provide solutions for all the unsolvable problems one day.
References
1. https://www.healtheuropa.eu/nanobots-in-medicine.../88829/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/.../chemoth.../about/pac-20385033
3. https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/21/22/5047
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