Bio-Nano

Robotics
A field inspired by nature and mechanism and
machine theory

BY
R.R.HEMAN KUMAR
heman_kmr28@yahoo.co.in
KAMARAJ COLLEGE OF
ENGGNEERING & TECHNOLOGY
VIRUDHUNAGAR
 ABSTRACT

The recent explosion of research in nanotechnology, combined with important

discoveries in molecular biology have created a new interest in biomolecular machines
and robots. The main goal in the field of biomolecular machines is to use various
biological elements — whose function at the cellular level creates motion, force or a
signal, stores information — as machine components. In this way proteins and DNA
could act as motors, mechanical joints, transmission elements, or sensors. Such
bionanorobotic devices will 1) perform operations, inspections and treatments of diseases
inside the body, and 2) achieve ultra-high accuracy and localization in drug delivery, thus
minimizing side effects. 3) The ATPase Motor— energy obtained from the hydrolysis of
ATP can be converted into the physical action of pumping a proton in a unilateral
direction. 4)The Networked TerraXplorer (NTXp) — that is a long and light-weight
network of channels containing millions of bio-nano-robotic elements with ultra-
enhanced sensing and signaling capabilities for the detailed mapping and exploration of
very large planetary surfaces. 5) The All Terrain Astronaut Bio-Nano Gears (ATB) —
that will serve as an extra layer of shield on the astronaut providing early detection and
protection against dangerous and harmful environments or aiding in healing damages
caused to the astronaut.

Keywords: Bio-nano-technology, ATPase motor, networked terraxplorar, all terrain

Astronut Bio-Nano Geares
Bio-Nano-Robotics

 The recent explosion of research in nanotechnology, combined

with important discoveries in molecular biology have created a
new interest in biomolecular machines and robots.

 The main goal in the field of biomolecular machines is to use

various biological elements whose function at the cellular level
creates motion, force or a signal, stores information as machine
components.

 In this way proteins and DNA could act as motors, mechanical

joints, transmission elements, or sensors.

 Such bionanorobotic devices will

o perform operations, inspections and treatments of

diseases inside the body

o Achieve ultra-high accuracy and localization in drug

delivery, thus minimizing side effects.
A field inspired by nature and mechanism
and machine theory

Bio-nano-robotics can be explained at two levels when nano scale is

considered. One is the “machine nano mimetics” principle meaning the
creation of nano-machine components inspired by the equivalent machine
components at the macro-scale and the other is the “bio nano mimetics”
principle where biological entities such as proteins and DNA are
used to create the nano-machine components.

Nanorobots would constitute any active structure in nano scale and are
capable of sensing, signaling, information processing, intelligence, and
swarm behavior at nano level.
OBJECTIVE
• To Develop Protein Based Nano Machines and Robots
• Multi-Degree of Freedom
• Apply Forces
• Manipulate Objects
• Lightweight / Efficient
• Self-Assembling
• Self-Reproducing

APPLICATIONS

 The identification and study of protein and DNA configurations that

can be used as bio-nano-machine components.

 The design of two macro-scale devices for space application that will
be using bio-nano-component assemblies.

1. The Networked TerraXplorer (NTXp) that is a long and light-weight

network of channels containing millions of bio-nano-robotic elements
with ultra-enhanced sensing and signaling capabilities for the detailed
mapping and exploration of very large planetary surfaces.

2. The All Terrain Astronaut Bio-Nano Gears (ATB) that will serve as
an extra layer of shield on the astronaut providing early detection and
 protection against dangerous and harmful environments or aiding in
healing damages caused to the astronaut.

SIGNIFICANCE
• perform operations, inspections and treatments of diseases inside the
body
• achieve ultra-high accuracy and localization in drug delivery, thus
minimizing side effects.
• If biomolecular components such as proteins / DNA were assembled
together in the proper proportion and orientation they would form
nanodevices with multiple degrees of freedom, able to apply forces
and manipulate objects in the nanoscale world.

• The bionanorobot will be able to attach to the infected cell alone, and
deliver a therapeutic drug that can treat or destroy just the infected
cell, without dusterbing surrounding healthy cells.

Networked TerraXplorers (NTXp)

• NTXp is a long and light-weight network of channels containing
millions of bio-nano-robotic elements with ultra-enhanced sensing
and signaling capabilities for the detailed mapping and exploration of
very large planetary surfaces.

• NTXp is a network of channels containing the bio nano robots having

the enhanced sensing and signaling capabilities.
• It is a static device, which could be easily projected onto a planetary
surface, which we intend to explore. The length of this device could
be in miles, and it will be very light in weight. These could be easily
packaged into small volumes for space missions. Also the power
consumption for this device will be less. The main consumption of
power will be to maintain gradients for transporting the bio-nano
components inside these channels and for signaling and
communicating with the main receiver.

• These meshes will be launched through the parachute and these will
be spread open on the target surface

• interact with the outside terrain and chemically sense the presence of
water or other targeted resources

• They will communicate with their main nodes and will pass the
information about the terrain through them to the main receiver.

• These meshes will grow “internally” as directed .

• It will then evaluate the region and map it as per the sensory and
signaling capabilities it inherits through the bio-nano robots.

• The black central node represents the central processor, which will be
responsible for integrating the entire mesh and will have the capability
of communicating with the orbiting satellite or other receiving
stations.
Principle behind NTXp

• The design of the NTXp is based on, an important mechanism of the

roots of the plants the Mineral Uptake mechanism.
• Minerals enter separately in the roots of the plants without water is
being absorbed, against their concentration gradient; that is, by active
transport.
All Terrain Bio-nano (ATB) gears for
Astronauts
• The All Terrain Astronaut Bio-Nano Gears (ATB) that will
serve as an extra layer of shield on the astronaut providing early
detection ,protection against dangerous and harmful
environments aiding in healing damages caused to the
astronaut.
• The bio nano gear will be made of various micro membranes
and surface sheets

• Each one of these membranes and sheets will contain swarms

of bio-nano robots capable of performing the required sensing
and signaling tasks.

• The objective is to detect the long term biological damages

caused by the space radiations

• To create a device which could interact with the space

radiations and can simulate certain similar conditions as would
be induced in human cells

• Design of a reaction pathway

Health risks caused from the space
radiations
• short term and recoverable effects are nausea
• long term and significant effects are damage to the
central nervous system or death
• The other long term effects are the development of
cataracts and development of cancer in any part of the
body
• There are two major ways in which radiation can damage
cells
• Water gets ionized to form highly reactive radicals and
these free radicals reacts with the cell’s DNA causing it
to get oxidized or break its bonds.
• The high energy radiation collides with the DNA
molecule directly and results in knocking off the
electrons and breaking or completely annihilating
molecules
• In both case, the DNA molecule breaks

Objective
• Is to detect the long term biological damages caused by
the space radiations
 • to create a device which could interact with the space
radiations and can simulate certain similar conditions as
would be induced in human cells
• Design of a reaction pathway

The layered concept of the ATB gears

• inner layer would be in contact with the human body

• the outer layer would be responsible of sensing the outer environment.
• The middle layer would be responsible for communicating, signaling
and drug delivery.
REFERENCES
FINAL REPORT BIO-NANO-MACHINES FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS
Constantinos Mavroidis, Ph.D., Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Northeastern University, 375 Snell Engineering Center
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
TEL: 617-373-4121, FAX: 617-373-2921

WEBPAGE: http://www.coe.neu.edu/~mavro