First Microscopic Nanocopters Are Test Flown By Scientist
Source: BBC November 23, 2000
The first microscopic "helicopters", which could one day
carry out medical tasks inside the body, have been built and
test-driven by scientists. With this demonstration, we believe we are
defining a whole new technology.
The devices, no bigger than a virus particle, could
eventually move around the human body, ministering to its needs or
dispensing drugs.
The metal rotors of the tiny machines are powered by the
body's natural fuel, a chemical called ATP.
When the biomotors were tested in the laboratory, they
were able to drive the helicopters' propellers for up to
two-and-a-half hours.
This is an important first step towards producing
miniature machines capable of functioning inside the living cell.
The tiny helicopters consist of three parts: metal
propellers and a biological component attached to a metal post.
'Physiology of life'
When the three components are mixed together, the tiny
machines self-assemble.
The biological material converts the body's biochemical
fuel, ATP, into energy. This is used to turn the propellers at a rate
of eight rotations per second.
A team at Cornell University, Ithaca, US, carried out
the work.
Carlo Montemagno who led the team said: "With this
demonstration, we believe we are defining a whole new technology.
"We have shown that hybrid nanodevices can be assembled,
maintained and repaired using the physiology of life."
This is only a first step as the technology is still
very inefficient. Only five of the first 400 biomotors worked. And
scientists will have to show that the machines can function inside the
living cell, something that may take many years to achieve.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1037000/1037730.stm