Nanorobotics

 Nanorobotics is an emerging field of technology that involves creating tiny surgical robots whose components are roughly the size of a nanometre (equivalent to one-billionth of a metre or one-millionth the length of an ant).

With their microscopic size, these burgeoning technologies will enable scientists to manipulate biological matter at an atomic or molecular level — with seismic implications for our ability to effectively fight diseases.

In surgery, medical nanobots will be introduced into the body in a minimally invasive way via the vascular system or other cavities. Programmed or directed by a human surgeon, they would perform crucial functions such as searching for pathogens. Because nanobots are capable of recording vital signs such as temperature and blood pressure, it’s thought this technique will enable doctors to diagnose, test and monitor microorganisms, tissues and cells in the bloodstream.

Nanotechnological innovation in healthcare recently had a huge breakthrough: in February 2018, researchers were able to shrink tumours in mice by using cancer-hunting nanobots to cut off the blood supply. For cancer patients, this development offers a glimmer of hope. If the technique gains approval for future use on humans, it could offer a less harmful and more successful alternative to chemotherapy.