Nanorockets Equipped with Brakes and a Steering Wheel

Such small machines are similar to nanorockets and are considered ideal for delivery of various sorts of drugs deep inside human body to deliver more effective results in shortest time span. The study has been disclosed from Chemists at Radboud University who demonstrate the very first complete movement control of a nanorocket by offering brakes and controlling speed through regulations in temperature.

An interesting aspect for practical applications is that since temperature sensitivity allows the rocket to stop in troubling ailments where the temperatures are extremely high. The soft nanosystems that the bio – organic chemists at Radboud University work with self-assemble units that imply that they spontaneously create functional units. It enables the nanorockets to alter shape, making them best elements for comprising cargo like medicine.

“Our biggest limitation is to offer our nanorockets with numerous functionalities,” says Daniela Wilson, head of Radboud University’s Bio – organic chemistry department and Nanomedicine theme leader. “We now want to demonstrate the very first molecularly structured brake system allowing the rockets to start and stop at adequate locations as and when needed.”

The brakes comprise brushes crafted from polymers along with long chains of responsive units that grow extreme onto the surface of the nanorockets. Such brushes collapse or swell in response to the changes in environmental temperature and in this method we regulate fuel access to the rocket. In this case the H2O2, also known as hydrogen peroxide was used. Their sensitivity is big and as show by the fact that the brushes instantly collapse at a high temperature of 35 degrees Celsisu or higher, making the entire machine stop.

“All this happens without affecting the catalytic activity of the shape of nanorocket,” explains Wilson. “Hence, nanorockets equipped with such valve system are now able to shift with greater efficiency in water and even at extremely low concentrations of fuel.”

The Wilson and his team members also show how low magnetic fields can function as a steering wheel for these nanorockets. By expanding magnetic metallic nickel into the core of the rockets, magnetic field can be utilized to guide and steer the rockets into adequate directions.

But there is always scope for improvement and as stated by Wilson, “What would be even more unique and interesting than the temperature responsive brakes is a well – defined system that responds to light. It would also allow beginning or stopping a nanorocket by shining laser light on it. Moreover, even though our nanorockets are not toxic to the living cells, they are not absolutely biodegradable yet. And also, that is one of the major prerequisites for their use as carriers of medicine in the human body. Such are just few examples of the next challenges for our team.”