Nanobots, Technology’s Solution To Fight Cancer

Teeny tiny particles could be technology’s solution to fighting cancer.

- Rajeev Nair

The poet Gilbert K. Chesterton says: "One sees great things from the valley, but small things from the peak". We have attained a peak so far as our exploration into the world of matter. In its discussion therefore and of nanoparticles in specific, the question often comes up... Just how small is a nanometer? Answer : There is roughly 25 million nanometers in an inch. Still looking for a better comparison? A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. A nanoparticle is 4 nanometers in diameter, which means it is 25,000 times smaller than the same sheet of paper. So what do we do with something that small? A lot really... Well, that’s how far we have progressed as far as nanotechnology goes. If you haven’t been living in the Amazon (no, not the website!), then you’ve probably heard of nanotechnology by now. On the other hand, if you have been living over the hills and far away – it’s about time to get a low down - nanotechnology beckons you to!

It is a recent piece of technology, but its concepts have long been in prevalence. It applies to anything from 1 to 100 nanometers in length. Nanotechnology today helps us understand things on an atomic or molecular level where phenomena that was never observed in higher levels become more apparent. In this way it differs from micro-technology wherein the device is just a miniaturized version of the macroscopic device. The mechanical, electrical, optical properties change for materials on the nanoscale. For example, gold becomes catalytic, copper becomes transparent and aluminum becomes combustible. Nanotechnology is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry where different molecules self-assemble to create complex structures that are more useful in treatment. As simple as it sounds, mechanically manipulating matter on an atomic scale is no easy task.