via University of Manchester
Scientists at The University of Manchester have created the world’s first ‘molecular robot’ that is capable of performing basic tasks including building other molecules.
The tiny robots, which are a millionth of a millimetre in size, can be programmed to move and build molecular cargo, using a tiny robotic arm.
Each individual robot is capable of manipulating a single molecule and is made up of just 150 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms. To put that size into context, a billion billion of these robots piled on top of each other would still only be the same size as a single grain of salt.
The robots operate by carrying out chemical reactions in special solutions which can then be controlled and programmed by scientists to perform the basic tasks.
In the future such robots could be used for medical purposes, advanced manufacturing processes and even building molecular factories and assembly lines. The research will be published in Nature today (21st September).
Professor David Leigh, who led the research at University’s School of Chemistry, explains: ‘All matter is made up of atoms and these are the basic building blocks that form molecules. Our robot is literally a molecular robot constructed of atoms just like you can build a very simple robot out of Lego bricks. The robot then responds to a series of simple commands that are programmed with chemical inputs by a scientist.
Molecular robotics represents the ultimate in the miniaturisation of machinery. Our aim is to design and make the smallest machines possible. This is just the start but we anticipate that within 10 to 20 years molecular robots will begin to be used to build molecules and materials on assembly lines in molecular factories.
‘It is similar to the way robots are used on a car assembly line. Those robots pick up a panel and position it so that it can be riveted in the correct way to build the bodywork of a car. So, just like the robot in the factory, our molecular version can be programmed to position and rivet components in different ways to build different products, just on a much smaller scale at a molecular level.’
The benefit of having machinery that is so small is it massively reduces demand for materials, can accelerate and improve drug discovery, dramatically reduce power requirements and rapidly increase the miniaturisation of other products. Therefore, the potential applications for molecular robots are extremely varied and exciting.
Prof Leigh says: ‘Molecular robotics represents the ultimate in the miniaturisation of machinery. Our aim is to design and make the smallest machines possible. This is just the start but we anticipate that within 10 to 20 years molecular robots will begin to be used to build molecules and materials on assembly lines in molecular factories.’
Whilst building and operating such tiny machine is extremely complex, the techniques used by the team are based on simple chemical processes.
Prof Leigh added: ‘The robots are assembled and operated using chemistry. This is the science of how atoms and molecules react with each other and how larger molecules are constructed from smaller ones.
‘It is the same sort of process scientists use to make medicines and plastics from simple chemical building blocks. Then, once the nano-robots have been constructed, they are operated by scientists by adding chemical inputs which tell the robots what to do and when, just like a computer program.’
Learn more: Scientists create world’s first ‘molecular robot’ capable of building molecules
The Latest on: Molecular robot
- Biologically inspired artificial muscles made from motor proteinson May 5, 2021 at 6:18 am
Inside our cells, and those of the most well-known lifeforms, exist a variety of complex compounds known as "molecular motors." These biological machines are essential for various types of movement in ...
- Robotic flexing: biologically inspired artificial muscles made from motor proteinson May 4, 2021 at 9:00 pm
Motor proteins form microscopic biological machines that are essential to many types of movement, from the swimming of bacteria to the contraction of muscles. However, integrating motor proteins ...
- Proteomics of resistance to Notch1 inhibition in acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals targetable kinase signatureson May 4, 2021 at 3:18 am
NOTCH1 is a driver of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that can be inhibited by γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), but their clinical efficacy is limited. Here, the authors compare the phosphoproteomes ...
- Xenobots 2.0: Scientists Create the Next Generation of Living Robotson May 2, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Artificial living organisms can move material in swarms and record information. Last year, a team of biologists and computer scientists from Tufts University and the University of Vermont (UVM) ...
- We may not need all those fancy disinfecting robots after allon May 2, 2021 at 3:00 am
UV-light and disinfecting robots were once hailed as a key tool in the fight against the coronavirus. Times change.
- This 15-Story Russian Skyscraper Follows the Molecular Structure of Copperon April 30, 2021 at 1:21 am
What's interesting to know is that Foster and Partners also collaborated last year with Boston Dynamics, exploring the use of their robot dog Spot for the construction of the Battersea Roof ...
- Researchers, robots dive into what makes some bay algal blooms toxicon April 26, 2021 at 5:13 am
Robot No. 2 samples ocean temperature ... Identifying those genes and the molecular pathways linked to domoic acid, is critical, according to Raphael Kudela, UC Santa Cruz ocean sciences professor.
- Inside Rush’s new advanced molecular lab, where scientists are tracking and tracing COVID-19 variantson April 23, 2021 at 3:02 pm
The lab is using molecular biology tools like whole genome ... to automate some of the more tedious tasks and save time. The robot can also help limit human contact with biohazards.
via Google News and Bing News
