Nanobot
A robot at the nanoscale. Mostly science fiction so far; see what has really been built.
In science fiction, nanobots are tiny robots that swim through the body or build things atom by atom. In real labs, the closest things are molecules that move on command, DNA structures that open on a signal, and microrobots steered by magnets, all still far from everyday use.
Where it matters
Technologies we track
- Molecular machines and motorsStep 1 · LabChemists can build single molecules with parts that move relative to each other when energy is added: rings that slide along rods, and motors that spin in one direction.
- DNA nanorobots for cancerStep 2 · PrototypeA sheet of DNA origami rolled into a tube carries a blood-clotting enzyme.
- Magnetic microrobots for drug deliveryStep 2 · PrototypeA tiny gel capsule loaded with medicine and iron oxide nanoparticles is steered through blood vessels with magnets.