Soft machines II

In this second part of the post we will see possible paralelisms between nanoechnology and nature in order to improve our engineering skills at the nanoscale

In nature, Surface forces + Brownian motion = self-assembly. Complex structures are made by self assembly. How can we copy that? We can do synthetic self assembly with block copolymers. It’s simple, cheap and available in. On the other hand using nucleic acids let to design structures from designed sequences but it is expensive and delicate.

Brownian motion + lack of stiffness = conformational translations. Motor proteines change shape in response to changes in the environment. We can copy that combining a responsive polymer with an oscillating chemical reaction: e.g. synthetic muscle (expanding and contracting in response of changes in pH)

What areas might bio-inspired nano trasnform? Energy, information and medicine seem possible candidates at the first sight. Humanity is existentially dependent on technology for its survival at current and projected populations, but the tech we have isn't sustainable in the energy, environment and medicine fields. Nanotechnology can help.

In the energy field there is the terawatt challenge: as the world continues growing, the demand of energy will be bigger. There's plenty of sunlight, we must develop Viable photovoltaics (need lower processing costs and large areas) and solar cells for electricity or hydrogen. Any options? Biokleptic approach (photosyntetic bacteria) or biomimetic approach (nanotitania).

The drug delivery is another important field where nanotechnology can mimic nature. We can develop semi-intelligent biomedical nanobots propelled by chemicals reactions using its own coating with self motile reactions.

So what is the future of nanotechnology? It seems that it won’t be shrinking mechanical engineering. Nanotechnology will be soft and bio based. It will be more like biology than engineering.

Once again we must be very cautious with the toxicity of this nanotechnology advances and we must engage with the public about nanotechnology before polarised positions appears.



Thanks to prof. Richard Jones from the Univ. of Sheffield

Recommended links: http://www.softmachines.org/; http://www.shef.ac.uk/physics/people/rjones/; http://nanobot.blogspot.com/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics

Soft machines I

History of technology is about how to increase precision and miniaturisation. When we talk about nanotechnology is ease to let our mind fly and think about little nanobots fixing our body from the inside. But is this what the future has for us? Let’s take a closer look.

Physics change at the nanoscale. Classical concepts of engineering change.Things like the viscosity of the water, how do we stick things together, Brownian motion and biocompatibility enter in game. We also must take the step between nanoscience and nanotechnology. The scalability and economical viability of the process is critical when we are talking about industrial process. So where are the nanomachines?

Is there any nanomachine working today? The answer is yes. Cell biology is full of them and we must look at the efficiency of the biology at the nanoscale. We should copy nature because of its optimal efficiency in biology nanotechnology, biological designs… and we must be aware that it will be hard to do better nature itself!

But, why is biological nanotechnology so efficient? Design principles are quite different from macro engineering and biology exploits the principles of the nanoscales. In the next post we will see how nanotechnology can mimic nature to use these principles.