NanoWarriors

Nanorobotics is the solution to deadly pandemics. I believe that in order for us to truly halt disease outbreaks, we must incorporate nanotechnology in our daily lives. I plan for a nanorobotic system that combats disease by “living” in the water supply of people all around the globe. This system will be able to detect any possible pathogens before they infect anyone, stopping any possible transmission of disease. These nanobots will clump together once they determine that the water is clean, allowing people to drink the water without ingesting nanobots, and allowing the nanobots to be reused. If this technology could be spread to people all over the world we would be able to immediately detect and eliminate any possible pandemics before they infect a single person; humans would never have to worry about diseases ever again.

The problem I hope to address is strengthening disease surveillance, creating an early warning predictive system, in order to halt future disease outbreaks. I will achieve this by implementing my nanorobots in water sources, acting as a ‘pandemic filter’ that eliminates pathogens at their source. This problem will address waterborne illnesses around the globe, and the next phase of my project would be to use this nanorobotic technology in the body. This is the strongest prevention system in my project, as this system would be able to protect a person from all pathogens, regardless of where they come from. According to the WHO, “Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with feces. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 485 000 diarrheal deaths each year.” In the US, clean drinking water is taken for granted; with my project, people all over the world will have the same confidence in their drinking water. This application however, is only the beginning.

NanoWarriors is a system of independent nanobots that target and eliminate pathogens by using a substance called Black Phosphorus (BP). My nanobots would be able to move throughout a water source, and help to target pathogens at a microscopic level. BP is a nanosurface that breaks down the cell membrane of the prokaryotic bacteria and fungi that thrive in water. Since this material breaks down the cell membrane of a pathogen, the bacteria are not able to develop a resistance to this physical attack. My nanobots will be using hydrolysis to propel themselves forward in the water, and will use heating coils (which control the rate of hydrolysis) in order to control the direction of the movement. With the propulsive abilities of the nanobots, and the destructive capabilities of BP, NanoWarriors will be able to eliminate all the harmful diseases. Since my nanobots will collect together when the job is done, and since the BP also breaks down when breaking down bacteria, the water will be completely safe to drink afterwards.

NanoWarriors answers the problem of clean water around the globe. This problem has gone widely unaddressed, even if, as I said earlier, it affects “2 billion people” or one third of the global population. These people are not just confined to “third world countries” as waterways from all over the world suffer from severe river pollution. In fact, according to Conserve Energy Future, 3 out of the top 19 most polluted rivers are in the US. This is not to say the people in the US drink from these rivers, but simply to show the extent to which pollution has harmed our water sources. With NanoWarriors I will be able to destroy any harmful organisms in the water reserves of those who drink from contaminated waterways, helping them avoid diseases and ensuring them clean drinking water. 

In order to better develop my solution to water contamination and bodily diseases I have begun an internship with Duke University with Dr. Chao-min Huang https://aryalab.pratt.duke.edu/people/chao-min-huang, who researches MagicDNA  https://aryalab.pratt.duke.edu. At first glance MagicDNA may seem to be unrelated to the concept of pathogen detection, but this could not be further from the truth. Through MagicDNA, an innovation that allows me to design structures out of DNA, I will be able to create nanostructures that are able to detect and target pathogens inside the body. Since the nanostructures will be made out of DNA, they will be able to travel through the body unaffected by any defense systems and eliminate diseases. This is the end goal of my research, and is hopefully something that will be possible in the near future. Through this, not only will waterborne illnesses be eliminated, all illnesses will be eliminated.

At the moment, advances in DNA nanotechnology only allow for drug delivery inside the body. This is why I have decided to apply nanotechnology and BP to the aquatic world, where nanobots can freely enter and effectively purge the water of harmful pathogens.

NanoWarriors strengthens disease surveillance, able to eliminate all waterborne illnesses that are present around the world -- without any possibility of the diseases developing any sort of antibiotic resistance. The population I am serving are those who lack clean water around the world, and run the risk of contracting a multitude of illnesses every time they go get a sip to drink. With my solution outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio etc. will cease to exist, and no one will ever have to worry about water quality ever again.

NanoWarriors is in the prototype stage. Our system  is able to be built in theory, but has not been attempted as of right now. The separate parts have been tried and tested, but they need to be “assembled” in order to function as intended. I am currently waiting for funding in order to head to Australia, in order to meet with Dr. Sumeet Walia, an associate professor at RMIT https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/w/walia-associate-professor-sumeet who found the purpose of Black Phosphorus (BP) in combating pathogens. Once I am able to visit him, NanoWarriors will be able to truly take off. Instead of theoretically discussing it virtually, the nanorobots will be assembled and tested in the real world, becoming a tested product that will be rolled out around the world, ascending the ladder of growth.

My solution will completely revolutionize the market, causing people to rethink disease prevention systems. Nanorobotics in the body will spark a revolutionary change in public opinion. People will realize that nanobots are not the science fiction you read in books, but rather a viable solution to deadly diseases and pandemics. 

Now: Developmental Stage

One Year: Extensive Lab Testing and Patent Approval 

Five Years: Global Impact, affecting populations everywhere ~1 million

My measurable goals are to complete the working product, perform extensive lab testing on it, patent it, and begin implementation in the commercial sector. I believe the first two goals will be the hardest to achieve, while the rest will be less difficult with enough time and money respectively.