9 September 2020

Nanotechnology is a field of technology that studies objects in the nanometer range, comparable in size to atoms, particles, and even individual molecules and chemical compounds. Generally speaking, these technical devices are intended to function as nanorobots, performing specific functions within living organisms, for example. They also serve as material solutions that contribute to the properties of a given material or other functional element in technology. Their small size allows them to perform specific repair functions in the human body, reaching areas where surgical intervention is impossible. For example, they can mechanically remove atherosclerotic plaque inside arteries to unclog them, which could restore the patency of capillaries in the heart of a patient with atherosclerosis to a point where they could recover. A particularly interesting application for nanorobots seems to be in oncology, where they could help track cancer cells and kill them to prevent metastasis to other organs. Another application for this type of robot could be, for example, accelerating or slowing down biological processes in the body, such as accelerating wound healing. An equally important task would be the complete regeneration of an aging organism through repairing the genetic code and other actions within the cell itself, such as operations on ribosomes, and in the central nervous system, through memory storage and enhancing learning and intelligence processes. An interesting and frequently analyzed problem in this type of technology is the self-replicating nature of these robots, currently underway in many research institutions. Properly programmed, self-replicating nanorobots could lead to a breakthrough in electronics, where they would be able to continuously build their structure, increasing their learning capabilities while flexibly adapting to the needs of their environment. Current integrated circuits are based on predetermined dimensions and, once manufactured, have certain parameters that cannot be exceeded without programming. Their programmability also depends on predetermined parameters. If it were possible to master the production of electronic components consisting of nanorobots that independently update their technical capabilities by seamlessly building their structure, then a once-implemented system would provide the required utility values for any length of time.