Come up with an idea in nanotechnology which could cure arthritis
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There are many types of arthritis and cures for each type may be different. Osteoarthritis, being the most common, seems to be a good initial target for an experimental technology, such as might be created with nanotechnology. While the causes of primary osteoarthritis are not fully understood, it is thought to be caused by (1) mechanical stress placed on joints and (2) a deficiency in the capacity of the body to repair damage caused by (1). Given that a patient would be treated after damage to the joints has already occurred, (2) must be remedied to cure primary osteoarthritis.

One way nanotechnology might be applied to address primary osteoarthritis is that individual nanoparticles could be administered to the target site to provide a scaffolding onto which genetically-modified, pluripotent stem cells could be attached. The stem cells would attach to a target site on the nanoparticles. By docking, the particles would release a small amount of chemical messengers which cause a modified gene in the cell to cause a cascade resulting in the differentiation of the cells. The modified cells would undergo apoptosis upon exposure to a secondary compound if not differentiated. This secondary compound would be administered several days to one week after the primary application of nanoparticles, so that they have time to properly differentiate and adhere to the scaffolding. In this way, the cartilage can be grown in a patient whose body does not perform this task adequately. Through regular administration of this nano-scaffolding technique, primary osteoarthritis might be diminished over time, potentially enabling the patient to live a more happy and fulfilling life.
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