Magnets can be used to make DNA-based nano robots move on demand and quicker than previously possible. Ohio State University researchers devised a magnetic control system which cut the response time of prototype mini robot components from several minutes to under a second. Previously scientists could only move DNA indirectly by inducing chemical reactions or introducing molecules. The new method is described in Nature Nanotechnology, published online June 22.
Magnets can be used to make DNA-based nano robots move on demand and quicker than previously possible. Ohio State University researchers devised a magnetic control system which cut the response time of prototype mini robot components from several minutes to under a second. Previously scientists could only move DNA indirectly by inducing chemical reactions or introducing molecules. The discovery could mean that nano robots could one day make objects such as drug-delivery devices with the same speed and reliability of their full-size counterparts.