Imagine a tiny hand reaching inside your cells to grab individual viruses, keeping them from causing infections like COVID-19. Sounds like science fiction, right? Except it isn&rsquo;t.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign&nbsp;have engineered the NanoGripper, an intricate and functional nanorobot made from a single strand of DNA, which promises to transform how we detect and even combat viral infections.
Much like a human hand or bird&rsquo;s talon, the four-fingered NanoGripper has functional joints that bend and flex on command. This enables it to identify and grab specific molecular targets, such as the spike protein on the coronavirus, according to a paper published in the journal Science Robotics.
&ldquo;We wanted to create a nanoscale robot with unique grabbing capabilities to interact with viruses, cells, and molecules for biomedical applications,&rdquo; science news website ScienceDaily&nbsp;reports Xing Wang, professor of bioengineering and chemistry at Illinois, as saying. &ldquo;DNA is the perfect material&mdash;it&rsquo;s strong, flexible, and programmable.&rdquo;
To showcase its potential in detecting viral infections, the team partnered with professor Brian Cunningham, an expert in biosensing. They combined the gripper with a photonic crystal sensor platform to create a tool&nbsp;that could detect the novel coronavirus.
While home test kits became common during the pandemic, those rely on chemical reactions to diagnose COVID-19. The NanoGripper, on the other hand, can physically capture intact viral particles, like a spider with this web.
Once it &ldquo;catches&rdquo; a virus, it triggers fluorescent molecules to light up, providing a diagnosis whose sensitivity rivals PCR tests used in hospitals but offers the speed and convenience of rapid testing.
&ldquo;Our test is quick and straightforward because we detect the virus directly,&rdquo; Cunningham said. &ldquo;When illuminated, the fluorescent molecules amplify the signal, making it possible to count individual viruses.&rdquo;
In addition to diagnostics, the NanoGripper can potentially be used to prevent infections.
In laboratory experiments, grippers wrapped around virus particles, effectively shielding cells from being infected. This discovery hints at the potential for a preventive nasal spray that could stop respiratory viruses&nbsp;before they enter the body.
&ldquo;The nose is a hotspot for respiratory viruses,&rdquo; Wang explained. &ldquo;A NanoGripper-based nasal spray could act as a shield, preventing inhaled viruses from reaching cells in the nose.&rdquo;
Beyond viruses, the NanoGripper can also potentially be adapted for use in targeted drug therapies such as those used for cancer treatment. The researchers say that its design can be reconfigured to recognize markers on cancer cells, delivering drugs precisely where they&rsquo;re needed while sparing healthy cells. This could revolutionize cancer treatments by reducing side effects and improving efficacy.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, this innovation highlights the growing power of soft nanorobotics in medicine. While further testing and refinement are needed, the NanoGripper&rsquo;s success in diagnostics and therapeutic prevention underscores its potential as a groundbreaking tool in the fight against diseases.

With a simple strand of DNA, the NanoGripper is redefining what’s possible at the nanoscale

Robotic 'NanoGripper’ offers hope for diagnostics, prevention and therapies

Tiny DNA ‘Hand’ Grips COVID-19 Virus

Robotic 'NanoGripper’ offers hope for diagnostics, prevention and therapies

November 30, 2024 | 19:25 IST