The smallest propeller in the world

Scientists around the world are creating nanobots called nanobots. One of the main goals is to provide pharmaceuticals exactly what they need inside the body.

For these small robots to transport the active ingredient to the target, a propulsion system is required. There are a number of systems developed, however, the most recent Israeli and German scientists have made breakthroughs by producing the world's smallest propeller .

It's a circular thread made of silica and nickel that is only 70 nanometers wide and 400 nanometers long, compared to human red blood cell diameter it is 100 times smaller. Rather than carrying their own motors, these propellers are supported by a weak outer rotating field that rotates and moves forward.

To test the activity, the scientists placed the nanobot in a hyaluronan gel analogous to human fluid with a network of entangled protein chains. In previous experiments, the micrometer-type propeller was prevented from slowing down or even moving. Now, the nanobots are able to move rapidly by jostling through gaps in the polymer-protein lattice.