Carbon Nanotube Pumping for Drug Delivery
One exciting potential application of nanotechnology is to revolutionize the
ways of drug delivery. A tiny nanostructure, such as a carbon nanotube (CNT)
is small enough to cross the cell membrane and enter the nuclei of the cell,
while the cell does not recognize the nanotube as an unfriendly intruder. Therefore,
a CNT can be used effectively as a vehicle to deliver drugs to the targeted
sick cell (such as a cancer cell) with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.
The uptake of drug molecules from a solution into a CNT can be achieved automatically
by Van der Waals attraction between the nanotube and drug molecules. But a mechanism
for a CNT to release the drug is lacking. This video shows a new nanopumping
process for a CNT to release a C-20 molecule, as a prototype device for drug
delivery. An oscillating tip actuator generates a sustained mechanical wave
in the CNT, which acts like a nanopump to drive and eject the 'drug' molecule
out of the tube.
Run time 1.09 mins