A team of researchers from the University of Illinois , led by Professor Taher Saif , have announced the development of a bio-robot . This is a new type of biologically inspired tiny robots that can swim through the human body, just like male reproductive cells (or sperm) do.
The creation of such robots is a rather complicated process, but it can lead to the development of new methods of delivering drugs to highly specific locations within the body. For example, doctors could use them to target cancer cells without destroying the surrounding tissue.
The hybrid robots are composed of living heart cells, and a tail, made of a special type of synthetic polymers.
The innovative micro-structures can move at speeds of 5 to 10 micrometers per second, although some more advanced versions can reach 81 micrometers per second, according to IEEE Spectrum.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
