Well, scientists in Illinois have built a microscopic four-fingered hand to do just that.
Although the study focused specifically on the covid-19 virus, the results have important implications for numerous medical conditions.
We are using DNA for its structural properties.
An artist’s rendering of three NanoGripper gripping a COVID-19 virus.© Xing Wang
It is strong, flexible and programmable.
Yet even in the DNA origami field, this is novel in terms of the design principle.
The NanoGripper has four jointed fingers and a palm.
A NanoGripper hand and its components. © Xing Wang
We could make an anti-viral nasal spray compound.
The nose is the hot spot for respiratory viruses, like covid or influenza.
A nasal spray with the NanoGripper could prevent inhaled viruses from interacting with the cells in the nose.
An artistic rendering of the NanoGripper’s potential applications. © Xing Wang
Wang, however, is thinking even bigger than viruses: cancer.
Heres to hoping NanoGrippers might give scientists the ability to grab the next pandemic by the nanoballs.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
The creator said he is worried about the changing political climate circling the globe.
The Next Pandemic Could Be Engineered.
