Question

I have a question that might be answered in either detail or single sentenced depending how interesting it is or how long until technology will progress far enough for this to happen.

Since a nano machine is small enough to be built from single atoms. Could a nano machine or "swarm" of nano machines be built which could disassemble a virus such as HIV ? Thereby rendering it either destroyed or inert?

Answer 1

Maybe one day!

Ah, why does this question make me think of "The Matrix?"

Answer 2

I personally would doubt that complex nanomachinery would be a possible feat. Due to the tremendous difficulty that is involved in expectations of what we want them to do (cure aids/cancers etc). They would have to be able to specifically identify and localize the viral genome of HIV and use molecular processes to break them down (metabolic process). If you are talking about nanomachines on the atomic scale, one tenth of a nanometer to hundreds of nanometers. It would take thoundsands and possibly tens of thousands of these nanomachines to be able to acheive the entire process. That is also considering that you have to make the host organism not to reject these machines, and they do not elicit any immune response of sort.

Also the method of delivery for these machines to the nucleus, inner cell membrane etc. What are these nanomachines going to be powered by? How will they be made? And if such things are possible, how much is the cost of a single dose, since you may need up to millions of these things to combat a single virus. If it costs too much there is no point in the investment of these technolgy.

I can tell you that the closest things to nanomachinery as of now are nanoparticles that are used for a variety of scientific processes. In terms of medicine, they can be used to detect and monitor the proliferation of viruses and cancers to a high degree that they surpasses conventional methods of cancer/viral diagnosis. But this is only the diagnostic aspects of this technology. They can also be used for drug delivery, purification schemes etc. (many applications) however their costs right now are extremely high, anywhere from $500 to $10000 per gram. (By estimation)

Answer 3

Yeah I don't have the Science knowlege to argue with you I guess I just have a romantic notion of tiny machines grabbing onto an entity and ripping it apart. I imagine with the machinery that could assemble my nano machines that the cost of producing thousands if not millions of nanites if you will would be negilgable considering carbon is extermely abundant and found in alomost any organic compound in nature. take everything I say with a grain of salt. I'm an uneducated curious chemist. :) Thanks for your time its fun to think of these things and toss them around even If we are ahead of our time :)

Answer 4

Yes, a carbon based nanomachine would be less costly than those that are made of more expensive material (such as metals). But often enough it isn't the material needed to produce them that are expensive but rather the procedure, equipment and technology associated with the manufacture process of these things that can potentially be problematic. Since we're talking about things on the nanoscale, the big machines that are used to produced the nanomachines must be darn precise and efficient. So them comes the question of how are you going to make these big machines work before you make the small ones work.

Its just that in the case of science when one hypothesis is formulated, there are conversely a lot more questions that needs to be addressed and one or even ten studies isn't always enough. In other words, for every 1 problem you solve, an extra 10 pops up. There is always more problems to solve than there are answers.

But coming back to another point, there is absolutely no problem to think about romantic notions or being curious, in fact, this is how sometimes science and technology makes progress throughout the ages. (Since what you'd ultimately want in the end is something that is closest to your perfect hypothesis) You're always welcomed and encourage to ask questions and to think about possible scientific venues. Your contribution is just as valuable to the progression of this technology as a whole. Thanks to you too for the question!

Answer 5

Your idea is SUPER GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today its not possible.It will be possible with advancement of technology.

It will be good commercial product. No antimicrobial treatment are available as broad range. So it will have great commercial and scintific imapct.
If anyone do it then he will get Nobel prize without doubt. Because virus mutate faster than bacteria so it will be always helpful for fighting against newer modified viruses .

KEEP IT UP!!!