Research work at the University of Tennessee has yielded the discovery of the behavioural pattern of a pathogen that attacks the small intestine in human beings, which is an inspiration for designing robots that could be deployed in military and medical operations.
The research team led by Minguin Zhang, an associate professor in mechanical, biomedical and aerospace engineering at the University, has made important discoveries about the behaviour of the micro-organism, Giardia. The microorganism is the cause for giardiasis, the most common gastrointestinal ailment in the world.
Scientists have been trying to understand the behaviour of Giardia, for almost 200 years now, the discoveries of Zhang and his team have contributed significantly in solving the puzzle. Their research has provided clues to how the pathogen attaches itself to the host, its ability to survive harsh environments etc. Zhang explained that through their research they have found that each of the four pairs of the pathogen performs different functions. The length of the flagella is only 8 to 12 µ and its diameter is only a few hundred nanometers. By cracking the mystery surrounding the pathogen’s behaviour, measures can be devised to fight its onslaught and prevent its entry into the human intestine. Extending the research findings to robotics, micro-robots can be designed for applications in nanomedicine like controlled drug delivery and minimal invasive surgery. These micro-robots can be programmed to travel through the body and break kidney stones or deposit medicines at desired locations in the human body. Another application of the research findings is to design energy-propulsion systems for underwater vehicles that provide quick and efficient control of underwater vehicles, inspired by the navigation properties of the pathogen. The pathogen’s unique methods of attaching and landing may pave the way for designing more accurate and agile attachment mechanisms. Zhang regarded the complex and advanced behavioural features of Giardia as an inspiration for many innovative mechanisms in the medical and military field.
Source: http://www.tennessee.edu/