NanoBioMagnetic Robot: A Promising Solution to Global Health Challenges
There is great potential for science and technology to solve our persistent global health challenges.
The NanoBioMagnetic Robot will be designed to help overcome scientific roadblocks in the treatment of cancer, pathogenic diseases, neurological disorders and other life threatening diseases. It will also improve quality of life of patients suffering from a range of diseases and have the potential to prevent disease in the future.
The name nanobiomagnetism itself implies the combination of magnetism, nanotechnology and life sciences. It looks at the application of Nano magnetic particles in biomedical systems or processes.
The Nano scale size of these particles in comparable to the size of cells and viruses down to proteins and genes making them compatible with the study of life processes at a cellular level. Their magnetic properties help to control the movements of Nano magnets inside the body, localise their position as well as enable heating of local tissues using efficient strength and optimum frequency.
The special properties of Nano magnets have resulted in their extensive use in medicine, providing a revolutionary approach to targeted disease treatments. They can be used effectively for different medical applications such as drug targeting, drug delivery and release, hyperthermia, pathogen detection, neural cells structure modification, and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
A special magnetic device will be built for this project, adding to successful research completed with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and UOW’s Australian Institute for Innovation Materials. It is envisaged this device be used for controlled drug delivery and release at the right location. In addition, pathogenic microorganisms can be killed using hyperthermia where nanoparticles injected into the brain can dissipate heat generated by hysteresis (the lag in response exhibited by a body in reacting to changes in the forces, especially magnetic forces) and stimulate deep neural structures.
This project will also carefully examine the relevant laws in Australia and their relationship to new health technologies.
This project brings together researchers from materials science and engineering, nanotechnology, physics, mechatronic engineering, biophysics and cell biology.
Md Shahriar Al Hossian is a ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow at UOW's Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)
Associate Professor Jung Ho Kim is part of UOW's Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)
Professor Shi Xue Dou is part of UOW's Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)
Associate Professor Joseph Horvat is in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
Professor Gursel Alici is in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
Professor Huang Xu-Feng is the Deputy Executive Director (Scientific), Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)
Dr Sheikh Solaiman is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts
Prof Martinac Boris is an external partner from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute