In a paper published recently in Advanced Materials, the team demonstrated the manoeuvrability of magnetic-material-coated silica nanomotors inside different cell lines. They found that nanomotors could move inside the cells when a rotating magnetic field of less than eighty Gauss (much below the safe level for human beings) is given. Three types of cell lines — human cervical cancer cells, human embryonic kidney and endothelial cells from cattle — were used for the study. Incubated nanomotorsAround 100,000 cells were spread on a petri dish and a million nanomotors were incubated along with the cells for 24 hours. During incubation, the nanomotors come close to the cells and get internalised by the cell through an engulfing process (phagocytosis).

Source: The Hindu April 28, 2018 11:26 UTC