Visits to the dentist are usually cumbersome and expensive, but the latest development from a team of engineers, dentists and biologists from the University of Pennsylvania have designed a crew of microrobots that can be deployed and controlled to remove the buildup of plaque between the teeth and gums. That is right, scraping and scratching with mechanical tools is not the only methods via which dental clean-ups can be performed.
The scientists have developed two different types of robotic systems for entirely varied purposes. One of them works on open surfaces, whereas the other system is designed specifically to operate inside closed spaces. The researchers showcased the microrobots’ ability to destroy biofilms and sticky deposits of bacteria. Plus, the scientists state that the same technology can be implemented in cleaning dirty water pipes and other inaccessible areas which are prone to bacterial deposits.
About The Research Process
The research was led by Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. As per their statements, multiple biomedical fields face the issue of microbial deposits in inaccessible places. And this problem gets enhanced when the action has to be taken on human teeth, simply because it requires more precision and manual labour at the same time.
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Biofilms are extremely difficult to remove from a surface, owing to their chemical composition. Previously, multiple attempts have been made to devise chemicals that can remove such deposits with relative ease, but in vain. The sticky matrix holding the bacteria against the surface provides protection from antimicrobial agents. The microrobots designed by the researchers, however, break down the biofilm matrix by working catalytically on the material with the help of iron-oxide-containing nanoparticles. The particles then activate hydrogen peroxide to release free radicals that can destroy bacterial biofilms.
One of the biggest challenges while delivering drugs via nanoparticles is the exit strategy of the robots, implying that the micro robots can escape the blood vessels and accumulate in the desired spot for removal from the human body. Sangeeta Bhatia, a senior author of the aforementioned study states that it is tough to get the nanomaterials to the tissue in the lining of the blood vessel, but the use of magnetism to develop fluid forces, the nanoparticles can be pushed through the lining. The same study further states that swarms of naturally magnetic bacteria (Magnetotactic bacteria) can be also used to achieve the same result.
Schurele, the assistant professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology previously worked on magnetic microbots, and consequently she aimed towards making the nanoparticle drug delivery technique more efficient when she started working with Sangeeta Bhatia. The researchers used their micro robots to target diseased sites in the human body which were usually a host of tumours. Since they faced issues with the same, the team explored their options with magnetic bacteria to devise a method to push the particles to the target in a better way.
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Nanotechnology has been around for a while now. It is a branch of technology so minuscule that it can operate on a microscopic level. And what’s more, it can be programmed to do whatever is desired of it. 
In 2016, researchers used nanobots to treat a tumour by targeting it via nanobots, which then administered the necessary medicine to the clot of cells. This means that no surgery was involved to treat the tumour, no incisions were made and no anaesthesia was involved. It is very heart-warming to think that cancer may be a thing of the past in a decade or so. Chemotherapy and cancer treatments could be rendered obsolete for all we know. 
Imagine that a person is unfortunately involved in a severe accident and is bleeding profusely, probably towards his/her death. Nanobots can heal up the damaged tissue right before your eyes. The microscopic robots are programmed to swarm like bats to scout out the point that needs repair. Once the point of activation is detected, all the bots collectively work together to fix it.
As per surveys, almost 41 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States is routed to construction and building. Nanotechnology can significantly reduce construction times and energy consumption that is involved in development. Deeper applications include maintenance of buildings, safety facilities and self-cleaning. Using micron-sized coatings, the nanoparticles can provide UV resistance in both coatings and paints. Nanoparticles of compounds like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide can be applied as a final layer on construction ceramics to provide the aforementioned resistance.
In the last 13 years, the Indian Army lost a soldier on duty every third day. Casualties on the front line are much higher in number than in any other profession. The development of nanobots in the Military sector will ensure that the number of lives lost is drastically reduced. For starters, nanorobots can be used to scout the front lines for any impending risks. They can be used for spying and scouring sensitive information without putting any human lives at risk.
Kevlar vests can be designed with nanoparticles to provide material regeneration during combat. Weapons developed with nanoparticles will be lighter and more modular than conventional weapons. Military nanorobots will be capable of performing complex functions like grabbing and wielding heavy objects, which can be used to safely neutralize threats like IEDs and Mines.
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Just last year Harvard released a research about an electronic device that can be injected directly into the brain. Connecting it to a monitor ensures nano view of the brain, enabling the doctor to keep a track of neural activity. This, in turn, is capable of helping with treatment of neurogenerative disorders as well as diseases like paralysis.