Tiny, smart robots can swim through blood vessels to deliver drugs

The researchers from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich in Switzerland drew inspiration from bacteria to design the highly flexible biocompatible micro-robots.

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Scientists have developed tiny, smart robots that can swim through blood vessels

·         These devices can pass through narrow blood vessels

·         The robots can be either controlled using an electromagnetic field or left to navigate

Scientists have developed tiny, smart robots that can swim through blood vessels, paving the way for ingestible machines that could deliver drugs directly to diseased tissue in the future.

The researchers from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich in Switzerland drew inspiration from bacteria to design the highly flexible biocompatible micro-robots.

Since these devices are able to swim through fluids and modify their shape when needed, they can pass through narrow blood vessels and intricate systems without compromising on speed or manoeuvrability.

They are made of hydrogel nanocomposites that contain magnetic nanoparticles, allowing them to be controlled via an electromagnetic field, researchers said.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, describes a method for programming the robot's shape so that it can easily travel through fluids that are dense, viscous or moving at rapid speeds.

Fabricating miniaturised robots presents a host of challenges, which the scientists addressed using an origami-based folding method.

Their novel locomotion strategy employs embodied intelligence, which is an alternative to the classical computation paradigm that is performed by embedded electronic systems.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/tiny-smart-robots-can-swim-through-blood-vessels-to-deliver-drugs-1435196-2019-01-20 (Accessed on January 21, 2019) 

Ensure all students have Aadhaar cards: Edu dept to Maha schools

SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TASK OF HANDING OUT AADHAAR CARD REGISTRATION FORMS TO PARENTS STARTING NEXT WEEK

MUMBAI: Schools across Maharashtra have been asked to ensure that no student is left without an Aadhaar card.

The education department recently received 816 machines from the government, which will be installed at schools across 408 talukas in the coming days.

The circular issued by the education department reads: “While the card is not required for school admissions, it is still an essential document for midday meal, scholarships, etc. It is thus important for students to get the card to avail these facilities.”

An official from the state education department said school staff will be trained for the task in the coming days.

Students who have an Aadhaar card but are yet to update their biometric details on the portal also need to complete the process soon.

Schools have been given the task of handing out forms to parents from the next week. After students register , schools have been asked to update their details on the government’s SARAL portal.

Prashant Redij, spokesperson of the Mumbai Principals Association, said the government should not shift the responsibility of ensuring that everyone has an Aadhaar card on schools.

“While 90%of students in most schools have the card, the others have not got them owing to some technical issues. It should be the responsibility of the government and the parents to ensure that children have their Aadhaar cards,” he added.

A suburban school principal said the initiative would add to the data entry work the school teachers have to do every day.

“When will we get the time to teach?” the principal added.

Source: Hindustan Times dated January 21, 2019