Mercury 502
As stated before, our ultimate goal is to regulate the membrane potential in pancreatic beta cells. In the last meeting, our team clarified our ideas and came up with a more definite prototype.
To correct the imbalance of the cell's potential, our nanomachine will move potassium (K+) ions across the cell membrane. This nanomachine will be a titanium channel able to move K+ in and out of the cell. Our machine is a hollow channel that is shaped like an hour glass. Inside the center of the channel is a selectivity protein made by the cell. This protein allows K+ and only K+ to travel through it. It is feasible to clone these proteins and place them inside our channel. To expedite the movement of the ions, the nanmachine is surrounded by a metal coil that is connected to a nanobattery. Running current through the coil causes a magnetic field that will accelerate the ions out of the cell.
Protruding from each end of the nanomachine (which will be refered to as APC502), is a nanosensor. These sensors measure the potential of the cell and relay that information to a nano-microprocessor, which in turn regulates the strength of the magnetic field generated by the battery.
Our team is also considering fusing two of the nanomachines side by side but in opposite directions, so K+ can be better moved in both directions.
The nanomachine will be delivered to the cell inside a mycelle made of phospholipids. The mycelle will naturally be incorporated into the cell's membrane and the nanomachine will correctely orient itself in the membrane due to its hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings. Because of its symmetry, our machine will function regardless of the direction it is pointed.
There are still some issues that we must consider before the finalization of our project. We need to determine the scale of each APC502 and how long the lifespan is of the nano-battery compared to the cell.
To correct the imbalance of the cell's potential, our nanomachine will move potassium (K+) ions across the cell membrane. This nanomachine will be a titanium channel able to move K+ in and out of the cell. Our machine is a hollow channel that is shaped like an hour glass. Inside the center of the channel is a selectivity protein made by the cell. This protein allows K+ and only K+ to travel through it. It is feasible to clone these proteins and place them inside our channel. To expedite the movement of the ions, the nanmachine is surrounded by a metal coil that is connected to a nanobattery. Running current through the coil causes a magnetic field that will accelerate the ions out of the cell.
Protruding from each end of the nanomachine (which will be refered to as APC502), is a nanosensor. These sensors measure the potential of the cell and relay that information to a nano-microprocessor, which in turn regulates the strength of the magnetic field generated by the battery.
Our team is also considering fusing two of the nanomachines side by side but in opposite directions, so K+ can be better moved in both directions.
The nanomachine will be delivered to the cell inside a mycelle made of phospholipids. The mycelle will naturally be incorporated into the cell's membrane and the nanomachine will correctely orient itself in the membrane due to its hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings. Because of its symmetry, our machine will function regardless of the direction it is pointed.
There are still some issues that we must consider before the finalization of our project. We need to determine the scale of each APC502 and how long the lifespan is of the nano-battery compared to the cell.
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