Researchers in DNA nanotechnology say that tiny molecular machines could extend human life and transform medicine. In St. Petersburg, scientists have already built nanorobots from DNA that react to pathogens, opening the door to therapies that act at the cellular level. In the future, these DNA-based devices may deliver precise drug doses straight to targeted cells and tissues, help diagnose diseases early, and even help keep blood vessels clear.
Experts note that the idea isn’t new. Visionaries like Ray Kurzweil have long predicted a time when nanorobots will roam the body, locate illnesses, neutralize viruses, shuttle medicines to the right spots, and cleanse the circulatory system. When this becomes practical, it could transform how doctors treat age-related illnesses and reduce deaths linked to chronic conditions.
As a practical example, researchers suggest that DNA nanorobots could be guided to cancerous areas, delivering therapies precisely where they are needed while minimizing side effects elsewhere in the body.
Meanwhile, early experiments in living organisms have shown that DNA-based systems can influence biological processes. For instance, teams studying simple organisms have demonstrated how genetic material can be directed to respond to signals, offering a glimpse of how programmable biology might one day work in humans. These studies, reported in well-known journals, underline the potential of programmable DNA devices to interact with living systems in controlled ways.