Feasibility of overcoming the technological barriers - Isles ...

210 

School of Doctoral Studies (European Union) Journal 

July 

Feasibility of overcoming the technological 

barriers in the construction of nanomachines 

Günter Carr (MSc) 

Master of Science and candidate to PhD in Physics at the School of Doctoral 

Studies, Isles Internationale Université (European Union) 

Jeffrey Dessler (PhD) 

Chair of Nanotechnology Studies of the Department of Engineering and Technology at 

the School of Doctoral Studies, Isles Internationale Université (European Union) 

Abstract 

The Science of molecular size machines and its engineering designs and constructions until late 1980s 

were not considered practicable. Nanotechnology, according to the leading exponents of that time were 

neither feasible nor viable, due to the fact of total structural difference of the constituent of nano-molecular 

device i.e. Atoms from the mechanical objects of every day life. The essential components of engineering 

mechanics i.e. cogwheels, gears or motors could not be imagined to have formed by means of atoms, that 

are characterized by fuzzy and unsubstantial contents having no definite location position. 

Key words: Nanotechnology, Nanomachines, Mechatronics, Physics, Engineering 

School of Doctoral Studies (European Union) Journal - July, 2009 No. 1

2009 Feasibility of overcoming the technological barriers in the construction of nanomachines 

211 

Nanomachines 

The Science of molecular size machines and 

its engineering designs and constructions until 

late 1980s were not considered practicable. 

Nanotechnology, according to the leading 

exponents of that time were neither feasible 

nor viable, due to the fact of total structural 

difference of the constituent of nano-molecular 

device i.e. Atoms from the mechanical objects 

of every day life. The essential components of 

engineering mechanics i.e. cogwheels, gears or 

motors could not be imagined to have formed by 

means of atoms, that are characterized by fuzzy 

and unsubstantial contents having no definite 

location position. Edwin Schrödinger, a leading 

quantum theoretician, regarded the particles as not 

permanent entity but an instantaneous event and 

derived the conclusion that atoms could no longer 

be regarded as “identifiable individuals”. Werner 

Heisenberg, with extreme pessimism described 

atoms as “a world of potentialities or possibilities” 

rather than “of things and facts”. (Is the future 

nano) 

Such ideologies succeeded making the scientists 

of that time convinced to view nanotechnology 

as an unattainable objective. During the second 

half of the 20 th century some scientists however, 

ventured to explore the prospects of the subject. 

The efforts began with coinage of the terminology 

of molecular engineering by Arthur Von Hippel, 

an electric engineer of Massachussetts Institute 

of Technology (MIT) during 1950s and with 

his optimistic predictions for possibilities 

of the constructing nano-molecular devices. 

Contemporary Nobel laureate and physicist, 

Richard Feynman revolutionized the concept 

through his lecture “There is plenty of room at the 

bottom”. (Is the future nano) K. Eric Drexler, set 

up the organization “Foresight Institute, Palo Alto 

at California, in 1986 for popularization by the 

concept of building materials and products with 

atomic precision. Presently, scientists consider it 

as the pioneer organization for development of 

nanotechnology. 

Questions still arise in the present scenario with 

regard to the progress of development of nanotechnology. 

Even though much has been achieved 

in the field, the dreams have not yet been fulfilled 

till now. However, developments and intensive 

research in the field have given rise to revealing 

of new features of atoms, such as robustness of 

atoms to exist independently, facilitating isolation 

and counting in units. This feature of atoms gives 

strength to construct reliable parts of working 

nano devices. Currently, we have the capability to 

make the atoms move around so as to place them 

in desired locations. These achievements in less 

than past two decades have led to Nobel Prize 

winning contributions in the field. The remarkable 

contributions of Dehmelt of University of 

Washington in Seattle, revealing stability of even 

subatomic particles enabling its isolation within 

magnetic traps for months together is noteworthy. 

(Is the future nano) 

Table 1. Prizes for elucidating atoms and subatomic particles 

Nobel prize Winners Achievement 

1986 Gerd Binnig, Heinrich Rohrer Scanning tunnelling microscope 

1989 Hans Dehmelt, Wolfgang Paul Traps to isolate atoms and subatomic species 

1992 George Charpak Subatomic particle detectors 

1994 

Clifford Schull, 

Neutron diffraction techniques for structure 

Bertram Brockhouse 

determination 

1997 

Steven Chu, 

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, 

William Phillips 

(Source: Is the future nano) 

Methods to cool and trap atoms with laser 

light 

G. Carr, J. Dessler - Feasibility of overcoming the technological barriers in the construction of nanomachines

212 


July 

Devices constructed from individual atoms 

are called Nanomachines. According to some 

researchers; in future, to combat disease, 

nanomachines will be able to enter living cells. 

Nanomachines, which can reorganize atoms in 

order to make new objects, can be built in future, 

according to the researchers. Nanomachines, if 

the researchers succeed, can be used to get rid of 

poverty by obviously converting dirt into food. 

Nanomachines are incredibly small devices, as the 

terminology indicates. They are constructed from 

individual atoms and their size is measured in 

nanometers. (Nanomachines: Nanotechnology’s 

Big Promise in a Small Package) 

There is no macroscopic analogue for 

Nanomachine. By atomic scale “pick and 

place”, nanomachine would make any structure, 

including itself, that is, a set of nanoscale 

pincers would pick individual atoms from their 

surroundings and place them where they should 

go. (Nanotechnology: Nanomachines) Futurist 

and visionary K. Eric Drexler made famous the 

capability of nanomachines during the 1980’s 

and 1990’s. K Eric Drexler coined the concept of 

nanotechnology during 1986, and made public in 

his publication of Engines of Creation. Drexler 

visualized the possibilities of efficient construction 

of objects at molecular level with the help of 

microscopic machines which were predicted to 

be the solutions for many ailments of the present 

world. (Book Review: Unbounding the Future: The 

Nanotechnology Revolution by K. Eric Drexler 

and Chris Peterson with Gayle Pergamit) 

The production of the ‘assembler’ is the 

eventual goal of nanomachine technology, as per 

Drexler. The nanomachine assembler is intended to 

influence matter at the atomic level. The assembler 

will be used to move atoms from existing molecules 

into that of new structures and will be built with 

small ‘pincers’. The idea is that the assembler 

should fabricate useful items from raw material 

by reorganizing atoms. If one can scoop dirt 

into a vat and be patient, a team of nanomachine 

assemblers can change the dirt into an apple, a 

chair, or even a computer, and this is the theory. 

A molecular schematic of the object to be built is 

to be put up into the memory of the machines in 

the vat. Then they would fabricate the chosen item 

by methodically rearranging the atoms enclosed in 

the dirt. (Nanomachines: Nanotechnology’s Big 

Promise in a Small Package) 

Though some primordial devices have been 

tested, Nanomachines are mainly in the phase of 

research development. A sensor with capability to 

count specific molecules in a chemical sample, and 

having switched approximately 1.5 nanometers 

across, is an example. Medical technology is the 

field where nanomachines will find applications 

firstly to recognize pathogens and toxins from 

the samples of body fluid. (Nanomachine) 

Nanomachines can be used in the field of 

pharmaceuticals, to watch over symptoms of 

change in a patient, to treat cancer, AIDS and to use 

it for operations of those areas which are difficult 

for operating upon. (The Ethics of Nanotchnology) 

It could be used to produce carbon fibers which 

would be as strong as Diamond and which also 

be less expensive than plastic. Also an important 

aspect of nanomachines is that this technology 

is comparatively less expensive, clean and also 

which is easy to maintain than other technologies 

which are presently available. (Book Review: 

Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology 

Revolution by K. Eric Drexler and Chris Peterson 

with Gayle Pergamit) 



213 

Respirocytes with Red Cells. 

(by Vik Olliver, 1998) 

The Ethics of Nanotechnology. Retrieved from 

http://cseserv.engr.scu.edu/StudentWebPages/ 

AChen/ResearchPaper.htm 

For decades, scientists’ brains are filled with 

the development of nanomachines. The discovery 

of bio-molecular motors, such as myosin, kinesin 

and dynein, roughly 20 years ago, was the starting 

point for the dream of constructing machines which 

had the capacity to copy, replace or to work in 

recital with existing bio-molecular machines. The 

understanding of the biophysical and biochemical 

properties of bio-molecular motors have been 

enhanced by present day technologies which 

help to watch, influence and analyze particles or 

molecules at the nanometer scale. Proteins are 

the bio-molecular motors, which generate forces 

and movements within cells, that is, transforming 

chemical energy into mechanical energy. The 

diverse functions of these proteins are such that 

some are accountable for rotation and mobility of 

cilia, DNA replication, organelles transport, etc. 

(Bio-Molecular Motors Research in Japan: Asian 

Technology Information Program) 

As an example, the mechanical activity of biomolecular 

motors is sustained by the hydrolysis 

of ATP (adenosin-triphosphate), the “fuel”, which 

turns out energy for the processive movement of 

kinesin along microtubes or the contraction of the 

actin/muosin complex in muscles. The purposes 

of bio-molecular machines cannot be read by 

equivalence to artificial machines, as they are not 

simple. Molecular machines and proteins have an 

active structure and have size in comparison to 

the nanometer range. Also, thermal energy can be 

matched up to the input energy to the molecular 

machines and when shown to thermal agitation, 

the molecular machines function at very high 

efficiency. 

The artificial machines come in contrast with 

molecular machines, as artificial machines use 

much higher energy than thermal energy to work 

quickly, deterministically and precisely. Hence, 

on such grounds, an understanding of the dynamic 

properties of proteins and their interactions among 

themselves is essential. The development of 

Single-Molecule Detection (SMD) techniques to 

straightforwardly check the dynamics of proteins 

and molecular machines have been extended 

to encompass a wide variety of biological 

sciences. SMD techniques, in amalgamation 

with nanotechnology developments, will be 

more influential in directing more research in 

development of nanomachines and that of biomolecular 

machines. (Bio-Molecular Motors 

Research in Japan: Asian Technology Information 

Program) 

These machines mostly consist of proteins 

which are synthesized out of carbon- the chief 

ingredient of all living things. And as Drexler 

explained, these machines, called as assemblers, 

will be built on the basis of one atom at a time, with 

the capacity of being able to fit several hundreds 

within a single cell. That these man-made nanoassemblers 

will add innumerable variety to the 

countless life forms that are currently known is 

agreed from both sides of the debate. This is due 

to a number of appealing differences between 

the assemblers and the biological cells on which 

they are based. The replication instructions within 

these hybrid biological/mechanical machines 

to be designed by engineers will be composed 

of computer code instead of DNA is one such 

difference worth mentioning. 

However, these machines still look like and 

perform as existing cell types and this is what 


214 


July 

Drexler and other engineers and nanobiologists 

foresee. Viruses are composed of proteins and 

coding material and its replication is possible only 

within a host organism and this nature of viruses 

will be built into some assemblers. A virus-like 

assembler, after entering a cell, utilizing the freshly 

introduced coding information, can instruct the 

cell’s own internal machinery to replicate. Other 

assemblers similar to bacteria will carry within 

their own firm boundaries, all the materials which 

are required for biosynthesis, and hence would be 

independent. They might also make alterations 

improving or redesigning the original cells by 

becoming organelles within eukaryotic cells, 

and are also similar to bacteria in this respect. 

(Nanomachines and biological systems: Utopia or 

Dystopia) 

Today’s surgery of using a massive blade cutting 

through a crowd of cells, killing thousands, will 

appear pretty barbaric from a cell’s point of view. 

To stitch up the damage, a thick cable is towed in, 

and for healing to take place, it is left to the cells to 

discard their dead and multiply. The administration 

of a drug to a patient from the cell’s point of view 

can be visualized as follows: the drug molecules, 

before recognizing specific molecules by “touch”, 

knock pointlessly around till they get adjusted into 

their target molecule. Compare this to a molecular 

machine equipped with a nano-computer that 

holds data on the structure of all healthy tissue, 

which can feel, prepare, and act at this level. 

It is possible to build repair machines with a 

size of a bacterium, which can enter and leave 

cells, can wipe out intruders in the blood cells and 

can even check the DNA itself for any mistakes. 

Nowadays, doctors depend on drug molecules and 

the cell’s capability to mend itself, when a cell is 

damaged, even though this process does not always 

bring the patient back to health. In future, doctors 

can restore cells that have been damaged to the 

point of inactivity with the help of nano-devices, 

which can repair on the smallest components of 

the cell. These machines can reconstruct injured 

molecules inside the cell by getting to the base of 

the problem. (The Promise of Nanotechnology) 

Nanomachines can provide support to the 

immune system, because these machines can 

fight with natural nanomachines, viruses, and 

because the body’s own immune system has some 

limitations like not remembering the shape of its 

enemies, failing to identify malignant cells and 

delaying full development of immune reaction. 

Nanomachines can make a mammoth contribution 

to ageing, can affect bacteria, can influence tumors 

and also help in remodeling damaged tissue. 

(Nanotechnology and Medicine) The daily work 

of the body is done by the molecular machines. 

Muscles affect our motions while we chew and 

swallow. The bundle of molecular fibers, enclosed 

in muscle fibers, compress by sliding against 

others. The molecular machines in stomach and 

intestines, called digestive enzymes, break down 

the complex molecules in food into smaller 

molecules and these are used for the purpose of 

fuel or are used as building blocks. (Unbounding 

the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution) 

Useful molecules are carried to the bloodstream 

by the molecular devices which are found in the 

outer layer of the digestive tract. The molecular 

storage devices which are called hemoglobin 

enhance oxygen in the lungs. The heart, driven by 

molecular fibers, pumps blood loaded with fuel 

and oxygen to cells. Contraction in the muscles 

is based on sliding molecular fibers and is driven 

by fuel and oxygen. In the brain, the molecular 

pumps that influence nerve cells are done by 

nanomachines. Molecular machines in the liver that 

build and break down a whole mass of molecules 

are influenced by nanomachines. Such a process is 

repeated in other parts of the body. (Unbounding 

the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution) 

Nanomachines which can make replica 

of themselves are another objective of 

nanotechnology. A machine can be able to 

construct replica of it, if it can reorganize atoms 

in order to build new materials. Products which 

are thus made by nanomachines will be extremely 

low-priced, if this objective is achieved. This is 

because, the technology, once fine tuned will 

not need specific materials, which might be 

uncommon and therefore cost money, as it will be 

self-replicating. Nanotechnology will sign an end 

to traditional financial systems is the forecast of 

Arthur C. Clarke. A world of stimulating promises 



215 

will open up, if scientists would be able to design 

nanomachines which would have the capacity to 

reorganize atoms. Advanced treatments for many 

diseases can be given by nanomachines which are 

modeled for different purposes. Injecting medical 

nanomachines, programmed to recognize and 

disassemble cancerous cells, into the bloodstream 

of cancer victims, can provide a rapid and efficient 

treatment for all types of cancer. Damaged tissue 

and bones can be mended by nanomachines. 

(Nanomachines: Nanotechnology’s Big Promise 

in a Small Package) 

By building molecular support structures by 

reassembling nearby tissue, they could even be 

used to toughen bones and muscle tissue. Medical 

science will speedily adopt treatments for most of 

the human illnesses which will have the capacity 

to influence human cells at the minute level. 

These treatments will be cheap and accessible to 

the whole people because nanomachines will be 

designed in such a way to make copies of them. 

If nanotechnology is proved to be effective, 

problems relating to shortage of food problems of 

hunger can be solved. As nanomachines can have 

the capacity to change anything into food, this 

food could be used to solve problems of hunger 

worldwide. 

Food produced by nanomachines would be less 

expensive and would be available to all. As in the 

case of food, which enables to influence the everincreasing 

population, nanomachines would be 

able to produce other goods as well. Also clothing, 

houses, televisions, cars and computers would be 

made possible at less money. As nanomachines 

will change all garbage into new goods which 

can be consumed there need not be worries in 

relation to the garbage produced. (Nanomachines: 

Nanotechnology’s Big Promise in a Small Package) 

Another advantage of using nanomachines is 

that individual units would require less energy 

to operate. Nanites would exist for centuries 

before collapsing and hence robustness is another 

potential asset. (Nanomachine) 

The finding of toxic chemicals and measuring 

of their concentrations, in the environment is 

another prospective application. High operational 

speed is possible due to the microscopic size of 

nanomachines. (Nanomachine) This is because all 

machines and systems will be likely to work faster 

as their size reduces. Nanotechnology can resolve 

environmental problems like ozone depletion 

and global warming. By releasing clouds of 

nanomachines into the upper atmosphere, these 

nanomachines can methodically destroy the ozone 

reducing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and build 

new ozone molecules out of water and carbon 

dioxide. 

As water and carbondioxide both contain 

oxygen, the atmosphere contains an abundant 

supply of oxygen atoms; and so ozone (O3) can be 

built out of 3 oxygen atoms. Teams of dedicated 

nanomachines could be engaged to destroy the 

surplus CO2 in the lower atmosphere while the 

ozone building teams are at work in the upper 

atmosphere. CO2 has been recognized as one of 

the major contributors to global warming and is 

a heat trapping gas. To bring back the planet’s 

ecosystem and to stop global warming, surplus 

CO2 has to be removed, which can be done by 

nanomachines. All species on earth will be profited 

by this. A new era for humanity will begin once the 

nanotechnology is perfected and nanomachines 

are produced. This will quickly lead to the end 

of hunger, illness, and environmental problems. 

(Nanomachines: Nanotechnology’s Big Promise 

in a Small Package) 

The intermingling of nanotechnology in the 

form of nanosize particles into the mainstream is 

evident in the products of everyday use such as 

sunscreen, paint, cosmetics, and industrial coatings 

awaiting its more extensive uses in the near future. 

Minimization of side effects of the drugs through 

the preparation of accurate combinations with 

the help of nanoparticles is experimented in the 

field of Pharmaceuticals. Eradication of diseases 

like cancer warranted coating of the receptors of 

cells with nanoparticles of drugs that inhibits the 

reproductive cycle. Use of Nanosensors for check 

up of the health of astronauts is being explored by 

the NASA and the University of Michigan. 

The aim is to explore the method of infusing 

the blood cells of astronauts for continuous 

monitoring of the exposure to radiations or other 

infectious agents. Dendrimers and synthetic 


216 


July 

polymers having a diameter of less than 5nm 

are the constituents of the devices. This involves 

the infusion of nanosensors into white blood 

cells, for detecting the symptoms of biochemical 

changes due to radiation. The fluorescent tags are 

attached in order to make the dendrimers glow 

with the location of proteins related to cell death. 

Development of retinal scanning device with 

laser that detects fluorescence from lymphocytes 

while passing through the capillaries behind retina 

is under progress. Taking up of blood samples 

and transplantation of larger sensors resulting in 

inflammation or infection is being avoided by use 

of nanosensors. (A king-size future for nanosize 

machines: nanotechnology researchers are laying 

the groundwork for atomic-scale engineered 

systems) 

Many controversial debates were 

attracted by the concept of Nanomachines which 

is considered to be a bold step in mechanics. The 

developments however have been able to restore a 

degree of confidence among the people irrespective 

of the fact that many hurdles are to be overcome 

for its fruitful implementation. Remarkable 

achievements in this direction are due to the recent 

developments of the science towards construction 

of first molecular assemblers. Demonstration of 

two researchers of IBM in the field of scanningtunneling 

microscope by spelling out the initial of 

the company on the atomic scale using 35 Xenon 

atoms showed advancement in this direction that 

proved the capability of moving of single atoms 

with great accuracy. These developments will lead 

to occurrence of the second industrial revolution 

within a decade. (A king-size future for nanosize 

machines: nanotechnology researchers are laying 

the groundwork for atomic-scale engineered 

systems) 

Since there are various methods for constructions 

of the nanomachines it is difficult to predict the 

timeline for this revolution. Research in the field 

is being fueled by development in the related 

fields of Computer industry, genetic engineering 

microminiaturization, physics, and chemistry etc. 

Still it is difficult to predict the exact method of 

construction of first molecular assemblers due to 

presence of host of technological difficulties. The 

development in the field does not seem to be more 

impossible in comparison to the project of sending 

man into the Space and moon during 1959. The 

participation of the private sector fuelling the 

development of nanotechnology makes the 

project advantageous over the project of man on 

the moon. Its propounders like Drexler predict the 

replacement of conventional factories as well as 

the fossil fuels they use by making the solar cells 

more efficient, cheaper and tougher. The evolution 

of computing power can reach its goal by means 

of the nanotechnology. 

In this field the evolution of nanotechnology 

capable of building devices many a time faster, 

efficient and cheaper will surpass the limiting 

miniaturization of existing electronic methods. 

This will lead to preparation faster computers as 

small as the size of a single cell. The formulation 

of nano computers will revolutionize the objects 

of everyday life. Nanomachines can create tiny 

robots of the size of only a few billionths of a 

meter which seems to be impractical. They are 

predicted to bring revolutionary change in lives 

in near future. Unclogging of arteries, repair of 

damaged cells or DNA will all be possible with 

the help of Nanomachines. Nanorobots will be 

able to identify and spoil the harmful bacteria 

through a simple mouthwash and bring cure from 

plaque and tartar. It will be possible to prepare 

stronger and lighter materials than steel through 

supercomposites constructed out of nanostructural 

materials bringing revolutionary changes in 

construction of spaceship and in the field of 

space research and travel. (A king-size future for 

nanosize machines: nanotechnology researchers 

are laying the groundwork for atomic-scale 

engineered systems) 

The necessity of the power of free market is 

visualized by Drexler and others in the field. The use 

of nanotechnology is propounded most extensively 

in the field of medicines than that of other possible 

applications. Deriving the impression from the 

use of “natural molecular machines” in the body 

in the form of digestive enzymes, hemoglobin, 

and the propounders predicted the more efficient 

application of nanomachines in the immunosystem 

for destroying harmful virus and bacteria even 



217 

in a better way than the existing natural White 

Blood Cells. Application of nanomachines in 

the field can be extended to cleaning of blocked 

arteries, repair of damages cells, re-growing of 

new organs and limbs. It is even predicted to halt 

the natural aging process at the stage of its fullest 

development. It is predicted to make it possible to 

eliminate even the eternal teenage scourge through 

a nanomachine cream. The only limitation in the 

field seems to be the replacement of the automobile 

by the nanomachine- built underground railways. 

(Book Review: Unbounding the Future: The 

Nanotechnology Revolution by K. Eric Drexler 

and Chris Peterson with Gayle Pergamit) 

Nanotechnology presently is at its infant stage, 

can be compared with a lit match going to begin 

a bonfire of strange applications with the devotion 

of engineers that will throw revolutionary 

sparking in the civilization. The civilization is 

on the way of developing such a field of science 

and engineering that will have far reaching effects 

in other existing fields. Nanotechnology seems 

to be a better avenue existing within ourselves 

that has been identified for the future success 

and glory of the whole mankind. (The Future of 

Engineering: Nanotechnology: A Mission Into the 

Microscopic) 

Nanomachines constitute the future hope for 

humanity. Curing diseases, fixing the atmosphere 

and reduction of poverty fully is no more a remote 

idea but will become a reality with the help of 

nanomachines. Overcoming of the technological 

barriers in construction of nanomachines by the 

scientist will fetch all the goals of humanity. The 

thirst in this never ending race however, warrants 

caution. The irresistible temptation of building 

self-replicating machines at cheaper rate will 

lead to endangering the planet with machines 

overriding man. It is feared that the machines may 

devour the entire planet in the race of producing 

more and more machines. However, the reality of 

the benefits those nanomachines assure to fetch 

in manipulating matter is quite noteworthy and 

deserves pursuance of the technology with much 

enthusiasm. 

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