Do astronauts have doctors in space?

Unfortunately not. However, this is no longer an issue, thanks to Dr. David Loftus's invention of the NASA Biocapsule. The Biocapsule is a breakthrough invention that has the potential to serve a variety of purposes, ranging from treatment of astronauts from the dangers of solar radiation to terrestrial uses like chemotherapy and treatment of diabetes. Yahoo! News explains that it is a carbon nanotube-based implantable device, about the size of a pencil tip, that can sense conditions of the body and release a substance when it is needed.

How it's made
According to a video from the Space Biosciences Division at NASA Ames, the carbon nanotubes are developed in a solution, and a plastic mold is placed into the solution. The nanotubes stick to the exterior of the mold, forming the biocapsule's structure. The capsule is then slid off of the mold, filled with cells, and capped off utilizing either a protein glue or more nanotubes.

How it works
The cells in the Biocapsule secrete the substance that needs to be delivered to the body when a particular trigger activates them. Due to the strong nanostructure, the cells are secured within the capsule, but the carbon nanotubes are porous so that medicine can exit the capsule through diffusion across the capsule wall.

The energy needed for the cells to produce the therapeutic molecules is derived from the cells' own metabolism, which is supported by nutrients that are diffused into the capsule through the pores of the capsule wall. This allows the cells to last for months or even years.

To implant the device, a miniscule incision is made on the skin for each Biocapsule. The Biocapsules are then implanted under the skin, a procedure that only requires local anesthetic and one or two stitches to seal the wound. They are now ready to perform their function, as described above.


What's so great about it
The Biocapsule is cheap and can be easily produced, as shown in the video. It could also get rid of the need to constantly monitor the body, because it does the job for you by sensing irregularities in the levels of radiation or glucose or whatever it is engineered to detect. Once it detects abnormality, it dispenses medicine automatically. Each capsule is able to deliver many doses over the duration of several years. According to Fellow Geek, this implant has such high resilience that there is no known enzyme that can decompose the nanostructure. The nanostructure is inert, so the body does not react to it, allowing for high tolerance of the capsules by the body. The Biocapsule remains in the body after all the cells are used up, and may be eventually removed by a doctor.

Its uses



The original and main purpose of this device is to treat astronauts in the case of acute radiation exposure caused by "solar particle events," which are abrupt releases of severe radiation from the sun that can damage bone marrow and wipe out a person's immune system. The Biocapsule may be filled with cells that can sense elevated radiation levels and immediately dispense a hormone called Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which is already used to treat cancer patients receiving radiation treatment, to help protect the body.

The primary potential use of the implant on Earth is diabetes treatment. The capsule may be filled with insulin-producing islet cells that sense blood glucose levels and secrete insulin as needed. If this method was used, diabetes patients would not have to be concerned with getting shots or remembering to carry medicine everywhere. Many diabetes patients fall into comas or die while sleeping because they cannot monitor their blood sugar levels during that time. The Biocapsules function while patients are awake and asleep, so this problem would be eliminated.

Cancer treatment is a secondary application of Biocapsules on Earth. The capsule may contain chemotherapy medicine and be implanted directly into a tumor. This would minimize detrimental effects on surrounding healthy tissue and thus avoid the negative effects of chemotherapy.


This miniscule implant, the NASA Biocapsule, can release medicine by itself.

A Shrimple Solution

Previously on our blog, we mentioned the wonders of silk - a natural material that exhibits properties found in  nanomaterials. Scientists that are trying to make tougher nanomaterials are now looking at the structures of animals for inspiration. A finding over the summer has shown that due to its nanoscale structure, the mantis shrimp, otherwise known as Gonodactylus smithii, can strike prey with speeds, "matching that of a 5.56mm rifle."

A feature on USA Today even claims that club of a mantis shrimp can shatter a hole into aquamarine glass. Science Daily reports that Assistant Professor Ali Miserez lead a team that found that the unique structure of the mantis's claw makes it stronger than most ceramics out in the implant market now. Check out the original article over here. The following video illustrates the sheer strength of the shrimp's claw - the reasons behind this will be discussed a little later.

A video illustrating the awesome strength of the mantis shrimp.

Chitosan - an extremely long carbohydrate

This is an extremely important discovery, as it leads to many implications in the science of implants. Currently, a combination of titanium and polyethylene (aka plastic) is used in hip and other implants. This presents two problems. The first problem is that this combination of materials is, while not weak, not particularly strong. Also, since these implants are made of foreign materials, the body is more likely to reject them. Prof. Miserez's finding mollifies both these problems. The claw of the mantis shrimp is composed of hydroxylapatite, a strong calcium compound, and chitosan, a naturally occuring carbohydrate molecule, according to a Discovery News article. The hydroxylapatite allows for initial toughness, while the chitosan allows for more impact to be absorbed. The chitosan was found to be arranged like stacks of paper, thus effectively dissipating most of the impact incurred after the blow dealt by the mantis shrimp. The study of the shrimp's structure can lead to new and interesting innovations in the art of making ceramics. 

Brain Implants and Nanotechnology

The use of nanotechnology has enormous potential for brain implant devices. A breakthrough by biomedical and materials engineers at the University of Michigan has led to the development of a new nanotech coating for existing brain implant devices. The coating helps to greatly extend the operating life of many brain devices and potentially could aid in the treatment of deafness, paralysis, blindness, epilepsy, and even, Parkinson's disease. Many researchers have found in recent years, that paralyzed people can use their thoughts in conjunction with implanted electronics and a computer to control a wheelchair, and the folks at Michigan have found that their nanocoating increases the efficiency, effectiveness, and lifespan of these microelectrodes. This special coating is made from a electrically-conductive nanoscale polymer called PEDOT, a natural gel-like buffer called alginate hydrogel, and biodegradable nanofibers loaded with a controlled release anti-inflammatory drug. The PEDOT enables electrodes to operate with less electrical resistance so they can communicate with neurons better while the nanofibers and the alginate hydrogel work in tandem to make sure the body does not attack the coating because it is a foreign species and thus keeps the coating biocompatible.

The University of Michigan also another exciting development in regards to brain implants and nanotechnology. A team created a thin flexible device that is almost 10 times smaller than other current electrodes. The new electrode developed by the teams of Daryl Kipke, a professor of biomedical engineering, Joerg Lahann, a professor of chemical engineering, and Nicholas Kotov, the Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Engineering, is much more biocompatible than other larger microelectrodes. It is a thread of highly conductive carbon fiber, coated in plastic to block out signals from other neurons. The conductive gel pad at the end cozies up to soft cell membranes, and that close connection means the signals from brain cells come in much clearer.

An depiction of neurons. 

The device works similar to how the brain works because the carbon fiber is able to convert the movement of ions into the movement of electrons which allows for sharper electrical signals that can hone in on single neurons. This development represents a significant step toward the development of brain implant devices on the nanoscale that are in similar size to actual brain cells.

Interview with Fiorenzo Omenetto

Recently Fiorenzo Omenetto appeared on Public Radio Exchange for the Science Update. Have a listen below: