Solution
Three Initial Ideas:
1) A microparticle that is inserted into the lungs (surgically) that can sense buildup of mucus and will disperse a chemical that will break down the mucus compounds. This microparticle would have sensing technology, capable of responding to stimuli.
2) A nanoparticle that can be inhaled (technology available) and that contains a fixing gene (which has already been discovered at Cornell) that will be delivered into the lungs. Our problem is battling the immune system in this case.
3) A box-type micro-machine that can suck up mucus and destroy it within the box.
Mentor Comments:
10/24/07
This is an excellent topic to pursue. An acquaintance of mine had Cystic Fibrosis and his difficulty breathing was always evident. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if something can be done to alleviate their suffering.
Since my background is in large mechanical devices Let me start by asking for some definitions. Microparticle (what size?, is it mechanical or chemical?), Nanoparticle (this sounds smaller than a Microparticle, is it mechanical or chemical?), and the phrase box-type. Is it just as it sounds, a small machine that has no real defined shape yet?
Narrowing the field – our first task is to look at the 3 proposals and decide which one has the least chance of success and eliminate it from further investigation.
If you have not already, Google search Cystic Fibrosis and see if there are any treatments available that you might be duplicating.
The box-type micro machine
Much progress has been made in recent years in the prototype manufacture of micromachines that are so small that a microscope is required to watch them work. They are mainly manufactured using the photo etch process developed for micro chips. How large is the mucus cells that the micro machine would have to suck up. It may be that the cell is so large that the micro machine would be rejected immediately. How large of an item can the body tolerate? Something the size of a golf ball would probable not be acceptable.
IDEAS
A Google search of Nano Machines comes up with a wealth of articles, maybe somewhere in there are the answers we are looking for.
Below is an excerpt from a web page on some nanotechnology that is being developed.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/050829nano.html
A key technological breakthrough led by the University of Edinburgh suggests that a futuristic world where people can move objects about “remotely” with laser pointers could be closer than we think. Chemists working on the nanoscale (80,000 times smaller than a hair's breadth) have managed to move a tiny droplet of liquid across a surface - and even up a slope - by transporting it along a layer of light-sensitive molecules.
Other, ridiculous ideas – many times in the design of a machine I toss out ridiculous ideas. Some of these get a good laugh while others lead to viable good ideas, here goes.
Put the patient on a turntable, (like a merry go round) with his head near the edge of the circle and his feet near the center. Spin the patient to force the mucus to the top of the lungs where it can be coughed out.
10/26/07
I received a brochure in the mail today called "The Materials For
Medical Devices Database". I went to their website (link below) and
they seem to have a free trial membership that you may be able to sign
up for. It looks like a good resource for the project. Let me know if
it works for you.
I was thinking yesterday about the mucous in the lungs and I wondered, if pressure, partial pressure of a gas, temperature, humidity or a combination of the four would help the process much like carbon black is used as a catalyst to make rubber tires stronger. For example in normal scuba diving we use compressed air which is made up of 21% oxygen and
79% nitrogen, the same as the air we breathe. We sometimes use a gas mixture of 32% Oxygen and 68% nitrogen (called enriched air NITROX) to change the partial pressure of oxygen which puts less nitrogen into the bloodstream thus reducing the risk of the bends upon returning to the
surface. By changing the percentage of one gas over another we achieve
a more desired result. Air pressure at sea level is 14.7psi as we
increase the pressure either by diving under water or by changing the
pressure in a hyperbaric chamber more or less gas is forced into
solution in the tissues and liquids of our bodies (mainly blood). When
the astronauts in the space shuttle are about to go on a extra vehicular
activity (space walk) they must breathe a combination of Oxygen and
Helium to purge their systems of nitrogen. In the space suit I believe
the pressure is 4 or 5 psi. At these pressures the nitrogen in their
blood while in the shuttle (14psi) is at equilibrium, in the suit(4psi)
would form bubbles like a soda pop when opened. So perhaps you can
explore the effects of Pressure, partial pressure of gases, temperature
and humidity on the mucous and the devices that you are developing to
fight the mucous.
http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/portal/site/asm/
SilverAssist
As our mentor mentioned, the world is most definitely going nanoscale. This was the reason that the team eventually decided to reevaluate the solution of a micromachine or a box-like prototype that that has the capability to suck up mucus. Even micro- may be too large for the lungs to handle and the liklihood of an immune system rejection to occur is very high. Therefore, nano was the road to set about on. Upon starting our investigation on a nanoparticle that can be surgically inserted in the body, all team members automatically arrived to the conclusion that a surgery may eventually prove to be costly for patients. The chemical that the nanoparticle is supposed to disperse will eventually run out and repeated surgery involving the lungs may be fatal. Though we already had the corrected cystic fibrosis gene, its route of administration is still baffling many researchers. One in-school nanotechnology expert suggested that the team ponder over Exubera, which was the recent first FDA approved inhaled version of insulin. (http/::www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_treatments/insulin_inhaled.php)
One alternative sight that it has fared well in the competition is into the lungs. Therefore, instead of the gene having to be surgically inserted, a simply inhalation with such a mechanism can safely deliver the gene into the lungs. However, there is a great likelihood that the gene by itself will trigger an immune system rejection as well. Therefore, designing the architecture of an outer layer or coating around the gene became absolutely vital. Upon much research, the team agreed upon the many properties of silver itself. Within the past year or so, silver has gained popularity as a safe, effective antimicrobial agent, and scientists are already looking into using nanochrystalline silver as a likely potential in the treatment for cystic fibrosis patients. Additionally, silver in the form of nanoparticles are sufficiently small to pass through the outer cell membranes of lung cells and enter the cells’ inner mechanisms. Coating the gene with a recognized antibiotic was an intial idea at first, but increasing doses lead to resistance and grave sideffects. Therefore, experimenting even with a minimal dose of antibiotic coating was out of question. Silver, on the other hand, runs a much less likelihood of resistance while providing minimal risks for side effects. Scientist at Leicester University have already built a machine that can produce such silver nanoparticles, which can be suspended in a liquid. In other words, it can be put into an Exubera-like aerosol and breathed into the lungs. What happens once the silver nanoparticles are produced? Well, these nanoparticles have already been used to create SilvaGard, a FDA approved silver nanoparticle antimicrobial coating. While AcryMed is using this silver nanotechnology breakthrough as protection against the formation of infection-causing biofilms or bacteria, our team has decided to employ this silver nanoparticle coating around the corrected cystic fibrosis gene. Upon its administration into the lungs via an inhaler, the silver nanoparticles have the ability to create tenacious bonds to any material, as tested, making it trouble-free to bond with the membranes of lung cells. (http://www.acrymed.com/medical.html)
Since the silver nanoparticles create a large surface area, their antimicrobial properties would tackle the cystic fibrosis infections within the surface of the lungs while the gene will be delivered to the cells. According to a study conducted at Oregon Health and Sciences University, such silver nanotechnology implements low toxicity levels because the nanoparticles were eventually removed through the feces, solid excretory product evacuated from the bowels. Moreover, the international nanotechnology business directory, Nanovip.com, labels such silver nanotechnology as well established, effective, and cost effective.
