Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 460,503 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,097 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,097 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,210 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 460,503 cutting edge ideas.

Revolutionizing Intravenous Nanotechnology

Self-Powered Microbeads

— November 3, 2008 — Tech
One of my favorite movies when I was growing up was Fantastic Voyage, where five people (one of whom was Racquel Welch) and their submarine-type vessel were shrunk down so they could be injected into the bloodstream of a scientist with the mission to dissolve a life-threatening blood clot.

Slow-Forward to 2008. Scientists at École Polytechnique de Montréal--the Polytechnical School of Montreal-- have developed something that may even be cooler than shrinking Racquel Welch.

By attaching little microscopic beads onto the bodies of magnetic, swimming bacteria, they have created little self-powered bacteria-robot hybrids that can be steered through the bloodstream by using the magnetic fields of an MRI.

By lacing the microbeads with anti-tumor agents, or perhaps clot-busting drugs, these little guys could be steered directly to their destination where they would leave their medical payloads.

Researchers are still working on techniques for removing them from the body post-procedure, as well as making sure that they don't get attacked by the body prior to finishing their mission.

In Fantastic Voyage, it was the body's defenses that ultimately destroyed the ship. Maybe these bots are destined to give their lives up for the greater good...
Trend Themes
1. Intravenous Nanotechnology - The development of self-powered bacteria-robot hybrids presents innovative opportunities for the advancement of intravenous nanotechnology applications.
2. Microbead Delivery Systems - The use of microbeads as delivery systems for anti-tumor agents and clot-busting drugs could revolutionize the medical industry.
3. Magnetic Navigation Systems - The incorporation of magnetic fields for the navigation of bacteria-robot hybrids provides exciting potential for the advancement of magnetic navigation systems within the medical industry.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Industry - The development of bacteria-robot hybrid technology could greatly enhance drug delivery systems within the medical industry.
2. Nanotechnology Industry - The use of microbeads and self-powered bacteria-robot hybrids presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the advancement of intravenous nanotechnology applications.
3. MRI Industry - The incorporation of magnetic fields for the navigation of bacteria-robot hybrids could lead to advancements in the development of magnetic navigation systems within the MRI industry.
3.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness