Citation networks are critical infrastructures of modern science, serving as intricate webs of past literature and enabling researchers to navigate the knowledge production system. To mine information hiding in the link space of such networks, predicting which previous papers (candidates) will a new paper (query) cite is a critical problem that has long been studied. However, an important gap remains unaddressed: the roles of a paper's citations vary significantly, ranging from foundational knowledge basis to superficial contexts.

Nanorobots are a promising development in targeted drug delivery and the treatment of neurological disorders, with potential for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These small devices leverage advancements in nanotechnology and bioengineering for precise navigation and targeted payload delivery, particularly for conditions like brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Recent progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has improved the navigation and effectiveness of nanorobots, allowing them to detect and interact with cancer cells through biomarker analysis. This study presents a new reinforcement learning (RL) framework for optimizing nanorobot navigation in complex biological environments, focusing on cancer cell detection by analyzing the concentration gradients of surrounding biomarkers. We utilize a computer simulation model to explore the behavior of nanorobots in a three-dimensional space with cancer cells and biological barriers. The proposed method uses Q-learning to refine movement strategies based on real-time biomarker concentration data, enabling nanorobots to autonomously navigate to cancerous tissues for targeted drug delivery. This research lays the groundwork for future laboratory experiments and clinical applications, with implications for personalized medicine and less invasive cancer treatments. The integration of intelligent nanorobots could revolutionize therapeutic strategies, reducing side effects and enhancing treatment effectiveness for cancer patients. Further research will investigate the practical deployment of these technologies in medical settings, aiming to unlock the full potential of nanorobotics in healthcare.

Tiny magnetic robots can help remove some of the smallest plastic particles from polluted water. Most plastics eventually end up as tiny fragments that then hide in our environment, food and drinking water. There is no consensus on the health implications of ingesting plastic yet, but early research suggests that plastic particles can enter organs within the body and that this process gets easier as the particles get smaller.

Nanorobots that move through the bloodstream could reduce cancerous tumors in the bladder by 90 percent. In a potential breakthrough, scientists in Barcelona created tiny 450-nanometer-sized robots that deliver therapeutic directly to the growth. Bladder cancer is the one of the common type of cancer in men and while it has a low mortality rate nearly all tumors return within five years. In a study on mice, researchers showed that the tiny machines could eliminate the need for multiple tumor treatments by reducing the tumor after one try. Current treatments for bladder cancer include surgery and chemotherapy, which can cost more than 65,000.

Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA Abstract Nanorobotics offers an emerging frontier in biomedicine, holding the potential to revolutionize diagnostic and therapeutic applications through its unique capabilities in manipulating biological systems at the nanoscale. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using IEEE Xplore and PubMed databases, resulting in the identification and analysis of a total of 414 papers. The studies were filtered to include only those that addressed both nanorobotics and direct medical applications. Our analysis traces the technology's evolution, highlighting its growing prominence in medicine as evidenced by the increasing number of publications over time. Applications ranged from targeted drug delivery and single-cell manipulation to minimally invasive surgery and biosensing. Despite the promise, limitations such as biocompatibility, precise control, and ethical concerns were also identified. This review aims to offer a thorough overview of the state of nanorobotics in medicine, drawing attention to current challenges and opportunities, and providing directions for future research in this rapidly advancing field. Introduction Nanorobotics, a field merging nanotechnology with teleoperated and autonomous robotics, presents groundbreaking solutions that are unattainable with conventional robotics. A nanorobot, also known as a nanomachine, is a miniature mechanical or electromechanical device designed to perform specific tasks at the nanoscale level [1]. Contrary to nanorobotics, nanoparticles are tiny particles with unique properties, used for applications like drug delivery. Nanorobotics involves designing molecular-scale robots for tasks such as targeted medical procedures.

This week, Claire chatted to Sabine Hauert from the University of Bristol all about swarm robotics, nanorobots, and environmental monitoring. is Associate Professor of Swarm Engineering at University of Bristol. She leads a team of 20 researchers working on making swarms for people, and across scales, from nanorobots for cancer treatment, to larger robots for environmental monitoring, or logistics. Previously she worked at MIT and EPFL. She is President and Executive Trustee of non-profits robohub.org and aihub.org, which connect the robotics and AI communities to the public.

Advanced technologies, such as AI-guided robots and automation, provide a possible solution to the provider crisis by relieving healthcare workers from repetitive and time-consuming duties and enabling clinicians to concentrate on tasks that need a specialized touch. There are many applications of robotics changing healthcare, from clerical work to surgical assistance to hospital cleaning. There was also a decrease in the spread of the pandemic due to the adoption of robotic-assisted ultrasound devices, which allowed for more separation between patients and sonographers. The use of robots in healthcare has been commonplace for a long time, and this trend will only increase as robots continue to aid in improving the quality of life for patients. As part of a global robotics changing healthcare telemedicine network, robots have access to doctors from all around the globe.

Chemists have created nanorobots propelled by magnets that remove pollutants from water. The invention could be scaled up to provide a sustainable and affordable way of cleaning up contaminated water in treatment plants. Martin Pumera at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, in the Czech Republic and his colleagues developed the nanorobots by using a temperature-sensitive polymer material and iron oxide. The polymer acts like tiny hands that can pick up and dispose of pollutants in the water, while the iron oxide makes the nanorobots magnetic. The researchers also added oxygen and hydrogen atoms to the iron oxide that can attach onto target pollutants.

Welcome back to the "Life in 2050" series. In previous installments, we looked at how technological advancements, climate change, and changes in the geopolitical landscape will alter the nature of warfare, economics, living at home, education, transportation, and space exploration (in two installments) in the coming decades. Today, we will look at how these same changes and advancements will revolutionize medicine by the middle of this century. As with all the other aspects of life we've explored, this revolution is already well underway, but will accelerate dramatically as we get closer to 2050. This will present new opportunities for healthier living, but also new hazards. While it is safe to say that more people will be able to live longer, healthier lives in the future, it's also likely that future generations will face health threats that are less common, or even unknown, today.

Doctors know that we need smarter medicines to target the bad guys only. One hope is that tiny robots on the scale of a billionth of a metre can come to the rescue, delivering drugs directly to rogue cancer cells. To make these nanorobots, researchers in Europe are turning to the basic building blocks of life – DNA. Today robots come in all shapes and sizes. One of the strongest industrial robots can lift cars weighing over two tons.