Molecular Nanomachines Can Destroy Tissue or Kill Multicellular Eukaryotes.

Light-activated molecular nanomachines (MNMs) can be used to drill holes into prokaryotic (bacterial) cell walls and the membrane of eukaryotic cells, including mammalian cancer cells, by their fast-rotational movement, leading to cell death. We examined how these MNMs function in multi-cellular organisms and investigated their use for treatment and eradication of specific diseases by causing damage to certain tissues and small organisms. Three model eukaryotic species, , , and (mouse) were evaluated. These organisms were exposed to light-activated fast-rotating MNMs and their physiological and pathological changes were studied in detail. Slow rotating MNMs were used to control for the effects of rotation rate. We demonstrate that fast-rotating MNMs caused depigmentation and 70% mortality in while reducing the movement, heart rate, and causing tissue damage in . Topically applied light-activated MNMs on mouse skin caused ulceration and micro-lesions in the epithelial tissue allowing MNMs to localize into deeper epidermal tissue. Overall, this study shows that the nanomechanical action of light-activated MNMs is effective against multi-cellular organisms, disrupting cell membranes and damaging tissue . Customized MNMs that target specific tissues for therapy, combined with spatial and temporal control could have broad clinical applications in a variety of benign and malignant disease states including treatment of cancer, parasites, bacteria and diseased tissues.