Using DNA to build a micro robot and use it to study cell processes invisible to the naked eye - this is not science fiction, but the subject of serious research by scientists from the French National Institute of health and medicine (INSERM), the National Center for scientific research and the University of Montpellier. This highly innovative "nanorobot" can more closely study the mechanical forces applied at the micro level, which is critical to many biological and pathological processes and represents a major technological progress. The relevant research was published in the latest issue of nature communication. Human cells are affected by the mechanical force applied on the micro scale, triggering many biological signals necessary for cellular processes, which are involved in the normal function of the human body or the development of diseases. For example, tactile perception depends to some extent on the application of mechanical forces to specific cellular receptors. In addition to touch, these mechanical force sensitive receptors (called "mechanoreceptors") can regulate other key biological processes, such as vasoconstriction, pain, respiration, and even detect sound waves in the ear. This dysfunction of cellular mechanosensitivity is associated with many diseases such as cancer. Cancer cells migrate in vivo by detecting and constantly adapting to the mechanical characteristics of their microenvironment. Mechanoreceptors can detect specific forces and transmit information to the cytoskeleton. At present, scientists' understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in cell mechanosensitivity is still very limited. There are several techniques available for applying controlled forces and studying these mechanisms, but there are limitations. In order to find an alternative, the research team led by INSERM researcher Gaetan Bert decided to use the DNA folding method, that is, using DNA molecules as construction materials to self assemble 3D nanostructures in a predefined form. Researchers have designed a nanorobot composed of three kinds of DNA folding structures, whose size is compatible with the size of human cells, making it possible for the first time to apply and control a force with a resolution of 1 Pico Newton (i.e., 1 trillion of 1 Newton). This is the first time that a DNA based self-assembled object made by humans can exert force so accurately. The team first connected the robot to a molecule that recognizes mechanoreceptors. This makes it possible for the robot to point at some cells of the human body and specifically apply force to directional mechanoreceptors positioned on the cell surface to activate them. The researchers said that this tool is very valuable for basic research because it can be used to better understand the molecular mechanism of cell mechanical sensitivity and find new cell receptors sensitive to mechanical force. With nanorobots, scientists can also more accurately study when the key signal pathways of biological and pathological processes are activated at the cell level. (news agency)