The Pivotal Role of Molecular Nanotechnology and Advanced Nanorobotics in Catalyzing the Technological Singularity

by Dr. Lovasz Colin

To be, or not to be........Nanotechnology

Despite the exponential progress of technology, it seems nanotechnology has not progressed to the level I expected two decades ago.

Nanotechnology embodies a transformative paradigm that has profoundly influenced my academic and professional trajectory, and my fervent dedication to this field has manifested in a lifelong commitment to the study and enhancement of its underlying principles through a unique methodological approach.

Advanced Nanorobotics and Molecular Nanotechnology are not currently at the level required to facilitate a Technological Singularity, nor have they reached a foundational stage of development.

Nanotech development should become the main priority of humanity in every lab and institute.
Every form of technology we create relates to current methods of engineering and fabrication, so nanotech is the most fundamental technology of all and should be considered the creational force of the future.

All funds, resources, equipment, scientists, and efforts should be directed towards the development of what I term Advanced Nanorobotics, as this field could potentially grant us unparalleled nanomechanical control over matter and particles in a computational fashion.

The present techniques for crafting the fifth paradigm, namely integrated circuits, and the existing EUV lithography machines that utilize extreme ultraviolet light to inscribe circuits onto silicon wafers, are seemingly archaic, akin to stone etching.
It is imperative to devise significant models and roadmaps for nanotechnology development and to invest billions of dollars into this field, as it has the potential to revolutionize and transform humanity more profoundly than any other technology conceivable.

As the 2030s would mark the end of current EUV machines, High-NA EUV lithography that uses a larger lens with a higher numerical aperture to focus the EUV light more sharply and increase the resolution and depth of focus is expected to enable the printing of features below 10 angstroms, continuing well beyond 2030s and expanding Moore's law for at least another decade to 2040, where we should definitely expect by then 2 angstroms scale circuits to represent the maximum limit of miniaturization for current lithographic techniques and Molecular Manufacturing should be imperatively introduced, continuing the level of progress and expand the Moore's Law toward Zettascale nanocomputing.

I go beyond the current ideas of simple Nanofactories envisioned by Eric Drexler and I see a whole ecosystem of nanorobotic creations made by A.Is. Let's call it a microscopic artificial universe with miniaturized Nanoscale worlds created by Nanotechnology in which macroscale machines build more and more advanced, sophisticated, and smaller machines that could guide chemical reactions by mechanically positioning reactive molecules with atomic precision.

Well, nowadays when you enter inside Hi-Tech factories you see all kinds of machines and systems interacting in complex modes, but what if we could reduce everything down to the micro and nanoscale? We have to completely change how we view Nanotech, and we should call it Nanoscale Mastering.  

The developmental level of Molecular Nanotechnology should depend on various factors such as the level of discoveries, research, scientific breakthroughs, funding, regulation, and public awareness. 

Well, I don't wish to dampen enthusiasm, but I anticipate that Molecular Nanotechnology may reach certain milestones between 2050 and 2070, possibly including:

The development of molecular assemblers, which are nanoscale machines that can manipulate atoms and molecules with high precision and accuracy. 

The creation of Nanofactories, which are systems of molecular assemblers that can produce complex products from simple resources by reorganizing matter and particles at the fundamental scale.

The integration of Molecular Nanotechnology with Biotechnology, and it could enable unimaginable applications that could revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and bioengineering.

The emergence of productive nanosystems, which are networks of Nanofactories that can self-replicate, self-repair, and self-improve. 

Some of the possible benefits and challenges of Molecular Manufacturing for computing are that Molecular manufacturing could overcome the physical limits of silicon-based chips, such as reduced efficiency of architecture and materials, heat dissipation, power consumption, and transistor density, and should enable us to reach the maximum limits of complexity and density possible at the atomic scale. 

Molecular manufacturing could enable the design of phenomenal architectures and functionalities for computing, such as nanoengineering topological quantum computing systems, and massive Zettascale neuromorphic computing for example. 

Molecular manufacturing could increase computing power by a factor of a trillion compared to current technology, and dramatically reduce the cost and environmental impact of computing, as it could use abundant and renewable materials, such as carbon, dirt, and water, and reduce dramatically the pollution as the waste will be atomically disassembled. 

To accelerate the development of Molecular Manufacturing we need to invest in research and development of nanomechanics, molecular assemblers, Nanofactories, and productive nanosystems, which are the key components of Molecular Manufacturing while establishing standards and regulations for the safety, security, and quality of molecular manufacturing products and processes, fostering collaboration and communication among scientists, engineers, policymakers, and the public to share knowledge, insights, and best practices, and promoting ethical and responsible use of Molecular Manufacturing for the universal progress. 

Some possible steps we need to take to develop Molecular Nanotechnology are:

To develop A.Is capable of decoding all known protein structures, and using those structures as an inspiration and as the basis for creating future nanorobotics.

To study the natural functions and mechanisms of proteins and mimic or modify them in order to build artificial nanosystems. 

For example, some proteins can act as molecular motors, sensors, switches, or catalysts, which could be useful for building nanoscale machines and devices.

Some examples of protein-based Nanotechnology are:

Protein cages - These are hollow structures formed by the self-assembly of protein subunits, such as viral capsids or ferritins. They can be used as templates or containers for synthesizing and delivering nanoparticles, drugs, or genes. 

Protein tubes - These are cylindrical structures formed by the self-assembly of protein subunits, such as microtubules or flagella. They can be used as scaffolds or wires for constructing nanocircuits, sensors, or actuators. 

Protein rings - These are circular structures formed by the self-assembly of protein subunits, such as ATP synthase or DNA polymerase. They can be used as rotors or pumps for generating mechanical or electrical energy. 

Some useful proteins that could inspire the creation of advanced nanorobotics and nanosystems are also the Kinesin for example, which is a protein complex that functions as a molecular biological machine. It uses protein domain dynamics on nanoscales to walk along a microtubule, which is a cytoskeletal filament. 

Kinesin can transport molecules or organelles within the cell, such as vesicles, chromosomes, or mitochondria. 

Kinesin could inspire the design of nanorobots that can move and deliver payloads within biological systems.

ATP synthase for example is a protein complex that functions as a molecular rotary motor. It uses the electrochemical gradient of protons across a membrane to drive the synthesis of ATP, which is the main energy currency of the cell. 

ATP synthase consists of two subunits such as F0, which forms a channel for protons to flow through the membrane, and F1, which catalyzes the formation of ATP from ADP and phosphate. The rotation of F0 causes the rotation of F1, which in turn changes the conformation of its active sites. 

ATP synthase could inspire the design of nanorobots that can generate mechanical or electrical energy from chemical gradients. 

DNA polymerase is a protein complex that functions as a molecular replicator and it uses DNA as a template to synthesize new strands of DNA during DNA replication, which is essential for cell division and genetic inheritance. 

DNA polymerase can also proofread and correct errors in the newly synthesized DNA, ensuring high fidelity and accuracy. It could also inspire the design of nanorobots that can copy and manipulate information at the molecular level. 

For example, a nanomachine inspired by the kinesin protein can walk along microtubules and transport cargo within cells, and it could be made of DNA origami, which can fold into various shapes and attach to different molecules. 

The nanomachine could have two legs that can bind and release microtubules and a body that can carry DNA or protein cargo. 

It could use ATP as a fuel source to power its motion and could be used for targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, or biosensing. 

We should be also capable of creating a nanomachine inspired by the ATP synthase protein, which can rotate and produce ATP from ADP and phosphate. 

This nanomachine could be made of a metal-organic framework, which is a porous material that can host different molecules and ions. It could have a rotor that can spin when protons flow through it and a stator that can catalyze the formation of ATP. The nanomachine could use a pH gradient as an energy source to drive its rotation. It could be used for energy harvesting, storage, or conversion.

A nanomachine inspired by the DNA polymerase protein, which can copy and repair DNA strands could be made of a synthetic polymer, which is a long chain of repeating units that can mimic biological functions. The nanomachine could have a polymerase domain that can bind and extend a DNA strand, and an exonuclease domain that can remove and correct mismatched bases. The nanomachine could use nucleotides as building blocks to synthesize new DNA, and it could be also used for DNA sequencing, editing, and hybridizing with artificial nanostructures or amplifying certain features.

I propose different approaches and methods to design molecular assemblers, such as:

Mimicking biological systems, since some biological molecules, such as ribosomes, DNA polymerase, and ATP synthase, can be considered as natural molecular assemblers, as they can perform atomically precise movements and reactions.

We could study the structure and function of these biological machines and try to replicate or modify them for nanotronic purposes.

Using self-assembly which is the process by which molecules spontaneously organize into ordered structures or patterns without external guidance. 

We can use self-assembly to create molecular components or templates that can serve as building blocks or scaffolds for molecular assemblers. For example, we can use DNA origami, which is the folding of DNA strands into various shapes, to create nanoscale structures that can bind and position other molecules. 

Using scanning probe microscopy which is a technique that uses a sharp tip to scan and image surfaces at the atomic level, could be used to manipulate individual atoms and molecules on a surface and assemble them into desired patterns or structures. 

We can also use a scanning tunneling microscope to move atoms on a metal surface and create nanowires or quantum dots.
Well anyway, protein engineering should enable us designing and modifying proteins to achieve desired structures and functions. It can be used to create molecular assemblers and nanofactories, which are hypothetical devices that can manipulate matter at the nanoscale level and produce complex structures and products. 

There are different methods and approaches for protein engineering, such as:

Rational design which involves using computational tools and knowledge of protein structure and function to design new or improved proteins. For example, one can use molecular modeling software to predict the effects of mutations, insertions, deletions, or domain swapping on protein stability, folding, activity, and interactions. 

Rational design can also involve using bioinformatics tools to search for homologous or analogous proteins that have similar or desired functions and use them as templates or scaffolds for engineering new proteins.

Directed evolution involves using random or targeted mutagenesis to generate a large library of protein variants and then selecting or screening for those that have improved or novel properties. For example, one can use error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling, or site-directed mutagenesis to introduce mutations into a gene encoding a protein of interest and then express the variants in a suitable host organism. Then, one can use various techniques such as phage display, yeast display, bacterial display, or cell-free systems to identify and isolate the variants that have enhanced or altered activity, specificity, stability, solubility, or binding affinity.

Hybrid methods involve combining rational design and directed evolution to optimize protein engineering. For example, one can use rational design to identify key residues or regions that are important for protein function and then use directed evolution to fine-tune the performance of the protein. Alternatively, one can use directed evolution to generate a diverse pool of protein variants and then use rational design to analyze and improve the best candidates.

Using these methods, one can engineer proteins that can act as molecular assemblers and nanofactories by designing them to have specific features and functionalities, such as:

Molecular recognition: This feature involves designing proteins that can bind to specific substrates, ligands, cofactors, or other proteins with high affinity and specificity. This can enable precise positioning and orientation of reactive molecules for catalysis or synthesis. For example, one can engineer proteins that can recognize specific DNA sequences and assemble them into desired shapes or patterns.

Molecular motion: This feature involves designing proteins that can undergo conformational changes or movements in response to external stimuli such as light, temperature, pH, or electric fields. This can enable dynamic control of molecular interactions and reactions. For example, one can engineer proteins that can act as molecular switches2, motors3, pumps, or valves that can regulate the flow of molecules or energy in nanoscale devices.

Molecular assembly: This feature involves designing proteins that can self-assemble into higher-order structures such as fibers, tubes, cages, crystals, or networks that can serve as scaffolds or templates for building complex nanostructures or nanomachines. For example, one can engineer proteins that can form nanowires, nanotubes, nanocapsules, nanosensors, or nanoreactors that can perform various functions such as transport, storage, detection, or catalysis.

Into the present for example are a number of things we can do to speed the development of advanced Nanorobotics and Nanofactories such as:

Increase investment in research and development, since Advanced Nanorobotics and Nanofactories are complex technologies, significant investment is needed to develop them. 

Governments, industry, and academia should all work together to increase funding for this research and put all their resources into the game.

We should encourage collaboration between researchers from different disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, engineering, and computer science, they all need to work together to develop advanced Nanorobotics and Molecular Manufacturing, and this kind of collaboration can be facilitated through government programs, industry partnerships, and academic exchanges.

Indeed, for the advancement of sophisticated nanotechnology, individuals like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, along with companies such as Google, Intel, IBM, Meta, and Microsoft, should invest heavily.