By Kritin Karkare
“I think a lot of people view nanotechnology as this magical
force,” Angell said. “But it’s very tangible. It’s not inaccessible. I want
people to understand it’s just manipulating materials on a different scale.”
As a graduate student in Professor Yi Chen’s lab, Angell manipulates DNA to make nanomachines
that could improve drug delivery. She builds 3D structures out of the genetic material,
taking advantage of DNA’s different properties like responding to small
molecules and changes in pH. In addition to medicines, these nanomachines could
deliver proteins and other biomolecules where they’re needed.
Her DNA robots are meant to solve a common issue when drug
molecules are absorbed by a cell: Once a molecule enters the cell, it triggers
a process where the cell turns part of its cell wall inside out and produces a
compartment called an endosome, which holds the drug molecule inside.
Unfortunately for the molecule, the endosome typically merges with lysosomes,
which break down the molecule and prevent it from reaching its target. Angell’s
approach is to take advantage of the acidification process that endosomes go
through. She designed the nanorobots to respond to the endosome’s decrease in pH
and expand, letting the molecule break free and continue on its journey.
She’s convinced that DNA nanotechnology like this could be
the way of the future.
“It’s pretty bio-compatible. It’s easy to make structures
out of as long as you follow certain design rules. It’s easy to target certain
populations of cells,” she noted.
Talking
nanoengineering
When she’s not working with DNA to improve human health, Angell
is often found explaining her work and the field of nanoengineering, making it easy
for everyone to understand. Participating in the Comic-Con panel “Nanotechnology in Sci-Fi: Fact or Fiction” was one of her favorite
experiences. At the panel, she helped dispel some of the myths behind the
nanoengineering commonly seen in movies and TV shows. For example, many people
wonder whether the Nanites in Star Trek—nanorobots that took over space ships
and founded their own civilization—exist in real life and could take over
Earth. Angell helped quell that fear to a room so full that people had to be
turned away.
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| Chava Angell in science communicator-action at the inaugural NanoXpo in 2017, which she helped co-found. |
“Honestly I was surprised
by how many people wanted to learn about nanotechnology,” she said. “People
wanted to know what was possible.”
She said it was cool to see the level of interest people had,
and know that there were people from all over the world interested in nanotechnology.
While she’s confident in her ability to communicate
nanoengineering to different audiences now, it wasn’t always that way.
“I needed to force myself to be comfortable with it,” she
said.
Years of participating in public
outreach events like Comic-Con and research talks eased her worries about public
speaking.
Angell expanded on this vision of practicing communication
while co-organizing NanoXpo, a research conference devoted to showcasing the UC
San Diego NanoEngineering Department’s different research groups. The event included a poster competition judged
by industry representatives and a networking reception. Graduate students had
the chance to connect with industry partners, as well as with other students
from different labs.
Angell is aware that not every graduate student is as
motivated to practice communicating as she is, but says there are real benefits to it.
“As an engineer, you need to realize that— especially as a Ph.D.
student— you’re defending your thesis to people who have no idea what your
field is,” Angell said. Being able to convey your work and the importance of it is vital.
She believes that creating more opportunities to practice
communication will encourage more
students to talk about science with people in their field and the
public.
As for whether nanorobots will take over the world? Angell
says it’s not likely.
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