Dr. Hudoba likened the advances in the field of “self-assembly” to the Industrial Revolution.
Health Pathway students at Westerville Central High School were introduced to the field of nanotechnology when Dr. Michael Hudoba, a Systems Engineering Professor from Otterbein University, spoke with students about his doctoral research and current work at Otterbein’s new STEAM Innovation Center. Students learned how DNA can be “self-assembled” to make nanoscale simple machines, such as levers and pistons. These simple machines, constructed using DNA origami, can be combined to make machines that are more complex. These machines can then be deployed into cells to serve a variety of functions - covertly delivering chemotherapeutic drugs, measuring cellular crowding, and differentiating between typical and atypical cell movement for early detection of cancers to name a few. Dr. Hudoba likened the advances in this field of “self-assembly” to the Industrial Revolution stating that the impact these discoveries will have on daily life will be far reaching and change society much in the same way. In speaking with parents, Principal Todd Spinner said this program has had a powerful impact on their children.