Volume 11, Issue 2 (June 2026)
J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2026, 11(2): 2966-2968 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Hatami B, Bayati F. Bio-Nanorobots with Smart Targeting in Producing Biodiesel from Wastewater. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2026; 11 (2) :2966-2968
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1216-en.html
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-1216-en.html
Environmental Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Full-Text [PDF 237 kb]
(87 Downloads)
| Abstract (HTML) (154 Views)
Full-Text: (5 Views)
Bio-Nanorobots with Smart Targeting in Producing Biodiesel from Wastewater
Behnam Hatami 1*, Fatemeh Bayati 1
1 Environmental Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Behnam Hatami 1*, Fatemeh Bayati 1
1 Environmental Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| A R T I C L E I N F O | ||
| LETTER TO EDITOR | *Corresponding Author: Behnam Hatami Email: bhatami88@yahoo.com Tel: +98 35 3820 9119 |
|
Article History: Received: 14 February 2026 Accepted: 20 April 2026 |
||
Citation: Hatami B, Bayati F. Bio-Nanorobots with Smart Targeting in Producing Biodiesel from Wastewater. J Environ Health Sustain Dev. 2026; 11(2): 2966-8.
The increasing global energy demand, coupled with the need to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, has heightened interest in developing innovative technologies for sustainable biofuel production 1. Wastewater, due to its substantial organic compound and lipid content, has been identified as a cost-effective and accessible feedstock for biodiesel production 2. However, the complex structure of sludge matrix, entrapment of a significant proportion of lipids within microbial cells, and the presence of recalcitrant organic matter, heavy metals, and other pollutants limit lipid accessibility and its extraction efficiency 3. Moreover, the dependence on energy-intensive pretreatment methods and the substantial use of organic solvents elevate both the operational expenses and environmental repercussions of the process 4. These limitations underscore the need for advanced and intelligent technologies to improve lipid accessibility, enhance extraction efficiency, and promote the sustainability of biodiesel production from wastewater sludge.
One promising conceptual approach is the development of bio-nanorobots with intelligent targeting capabilities. This approach, in contrast to traditional chemical or mechanical cell disruption techniques, suggests the employment of genetically engineered, non-pathogenic microorganisms as programmable biological nanorobots. These nanorobots are engineered to selectively target lipid-rich cells within wastewater sludge. These microscopic entities are specifically designed to recognize and attach to lipid-containing cells within the sludge matrix. Upon attachment, they can be programmed to disrupt the target cells while simultaneously catalyzing the conversion of extracted lipids into biodiesel through transesterification. This method potentially facilitates the direct transformation of sewage sludge into crude biodiesel, eliminating the need for traditional lipid separation processes. Furthermore, these nanorobots could be programmed to selectively secrete lipase enzymes precisely at the target site. Unlike conventional approaches, in which enzymes are dispersed throughout the entire reaction medium, localized enzyme secretion would enable catalytic activity only where it is required, thereby improving process efficiency and reducing enzyme waste.
In this context, sonogenetic technology offers a prospective external mechanism for controlling the activity of bio-nanorobots. By employing sound waves at specific frequencies within the wastewater sludge reactor, it is theoretically possible to activate, deactivate, or modulate the activity of these engineered microorganisms as required. This strategy has the potential to significantly decrease energy consumption while offering precise spatiotemporal regulation of bio-nanorobot functions. Although sonogenetic control is predominantly explored in cancer therapy and neuroscience 5,6, its application in biodiesel production constitutes a novel and progressive concept.
The implementation of this system necessitates the creation of a durable and engineerable biological chassis. This chassis must sustain its functionality amidst the complex and variable conditions present in wastewater sludge, which include exposure to organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pH fluctuations. In this regard, resilient microorganisms could be genetically engineered to enable targeted lipase secretion and improve access to lipids entrapped within the sludge matrix. Furthermore, the incorporation of biocompatible nanometric coatings and magnetic recovery systems could theoretically enhance the stability, protection, and retrieval of bio-nanorobots from wastewater environments. However, integrating these functionalities into a practical system presents significant challenges. It necessitates the careful selection of appropriate host organisms, the maintenance of genetic stability, the assurance of biosafety, the precise regulation of nanorobot activity, and the evaluation of system performance on an industrial scale. Therefore, this technology should presently be considered a conceptual framework and a promising research avenue for the development of next-generation wastewater-based biodiesel production technologies.
Overall, bio-nanorobots with intelligent targeting capabilities constitute an innovative conceptual approach to address the limitations associated with lipid extraction from wastewater sludge. This approach integrates lipid recovery, transesterification, and biodiesel production into a unified process. Although this technology remains at the conceptual stage, its realization depends on future advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology, its potential to reduce energy consumption, minimize the use of chemical solvents, and improve production efficiency warrants further investigation. Therefore, interdisciplinary research aimed at evaluating the technical feasibility, biosafety, and economic viability of this approach could pave the way for the development of next-generation wastewater-based biorefineries and facilitate the transition toward a circular economy and sustainable biofuel production.
This is an Open-Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this work for commercial use.
References
1. di Bitonto L, Locaputo V, Pastore C. Solventless recovery of lipids from urban sewage sludge: how to sustainably turn a waste into a valuable source of oleochemicals. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2024;494:152991.
2. Alsaedi AA, Hossain MS, Balakrishnan V, et al. Extraction and separation of lipids from municipal sewage sludge for biodiesel production: kinetics and thermodynamics modeling. Fuel. 2022;325:124946.
3. Abouelela AR, Mussa AA, Talhami M, et al. Industrial sludge valorization and decontamination via lipid extraction and heavy metals removal using low-cost protic ionic liquid. Sci Total Environ. 2022;835:155451.
4. D’Ambrosio V, Kanda LRS, Corazza ML, et al. Enhancing green lipid extraction from sewage sludge using ethyl hexanoate: a step towards an effective lipid valorization. J Environ Chem Eng. 2025;13(2):115585.
5. Anto M, Mukherjee K, Mukherjee K. Nano bio-robots: a new frontier in targeted therapeutic delivery. Front Robot AI. 2025;12:1639445.
6. Abdollahzadeh H, Peeples TL, Shahcheraghi M. DNA nanotechnology in oligonucleotide drug delivery systems: prospects for bio-nanorobots in cancer treatment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2025:115673.
One promising conceptual approach is the development of bio-nanorobots with intelligent targeting capabilities. This approach, in contrast to traditional chemical or mechanical cell disruption techniques, suggests the employment of genetically engineered, non-pathogenic microorganisms as programmable biological nanorobots. These nanorobots are engineered to selectively target lipid-rich cells within wastewater sludge. These microscopic entities are specifically designed to recognize and attach to lipid-containing cells within the sludge matrix. Upon attachment, they can be programmed to disrupt the target cells while simultaneously catalyzing the conversion of extracted lipids into biodiesel through transesterification. This method potentially facilitates the direct transformation of sewage sludge into crude biodiesel, eliminating the need for traditional lipid separation processes. Furthermore, these nanorobots could be programmed to selectively secrete lipase enzymes precisely at the target site. Unlike conventional approaches, in which enzymes are dispersed throughout the entire reaction medium, localized enzyme secretion would enable catalytic activity only where it is required, thereby improving process efficiency and reducing enzyme waste.
In this context, sonogenetic technology offers a prospective external mechanism for controlling the activity of bio-nanorobots. By employing sound waves at specific frequencies within the wastewater sludge reactor, it is theoretically possible to activate, deactivate, or modulate the activity of these engineered microorganisms as required. This strategy has the potential to significantly decrease energy consumption while offering precise spatiotemporal regulation of bio-nanorobot functions. Although sonogenetic control is predominantly explored in cancer therapy and neuroscience 5,6, its application in biodiesel production constitutes a novel and progressive concept.
The implementation of this system necessitates the creation of a durable and engineerable biological chassis. This chassis must sustain its functionality amidst the complex and variable conditions present in wastewater sludge, which include exposure to organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pH fluctuations. In this regard, resilient microorganisms could be genetically engineered to enable targeted lipase secretion and improve access to lipids entrapped within the sludge matrix. Furthermore, the incorporation of biocompatible nanometric coatings and magnetic recovery systems could theoretically enhance the stability, protection, and retrieval of bio-nanorobots from wastewater environments. However, integrating these functionalities into a practical system presents significant challenges. It necessitates the careful selection of appropriate host organisms, the maintenance of genetic stability, the assurance of biosafety, the precise regulation of nanorobot activity, and the evaluation of system performance on an industrial scale. Therefore, this technology should presently be considered a conceptual framework and a promising research avenue for the development of next-generation wastewater-based biodiesel production technologies.
Overall, bio-nanorobots with intelligent targeting capabilities constitute an innovative conceptual approach to address the limitations associated with lipid extraction from wastewater sludge. This approach integrates lipid recovery, transesterification, and biodiesel production into a unified process. Although this technology remains at the conceptual stage, its realization depends on future advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology, its potential to reduce energy consumption, minimize the use of chemical solvents, and improve production efficiency warrants further investigation. Therefore, interdisciplinary research aimed at evaluating the technical feasibility, biosafety, and economic viability of this approach could pave the way for the development of next-generation wastewater-based biorefineries and facilitate the transition toward a circular economy and sustainable biofuel production.
This is an Open-Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this work for commercial use.
References
1. di Bitonto L, Locaputo V, Pastore C. Solventless recovery of lipids from urban sewage sludge: how to sustainably turn a waste into a valuable source of oleochemicals. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2024;494:152991.
2. Alsaedi AA, Hossain MS, Balakrishnan V, et al. Extraction and separation of lipids from municipal sewage sludge for biodiesel production: kinetics and thermodynamics modeling. Fuel. 2022;325:124946.
3. Abouelela AR, Mussa AA, Talhami M, et al. Industrial sludge valorization and decontamination via lipid extraction and heavy metals removal using low-cost protic ionic liquid. Sci Total Environ. 2022;835:155451.
4. D’Ambrosio V, Kanda LRS, Corazza ML, et al. Enhancing green lipid extraction from sewage sludge using ethyl hexanoate: a step towards an effective lipid valorization. J Environ Chem Eng. 2025;13(2):115585.
5. Anto M, Mukherjee K, Mukherjee K. Nano bio-robots: a new frontier in targeted therapeutic delivery. Front Robot AI. 2025;12:1639445.
6. Abdollahzadeh H, Peeples TL, Shahcheraghi M. DNA nanotechnology in oligonucleotide drug delivery systems: prospects for bio-nanorobots in cancer treatment. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2025:115673.
Type of Study: Letters to editor |
Subject:
Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering
Received: 2026/02/14 | Accepted: 2026/04/20 | Published: 2026/06/20
Received: 2026/02/14 | Accepted: 2026/04/20 | Published: 2026/06/20
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
