Research

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

From the first controlled propulsion of magnetic nanostructures in 2009 to operating swarms inside human tissue - the research lineage that built Theranautilus.

Scientific Foundation

Pioneering nanorobotics for healthcare.

Theranautilus is built upon more than 20 years of pioneering research in magnetic nanorobotics, nano-scale actuation, targeted navigation, and biomedical engineering led by Prof. Ambarish Ghosh and collaborators at Indian Institute of Science.

This foundational research established the scientific principles enabling controlled movement, navigation, sensing, and therapeutic deployment of nanorobots within complex biological environments.

Selected Landmark Publications

2009

Controlled Propulsion of Artificial Magnetic Nanostructured Propellers

One of the earliest demonstrations of controlled propulsion of artificial magnetic nanostructures.

DOI: 10.1021/nl900186w

2016

Conformal Cytocompatible Ferrite Coatings Facilitate the Realization of a Nanovoyager in Human Blood

Demonstrated biocompatible magnetic nanostructures capable of operating within blood-like environments.

DOI: 10.1021/nl404815q

2018

Maneuverability of Magnetic Nanomotors Inside Living Cells

First demonstration of controlled navigation of magnetic nanomotors within living cells.

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800429

2018

Mobile Nanotweezers for Active Colloidal Manipulation

Introduced mobile nanotweezers capable of active manipulation at microscopic scales.

DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aaq0076

2022

Nanomotors Sense Local Physicochemical Heterogeneities in Tumor Microenvironments

Expanded nanorobotic applications toward oncology and tumor sensing.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202008681

2025

Externally Controlled Intermittent Randomization Enables Complex Navigation of Multiple Nanobots

Advanced multi-agent nanorobotic control and navigation.

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58092-y

2026

Frequency-Chirped Actuation of Chiral Magnetic Microbots for Viscosity Mapping in Heterogeneous Media

Demonstrated advanced sensing capabilities in complex biological environments.

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c09448

2026

Magnetic Nanostructures Inside Cells: A Versatile Platform for Cellular Sensing, Manipulation, and Fabrication

Introduced multifunctional intracellular nanorobotic platforms.

DOI:10.1002/smll.202512144

2026

Magnetically Maneuvered Quantum Sensors

Demonstrated integration of magnetic navigation and quantum sensing technologies.

DOI:10.1002/adfm.202527479

Product Pipeline

LAB SCALE DEEP RESEARCH

PROOF OF CONCEPT IN VITRO

PROOF OF CONCEPT IN VIVO ANIMAL

CONTROLLED ANIMAL TRIALS GLP TOXICITY PROFILING

PILOT TRIALS (DEVICE TRACK) PHASE-I TRIALS (DRUG TRACK)

PIVOTAL TRIALS (DEVICE TRACK) PHASE-II TRIALS (DRUG TRACK)

DENTAL HYPERSENSITIVITY

ADVANCED DENTAL CEMENT

IMPLANTITIS

ONCOLOGY PHASE A

ONCOLOGY PHASE B

DRUG DELIVERY / COLLAGEN CONUNDRUM

Scientific Milestones

Scientific Milestones & Global Recognition

2026

Global recognition

Federal Chancellor of Germany Visits Theranautilus

German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited IISc, where he interacted with select startups from the IISc ecosystem, including Theranautilus, and witnessed a live demonstration of its magnetically controlled nanorobotic swarms.

Selected Among India's Top 10 Innovative Startups

Selected by the Government of India as one of the country's Top 10 innovative startups to showcase technology before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2026

Government recognition

2025

International award

IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award

Prof. Ambarish Ghosh and the Theranautilus team received the IADR's Innovation in Oral Care Award for an ultraprecise nanorobotic biomineralization platform for deep dentinal tubule sealing - the first time a scientific team from the Indian subcontinent received this global recognition.

CalBots™ - Nanorobotic Solution for Tooth Sensitivity

Researchers from IISc and Theranautilus developed CalBots - magnetically guided nanorobots that create durable mineral seals inside dentinal tubules - capable of long-lasting relief in a single minimally invasive treatment.

2025

Product breakthrough

2025

Clinical first

First Demonstration of Nanorobotic Biomineralization Inside Teeth

Theranautilus demonstrated that nanorobots can actively construct mineralized barriers within human teeth, incorporating novel bioceramic materials, advanced microscopy, randomized controlled animal studies, and new animal models for dental hypersensitivity.

First Demonstration of Nanorobotics in Root Canal Therapy

Published the world's first scientific evidence demonstrating nanorobotics in root canal treatment - navigating deep dentinal tubules, accessing unreachable regions, delivering targeted thermal treatment, and eliminating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

2022

World first

Why join Theranautilus

Building a Defensible
Nanorobotics Platform

Theranautilus' technology platform is supported by a growing portfolio of international patent applications covering nanorobotics, magnetic navigation, targeted actuation, and therapeutic applications.

2023

Nanostructure, Nanocomposite and Implementations Thereof

Publication No.: WO 2023/203578 A1

2022

Controlling Motion of Magnetically Driven Microscopic Particles

Publication No.: US 2022/0226073 A1

2021

Method of Locomotion of Nanorobots and Implementations Thereof

Publication No.: WO 2021/019575 A1

2019

Magnetically Augmented Plasmonic Tweezer

Publication No.: WO 2019/043733 A1

2011

Magnetic Structured Propellers

Publication No.: US 2011/0270434 A1

Awards

Recognized across science, industry & government.

2026

IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award

Presented by the International Association for Dental Research in recognition of breakthrough innovation in oral healthcare technologies.

IIScAA Golden Jubilee Highlights

The Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the IISc Alumni Association (IIScAA).

Falling walls science summit Bangalore

Indian Institute of Science

2025

Tata Transformation Prize in Healthcare

Awarded by The Tata Group and The New York Academy of Sciences.

ISDR–IADR Fellowship Award

Awarded by the Indian Society for Dental Research for scientific excellence and contributions to dental research.

ELEVATE 2024 – Top 100 Startups

Selected by the Government of Karnataka as one of Karnataka's most promising technology startups.

2024

NASSCOM Emerge 50

Recognized by NASSCOM among India's Top 50 DeepTech startups driving innovation and technological advancement.

2023

BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)

Awarded by the Department of Biotechnology to support the development and commercialization of breakthrough biotechnology innovations.

Top 10 Global MedTech Companies Solving Real-World Problems

Recognized by Board of Innovation for developing transformative healthcare technologies.

2022

Matrix Award - Best Startup in Future Technologies

Presented by TiE for outstanding innovation and technological leadership.

DST NIDHI PRAYAAS Grant

Supported by the Department of Science and Technology to accelerate prototype development and technology validation.

AWS Grand Challenge

Recognized by Amazon Web Services for innovative technology-driven solutions.

2021

National Startup Award

Conferred by the Government of India and presented by Ramnath Kovind in recognition of outstanding innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.

Hatton Award

Awarded by the International Association for Dental Research for excellence in dental and oral health research.

2017

IACDE Research Grant

Awarded by the Indian Association of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics to support innovative research in dentistry and endodontics.

EVENTS

2026

IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award

Theranautilus and IISc researchers received the prestigious Innovation in Oral Care Award at the 104th IADR General Session in San Diego for the CalBot™ nanorobotic biomineralization platform. This marked the first time a scientific group from the Indian subcontinent received this award.

Reference

2026

Selected among Top 10 Startups to Showcase Technology to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India during Startup India.

Prof. Ambarish Ghosh demonstrated Theranautilus' nanorobotics platform to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reference

2026

Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, visited Theranautilus

Friedrich Merz, visited CeNSE and witnessed a live demonstration of magnetically controlled nanorobotic swarms from Theranautilus.

Reference

2025

Prof. Ambarish Ghosh awarded the Tata Transformation Prize (Healthcare) by Tata Group

Prof. Ambarish Ghosh awarded the Tata Transformation Prize (Healthcare) by Tata Group and The New York Academy of Sciences for pioneering work in nanorobotics. (LinkedIn)

Reference

2025

Nature Communications publication

Nature Communications publication: Externally Controlled Intermittent Randomization Enables Complex Navigation of Multiple Nanobots, demonstrating advanced multi-agent nanorobot navigation. (LinkedIn)

Reference

2025

Selected among the Top 5 nanorobotics startups globally

Reference

2025

ACS Nano publication

Frequency-Chirped Actuation of Chiral Magnetic Microbots for Viscosity Mapping in Heterogeneous Media, advancing magnetic microbot sensing in biological environments.

Reference

2024

Winner – ELEVATE 2024

Winner – ELEVATE 2024 by the Government of Karnataka, recognizing Theranautilus among the state's leading deep-tech startups. (LinkedIn)

Reference

2024

Recognized among the NASSCOM Emerge 50

Recognized among the NASSCOM Emerge 50, identifying Theranautilus as one of India's leading deep-tech startups.

Reference

2023

International Patent (PCT) Publication

International Patent (PCT) Publication – WO 2023/203578 A1 for nanostructures, nanocomposites, and related implementations.

WIPO PCT Publication

2023

BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)

BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) awarded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, supporting technology translation and commercialization.

BIRAC