‘It would be interesting [...] if you could swallow the surgeon. You put the mechanical surgeon inside the blood vessel and it goes into the heart and “looks” around. It finds out which valve is the faulty one and takes a little knife and slices it out’
Richard Feynman, 1959
Feynman’s visionary statement from 1959 not only arguably inspired the movie Fantastic Voyage and Asimov’s subsequent novel adaptation, but also a lot of modern innovators. Theranautilus, the latest addition to our portfolio at pi Ventures, is turning this vision into reality by developing nanoscale robots capable of performing precise therapeutic tasks inside the human body.
Their first frontier is that all-too-common experience for about a quarter of the people worldwide - the sharp stabbing pain felt in the teeth when sipping a hot drink or biting into a cold dessert. This condition, known as dentin hypersensitivity (DH), disrupts daily comfort, takes out the joy from eating, and impacts quality of life.
Current solutions for DH are largely inadequate. Traditional over-the-counter (OTC) products like desensitizing toothpaste and mouthwashes require continuous use and provide only temporary relief. In-clinic treatments are slightly more durable but tend to wear off over time, requiring frequent reapplication. There is therefore an urgent need for a long-term, effective solution that can improve patient outcomes while remaining accessible and affordable.
Theranautilus has developed a patented technology which can be used for DH treatment using magnetically maneuverable nanorobots. These spherical nanobots (called Calbots) are crafted from a proprietary composition of materials. Their composition and the design of the magnetic apparatus allows them to enter the dentinal tubules of the teeth with extreme precision. Once inside the dentinal tubules, these nanorobots interact with a calcium compound to form a protective tooth-like sealing plug deep within the tubules, creating a long-lasting barrier against painful stimuli. This treatment, envisaged as only a 10 minute procedure, provides an unparalleled level of durability compared to surface-only treatments. After having demonstrated that this technology resolves DH in mice for the long-term, Theranautilus is now gearing up to conduct the world’s first human trials for a nanorobotic therapeutic device in the coming 12 months.
Illustration of Calbots being magnetically maneuvered inside dentinal tubules and sealing them off to cure DH
Beyond DH, Theranautilus’s nanorobot technology shows promise in a variety of other applications across multiple facets of healthcare. The same nanorobotic platform could be extended to address complex dental issues, such as microbial infections & root canal failure. Additionally, due to their precision control, these nanobots may be useful in areas such as cancer diagnostics and targeted drug delivery, demonstrating the versatility and scalability of Theranautilus's platform.
Theranautilus's founding team combines strong technical acumen with significant dental domain expertise. A trained dental surgeon with immense dental care know-how, Dr Shanmukh Srinivas brings clinical insight to the team. Prof Ambarish Ghosh and Dr Debayan Dasgupta are the technical experts working on designing the composition of nanorobots, manufacturing them and then guiding them with precision to the right places in the human body. Prof Ambarish is a pioneer in magnetic nanobot technology and has contributed over 15 years of research to this space. The startup is now advancing toward human clinical trials, with the funds raised supporting regulatory approvals and the refinement of the delivery mechanism.
At pi Ventures, we are thrilled to support Theranautilus in this journey. This investment aligns with our mission to back deep-tech solutions that address real-world problems at scale. We believe Theranautilus's innovative solution addresses a significant unmet need in dental health, with a technology that is scalable and adaptable to other medical applications.. We are proud to partner with Theranautilus as they transform healthcare through science and technology, bringing advanced solutions to millions in need and positioning themselves as a pioneer in the future of healthcare innovation. We look forward to working with Theranautilus as they embark on clinical trials and bring their treatment to market, potentially improving the lives of billions of people suffering from dentin hypersensitivity.