Nanotechnology in Biological Systems

Nanoscience and nanotechnology refer to the understanding and control of matter at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, at the length scale of approximately 1 - 100 nanometers. The purpose of the nano –bio research opportunity is to stimulate nanoscience and nanotechnology research approaches that have the potential to make valuable contributions to biology and medicine. Nanoscience and nanotechnology can bring fundamental changes to the study and understanding of biological processes in health and disease, as well as enable novel diagnostics and interventions for treating disease. Thus, advances based on nanotechnology and nanoscience could result in a new era in healthcare.
Nanotechnology emerges from the physical, chemical, biological, and engineering sciences, where novel techniques are being developed to probe and manipulate single atoms and molecules. These tools have already enabled a myriad of new discoveries of how the properties of matter are governed by the atomic and molecular arrangements at nanometer dimensions. These discoveries have impacted manufacturing processes of a wide range of materials and devices, resulting in substantial improvements of existing technology as well as entirely new technological innovations. Controlling the design properties, of materials and devices at the nanoscale is made possible by exploiting strategies that are frequently complemented by top-down engineering approaches. While significant progress has been made in material science, it is apparent that nanoscience and nanotechnology-based approaches are poised to revolutionize research in biology and medicine. For example, with the significant progress in understanding the genetic basis of and biochemical pathways that are involved in disease and injury processes, there is a need for ultra-sensitive, real-time monitoring and detection technologies. Nanotechnology can be used to design multi-functional and multi-analyte diagnostic systems that not only define early stage changes or progression to a disease state, but also allow the identification of unique biological molecules, chemicals and structures not addressable by current assays. Nascent nanotechnology-based imaging technologies for inflammation, metastasis, angiogenesis are emerging. In addition, nanotechnology and nanoscience offer new opportunities in the treatment and management of diseases and traumatic injuries. Nanoscale multifunctional materials, capitalizing on progress in genomics and proteomics, allow targeted delivery of molecular therapies with enhanced efficacy.
Studies that employ nanotechnology techniques and concepts and are focused on biological processes will give completely new insights into the physical relationships between cellular components and functional irregularities that trigger pathological abnormities. Nanotechnology and nanoscience offer a means to control the design and assembly of biomolecular processes relevant in health and disease. For example, although the processes involved in energy conversion have been studied for many years through enzymology and structural biology, nanotechnology and nanoscience offer a means of constructing a biomolecular machine that uses biological energy sources such as ATP or electrochemical gradients, in novel ways. The successful design and development of such biomolecular machines would demonstrate understanding of a key biological process and create opportunities for interventions based on engineering principles. Ultimately, it will be possible to understand cells from a genetic, biochemical, physiological, and engineering perspective, thus enabling the fabrication of nanoscale modules de novo for therapeutic applications. For example, the nanoscale engineering principles derived could lead to novel bioinspired systems and architectures, such as biocompatible nanomachines incorporating polymer-based motility inspired by lessons learned from the study of biological models.
To achieve this goal, significant progress must be made in the study of biological systems at the nanoscale. While parallel efforts in molecular biology have identified a vast number genes and proteins integral to biological processes, the manner in which these biological building blocks and processes integrate or assemble and how these processes can be constructively modified is still a mystery. An important challenge for the field is to determine the “assembly instructions” for a cell and then to implement these instructions to generate synthetic cellular components at the nanoscale.

The fascinating world of nano

NANO: Novel Approaches New Opportunities.

Nanotechnology, the emerging technology of this century, has attracted many for its potential usage in almost every spheres of life. Nanotechnology and nano engineering stand to produce significant scientific and technological advances in diverse fields including medicine and physiology. In a broad sense, they can be defined as the science and engineering involved in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of materials and devices whose smallest functional organization in at least one dimension is on the nanometer scale, ranging from a few to several hundred nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter or three orders of magnitude smaller then a micron, roughly the size scale of a molecule
itself (e.g., a DNA molecule is about 2.5 nm long while a sodium atom is about 0.2 nm).

Aim of nanotechnology lies in the research and technology development aimed to work at atomic and molecular scales (in the length scale of approximately 1 - 100 nm range), ability to understand, create, and use structures, devices and systems that have fundamentally new properties and functions because of their nano scale structure, ability to control – to see, measure, and manipulate – matter on the atomic scale to exploit those properties and functions and ability to integrate those properties and functions into systems spanning from nano- to macro-scopic scales.
Physicist Richard Feynman presented this idea way back in the year 1959, but this technology started getting popularity only after 1981, after the invention of Scanning tunneling microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy.
In today’s world, the huge impact of nanotechnology is seen in almost every field, including Computing and Data Storage, Health and Medicine, Energy and Environment, Transportation, National Security and Space exploration.
Nanoprocessors with declining energy use and cost per gate, increases the efficiency of computer by 106 times. Small mass storage devices of multi-tera bit levels, and integrated nanosensors falicitate the collection, processing and communication of massive amounts of data with minimal size, weight, and power consumption.

The medical area of nanoscience application is one of the most potentially valuable, with many projected benefits to humanity. Cells themselves are very complex and efficient nano-machines, and chemists and biochemists have been working at the nanoscale for some time without using the nano label.
Implants and Prosthetics
The first field is implants and prosthetics. With the advent of new materials, and the synergy of nanotechnologies and biotechnologies, it could be possible to create artificial organs and implants that are more akin to the original, through cell growth on artificial scaffolds or biosynthetic coatings that increase biocompatibility and reduce rejection. These could include retinal, cochlear and neural implants, repair of damaged nerve cells, and replacements of damaged skin, tissue or bone.
Diagnostics Using Sensors and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
The second area is diagnostics. Within MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), laboratory-on-a-chip technology for quicker diagnosis which requires less of the sample is being developed in conjunction with microfluidics. In the medium term, it could be expected that general personal health monitors may be available. Developments in both genomics and nanotechnology are likely to enable sensors that can determine genetic make-up quickly and precisely, enhancing knowledge of people’s predisposition to genetic-related diseases.
Drug Delivery Using Nanoparticles and Molecular Carriers
Finally, drug delivery is likely to benefit from the development of nanotechnology. With nanoparticles it is possible that drugs may be given better solubility, leading to better absorption. Also, drugs may be contained within a molecular carrier, either to protect them from stomach acids or to control the release of the drug to a specific targeted area, reducing the likelihood of side effects. Such drugs are already beginning pre-clinical or clinical trials, adhering to the strict regulatory requirements for new pharmaceuticals. Due to this, development costs are often high and outcomes of research sometimes limited.

Engineered DNA molecule
Energy Production by clean, less expensive sources enabled by novel nanomaterials and processes will facilitate the energy utilization by high efficiency and durable home and industrial lighting. The solid state lighting can reduce total electricity consumption by 10% and cut carbon emission by the equivalent of 28 million tons/year. In transportation also nanotechnology plays an important role by introducing Thermal barrier and wear resistant coatings, High strength, light weight composites for increasing fuel efficiency, High temperature sensors for ‘under the hood’, Improved displays, Battery technology, Wear-resistant tires and Automated highways.
Very high sensitivity, low power nano sensors can detect chemical, biological, nuclear threats .The Light weight military platforms using nanofibres are advantageous for soldiers without sacrificing functionality, safety and soldier security
As well as less logistical requirements.

Oppertunities:
This field is one of the most promising fields with loads of opportunities. In broad sense the opportunities can be assessed on the basis of short, medium and long term ones.
Short term (<> 15 years)
Nanoelectronics (CNT), Molecular electronics, Routine use of new composites in Aerospace, automotive (risk-averse industries) and Many other things we haven’t even thought of yet.
Nanotechnology - in its various forms is expected to play a strong and critical role in
Future generation. Also, the intersection of nano, bio, and information technologies provides rich possibilities for exploring useful concepts and breakthroughs.