The New Frontiers of Nanobiotechnology

Nanotechnology and medical biotechnology are interacting to create a new discipline called nanobiotechnology, which offers many new possibilities in disease detection, drug delivery, and imaging. According to a new report from Frost & Sullivan (London, UK), nano-enabled services could potentially represent up to US$180 billion annually in medicine and healthcare by 2015.

Nanostructured materials have been developed that can serve as templates for tissue replacement and enable better treatment of burns, while researchers are attempting to induce bone tissue growth through polymer templates. Developments in nanoencaspulation promise enhanced delivery and absorption of drugs, and carbon nanotubes are being contemplated as a system for delivery of gene therapy. Magnetic nanoparticles containing drugs could be delivered to specific parts of the body by means of a magnetic field.

Encouraging developments in microfluidics enable the modification of drug levels within the body in real-time, avoiding fluctuations in concentration. Nanosensors are being used to detect DNA sequences in the body, and implanted nanosensors could enable simpler and more-effective diagnosis. Noninvasive imaging technologies such as tensor magnetic resonance imaging are designed to allow doctors to better detect the development, degeneration, and disease of soft tissue. Quantum dots, which have the ability to bond chemically to biologic molecules and emit bright fluorescent light, could be effective in detecting early carcinoma.

"With a new generation of nanochips, we could obtain much more accurate medical diagnosis; quickly and efficiently screen the mind-boggling array of drug candidates, and perform targeted delivery of drugs and vaccines like never before,” said Girish Solank, an analyst with Frost and Sullivan.




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