Abstract
Summary
Nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of materials, devices, and
systems through the control of matter on the nanometer-length scale (a
nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanobiotechnology, an integration of
physical sciences, molecular engineering, biology, chemistry and biotechnology
holds considerable promise of advances in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. The
report starts with an introduction to various techniques and materials that
are relevant to nanobiotechnology. It includes some of the physical forms of
energy such as nanolasers. Some of the technologies are scaling down such as
microfluidics to nanofluidic biochips and others are constructions from bottom
up. Application in life sciences research, particularly at the cell level sets
the stage for role of nanobiotechnology in healthcare in subsequent chapters.
Some of the earliest applications are in molecular diagnostics. Nanoparticles,
particularly quantum dots, are playing important roles. In vitro diagnostics,
does not have any of the safety concerns associated with the fate of
nanoparticles introduced into the human body. Numerous nanodevices and
nanosystems for sequencing single molecules of DNA are feasible. Various
nanodiagnostics that have been reviewed will improve the sensitivity and
extend the present limits of molecular diagnostics.
An increasing use of nanobiotechnology by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries is anticipated. Nanotechnology will be applied at all stages of
drug development - from formulations for optimal delivery to diagnostic
applications in clinical trials. Many of the assays based on nanobiotechnology
will enable high-throughput screening. Some of nanostructures such as
fullerenes are themselves drug candidates as they allow precise grafting of
active chemical groups in three-dimensional orientations. The most important
pharmaceutical applications are in drug delivery. Apart from offering a
solution to solubility problems, nanobiotechnology provides and intracellular
delivery possibilities. Skin penetration is improved in transdermal drug
delivery. A particularly effective application is as nonviral gene therapy
vectors. Nanotechnology has the potential to provide controlled release
devices with autonomous operation guided by the needs.
Nanomedicine is now within the realm of reality starting with nanodiagnostics
and drug delivery facilitated by nanobiotechnology. Miniature devices such as
nanorobots could carry out integrated diagnosis and therapy by refined and
minimally invasive procedures, nanosurgery, as an alternative to crude
surgery. Nanotechnology will markedly improve the implants and tissue
engineering approaches as well.
There is some concern about the safety of nanoparticles introduced in the
human body and released into the environment. Research is underway to address
these issues. As yet there are no FDA directives to regulate nanobiotechnology
but as products are ready to enter market, these are expected to be in place.
Future nanobiotechnology markets are calculated on the basis of the background
markets in the areas of application and the share of this market by new
technologies and state of development at any given year in the future. This is
based on a comprehensive and thorough review of the current status of
nanobiotechnology, research work in progress and anticipated progress. There
is definite indication of large growth of the market but it will be uneven and
cannot be plotted as a steady growth curve. Marketing estimates are given
according to areas of application, technologies and geographical distribution
starting with 2008. The largest expansion is expected between the years 2013
and 2018.
Profiles of 241 companies, out of over 500 involved in this area, are included
in the last chapter along with their 187 collaborations.The report is
supplemented with 39 Tables, 21 figures and 700 references to the literature.
View Cart
