Nanotechnolgy and
biotechnology/
medicine are interacting in a number of surprising and inventive ways to create an exciting new discipline -
nanobiotechnology. From earlier, simpler disease detection, improved
imaging, and rapid assessment of potential
drug candidates to optimal
drug delivery, nanobiotech is brimming with exhilarating possibilities.
"Besides facilitating detection of minutest traces of
diseases such as
cancer - or perhaps detecting a single spore of pathogen - nanostructured materials and nanodevices could provide better
diagnosis of complex
diseases and enable unprecedented
drug delivery," says Technical Insight Analyst, Girish Solanki.
He adds, "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."
Forecasts suggest that nano-enabled
services could potentially represent up to $180 billion annually in
medicine and
healthcare by 2015. Investments in a few biomedical
nanotechnology firms appear to mirror the upbeat sentiment: at $10 million or more each, these exceed those for firms in many other
nanotechnology sectors.
There has been significant progress in other areas too: novel nanostructured materials that serve as templates for
tissue Replacement and enable better treatment of burns and bone replacement have been developed. While this has certainly reduced the incidence of burn related fatalities, researchers are still in the early stages of their attempt to induce bone tissue growth through polymer templates.
In terms of drug delivery, developments in nanoencapsulation offer the promise of enhanced delivery and
absorption. Here, the relatively inert nanocapsule adheres to and releases the drug solely at the target tissue site, thereby obviating
toxicity concerns. Immune reactions associated with the use of modified
viruses as the vector of gene-delivery, have trained the spot
light on
carbon nanotubes, which now being contemplated as a system for drug delivery in
gene therapy.
Additionally, researchers are contemplating the possibility of using
magnetic nanoparticles containing drugs to be delivered to specific parts of the body by means of a magnetic field. This is likely to boost therapeutic benefit while minimising
side effects on other parts of the body.
Similarly, there have been encouraging advancements in
microfluidics, which enable modification of drug levels within the body in real time, thereby avoiding fluctuations in drug
concentration. Electrospun fibre bandages that provide an attractive alternative to traditional gauze and elastic bandages are also being researched. These new bandages, created out of flannel-like material, staunch bleeding instantly and can be left in situ since they are absorbed by the body.
Nanotech is also likely to enhance biomolecular-imaging applications. On the one hand, researchers are focusing on ways to use AFM on organic materials so as to minimally impact the organic material as well as swiftly and accurately scan the materials in vivo. On the other hand, non-invasive imaging technologies such as diffusion tensor
magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) are likely to allow doctors to better detect development, degeneration, disease and
ageing in soft tissue based on the generation of detailed images of the soft tissue's structure.
In addition to
nanosensors being used to detect
DNA sequences in the body, implanted nanosensors could enable simpler and more effective diagnosis. For instance, implanted devices could dispatch a signal to a pump to release more
insulin for
diabetes patients. Similar devices could be extended, over time, to deliver a wider range of
medication.
Also,
quantum dots, which have an ability to bond chemically to biological
molecules and emit bright, fluorescent light, could be particularly effective early
carcinoma-detection agents. "As a promising barcoding technology that can encode
genes and
proteins,
quantum dots could potentially be employed to enhance the sensitivity of
diagnostic tests for molecules that are hard to detect, such as those in
cancer cells, or even the
AIDS or
hepatitis viruses," explains Mr. Solanki.
Signs are now emerging that frenetic R&D activity in nanobiotech could
lead to real devices that will edge out unwieldy lab-based procedures with economical, accurate
microchips in the near term.