The convergence of biotechnology and nanotechnology: Why here, why now?
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words: biotechnology, nanotechnology, convergence, nanomaterials, collaboration, genomics, nanobiotechnology
Tom C. Thomas Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 2475 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA Tel: +1 650 233 4652 Fax: +1 650 233 4545 E-mail: [email protected]
The convergence of biotechnology and nanotechnology: Why here, why now? Tom C. Thomas and Rachelle Acun˜a-Narvaez Date received: 12th August, 2005
Abstract Nanotechnology offers a promise to revolutionise the life sciences because it equips biologists with tools and materials that can interact directly with the biomolecules that they study on a daily basis. Both biotechnology and nanotechnology have matured to the point that their convergence offers opportunities for novel solutions to unmet needs in biology. This paper explores the developments that have led to this convergence.
In 1985, chemists and physicists studying the behaviour of carbon in the atmosphere of N type stars discovered that pure carbon could be manipulated to form a perfectly symmetrical 60-atom sphere that resembled a geodesic dome. These now famous ‘bucky balls’ were the first of many carbon structures that brought nanotechnology from theory to reality. Researchers subsequently realised that this new ‘nanotechnology’ could play a large role in transforming existing industries. Early applications of nanotechnology included coatings, sensors and other tool-related applications. Nanotechnology also began to be explored in the semiconductor industry as a way to address some of the barriers to the continuing extension of Moore’s Law. Although researchers were also exploring the application of nanotechnology to the biological sciences, until recently the convergence of these technologies was not living up to its early promise.
THE EARLY PROMISE FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS Using nanotechnology to further developments in biotechnology has always made fundamental sense: the
arrangement of atoms differentiates a human from a bird and a protein from a fat molecule. ‘The benefit of getting nano-small means that chemists and biochemists can meet nature at its own interface,’ says Laura Mazzola, CEO of Excellin Life Sciences and Chair of NanoBioConvergence, a Silicon Valleybased non-profit organisation. She notes that ‘most of the biological recognition that drives biological processes occurs because of interactions in molecular structure’, making nanoscale devices and materials a perfect partner for biology. Nanotechnology and biotechnology are a good match for several reasons. First, nanomaterials and devices can be built at the same size as cell components, making them ideal for interacting with individual molecules. Steve Edwards, Principal of S. A. Edwards & Associates and author of the forthcoming book ‘Nanotechnology Pioneers’, states that there is a ‘natural synergy between nanotechnology and biotechnology because nanomaterials such as dendrimers and quantum dots can be made at the same diameter as proteins and ribozomes. Thus, their small size allows them to pass
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