nanobiotechnology
(rus. нанобиотехнология otherwise бионанотехнология)
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a branch of science at the intersection of biology and nanotechnology that encompasses a wide variety of technological approaches, including application of nanotechnology devices and nanomaterials in biotechnologies; application of biological molecules in nanotechnologies; development of biotechnological products whose properties are determined by their size (for products sized between 1 and 100 nm); and use of biotechnological approaches based on the principle of controlled self-organisation of nanostructures.
Description
Biological molecules, including nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and proteins (antigens, antibodies, virus capsids, enzymes, etc.) have nanoscale sizes. Non-biological nanoscale objects (i.e., metal nanoparticles or semiconductor quantum dots) may carry biomacromolecules designed for the specific manipulation of certain biological targets. On the other hand, biological macromolecules may be used to deliver non-biological nanoparticles to a target organ for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Examples of the use of biological macromolecules in nanobiotechnology include so-called DNA-nanotechnology where a streamlined structure of DNA molecules is used to develop nanostructures of specific shapes, as well as the development of nanomachines based on the molecular motors of living cells. Nanobiotechnology developments find application in medicine, the food manufacturing industry, environmental protection, etc.
Authors
- Grigory G. Borisenko
- Ilya N. Kurochkin
- Boris S. Naroditsky
- Lyudmila N. Nesterenko
Sources
- Gazit E. Plenty of room for biology at the bottom. An Introduction to Bionanotechnology. — London: Imperial College Press, 2007. — 183 p.
- Poole C. P., Owens F. J. Introduction to Nanotechnology. — New Jersey: Wiley–Interscience, 2003. — 388 p.
- DNA nanotechnology // Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_nanotechnology (reference date: 12.12.2011).