Nano-biomaterials- An introduction

The rapidly burgeoning field of ‘nano-biotechnology’ reflects a growing opportunity for materials scientists and researchers ,to get the best of both worlds by forming novel combinations of biological and nonbiological molecules. Indeed, one implication seems to be that at such small scales, the biological and nonbiological materials are often indistinguishable. The hybrid nano-biomaterials are a specific class of materials that combine biological entities such as DNA, proteins with the artificially engineered nano scale particles.

The belief, supported by a wealth of evidence, is that nano-scaled inorganic materials can exhibit mechanical, electrical, and optical properties that are not manifested by their more macroscopic or smaller atomic counterparts. For example, nanocrystals or quantum dots are excellent candidates for novel optical devices as they exhibit highly efficient, size-tunable optical emission. Of special importance are the intrinsic properties such as the large surface-to-volume ratio of these nanostructured materials makes them particularly suitable as high-sensitivity sensors or as efficient new catalysts.

In addition, nanotechnological innovations in micro/nanofluidics show great promise in sensing applictions in environmental as well as clinical diagnosis.

Natural, nano-scaled building blocks being abundant in the biological world, exhibiting amazing specificity in recognition of other molecules combined with the commonality of scale and the rapid technological progress to integrate the organic & the inorganic materials promises to transform our ability to engineer novel nano-biomaterials possessing tremendous capability and utility.

~ by reshmibanerjee on June 9, 2008.