Nanobiotechnology: An overview of drug discovery, delivery and development

Abstract

Nanobiotechnology is a new technology concerned specifi cally with the functionalism and modifi cation of chemical-physical structures on a biomolecular scale, and also is the application of nanotechnology to the life sciences. Nanotechnology for biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications has progressed from the concept stage to commercialization. Nanobiotechnology represents the future of medicine and healthcare. Various physical, chemical, electrical tools and methods used to investigate biological nanoobjects include optical tools, nanoforce and imaging, surface methods, mass spectrometry and microfl udics. Its application has an impact on diagnostics, drug delivery as well as drug discovery. Nanobiotechnology focuses on various areas such as nanobiotechnology and cancer, drug discovery and tools, and nanobiotechnology and medicine. Applications are emerging from all branches of nanobiotechnology in medicine and pharmacy. Several technologies including nanoparticles and nanodevices such as nanobiosensors and nanobiochips have been used to improve drug discovery and development. Some nanosubstances such as fullerenes and dendrimers/biodendrimers could be potential drugs for the future. Moreover, nanobiotechnology has the potential for combining drug design and drug delivery. However, limitations of the available nanoparticles still to be resolved for their application in the drug-discovery studies exist. The benefi ts of nanotechnology are enormous and so these benefi ts should be maximized while efforts are made to reduce the risks.