AN OVERVIEW OF

NANOBIOTECHNOLOG
YBy Dr
M.Radhika Ph.D
Research
Scientist
Multidisciplinary Research Unit
Osmania
Medical College
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 Presentation Outline
 Introduction
 Nanomaterials
 Nanoparticles
 Application of nanotechnology
 Nanomedicine
 Nanomedicine applications
 Nano-robotics
 Applications of nanorobotics
 Future of nanotechnology
 Implications of nanotechnology
 Conclusion

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 Introduction
 Nanotechnology : It involves research and technology development at the
atomic, molecular or macro-molecular level in the length scale of approximately
1 to 100 nm range.

 Biotechnology : Biotechnology is the use of biological processes, organisms, or

systems to manufacture products intended to improve the quality of human life.

 The interface of these two worlds lies Nanobiotechnology

– It uses nanotechnology to analyse and create biological nanosystems
– It uses biological materials and structural plans to produce technical,
functional nanosystems

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 Nanomaterials
• Nanomaterials are commonly defined as materials with an
average grain size less than 100 nanometers.

• Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are materials created by manipulation of

matter at the nanoscale to produce new materials, structures, and devices.

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 Classification of Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are classified according to the length scale of each of its
dimension:
•0 D : all three dimensions in the nanoscale (nanoparticles).
•1 D : one dimension in nanoscale and other two in macroscale ( nanofibers,
nanowires)
•2 D : two dimensions in nanoscale and the other in the macroscale ( nano
sheets, thin films)
•3 D : no dimensions at the nanoscale, all are in the macroscale
(nanostructures with nanomaterials

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 Nano Particles
 Nanoparticles are the particles of size between 1nm to 100nm
range).
 Nanometer - One billionth (10-9) of a meter
The size of Hydrogen atom 0.04 nm
The size of Proteins ~ 1-20 nm
Feature size of computer chips 180 nm
Diameter of human hair ~ 10 µm

 At the nanoscale, the physical, chemical, and biological

properties of materials differ in fundamental and valuable
ways from the properties of individual atoms and molecules or
bulk matter
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Nano-scale effects on properties

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 Application of nanopaticles and nanomaterials
Application on many fields such as:
o Medicine/Health : Nanomedicine
o Food & agriculture
o Biotechnology
o Information technology
o Mechanical engineering & Robotics
o Advance materials & textiles
o Energy and Environment
o National security & defence
o Aerospace

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 Nanomedicine
 It is the medical application of nanotechnology.

 It is defined as the repair, construction and control of human biological

systems using devices built upon nanotechnology standards.

Major Areas of Development of Nanomedicine

• Prevention and control
• Imaging diagnostics
• Multifunctional Therapeutics
• Drug delivery
• Therapy
• Surgery
• Medical Robotics

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 Molecular Imaging using Nanoprobes
 Molecular imaging is a technique for
quantifying physiological changes in
vivo using imaging probes, or
beacons, which can be detected
noninvasively.
 Nanoprobes can be used to image
specific cells and tissues within a
whole organism.
 They provides a method for
 Studying the underlying
mechanism of disease.
 Information on the progression of
disease or
 Response to treatment.

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Iron oxide nanoparticles can used
to improve MRI images of cancer
tumors.
The nanoparticle is coated with a
peptide that binds to a cancer tumor,
once the nanoparticles are attached to
the tumor the magnetic property of
the iron oxide enhances the images
from the Magnetic Resonance
Imagining scan.
Iron oxide
nanoparticles

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 Nanotechnology in Medical Diagnostics
 Nanotechnology based diagnosis techniques provide two major
advantages:
– Rapid testing, potentially in the doctors office. This may allow
complete diagnosis and start of treatment to be done in one visit
to the doctor, rather than needing a follow-up visit to the doctor
after a lab test is completed.
– The detection of diseases at an earlier stage than current
techniques. This provides the potential of stopping a disease
earlier, possibly with less damage to the patient.

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 Applications of nanoparticles in Diagnosis
 Silver nanorods in a diagnostic system
are being used to separate viruses,
bacteria and other microscopic
components of blood samples.
 Gold nanoparticles that have
antibodies attached can provide quick
diagnosis of flu virus. Silver nanorods Gold nanoparticles
 Carbon nanotubes and gold
nanoparticles are being used in a
sensor that detects proteins indicative
of oral cancer.
 Magnetic nanoparticles attach to
particles in the blood stream called
microvesicles which originate in brain
cancer cells are used for early
Nanotubes Magnetic nanoparticles
diagnosis of brain cancer.

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 Drug Delivery
 It is the method or process of administering pharmaceutical
compound to achieve a therapeutic effect in humans or animals.
 The use of nanoparticles allows one to change the
pharmacokinetic properties of the drug without changing the
active compound.

 Types of nanoparticle based drug delivery systems –

o Metal based nanoparticles: Au, Ag, Cd-Se, Zn-S etc
o Lipid based nanoparticles: Liposome and Neosome based…
o Polymer based nanoparticles: Dendrimer, Micelle
o Biological Nanoparticles: Bovine - albumin serum based…

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 Benefits of Liposomes in Drug delivery
 Liposomes are spherical
vesicles.
 They are versatile in size and
composition.
 They have low toxicity.
 They are capable of displaying
drugs on their surface or
encapsulating drugs inside.
 Cationic liposomes have been
employed in non viral gene
delivery to condense DNA.

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 Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery - Cancer:

 Nanoparticles are engineered so that they are attracted to diseased cells,

which allows direct treatment of those cells. This technique reduces
damage to healthy cells in the body.
 Applications:
o Increased levels of drugs delivery to tumors.
o Sustained drug delivery using a hydrogel – for continuous drug release.
o Nanoparticles can deliver multiple anticancer drugs at a time.
o Nanoparticles were used to deliver nitric oxide directly to cancer cells
– efficacy of the chemotherapeutic drug increases.
o Carbon nano fibers penetrate cancer cells easily and deliver therapeutic
drugs.

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 Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery - Cancer:
 Because of their small sizes, nanoparticles are taken by cells where large particles
would be excluded or cleared from the body
1) A nanoparticle carries the pharmaceutical
agent inside its core, while its shell is
functionalized with a ‘binding’ agent

2) Through the ‘binding’ agent, the

‘targeted’ nanoparticle recognizes the
target cell. The functionalized
nanoparticle shell interacts with the cell
membrane

3) The nanoparticle is ingested inside the

cell, and interacts with the biomolecules
inside the cell

4) The nanoparticle particles breaks, and the

S
pharmaceutical
ource: Comprehensive Cancer Center Ohio agent is released
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University
 Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery - Heart Disease:
 Nanoparticle uses a protein to attach to damaged regions of arteries. This
allows drugs to be applied directly to the damaged portion of the artery.

 The clot busting drug was attached to a cluster of nanoparticles that break
apart in regions of turbulent blood flow, like that found when a blood flow
is restricted by a clot.
 Nanoparticles containing iron oxide that allows the nanoparticles to be
directed, by a magnetic field, to stents. This could allow drugs to be
delivered directly to stents placed in arteries.
 Polymer nanoparticles that home in on inflamed tissue such as arterial
plaque and dissolve.
 Nanoparticles for drug delivery can be metal-, polymer-, or lipid-based.

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 Therapy
 Nanometer-sized particles are
particularly responsive to
electromagnetic and acoustic
excitations through a variety of
phenomena (e.g. plasmon
resonance) that lead to local
extreme conditions (e.g. heating).

 The nanoparticle is able to An infrared beam illuminates two mice

tolerate this condition, but no so specimens. The local temperature
the biological material nearby increases for the mouse that received and
injection of gold nanorods.

Adv. Mater. 2009, 21, 3175–3180

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 Gold Nanoparticles vs. Alzheimer
 Alzheimer and other degenerative diseases are caused my the
clustering of amyloidal beta (Aβ) protein.

Healthy brain Alzheimer’s brain

Chemical structure of Aβ-protein

Functionalized nanoparticle
Source: wwwthefutureofthings.com
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 Gold Nanoparticles vs. Alzheimer
 The functionalized gold
nanoparticles selectively attach to
the aggregate of amyloidal
protein. The microwaves of Before
certain frequency are irradiated on irradiation
the sample.

 Resonance with the gold µw

nanoparticles increases the local
temperature and destroy the
aggregate After
irradiation

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 Cancer Nanotechnology
 Cancer nanotechnology, as a .
particular area of nanomedicine,
is based upon the same premise
that nanoparticles display unique
properties potentially useful in
medical (oncological)
applications such as –
Imaging - QD Localization of a
Tumor
 It is possible to overlap X-ray
images with infrared images to
localize a tumor. Infrared images
detect the QD’s emission, which
correlates to the tumor location

Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2007. Vol. 9, pp. 257–288

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 Quantum Dots
 They have unique optical and
electronic properties.
 QD have been covalently linked
to biorecognition molecules such
as peptides, antibodies, nucleic
acids or small-molecule ligands
 QD have more surface area and
functionalities than conventional
dyes; that can be used for linking
to multiple diagnostic and
therapeutic agents.
 Thus QD’s are a possible Only QD are observable, the dye is not observable
replacement for organic dyes because the autofluorescene background is masking
its light. The QD can be engineered to emit another
spectra of light that will not be masked.
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 Multiplex Diagnosis
 Four quantum dots of different diameter (i.e. different color) are respectively
functionalized with four different antigens. Allowing for the distinction of two
distinct phenotypes.

Nature Protocols 2007. Vol. 2, pp. 1-15

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 Cancer Therapy
 There is a search dual-mode nanoparticle that can detect a
tumor (imaging)and destroy it (therapy).
 There is two action modes for therapeutical nanoparticles.

Passive Targeting Active Targeting

Based on retention effect of Based on nanoparticle

particle of certain hydrodynamic functionalization for specific
size in cancerous tissues targeting of cancerous cells

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Taking advantage of retention
 Nanoparticles injected in the
blood stream do not permeate
through healthy tissues.
 Blood vessels in the surrounding
of tumorous tissues are defective
and porous.
 injected in the blood permeate
through blood vessels toward
tumorous tissues, wherein they
accumulate.
 Tumorous tissues suffer of
Enhanced Permeability and
Retention effect.

Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2007. Vol. 9, pp. 257–88

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A commercial Anticancer Nanoparticle

• The nanoparticle drug ABRAXANE is one of the fruits of

nanomedicine applied to cancer therapy.
• Approved for Breast Cancer.
• Albumin-bound Paclitaxel(powerful anti-cancer drug)
• Abraxane is water soluble-reduces treatment to 30 min to 3 hrs for
solvent version and its side-effects.

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 Nano-robotics
Definition
 Nano robotics is the
technology of creating machines
or robots at with overall
dimensions at the nanoscale.

 The main element used will be

carbon in the form of diamond/
fullerene nanocomposites because
of the strength and chemical
inertness of these forms.

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 Applications of Nanorobotics
The characteristic that they can easily flow through human body
makes them find applications in Medical field such as:
o In surgery.
o Detection of toxic cells.
o Ability to enter cells and correct DNA or a deficiency.
o Repair cells, tissue, and even organs.
o Break up blood clots or even kidney stones.
o Treatment of cancer.
o Diabetes- Monitoring glucose level

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 Applications in surgery
 Minute surgical instruments and robots can be made which can be used to
perform microsurgeries on any part of the body.
 These instruments would be precise and accurate targeting only the area
where surgery should be done.

 Nanocameras can provide close up visualization of the surgery.

 Less chance of any mistakes or faults.
 Surgery could also be done on tissue, genetic and cellular levels.

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 Applications of Nanorobotics Conti…

Kill infected cells Prevents tumor growth

The nanorobot grabs a sick T Mechanical drilling of a small tumor

lymphocyte and injects a mass by a nanorobot.
glucocorticoid designed to
induce cellular apoptosis

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 Applications of Nanorobotics Conti…

Monitoring glucose levels Virus finder

A nanorobot roaming through the Would augment immune system by

bloodstream, injecting or taking finding and killing bacteria and
samples for identification and viruses.
determining the concentrations of
different compounds.

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 Applications of Nanorobotics Conti…

Dental robots

Four remote – controlled

Ananorobot nibbling on a atherosclerotic
deposit in a blood vessel.
nanorobots examine and clean the
subocclusal surfaces of a patient’s
teeth, near the gumline.
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 Respirocyte- A proposed nanorobot
Respirocytes are:
Artificial mechanical red blood
cells.
Carry oxygen and carbon dioxide
molecules.
Deliver 236 times more oxygen to
the body tissues when compared to
natural red blood cells .
Applications :
– Treatment of Anemia
– Transfusions and perfusions
– Fetal and Child Related • Spherical 1 micro meter diameter sized
disorders • Constructed of 18 billion atoms

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 Miniaturized Diagonoistic Devices
 One more application of nanotechnology is development of Miniaturized
Diagonoistic Devices.
 They give accurate, fast diagnosis from a small amount of fluid.
 Samples will not need to be sent away to a laboratory for analysis, saving
time and resources.
 They include
•‘lab-on-a-chip’ (LOC) devices, also called miniaturized total analysis
systems (µTAS).
•Microarrays. supporting material (as a glass or plastic slide) onto which
numerous molecules or fragments usually of DNA or protein are attached
in a regular pattern for use in biochemical or genetic analysis
•Biosensors
• device which uses a living organism or biological molecules, especially
enzymes or antibodies, to detect the presence of chemicals.
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 Lab-on-a-Chip
The Ideal Technology for Bio-chemical Analysis

• A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a device that integrates one or

several laboratory functions on a single chip of only
millimeters to a few square centimeters in size.

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 What can “Lab-on-a-chip” do?
 Biochemical assays: real-time PCR, immunoassay,
dielectrophoresis for detecting cancer cells and bacteria, etc.

 Chemical application: separating molecules from mixtures,

chemical reactors, chemical detections etc.

 Biological application: cell coculture, biosensor, drug

screening, single-cell analysis, etc.

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 Disadvantages of LOCs
 Novel technology and therefore not yet fully developed.

 Processes in LOCs more complex than in conventional lab

equipment.

 Detection principles may not always scale down in a positive

way, leading to low signal-to-noise ratios.

 Although the absolute geometric accuracies and precision in

microfabrication are high, they are often rather poor in a
relative way, compared to precision engineering for instance.
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 Future of Nanotechnology
 Nanotechnology will redesign the future of several technologies, products
and markets.

 Scientists and engineers can now work with materials at the atomic level to
create stain-proof fabrics, scratch-resistant paints, more efficient fuel cells
and batteries .

 Experts says that nanotechnology will likely create the next generation of
billionaires and reshape global business.

 Industry Analysts Predict Revenues from Products Incorporating

Nanotechnology to Reach Close to $3 Trillion US Within 10 Years

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 Implications of Nanotechnology
 Health and safety issues
Nanoparticles can cause serious
illness or damage human body.
Untraceable destructive weapons of
mass destruction.

 Social & Political issues

Creates social strife through
increasing wealth gap
 Advisability of increasing scope of
the technology creates political
dilemma

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 Conclusion
 Nanotechnology offers the ability to build large numbers of products that
are incredibly powerful.

 Nanotechnology is heavily intertwined with biotechnology and information

technology, making its scope very wide.

 Nanomedicine for cancer has the ability to improve health care

dramatically.

 Current research is mostly in diagnostic tools, although there are many

other application of nanomaterials in medicine.

 There are still lots of advances needed to improve Nanomedicine

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Thank you

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