nanoscience and society - IAP/TU Wien

Nanobioconvergence 455
epts, and goals of the respective fields converge. This
inherent interdisciplinarity of nanotechnology poses a
hallenge and offers an enormous potential for fruitful
cross-fertilization in specialist areas. Nanobiocon­
\ugence denotes the merging of life sciences, especially
biology and bionanotechnology, with nanoscience
and nanotechnology, focusing on the technical connection
of these particular technologies as well as on
the unified opportunities and challenges they present
o human nature and our values. Nanobioconvergent
technologies are most useful when applied to specific
• roblems where innovative solutions can be provided
~ rough leveraging varieties of technologies.
General Description
The emergence of nanobioconvergence happens in an
atmosphere of dissolution of the strict borders between
-lassical disciplines. New findings in the natural scienceS
and the development of new technologies enhance
:he possibilities and range of interference with matter
:n general. New observation tools such as the atomic
~-o rc e microscope allow for investigation of matter on an
ewr-decreasing length scale. Biomolecules can be inves­
:igated in action. The new tools and methods also allow
~o r manipulation on the scale of nanometers. Engineer­
:ng at the molecular level, tailoring new structures and
~ a terials, and even building of machine-like devices at
:.~i s scale is increasingly becoming possible. The basis
~or such technological applications is the knowledge re­
--ealed in the biosciences as well as in nanoscience. Simi­
~a r themes are now approached from different perspec­
:-i\-es and disciplines, resulting in a fruitful exchange of
.:oncepts, methods, and tools. As the tools of investiga­
:-ion can also be used for manipulation and generation
of structures, new areas of application are attracting in­
:erest from manufacturers.
Biotechnology includes genetic engineering and ensineering
of proteins, which is done with methods from
:;re-nanotechnology times. With the tools of nanotech­
::lOlogya molecule-by-molecule or even atom-by-atom
:nanipulation is possible. Nanotechnological methods
dre slowly introduced in traditional chemistry and in­
:egrated in production processes. The enhanced understanding
of nanoscale processes, for example the
:linctioning of self-organization, brings forward new
:,roduction methods.
Bionanoscience focuses on the molecular build­
:ng blocks of living cells. Nanotechnology enables the
study and control of biomolecules, delivering new insights
into surface properties as well as into the working
of biological cells themselves. Nanobioconvergence
potentially will revolutionize our understanding and
practice of medicine. The integration of new molecules
into cells allows for extended manipulation of cellular
functions, such as gene regulation. These new possibilities
are further investigated in the emerging new field
of synthetic biology.
The complexity of the human body far exceeds any
engineered devices: the information flows from macromolecules
through cells, organs, and to the human
body. The biological cell is a magnificent self-organized
system and a complex information-processing network.
Key attributes making it a complete system are its abilities
to sense (monitor its biological surroundings and
responses), decide (process incoming signals and trigger
an optimal response through information processes),
and actuate (modify its nanometer-scale environment
to a more suitable one for survival). The cell's activities
are carried out by biomolecules, such as the millions of
proteins with sizes ranging from 1 to 20 nm. In each
cell millions of molecules maintain internal operations
and communicate with the external environment. The
nanoscale assembly of organic and inorganic matter
leads to the formation of cells and to the most complex
known systems-the brain and human body.
Biomimetics
Distin'ct from biotechnology but also connected to
nanobioconvergence is biomimetics. Here, principles
found in biology, such as nanoscale properties of organisms,
are utilized for technical applications, which
are not necessarily in the organic realm. Biomimetic
materials processing is just one example; further examples
are synthesizing of new functional materials by
refining knowledge and understanding of related biological
products, structures, functions, and processes.
Biomimetic materials processing follows a combination
of process-mimetic and function-mimetic approaches.
Its final goals are to create functional materials using
harmless substances under normal temperature
and pressure, and to develop materials functionalities
through the control of properties and form at the nanoscale.
Mankind has just begun to mimic the complex
relationship of structure and function as it appears in
natural materials, optimized at different length scales,
yielding extraordinary performance.