Nanobiotechnology

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Nanobiotechnology is an interdisciplinary technology in which nanotechnology and biotechnology overlap. It aims to imitate nature for technical purposes, whereby, in contrast to bionics, it is applied on the nanoscale level. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has included nanobiotechnology in its funding programs.

Possible areas of application

One goal of nanobiotechnology is the coupling of biological and electronic systems. So now already rat nerve cells in silicon - semiconductor structures have been built that allow direct transmission of nerve impulses in the form of electronic signals. In this way, for example, the optic nerves can be stimulated directly so that the blind can perceive a roughly rasterized image and differentiate between black and white.

Another application is microsystems such as nanomachines (for example the molecular machine ) or biomolecular motors. Here one makes use of the mobility of certain protein complexes. These biomolecular motors can be roughly divided into two groups:

Schematic representation of an F1-ATPase rotary engine
  1. Rotary motor ⇒ ATP synthase :
    The ATP synthase is a protein complex that is used in the cell to generate energy, among other things. The complex consists of two functional units: the F₀ unit with a proton channel , which is integrated into the membrane, and the F1- ATPase , which can hydrolyze or synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the subunits . The F1-ATPase in turn consists of a ring of three α and three β subunits, between which the catalytic centers are located. The connecting shaft is also formed by the γ subunit, among other things. When protons flow through the F₀ unit due to a transmembrane proton gradient, the connecting shaft of the F1-ATPase rotates clockwise. We have already succeeded in equipping the connecting shaft (γ subunit) of an F1-ATPase with a rotor blade made of nickel metal and making it work.
  2. Linear motor systems made from motor protein ( myosin or kinesin ) and a rail system ( actin filaments for myosin or microtubules for kinesin ). The linear motor systems could be used as a shuttle between two points with the ability to load and unload.
Schematic representation of how the maltose-binding protein works

Bio-based sensors are also conceivable. The maltose binding protein, which changes its conformation as soon as a specific molecule (here maltose) binds to the protein, is an example of a protein system that reacts reversibly to chemical changes. It has already been possible to bind the isolated protein (via a biomolecular anchor and complexation with nickel to a self-organized monolayer) on a gold electrode . A redox-active ruthenium group was inserted into the protein at a certain point, so that it is moved from a position relatively close to the surface to a more distant position as a result of the resulting structural change. The distance between the ruthenium group and the electrode surface can be detected as an electrochemical signal. Biosensors could be developed with which very small amounts of maltose (or other molecules) can be detected.

Other possible applications are:

  • Self-organizing monolayers ( self-assembled monolayer , SAM)
  • “Nanocables” that are manufactured with the help of a DNA template and that could be used, for example, in computer technology.
  • Selective DNA hybridization processes can be used technically through the targeted linking of components with the corresponding DNA strands

literature

  • Christopher R. Lowe: Nanobiotechnology: the fabrication and applications of chemical and biological nanostructures. In: Current Opinion in Structural Biology. Vol. 10, No. 4, 2000, pp. 428-434, doi : 10.1016 / S0959-440X (00) 00110-X .
  • Kristian Köchy , Martin Norwig, Georg Hofmeister (Eds.): Nanobiotechnologies. Philosophical, anthropological and ethical questions (= life sciences in dialogue. Vol. 4). Alber, Freiburg (Breisgau) et al. 2008, ISBN 978-3-495-48347-3 .
  • Vlad Georgescu , Marita Vollborn : Nanobiotechnology as an economic force. New markets, new products, new opportunities. Campus-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2002, ISBN 3-593-36926-5 .
  • Theranostics , English-language scientific journal that appears monthly and publishes papers that deal with diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in molecular and nanomedicine.

Web links

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supporting documents

  1. ↑ Martin Norwig, Kristian Köchy, Georg Hofmeister: Nanobiotechnologies - Introduction. In: Kristian Köchy, Martin Norwig, Georg Hofmeister (eds.): Nanobiotechnologies. Philosophical, anthropological and ethical questions. 2008, pp. 9–24, here 9 f.