Biomedical Applications of Micro and Nano Technologies

Abstract

The functional integration of man-made devices and biological systems represents one of the grand challenges of science and technology. Efficient real-time exchange of information and/or materials across the molecular-scale interface between biological and physical systems is a core platform requirement to realise that vision. This common technology requirement underpins development of (i) affordable diagnostic devices that harness the full potential of genomic information through real-time predictive, preventive, point-of-care and personalised health care provision; (ii) anti-terrorism, environmental, food, crime detection and process monitoring sensors; (iii) targeted drug delivery systems; (iv) advanced orthopaedic and neural implants; (v) pharmaceutical screening and lab-on-chip devices; and (vi) ubiquitous systems which monitor, interact with, and respond to biological events, and link unobtrusively with information processing and communications systems. A thematic area common to this huge diversity of devices, applications and sectors, each of which on its own could form the subject of one or more integrated projects, provides the focus of the Network for Biomedical Applications of Micro and Nano Technologies (NANOMED), which will not only advance the associated platform science and technology, but act to link diverse communities.KeywordsBiomedical ApplicationGrand ChallengeUbiquitous SystemTarget Drug Delivery SystemControl ManipulationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.