Nanobiotechnology in Cardiovascular Disorders

Abstract

Nanotechnology (Greek word nano means dwarf) is the creation and utilization of materials, devices, and systems through the control of matter on the nanometerlength scale, that is, at the level of atoms, molecules, and supramolecular structures. Nanotechnology, as defined by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (http://www. nano.gov/), is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1–100 nm, where unique phenomena enable novel applications (Jain 2011). Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. It is the popular term for the construction and utilization of functional structures with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometers − a nanometer is one billionth of a meter (10–9 m). Given the inherent nanoscale functional components of living cells, it was inevitable that nanotechnology will be applied in biotechnology giving rise to the term nanobiotechnology. Nanomedicine is defined as the application of nanobiotechnology to medicine, and some of these applications are shown in Table 6.1 (Jain 2008).