Nanotechnology And Drug Development

The main objective of this paper for the presentation is to enlighten the concept of nanobiotechnology and to emphasize its applications on the health sector. Nanobiotechnology is the application of nanotechnology to the life sciences. It is an emerging area of science which is concerned with the application of tools and processes in order to build devices for the study of objects in biological systems and applications for processes such as drug delivery and diagnostics. There is a close relationship between the mother Nature and nanobiotechnology with respect to its unique size at the nanoscale level. For instance, most of the cells or its components (proteins) in the living organisms are typically ranging from 10µm to nano size. Hence nanobiotechnology will have wide scope to study and to understand various biological processes at nanoscale by introducing manmade nanoparticles as very small probes that would allow us to spy at the cellular machinery without much interference. Moreover, rapid advancements in biotechnology and information technology have further boosted new possibilities in diagnosis or treatment of various debilitating diseases such as Alzhemier’s disease, parkinsonism, cancer and HIV and replacement of organs or bones. The other applications of nanobiotechnology include development of nanothick particulate coatings on to macroscopic and microscopic structures using a novel pulse laser deposition technique, biomedical research, genetic testing, genomics.

Author: http://www.pharmainfo.net/sailesh

Co-author: http://www.pharmainfo.net/manikiran

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Bhasker's picture

Hello Sailesh,
1.Can you let me know what are stealth NanoWorms and their applications?
2.Also explain where do nanoparticles end up? Are they eliminated from the body or do they remain inside the body?

sailesh's picture

hi bhaskar

The major drawback of polymeric nanoparticles is that when we administer them by IV route, they were immediately recognised by the Reticulo endothelial cells (cells in liver, spleen)and get phagocytised making them ineffective. They also get concentrated in the liver due to their hydrophobicity making them toxic. It will be more when the polymers used are non biodegradable. To prevent this, we can engineer the surface of polymeric nanoparticles by using co-polymers like PEG (poly ethylene glycol)making it a little hydrophillic so that it can escape the Reticulo endothelial cells. This is called as stealth behavior of naoparticles.

Reference: International journal of pharmaceutics 307 (2006) 93-102

pharmacistdixon's picture

Dear Sailesh
On the slide "evolution of nanobiotechnology" you have mentioned that understanding human physiology, instead of that Molecular Medicine would be a better one on that diagram right?

Mr. Dixon Thomas, M. Pharm, M. S., RPh Assoc. Prof., RIPER
sailesh's picture

hello sir

Yes understanding human physiology at molecular level will be more appropriate

tegkmurthy's picture

Clottocytes in dengue

1. Differentiate nanobiotechnology from nanotechnology.
2. Name the materials used to prepare artificial DNA.
3. Can we use clottocytes in dengue fever.
4. Comment on the effect of nano based formulation on frequency of administartion.

Dr.T.E.G.K.Murthy
http://www.pharmainfo.net/tegkmurthy/biography
Principal
Bapatla College of Pharmacy, Bapatla

Is nanotechnology also used in drug discovery?Tell me some methods.

sailesh's picture

hello sir

Nanotechnology can be definitely used in drug discovery. Till now, we do not know how the components of a cell reacts when we administer a specific chemical compound (drug). But by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we can identify the presence of a protein by attaching its specific antibody to the tip of microscope and observe the variance in its reading. Images of biological samples will be contributors to the drug discovery. Interactions between the biomolecules can be studied using a technique called as surface plasmon resonance (SPR). By using a 2D gel electrophoresis capable of resolving 2500+ protein spots from a sample, we can identify the NOVEL TARGETS.

reference: www.drugresearcher.com

shobhadeepthi's picture

Please name some marketed nanobiotechnological products....
Also tell me about the which are in clinical trials along with the phase under which they are.....

sailesh's picture

u can see the slide named products of nanobiotechnology

Dear sailesh,
Can you explain in detail about the slide no. 17.That is prosthetics and clottocytes?means how exactly we can go for that using nanotechnology?

sailesh's picture

There are two approaches in nanotechnology. One is bottom up and top down approaches. In our biological system, most of the components are at nano range. We can artificially construct the biomimetic materials. For example, nanocomposites made of hydroxyapatite, fumarate based polymers and alumoxane and other biodegradable polymers can be used for the replacement of material that is present in the bone. Clottocyte consist of a nano range chemically inert material coated with platelet membrane to make it bio compatible. Several such clottocytes can be packed into a fibre mesh and can be administered.

amolsmalpani's picture

Dear shailesh,
Can you explain the electro mechnical system which you mention in your presentation in detail.
Regards,
Amol

Amol S Malpani

Second prize Winners of Skills Test 2010

sailesh's picture

Electro mechanical systems are the integrated circuits varying from micro to nano range. They have various applications in automotive engineering, telecommunications, space exploration. As far as biology is concerned, they are used in the biological sensors, immuno assays, impantable drug delivery systems. They are soon going to replace the cumbersome clinical laboratory equipment and procedures as they can handle samples at micro and nanolevels.

sailesh's picture

Nanotechnology is the science of small things that is anything which is in nanometer range. Nanobiotechnology deals with the application of such small things to the biological system.

In the preparation of artifical DNA, nucleic acids, molecula self assembling machine, ligated DNA molecules to create interconnections, DNA polymerase to create a replicate, rotary DNA machine to create conformations.

Clottocytes cannot be used in dengue fever because bleeding in dengue fever is not always due to thrombocytopenia (reduction in platelet count) but also due to other immunological reactions. Further, bleeding occurs in dengue fever occurs from the capillaries, mucus membranes and tissues. But clottocytes were designed to prevent bleeding from the blood vessels by detecting the fibrinogen content in blood.

Frequency of administration can be reduced in a nanobased formulation in case of polymeric nanoparticles as the release of drug is controlled and sustained by the polymer.

References: American journal of infectious diseases, www.foresight.org, Nature/vol.421/January2003

hemangi_purarkar's picture

1. How the nanoparticles in nanotechnology reproduced?
2. Can you elaborate on nanofabrication?

sailesh's picture

Nanoparticles in Nanotechnology is a broader term, anything manufactured at the nanoscale level comes under it. As far as drug delivery is concerned nanoparticles include polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, quantum dots etc. Nanofabrication is nothing but the design or manufacturing of devices at nanoscale. Top down and bottom up approaches are the two methods in nanofabrication. Assembling of cells into tissues or atoms into molecules is a bottom up approach. Resizing of an integrated circuit until we achive the desired size is top down approach.

R.S.Prakasham's picture

What is the current status of nanobiotechnology related drug development in India?

sailesh's picture

Nanobiotechnology related drug development in India is still at infancy stage. Very few companies are focussing on nanobiotechnology, sensors and semi conductors. Some companies are Velnanobiotech, Bharat biotechnology, nanocet. Developments are limited to research institutes such as IIT, IISC, University of Delhi, Institute of nuclear medicine, National chemical laboratory, Pune.

pankajpatel's picture

very good presentation
I want to know About As Nanobiotechnology Used in cancer therapy- Which are the challenges associated with cancer therapy? And why the field of cancer therapy is most interested for research? How Nanotechnology differ from Nanotechnology ?

sailesh's picture

In cancer therapy, the drugs we administer cannot properly distinguish between the healthy cells and tumor cells. Furhter, cancer may not be limited to a single region. So targetting is the main challenge associated with cancer therapy. Today with the recent advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology targetting can be achieved by attaching a specific antibody of cancer cell to target it so that it will not kill the healthy cell. By the use of biosensors concept or lab on a chip we can automatically detect the cancer at initial stages itself so that it can be effectively treated. Nanotechnology is a broader term applicable to small things in nanometer range whereas nanobiotechnology is the application of them to the biological system.

Bhawna Khurana's picture

hello sir,

please ans the following questions:

1. What is the biggest disadvantage of this technology?

2. Can you explain the role of nanobiotechnology in case of cancer with its mechanism?

sailesh's picture

1. The properties of materials will be altered when we reduce the particle size to nanoscale. The tendency to aggregate will be more. Bicompatability is going to be other problem. Patient may not accept the use of chips in his body in case of implantable drug delivery systems. Proudction of such sytems may be difficult and become expensive.

2. You can see the below answer for its use in cancer therapy.

ritesh bajaj's picture

hello sir,

What is nanobitech in case of life cycle management?

sailesh's picture

Life cycle can be prolonged by use of nanobiotechnology. we can detect the disease at early stages and deliver the drug to the required site at suitable dose. Nanobiosensors, lab on a chip which can detect the changes in hormone levels, ions, lipids etc. are very useful.

pharmacistdixon's picture

Dear Sailesh
Thnak you for the previous answer. Now in the production of bulk drugs in biotechnology (or in nano biotechnology) will be completely by fermentation process right. So does this belong to fermentation technology as a basic science?

Mr. Dixon Thomas, M. Pharm, M. S., RPh Assoc. Prof., RIPER
sailesh's picture

Bulk drugs (especially antibiotics) are produced by fermentation process. Fermentation is not a new science to us. It exists from age old times in which wine is produced from grape juice and formation of curd from milk.

Thank you sir,

abherids86's picture

How is degradation velocity of nanoparticles related to particle size?

sailesh's picture

I cannot understand the question properly. The tendency of nanoparticles to form aggreggates will be increased as the particle size decreases.

sakshi agrawal's picture

hello Sir,
Can you explain the bottom up & top down approaches used in nanotechnology..
Regards,
Sakshi

sailesh's picture

Bottom up approach is the building up of objects from small things. It is just like a building a house with bricks. In biological system we can construct DNA or a lipid membrane. Top down approach is resizing an object to the nanoscale. It can be best exemplified by formation of small size chips from the integrated circuit.

y mahalaxmi's picture

Hi sailaesh,

How and why artificial platelets stops bleeding faster than the normal heamostasis?

Thankyou
Y mahalaxmi

komal nikam's picture

Hello Sir,

According to analysis nanoparticles are harmful to human as well as to environment so what are the various safety issues?

gopal's picture

do you know any thing about impalefection in nanobiotechnology

ayushsinghal's picture

how far the nano based drugs hit the markets?? can you give a current market profiling of same??with references of available statical-data...

Ayush A. Singhal RPCP, CHANGA GUJARAT http://www.pharmainfo.net/ayushsinghal/biography
raghavendraswamy's picture

1)Briefly explain the nanobiosensors as diagnostic agent?
2)what is biomimetics ?

vamsikrishna reddy's picture

how nanobiosensors are useful for identification of diseases in humans

B.Vamsikrishna Reddy