Product Description
Bionanotechnology is an emerging multidisciplinary field fusing nanotechnology with biology. This new discipline combines biological principles with physical and chemical procedures to generate nano-sized building blocks with specific functions and new properties. Bioanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field, involving the development of biologically-based procedures, the use of biological components and systems, the design of biocompatible objects and systems and the use of nanotechnology to support biotechnological processes.
In contrast to nanotechnology, which uses the "top down" approach, bionanotechnology employs the "bottom up" strategy to harness nature's capacity to form molecular nanostructures. These biological nanostructures are based on biopolymers, proteins or DNA and can be either directly functionalised or used as templates for the formation of inorganic nanostructures called biomimetics. In most cases microorganisms form these natural self-assembled nanostructures, with functionality being biologically and/or chemically controlled. These biomolecule complexes can be enhanced by chemical modifications leading to almost unlimited functionalities in medical and technological applications.
This book provides a survey of the most striking and successful approaches to produce biogenic nanodevices with emphasis on the use of microorganisms for production. Entire chapters are dedicated to the biotechnological production of tailor-made biopolymer-based self-assembled nanostructures such as biopolyester, cyanophycin inclusions and alginates, which can be processed into nanoparticles. Other chapters summarise recent developments in protein- and DNA-based nanodevice production. The book demonstrates the diversity of biological nanostructures, the implied design space and the enormous potential for applications in medicine, biotechnology, drug delivery and biocomputing.
In contrast to nanotechnology, which uses the "top down" approach, bionanotechnology employs the "bottom up" strategy to harness nature's capacity to form molecular nanostructures. These biological nanostructures are based on biopolymers, proteins or DNA and can be either directly functionalised or used as templates for the formation of inorganic nanostructures called biomimetics. In most cases microorganisms form these natural self-assembled nanostructures, with functionality being biologically and/or chemically controlled. These biomolecule complexes can be enhanced by chemical modifications leading to almost unlimited functionalities in medical and technological applications.
This book provides a survey of the most striking and successful approaches to produce biogenic nanodevices with emphasis on the use of microorganisms for production. Entire chapters are dedicated to the biotechnological production of tailor-made biopolymer-based self-assembled nanostructures such as biopolyester, cyanophycin inclusions and alginates, which can be processed into nanoparticles. Other chapters summarise recent developments in protein- and DNA-based nanodevice production. The book demonstrates the diversity of biological nanostructures, the implied design space and the enormous potential for applications in medicine, biotechnology, drug delivery and biocomputing.
