Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine at the NIH
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (www.nano.gov) defines nanotechnology as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. At the nanoscale, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ from the properties of individual atoms and molecules or bulk matter. Nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this level. Over 10 years ago, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery of fullerenes, a highly ordered, specific arrangement of carbon atoms at the nanoscale. Fullerenes have unique properties attributable to their structure. Most recently, Albert Fert (France) and Peter Grunberg (Germany) were jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of giant magnetoresistance, a quantum mechanical effect that appears only at the nanoscale. This work already has had enormous practical benefit, leading to radical improvements in storage capacities in computer hard drives and other electronic devices.
Nanomedicine, a direct offspring of Nanotechnology, is the characterization of nanoscale molecular complexes, components, and pathways inside living cells at such a high level of precision that researchers can manipulate and re-engineer the complexes for diagnosis and treatment of disease or damaged tissue. We expect this level of understanding and control to yield highly specific treatments with little or no side effects.
The NIH created this network of Nanomedicine Development Centers in 2005 to begin using the knowledge and tools developed for measuring and manipulating matter at the nanoscale and, when necessary, develop new tools to jumpstart the field of Nanomedicine.
Living cells accomplish complex biological functions using only four types of elementary molecular systems: (1) filaments and their networks (the cytoskeleton) that control cell shape and motion, (2) membranes that maintain chemical separation in different compartments; (3) enzymes that catalyze chemical reactions; and (4) polynucleotides that store and transmit genetic information. Each of these systems depends on the operation of nanoscale components that have unique properties and are particular to their biological function at the nanoscale. All four of these general categories are under study within the network of NDCs. Thus, the work is applicable to a wide range of cell types, cellular functions, and diseases.
This program represents a unique approach to "translational" biomedical research. The centers were challenged to develop a deep understanding of a fundamental biological system in one of the four domains listed above and, in parallel, develop a research program to apply that basic knowledge in order to improve our understanding, diagnosis, and/or treatment of one or more specific diseases.
We invite you to explore the activities at each center to gain an understanding of the complexity, challenges, and excitement in understanding the nanomachinery operating inside living cells. You will find cutting-edge, scientific exploration that is beginning to reveal the intricacies of the structure and function of cells. Unlike the popular notions of nano robots and other machines of science fiction, which may look and act like miniature versions of large scale, manmade machines, the nanomachinery inside cells is astounding in its complexity operating by many biological, chemical and physical properties particular to the nanoscale. You will also find that even today, researchers are beginning use the basic knowledge at these centers to design new diagnostic tests and potential treatments for specific diseases.
For a complete explanation of the NIH Nanomedicine Program, please refer to the 2006 Request for Applications (RFA) for the Nanomedicine Development Centers
