Nanobiotechnology: An Ocean of Opportunities

Nanobiotechnology is an amalgamation of engineering and molecular biology, leading to the development of devices with specificity and high sensitivity. This branch has developed to a great extent; its major applications are in the field of health and medicine, besides that in some or other ways in energy and environment. Applications of nanoparticles in diagnosis, gene therapy, drug delivery, pathogen detection, and tissue engineering (TE) are discussed in detail. An in-depth study on recent developments in the area of health and diagnostics using nano-objects (quantum dots (QDs), nanoparticles, nanotubes, etc.) is discussed. Future applications of the field in the treatment of important diseases in the form of smart drugs and the development of new devices are also explored. Beyond biotechnology, nanomaterials find their use in various other fields too, including defense services, electronics, etc. With so many applications and future prospects, there are some risk factors as well as challenges too in the form of toxicity and regulations. The objective of this chapter is to describe the potential benefits and impacts of nanobiotechnology in various areas and its future prospects.