Nanobiotechnology: the fabrication and applications of chemical and biological nanostructures

Biology can teach the physical world of electronics, computing, materials science and manufacturing how to assemble complex functional devices and systems that operate at the molecular level. Our present capability to fabricate simple molecular tools, devices, materials and machines is primitive compared with the sophistication of nature. Nevertheless, the nanomanufacturing of ‘biomimetic’ devices is moving ahead strongly. Recent developments have been made in the use of biological systems in molecular self-assembly, spatial positioning, microconstruction, biocomposite fabrication, nanomachines and biocomputing.