Nanotechnology

• Nanotechnology is based on the use of subatomic particles as raw materials for manufacturing purposes. Subatomic particle sizes are in the nano-scale range, where one nanometer equals one-billionth of a meter. Materials reduced to nano-scale are in their purest chemical forms. In effect, nanotechnology is working with the most fundamental elements in the physical world. Manufacturing processes that begin on this level can be customized to order, meaning the materials used within the process can be created for a desired purpose.
  
  

Nanobots

• Any manufacturing process that involves subatomic particles requires specialty tools. Nano-scaled tools are needed, as is a high degree of automation. Nanobots are the newest set of manufacturing tools designed to manipulate subatomic particles within the manufacturing process. Because nanotechnology is still in its infancy, the manufacturing of tools small enough to work with these materials is another branch in the field. Nanobots are expected to play a key role in the study of biological system processes as nanobiotechnology advances.
  
  

Biological Systems

• Nanobiotechnology is concerned with how biological systems are able to rebuild and regenerate their own materials. Cellular functions, DNA regeneration and protein and enzyme production are some of the biosystems being examined.
  
  Nanobiotechnology's purpose is to design tools capable of studying these systems. By understanding how these systems work, researchers hope to incorporate these designs into the workings of a nanobot that then can carry out self-directed processes.
  
  

Applications

• Areas of nanobiotechnology application in the medical field include synthetic bone materials, antimicrobial wound dressings and nanobot capsules. For instance, nanobot materials contained inside wound dressings would administer medicine in prescribed intervals and eliminate fluids discharged from the wound. Nanobot capsules are being considered as a new form of cancer treatment. Cancer-seeking nanobots would be injected into a person's bloodstream and programmed to destroy cancer cells from the inside out.
  
  

Considerations

• Nanobiotechnology's work with subatomic materials is an uncharted course within the field of science. Subatomic particles behave differently than macro-sized materials and are more powerful as pure elements. It is unknown whether the miniscule dimension of these materials will leave residual effects in the atmosphere or if they'll create unforeseen side effects down the road. At the time of this writing, no specified regulating agencies were in charge of safety, nor were any manufacturing regulations in place to monitor the advances in this field.