**6. Nano-biotechnology in molecular diagnostic**

*Applications of Nanobiotechnology*

remedy seem like amazing [17].

combination of numerous approaches of DNA analysis is mixed on an unmarried chip composed of an unmarried glass and silicon substrate. Academically, it is a subdiscipline of fluid mechanics, as the fundamental equations describing the physics of fluids at larger length scales are identical to the equations underlying microfluidics. In general, the microfluidic biosensor platforms offer numerous advantages compared with other traditional methods such as ultracentrifugation, electrophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance, chromatographic approaches, etc. for detection of bio-species molecules. This device have capable of measuring aqueous reagent and DNA-containing answers, mixing the solutions together, amplifying or digesting the DNA to shape discrete merchandise, Destiny possibilities for the utility of nanotechnology in healthcare and for the development of personalized

**5. Nanobiotechnology in designing of drug delivery system**

without conducting any experiment in living organisms.

and effective, non-invasive drug delivery methods.

formulations with better patient compliance [19].

Among the new technologies, nano-biotechnology has evoked considerable interest for application in the pharmaceutical industry. Important applications of nano-biotechnology are in the areas of drug discovery, drug development, and drug delivery, and these are collectively referred to as nano-pharmaceuticals. Nano-biotechnology, particularly the use of nanoparticles, has made significant contributions to drug discovery and development [18]. In addition to the use of nano-biotechnology for drug discovery, some drugs are being developed from nanomaterials. Well-known examples of these are dendrimers, fullerenes, and nano-bodies. At present time increasing the use of nano-biotechnology in many pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries is anticipated. In case of drug development from formulate to appropriate dose to administer with optimal delivery systems, nanotechnology is being utilized at all the stages. Nano-biotechnology applications are also involving in diagnosis of diseases. In future it may be possible to computers are connected with nanobiotechnology systems and provide the appropriate and complete knowledge about complete model or an individual cell. This virtual representation might be helpful for researcher or scientist to develop novel drugs with high rate of accuracy and precision

The major challenges in front of drug delivery scientists are poor solubility, high molecular size and low bioavailability for clinical candidates. Other challenges in this field are pediatric and geriatric drug administration, protein and peptide drug delivery etc. Today's major demand in drug delivery field is to develop ideal, safe

Nano-biotechnology sector play a significant role to overcome the above drug delivery problems. It provides the following solution related drug delivery problems: (a) With the help of this technology particle size of drugs is reduced in nanometer size range, it enhance the surface area and ultimately improve rate of dissolution, (b) Nano-meter size range of drug also useful to improve their solubility, (c) With the help of this technology scientists trying to develop noninvasive routes of drug administration method which can eliminates the use of injectable drugs, (d) developed nanoparticle formulations has better alternate for non-stable and lower shelf lives formulations, (e) nanotechnology based formulations improved the solubility of poorly soluble drug and enhance absorption capability, improved bioavailability and release rate of large molecules, reduced the optimum dose and enhance the safety margin by reducing the side effects, (f) Nano-biotechnology principles help in developing of Sustain and controlled release

**24**

Nano technology has gained enormous popularity in recent past decades. In lay man language nano technology is defined as the use of least possible input to get maximum possible output. Nano word is used in terms of size. This technology is considered as wonderful amalgamation of physics and chemistry. When this technique is applied with biology, it brings about a new field termed as Nanobiotechnology; where biochemical processes are modified to get far better results than that of simple bio technological procedures.

As far as the medical field is concerned, the harness of nano- biotechnology for diagnostic purpose is successfully obtained (**Figure 2**). It assists to develop more sensitive diagnostic kits than that of existing one. Such instruments are suitable to probe the bodily problems at cellular pores and receptor level. Moreover, it is due to tiny sized diagnostic materials the degree of toxic and adverse effects have been markedly reduced. New dimensions of diagnostic tools have been explored with the aid of this cutting edge technique. Several modifications are still under developmental phase.

#### **6.1 Nano-particles used in the diagnosis**

Gold nano-particles are also termed as metallic particles. These are produced from gold salts of either organic, aqueous or both origins. A suitable stabilizer is used to get stable particles with good ligand binding capacity. Usable size of particles is ranging between 3 and 100 nm. The major application is due to their electronic, optical, and thermal properties [20].

Magnetic nano particles are formulated from magnetic materials like Fe3O4, Fe2O3, and many other ferrites. Nanoparticles can be incorporated with bio- marker moieties so that they can be utilized to investigate various biomolecules and help in different processes like separation and purification. The involvement of surface coating materials is significant to ascertain the size and kinetics of these particles. That's why the nature of coating materials should be examined before use [21].

Quantum dots are semiconductor nano-crystals that are easy to synthesize and have characteristic properties that are between those of bulk semiconductor and discrete molecules. Their diameter ranges from 2 to 10 nm. Their fluorescent property relies on size of the quantum dot [22].

Carbon nano tubes are composed of graphite. On the basis of number of graphite, these nano tubes are categorized into two classes- tubes with only one layer of graphite

**Figure 2.**

*Application of nanobiotechnology for molecular diagnosis.*

#### *Applications of Nanobiotechnology*

are known as mono walled carbon nano tubes on the other hand, tubes consist of multiple layers of graphite are termed as multi walled carbon nano tubes. The main advantage of such tubes is that they can conduct high electricity with less or no heating effect. This happens because of scattering free traveling of electrons throughout the tube [23].

Liposomes are spherical vesicles where an aqueous core is surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer and cholesterol. The phospholipid consists of a hydrophilic head and two oil-loving tails. The phospholipid that is predominantly used is phosphatidyl choline [24].

Dendrimers are the emerging and well defined polymeric architectures that are known for their large, complex and well defined structures, versatility in drug delivery and high functionality whose properties resemble with biomolecules. These nanostructured macromolecules have potential abilities to entrap and to conjugate the high molecular weight hydrophilic/hydrophobic drugs by host-guest interactions and covalent bonding (prodrug approach) around an inner core respectively. They have different Features like size, shape, branching length, and their surface functionality vary over the design of nanoparticles. For example, Polyamidoamine are usually used dendrimers [25].

Nano bio sensors are applied to investigate biochemical changes with the aid of electronic, optical or magnetic technology. Furthermore, detection and/or quantification of bio molecules like specific base pairs or proteins are also possible. Majority of biosensors work on the principle of key and lock theory or affinity based mechanism; where immobilized tool attaches to target molecule/analyte being sensed in this phenomenon, any change at a localized surface can be examined rather than detecting target in solution. This variation can be sensed by using one of the following methods; viral biosensors, light sensitive biosensors, resonant cantilever and quartz crystal microbalance [26].

#### **6.2 Nanotechnology used in diagnosis**

#### *6.2.1 Nanotechnology-based biochips/microarrays*

A nano material can be perfectly examined by using same sized probe. This hypothesis is applied in molecular diagnosis with the help of biochips or microarrays. This is because the cell organelles/biological moieties exist in nano size and the biochips also falls under in almost similar tiny sized scale. Nano fluidic arrays and protein nano biochips are the examples of nanotechnology based biochips. These chips are capable to isolate and analyze living cell molecules such as genetic material DNA. In future this technique will certainly bring about revived investigation tool for cancer. Nano-fluidic technology is expected to have broad applications in systems biology, personalized medicine, pathogen detection, drug development, and clinical research [27].

#### *6.2.2 Nanotechnology-based cytogenetic*

Cytogenetic has been used mainly to elaborate spatial arrangement of the chromosome and screening of abnormalities related to disease. The use of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is now reaching its limit. Molecular cyto-genetics is now enhanced by use of biomedical nanotechnology, e.g., use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and quantum dot (QD) FISH [28].

#### *6.2.3 Nano-proteomic-based diagnostics*

A comprehensive study including identification, characterization and analysis of a series of bio protein at a specified time is known as proteomics. Proteomics help to recognize the variations which are associated with various pathological conditions.

**27**

*Role of Nanobiotechnology in Drug Discovery, Development and Molecular Diagnostic*

These variations are identified on the basis of spatio-temporal position of protein molecules. A small change in molecular level can bring about such variations as a consequence proteome may be altered; which are further quantified for clinical diagnosis. Gel- based and gel- free are the common proteomics techniques, which work on separation, observation, analysis and marking the altered proteome [29].

Screening of pathogenic microorganism on the basis of genomic arrangement has become relevant in current clinical determination. It has been well established central dogma of life that each and every living organism has a peculiar set of DNA, which has been transferred from one generation to next without any sort of alteration; this can also be said to be the individualization by nature. In clinical diagnosis, this DNA fragment may help to check the availability of the microorganism in the test sample. This investigation opens the door for molecular detection. This is carried out by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or hybridization techniques, known as amplification method and non-amplification method respectively. Therefore, this technique is considered to be more sensitive and precise than that of

Bio sensors are sophisticated probes, which are used to investigate the existence and/or concentration of a biological analyte, say for example bio molecule, histology of biological material or any microorganism. Biosensors comprise of following parts: amplifier that detects the analyte and generate a signal along with it a signal transducer that converts the signal into electric impulses and a reader to record and

Nano-biotechnology is the fine amalgamation of multi disciplines of science. In pharmaceutical field, the scientists and researchers are trying to overcome the demerits of existing drug molecules with the aid of this wonderful technology. There are many expected potential benefits in bank. In spite of that safety is the main concern with the in- vivo application of nano engineered medicines yet. It has been revealed that while production or use of nano medicines, such particles can easily get inside the human body and ultimately blood stream and then in various vital organs; where they exert unintended adverse effects, sometimes these

An in- vivo study on monkeys and rats have disclosed the aggregation of carbon and manganese nano materials in the olfactory bulb, which has produced severe pathological consequences pertaining to nervous and respiratory system. Several animal studies have shown such sort of abnormal pathological

In order to combat with this problem firstly, an efficient probe will have to develop for thorough assessment of risk associated with the use of nano medicine. Second and the most significant challenge would be to develop authentic validation protocol for testing nano medicines in animals so as to get the data of toxic effects in early stage of testing. A restructured, compact and integrated regulatory approach is much needed to look into the expected risks for delivering the promis-

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92796*

*6.2.4 Nanoparticle-based nucleic acid diagnostics*

other techniques [30].

*6.2.5 Nano-bio-sensors*

investigate the signal [31].

effects are fetal for the user.

ing and safe medicines [2].

disturbances.

**7. Safety issues of nanoparticles**

#### *Role of Nanobiotechnology in Drug Discovery, Development and Molecular Diagnostic DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92796*

These variations are identified on the basis of spatio-temporal position of protein molecules. A small change in molecular level can bring about such variations as a consequence proteome may be altered; which are further quantified for clinical diagnosis. Gel- based and gel- free are the common proteomics techniques, which work on separation, observation, analysis and marking the altered proteome [29].
