Nanotechnology and Biomedicine(8)
Source: Neelina H. Malsch_Biomedical Nanotechnology
With proper attention to ethical issues and societal needs, these converging technologies could allow tremendous improvements in human capabilities, societal outcomes, and the quality of life. Malsch (Chapter 6) examines the potential of nanotechnology to address health care needs and the societal implications of nano- biomedical research and development. The most important avenues of disease treat- ment and the main issues to be considered by governments, civic organizations, and the public are evaluated. The social, economic, ethical, and legal aspects are integral parts of nanotechnology R&D for biomedical applications.Schuler reviews the potential risks of biomedical nanotechnology and outlines several scenarios for eventual regulation via market forces, extensions of current regulations, accidents, regulatory capture, self-regulation, or technology ban. The chances of success of these scenarios are determined by the way the stakeholders respond to the large-scale production and commercialization expected to begin within the next decade.The United States initiated a multidisciplinary strategy for development of sci- ence and engineering fundamentals through its NNI in 2000. Japan and Europe now have broad programs and plans for the next 4 or 5 years. More than 40 countries have developed programs or focused projects in nanotechnology since 2000. Research on biosystems has received larger support in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. Other significant investments in nano- technology research programs with contributions to nanobiosystems have been made by the European Community, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, Finland, Italy, Israel, Sin- gapore, and Sweden. Relatively large programs in nanotechnology but with small biosystems components until 2004 have been developed by South Korea and China. Worldwide government funding has increased to about eight times what it was in1997, exceeding $3.6 billion in 2004 (see http://www.nsf.gov/nano). Differences among countries can be noted by the research domains they choose, the levels of program integration into various industrial sectors, and the time scales of their R&D targets. Of the total NNI investment in 2004, about 15% is dedicated to nanobiosystems in two ways. First, the implementation plan of NNI focuses on fundamental research related to nanobiosystems and nanomedicine. Second, the program involves two grand challenges related to health issues and bionanodevices. Additional investments have been made for development of infrastructures at various NSF centers, including the Cornell University Nanotechnology Center and additional nanoscale science and engineering centers at Rice University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Ohio State University.The NNI was evaluated by the National Research Council and the council published its findings in June 2002. One recommendation was to expand research at the interface of nanoscale technology with biology, biotechnology, and life sci- ences. Such plans to extend nanobiosystems research are under way at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). A NSF–Department of Commerce (DOC) report recommends a focus on improving physical and mental human performance through converging technologies.2 The NSF, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Defense (DOD) have included aspects of converging technologies and improving human performance in their program solicitations. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) instituted a program on engineered biomolecular nan- odevices and systems. A letter sent to the NIH director by seven US senators in2003 recommended that the NIH increase funding in nanotechnology. The White House budget request for fiscal 2004 lists “nanobiosystems for medical advances and new products” as a priority within the NNI. Nanobiotechnology RRD is high- lighted in the long-term NNI Strategic Plan published in December 2004 (http://www.nano.gov). Public interactions provide feedback for the societal accep- tance of nanotechnology, and particularly the aspects related to human dimensions and nanobiotechnology.10,11Nanobiosystems is an area of interest recognized by various international studies on nanotechnology, such as those prepared by Asia-Pacific Economic Council (APEC),12 the Meridian Institute,13 and Economic Organization of Developed Coun- tries (OECD).14 In a survey performed by the United Kingdom Institute of Nano- technology and by OECD,14 experts identified the locations of the most sophisticated nanotechnology developments in the medical and pharmaceutical areas in the United States (48%), the United Kingdom (20%), Germany (17%), Switzerland (8%), Swe- den (4%), and Japan (3%). The U.S. NNI plans to devote about 15% of its fiscal year 2004 budget to nanobiosystems; Germany will allocate about 10% and France about 8%. The biology route to nanotechnology may be a choice for countries with less developed economies because required research facility investments are lower.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น