Publisher Summary
Carbon nanotechnology has become the building block of the entire field of nanotechnology. Bionanotechnology has resulted from advances in the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, cytology, genetic engineering, and biotechnology. Bionanotechnology takes the advantage of the unique properties of biological macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, and prions by using their self-assembling nature for the nano-engineering of molecular templates, and supra-molecular structures. Areas of bionanotechnology where applications are beginning to be developed include the assembling of the eye's lens, retina, nerves, as well as chips for the treatment of brain disorders. This chapter includes the creation of nanoscale components such asprotein nanotubes, nanowires, and nanotools. Synthetic peptides and proteins are discussed as the leading materials in bionanotechnology to be incorporated into practical, and commercial applications in medicine.