Given the current pace of nanotechnology infusion in medical sciences, giant strides will be taken, in the upcoming years, in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, orthopedic ailments, and other infectious diseases.
The toughest challenge that will test every functional nut and bolt of nanobiotechnology is finding a treatment solution for cancer, one of the most complex diseases confronting mankind. Involving a labyrinth of confounding molecular, and cellular processes, the disease is the result of compounded abnormal genetic changes in specific cells. And all hopes for developing quantitative detection, and therapeutic devices for early diagnosis, and treatment hang onto nanotechnology. Nanotechnology will help design instruments that permeate biological barriers, and deliver highly concentrated and potent drugs focused directly at the erring cells, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy, and reducing side effects. Cardiovascular diseases will also benefit from nanobiotechnology given the feasibility of developing non-invasive diagnostic, and therapy administration systems that target the atherosclerotic plaque. Ability to sequentially monitor thrombotic and haemorrhagic activity will aid in preventing strokes, and heart attacks. Ability to develop biodegradable, intelligent nanoparticles, which can sense abnormal alveolar functions will aid in effecting drug release only when needed. This is especially important and vital in lung inflammatory diseases.
With nanobiotechnology emerging from a purely research for the sake of research discipline to a more real world application driven technology, biotech companies, which hitherto exhibited hesitant unwillingness to invest in this hugely capital intensive, high risk, unexplored, and uncharted territory, are now showing keen interest in tapping into this space. Additionally, the current economic recession has elicited a change in perception and sentiments of venture capital investors, who now are focused on investing in companies with the highest turnover potential, and nanobiotechnology is expected to emerge into the greatest beneficiary of this trend.
Worldwide government spending on nanotechnology decelerated between 2008 through 2010. Interestingly, the slowdown in government spends is not a result of the unfavorable economic climate, but rather is a fallout of the changing perceptions about nanotechnology, which has transcended from its earlier confines of being a purely high-end research-intensive discipline to a technology with commercial applications. The last couple of decades witnessed massive injection of funds by governments into nanotechnology, which was then yet an unexplored branch of science and technology that required further understanding. However, the technology has now emerged into an applied tool for developing commercial solutions in all areas of international needs ranging from enhancing medicine, healthcare to diversified industry, and environmental solutions. This shift can be put into perspective by the fact that of late, there has been a rise in the numbers of spin offs from research organizations that are facilitating transformation of products from laboratories to the commercialization stage. At this point of inflection in the technology’s lifecycle where the focus is shed on developing application driven nano systems rather than unraveling the technology’s mysteries, private and public companies are expected to step in to infuse capital and investment funds into the industry.
As stated by the new market research report on Nanobiotechnology, the US represents the largest regional market. The recent economic slowdown, which began in mid-to-late 2007, has over the ensuing two years drawn several industries ranging from housing, automobiles to consumer electronics into its vortex. The prolonged recession, and the stubbornly slow economic recovery, has forced even conventionally resilient, high-end technology intensive industries like nanotechnology to buckle under the pressure.
Weakened financial muscle, and reduced appetite for risks, among venture capitalists, and sapped will of end-users to invest in and adopt new technologies, took its toll on start-up nanotechnology firms, which were expected to either break-even or crumble under the pressure. Acutely impacted were the companies engaged in actively developing nano-enabled products for industries such as, automobiles, electronics, and construction. Despite the recession’s knock-on effect on nanotechnology adoption, the far-reaching impact of nanotechnology continues to be significant although less stellar than earlier predictions. Developed economies of United States, EU, and Japan, which hitherto dominated all nanotechnology R&D spending, will now witness the emergence of developing countries as strong potential laden players in the field of nanotechnology. Growth in the number of patents emerging from developing markets such as China and India, and other nations such as Korea, and Russia especially stands testimony to this trend. The nanomaterials market represents the largest technology segment. solid inorganic nanoparticles market remains the largest contributor to the nanomaterials market.
Key players in the marketplace include Aduro BioTech, Arrowhead Research Corporation, Calando Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asklepios BioPharmaceutical Inc, Biosante Phosphate Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celgene Corporation, Abraxis Bioscience Inc., Elan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Flamel Technologies Inc., Gilead Sciences Inc., Life Technologies Corporation, NanoBio Corporation, Nanophase Technologies Corporation, pSivida Ltd, Sigma Aldrich Company, Starpharma Holdings Ltd., Dendritic Nanotechnologies Inc., SkyePharma Pharmaceuticals and Zyvex Instruments LLC.
The research report titled “Nanobiotechnology: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a review of noteworthy market trends, growth drivers, issues, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic corporate developments. The study provides market estimates and projections in terms of annual revenues (in US$ Million) across product segments, such as, Nanomaterials (Solid Inorganic Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Nanostructured Materials & Membranes, Nanotubes and Fullerenes and Other Nanomaterials) and Nanodevices/Tools. Application segments covered include Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Medical Research and Others. Regional markets analyzed include USA, Japan, Europe and Rest of World markets.
Source: http://www.strategyr.com/