Nanotechnology, the science of manipulating matter at the nanoscale level, has made leaps and bounds in recent years, revolutionizing industries and profoundly impacting our daily lives.
The nanoscale is the start of everything; life was born at this atomic level. Biomolecules and their interactions, the basis of life, are measured in nanometers and emerged in this dimension.
Sonia Contera, a Physics Professor at the University of Oxford, shares insights into the influence of nanotechnology in her thought-provoking article featured in El País. She emphasizes how The Nobel Prizes of 2023 mark the dawn of nanotechnology in our daily lives.
The Scientific Nobel Prizes in 2023 recognize the impact of nanotechnology
From healthcare to electronics, energy, and beyond, nanotechnology is paving the way for a future filled with unprecedented possibilities and innovations. This year, scientific Nobel prizes (Medicine or Physiology, Chemistry, and Physics) recognize this potential.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023, awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Aleksey Yekimov, rewards the discovery and development of quantum dots, nanoparticles so tiny that their size determines their properties. Their quantic properties can be tuned so they can emit specific wavelengths. These smallest nanotechnology components now spread their light from televisions and LED lamps and can also guide surgeons when they remove tumor tissue, among many other things.
In the case of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023, Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier are being recognized for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules. They have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.
Probably the one that seems to have the most immediate impact on our daily lives is the development of vaccines against COVID-19, which granted Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology 2023. These vaccines combine two essential players at the nanoscale: mRNA and its introduction into lipid nanoparticles.
Nanotechnology has saved lives for almost 30 years!
But, in the field of medicine, vaccines are not the only example; the nanoscale has been saving lives for almost 30 years. Since the approval of Doxil® in 1995, around 100 nanomedicine-based formulations have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Each year, already-approved drugs enter clinical trials in a nanotechnology-based formulation to test their improved efficacy with the conventional dosage form. Based on 2021 data, 563 new nanomedicines were under clinical trial or other stages, especially to treat cancer (53 %) and infections (14 %) [1].
At DIVERSA, we are dedicated to harnessing the benefits of nanotechnology to create powerful and effective innovative therapies to enhance patients’ well-being. Our technology based on nanometric lipid emulsions can associate new molecules, from poorly soluble drugs to potent biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and RNAs, and efficiently deliver them in their therapeutic active form. Our mission is to translate molecules into medicines, using nanotechnology to revolutionize patient’s lives.
The valuable insights gained through our research and development efforts enhance DIVERSA’s reagents portfolio and the added value of our co-development services.
Do you need a partner to make the most out of what nanotechnology can offer? Contact us!
