Importance of the Technology
Bioelectronics is an interdisciplinary research field that includes elements of chemistry, biology, physics, electronics, nanotechnology, and materials science. It seeks to exploit the growing technical ability to integrate biomolecules with electronics to develop a broad range of functional devices. An important research aspect is the development of the communication interface between the biological materials and electronic components. Bioelectronics will affect a range of industries. In particular, it will affect the biomedical industry through the development of advanced biosensors, biochips, artificial organs, and prosthetics; the environmental and defense areas through the development of more sophisticated and robust chemical-biological detection technologies; and the electronics and computing industries through the development of biomaterial-based electronic circuitry.
The use of biomolecules as the building blocks of higher-level functional devices will lead to applications that range from the integration of biomaterials with electronics in recognition or sensing devices, such as biosensors, to the development of biofuel cells that use natural substances in the body, such as glucose, to generate energy to power implantable devices. Bioelectronics research also seeks to use biomolecules to perform the electronic functions that semiconductor devices currently perform, thereby offering the potential to increase computing-microchip density sufficiently to continue Moore's law down to the nanometer level. Although commercialization of molecular electronics may not occur for at least 20 years, developments in related enabling technology areas will continue to drive researchers' and investors' interest in the near term.
With a few exceptions, many of the technical approaches that are important to bioelectronics are today commercially unproven. Many applications are at the discovery and development stages, and technology migration to mass markets will require participants to commit to long development timelines and invest considerable financial resources. Among the factors that will determine commercial success are increased research and development funding for such high-risk research; access to novel manufacturing, design, and modeling processes; marketing resources and distribution channels; regulatory guidelines for market approval and sales and marketings; low power consumption for implantable devices and prosthetics; and cost-effective and equitable access to new technologies by an ever-increasing and aging population.
Because of the dramatic potential for bioelectronics to advance medical devices and diagnostics, companies in the medical and biotechnology industries have been among the first firms to invest in the development and commercialization of bioelectronic devices. Leading information-technology companies are pursuing research in molecular electronics. Successful research programs will rely on interdisciplinary approaches that include disciplines as diverse as materials, computer science, communications, electronics, and molecular biology. Although biomedical applications are relatively close to commercial realization, the prospects for developing enhanced computing systems through molecular electronics within the next decade or so are much more uncertain. As with many emerging technologies, though, market development of bioelectronics is uncertain, and participants need to prepare for the unexpected and remain flexible enough to adjust their strategies as technologies and market develop. |
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Importance of the Technology |
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Recent Developments |
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Biomolecules: Templates for the Fabrication of Nanoscale Arrays |
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DNA Computing as its Own Energy Source |
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The Technology in Brief |
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Biosensors |
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Biomaterials |
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Genomics |
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Nanotechnology |
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Commercial Development Parameters |
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Areas to Monitor |
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Biosensor Technology |
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Biocompatible Materials |
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Miniaturization and Integration |
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Safety and Reliability Concerns |
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Biomolecular Engineering |
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Molecular Electronics |
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Cost Issues |
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DNA Computing |
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Implications of Commercialization |
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Interdisciplinary Research Structures |
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New Business Opportunities and Threats |
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Next-Generation Health Care |
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Commercialization Challenges |
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Next-Generation Computing |
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Applications |
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Biochips |
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Implantable Medical Devices |
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Prosthetic Devices |
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Artificial Organs |
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Electronic Pills |
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Surgical and Medical Devices |
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Biofuel Cells |
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Molecular Motors |
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Molecular Electronics |
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Biofabrication Templates |
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Players |
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Updates |
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