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The Role of Nanotechnology in European Drug Discovery
Frost & Sullivan, May 2006
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled The Role of Nanotechnology in European Drug Discovery provides an overview of nanotechnology-based solutions in drug discovery. It also includes a complete analysis of key market drivers, restraints and trends. Finally, it provides strategic solutions to vendors that can enable them to gain crucial advantages in this growing market. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: nano-enabled tools, nano-materials and nano-enabled drugs.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
- Nano-Enabled Tools (atomic force microscopy (AFM), nano-mass spectroscopy, dip-pen nanolithography and nanoarrays)
- Nano-Materials (Quantum dots, particles, shells, bars, dendrimers)
- Nano-Enabled Drugs
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- Nanotechnology: Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve studying and working with matter on an ultra-small scale. The development of technology occurs at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular range of approximately 1-100 nanometers to create and use structures, devices and systems that have novel properties.
- Assay: A chemical or biological test in which the activity of a biological target molecule is measured in the presence of other substances.
- Biomolecule: Any molecule that is involved in the maintenance and metabolic processes of living organisms. Biomolecules include carbohydrate, lipid, protein, water and nucleic acid.
- Dendrimer: A polymer having a regular branched structure. If suitably functionalised (such as benzyl alcohol-substituted), it may be used as a soluble support, in which case the desired, dendrimer-supported material may be isolated by size-exclusion chromatography. Dendrimers may also be attached to a polymer and used as a solid support, with significantly increased loading over the initial resin.
- Nanodelivery: Targeted therapy, which offers the promise of creating drugs by the specificity of their design and delivery, making them more effective and less toxic. Multifunctional devices offer novel capabilities, including the possibility of delivering a detection agent, imaging agent and drug in one vehicle.
Market Overview
Nanotechnology-based Products to Accelerate Drug Discovery Developments
Pharmaceutical companies in the European drug discovery industry are presently implementing common technology processes such as cloning and expressing human receptors and enzymes in formats that allow high throughput, automated screening and the application of combinatorial chemistries. However, the genomics and proteomics revolution has resulted in the delivery of massive amounts of data related to molecular components, thus providing the drug discovery industry with a greater number of qualified targets and leads. In this context, pioneering technologies such as nanotechnology are set to streamline the drug discovery process further through miniaturisation, automation, speed and reliability of assays by working at levels far smaller than conventional micro-arrays. As a result, several pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms have invested in applications such as target identification and validation, clinical trials as well as administration and marketing to accelerate the process of drug discovery and development.
At present, the drug discovery nanotechnology market is witnessing a surge in nano-medicine research since the advent of nanotechnology-based products such as nano-arrays and dendrimers are likely to revolutionise the treatment of diseases such as cancer. As a result, the scientific community is exhibiting enhanced focus on the novel chemical and physical properties of nano-sized materials to develop new applications that will be beneficial to health. Within the realm of drug discovery and development, the focus of nanotechnology is on the improvement of diagnostic methods and the development of improved drug formulations as well as drug delivery systems to enhance disease therapy, states the analyst of this research service. The miniature size, surface tailorability, improved solubility and multifunctionality of nano-particles are expected to create new avenues of research for biologists.
Establishment of Long-term Stability of Nanotechnology Products Essential for Market Growth
At present, the long-term stability of nanotechnology products poses a challenge, as nano-particles and nano-materials can degrade rapidly if they remain in the body for prolonged periods of time. The impact of the interaction of nano-particles with the body is dependent on their size, chemical composition, surface structure, solubility, shape and how the individual nano-particles amass together, explains the analyst. Nano-particles may modify the way cells behave and the potential routes of exposure include the gastrointestinal tract, skin and lungs.
As a result, it will become essential to devise a strategy for toxicity screening that includes key elements such as the physical and chemical characterisation of nano-materials, tissue cellular assays and animal studies to ensure optimum safety and limited exposure. Moreover, since nanotechnology, possesses an extremely interdisciplinary character that has a broad range of disciplines, biologists, chemists, genome engineers and biotechnologists are likely to exhibit increasing awareness of its benefits. Thus, it will become vital to encourage dialogue between those in the field of nanotechnology and other communities, to collaborate and promote continued market growth.
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