Using nanotechnology for new drug discovery Article

Using nanotechnology for new drug discovery - Article Example Drug discovery is a growing paradigm that is increasingly in need of better technologies to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and cost effectiveness of the various processes involved in the drug discovery processes. For example, it is currently estimated that the full process of new drug discovery typically takes a period of not less than 10years and costs approximately $800 million. Many researchers however agree that a number of nanotechnology applications have a potential to address some of the challenges commonly met during the drug development process. One of the potential uses of nanotechnology in new drug discovery is the analysis of signaling pathways using various nanobiotechnology techniques such as proteomics which enable researchers to gain new insights regarding the disease processes. In this regard, nanotechnologies not only help drug scientists to identify more efficient biomarkers, but such techniques can also enhance their understanding of the drug action mechanisms during their drug discovery processes. Refining the application of proteomics using nanotechnologies is particularly play a critical role in the identification of drug targets as well validation phases during the drug discovery process. For instance, nanodevices such as nanotube electronic biosensors are increasingly being used in proteomics to enhance the investigation of protein –protein and surface protein binding as well as in the development of highly accurate electronic biomolecule detectors (Lynn, 128). Consequently such devices provide effective alternatives of detecting important biomolecules such as antibodies during the drug discovery process. Another important use of nanotechnology for new drug discovery involves the application of nanoparticles such as quantum dots (QDs) in tracking single drug molecules. Although the tracking of single drug molecules has been previously been done using the old