For nanotechnology to develop, it seems we won't need any new profound
scientific insights. Instead, we will need to develop more control over the materials we
have available. The fields that influence nanotechnology are diverse--mechanical
engineering, chemistry, microtechnology, protein engineering, and proximal probe
technologies all include areas of research relevant to nanotechnology. In Drexler's
Nanosystems, Appendix B gives a short overview of these areas of research.
Mechanical engineering encompasses the design, construction, and utilization
of machines. At the scale of molecular technology, mechanical engineering develops molecular machines
and molecular machine components.
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes matter undergoes.
Nanotechnology uses chemistry extensively because the scale of molecules is the domain of chemistry.
All nanotechnology designs must be chemically viable.
Microtechnology offers no obvious path to molecular manufacturing, but
research into the effects of increased miniaturization may benefit nanotechnology.
Protein engineering is as area of research dealing with the natural
molecular machinery found in cells. Protein engineering can provide a path for developing
molecular manufacturing if pursued with the objective of constructing self assembling
systems of molecular machines [2].
Proximal probe technologies include the development of Scanning Tunneling
and Atomic Force Microscopes. These probes directly affect the atoms they are scanning. Research
into controlling and using the manipulative properties of the probes to selectively make
and break chemical bonds to build desired structures applies to nanotechnology.
On the Internet, various research groups have Web pages describing their work and goals. Here is a list of the ones I've found (as always, email me if you'd like to be included on this list).
Theory of Molecular Machines: Tom Schneider's Group studying genetic control patterns on DNA and RNA.
Rice University has a nanotechnology initiative in their Chemistry Department and a Center for Nanoscale Technology
The Laboratory for Molecular Robotics has a page on their work with STMs and AFMs.
The Nanomanipulator project at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is developing a virtual reality interface to scanning probe microscopes.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a page about how nanotechnology could lead to the next industrial revolution. They also have a page justifying doing nanotechnology research now.
The Materials and Process Simulation Center at the California Institute of Technology has an objective to develop tools necessary for atomic level modeling and simulation of materials.
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has several groups pursuing various aspects of nanotechnology. The Chemistry Division pursues research in nanostructures and nanofabrication [1].
Ned Seeman's lab is working on nanotechnological applications of DNA [1].
Dr. Dan Feldheim, an Assistant Prof. at North Carolina State University,
and Post-doctoral researcher Dr. Louis Brousseau are building
single-electron transistors using molecular self-assembly and nanoclusters.
These devices are then used for detection of single-molecule binding
events. They are also developing nano-scale wires and electronics, and
another project involves making nano-sized hollow polymer capsules for drug
delivery and "nano-beakers."
URL:
http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/pams/chem/dlf.html
email:
Dan_Feldheim@ncsu.edu
lcbrouss@pams.ncsu.edu
The Nanocomputer Dream Team seems to be a research team, but their site doesn't really tell much unless you join--I find that a bit disconcerting. I guess I'm really not sure what they are doing there.
Sources:
1. Ralph Merkle's nanotechnology site
2. Nanosystems
Please send comments to me at bradhein@hotmail.com.