The Four Billion Years of Nanotechnology

Vonderviszt, Ferenc

Nanotechnology is aimed at influencing the structure of matter at the atomic level with the objective of developing tiny machines that are capable of self-assembly. Although we view nanotechnology as a promising 21^st century technology, living organisms have been using nanotechnology since ancient times with great success. Self-organising molecular machines of living cells are mainly made of proteins which are able to fulfil complex functions in a highly controlled fashion: they catalyse complex chemical reactions, convert light, chemical and mechanical energy into each other, and can be used to develop linear and rotational motors or programmable assembly systems. The lecture explains what makes proteins particularly suitable for building self-organising molecular systems.

Observing examples from nature indicates that molecular nanotechnology has enormous potential. Studying the organisational and functional principles of protein-based machines is valuable in creating or own future capability to build our own nanosize devices, perhaps even more remarkable than those seen in the natural world.

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