PONDICHERRY: "Nanobiotechnology is a poor man's research for it does not need much investment and India needs to jump at the opportunity. In research, the point is the idea and not the money. For research in nanobiotechnology, one does not need big equipment," according to Amar N. Maitra, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi.

Multi-disciplinary

Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day national seminar on Nanosciences and Nanobiotechnology organised by the Bioinformatics Centre of the Pondicherry University here on Monday, Dr. Maitra said nanoscience was a multi-disciplinary science with many applications. "Take for instance the sensory perception of police sniffer dogs. They have the ability to detect bombs; through nanotechnology we can replicate that sensor so that policemen can find bombs with the help of machines. This can be done since the sensory perception is a biological machine where nano particles work," he explained.

In his inaugural address, the Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor, A.K. Bhatnagar, stressed the need for laboratory research to reach the common man as soon as possible. "The results of research must reach the common man as soon as possible," he said. Dr. Bhatnagar said: "Research in nanosciences will lead to a lot of changes in properties and the design of new technology. Take for instance aviation — you can make lighter and stronger aircraft. The Pondicherry University's Physics Department has been making some modest efforts in the area of nanosciences and we need to do more." P.P. Mathur, coordinator, Bioinformatics Centre, said that the event would focus on nanotechnology in the field of applied sciences and nanobiotechnology in drug delivery devices, such as dry powder inhaler, needle-free injection, target delivery and microencapsulated controlled release devices in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Several papers were presented on the first day of the seminar.

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