Nano systems and devices for applications in biology and nanotechnology

Micro and nano systems (MNS) and Nano scaled devices, that are capable of handling fluids and to interact with DNA and proteins enable bio analysis at the “ultimate” molecular level and are prone to be coupled to IC Technology. This paper includes recent developments in this area, aimed at illustrating the diversity and potential of the MNS approach: (1) micromachined tweezers with sharp tips successfully captured a bundle of DNA molecules, allowing real-time observation of DNA degradation dynamics under therapeutic irradiations; (2) a simple method to fabricate FET silicon nanowires using only standard micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) processes is able to perform molecular level medical diagnosis; (3) a bio motor system, composed by microtubules and kinesin, reconstructed on a chip, can distinguish normal and abnormal tau-proteins related to Alzheimer's disease; and (4) an advanced concept of molecular programing in which real molecular interactions emulate partial different equations and are able to solve complex systems such as a predator-prey ecosystem.