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25 Nanobiotechnology – A Green Solution

simultaneously adding to environmental pollution. The ideology of “zero waste” for

the sustainability of the planet is needed to be implemented both at micro and macro

level, i.e. starting from individuals, families, communities, industrial, and business

organizations to local municipal and governmental levels. Attainment of zero waste

is a long-term goal. It is necessary to adopt new technological solutions that will fos-

ter the development of sustainable units, promote resource conservation, enhance

energy efficiency, aim at zero-carbon transport, and reduce environmental pollu-

tants. The other facet for the attainment of “zero waste economy” demands the

development of technologies that will be infinitely sustainable, promote recycling

of natural resources, will be solar powered, zero emissions, and will bio-mimic the

nature’s inherent “cyclic design” [3]. Attainment of “zero waste economy” follows

some strategic plan of action. First step is “refuse,” i.e. avoidance of waste genera-

tion on first hand; this can be achieved by use of reusable products; second step is

“reduce” which can be attained by implanting efficient processes and technologies

that will convert maximum of raw materials to useful products and reuse the material

products. The concept of third step “reuse” is based on the reuse of “waste” gener-

ated in one processes or industry as a raw material in another process or industry.

“Recycling” of waste of all kinds is the most vital step for attaining “zero waste.” Recy-

cling companies play a vital role in this regard. “Recovery” is another vital strategy

for waste reduction [1–3].

In the twenty-first century, biotechnology and nanotechnology have emerged as

a versatile promising technology with multidimensional applications in medicine,

biomaterials, electronics, catalysis, etc. Nanotechnology or nanotech deals with the

development of materials, devices, and structures at atomic and molecular scale of

1–100 nm. Richard Feynman in 1959 for the first time mentioned about the technol-

ogy. The word “nanotechnology” was coined for the first time by Norio Taniguchi

in 1974. Biotechnology deals mostly with biological subjects, their metabolic and

physiological processes. The essence of the two technologies are merged in the mul-

tidisciplinary domain of nanobiotechnology that aims in bringing the science of the

almost incomprehensibly small device closer and closer to reality. The outcomes of

the domain are vast enough to influence all branches of science and technology in

future [1, 4].

Nanotechnology aims to develop high-performance products at nanoscale using

the available tools and techniques with a bottom-up approach. The objective of

nanotechnology is to develop eco-friendly products via eco-friendly techniques.

Thus, nanotechnology is a “clean and green” technology. A technology is desig-

nated as “green” when it is eco-friendly and helps in the conservation of natural

resources. Alternatively, the aim of a “green technology” is to avoid hazardous

processes and contaminants, reduce environmental pollutants, and thus waste

reduction [5]. Nanobiotechnology is a combination of engineering, nanotechnol-

ogy, molecular biology, and biotechnology. Nanobiotechnology aims to develop,

modify, and improve its utility for improved biotechnological applications. Any

green techniques eliminate the use of hazardous and expensive chemicals, avoid

energy expenditure, and develop safe and environmentally benign products and

by-products [6, 7].