Preface

Biotechnology is a science that has many application areas such as medical, microbial, forensic, plant, agricultural, marine and food. In recent years, developments in the medical biotechnology field have accelerated. In particular, with the emergence of knowledge on the molecular and biochemical basis of diseases, biotechnological drugs have been preferred over conventional drugs. With the development of omics technologies, our increasing knowledge about diseases has revealed that diseases should be handled individually rather than in general. This, in turn, has given rise to precision medicine and the need for more specific tools for more effective treatment. Based on this information, the range of pharmaceutical products developed by medical biotechnology has expanded from recombinant proteins to nano drug delivery systems. Nanobiotechnological approaches allow many alternatives in terms of both treatment and diagnosis. There are many advantages going down to nano sizes, such as targeting, selecting, and penetrating a single cell, and providing more effective treatment with a lower drug dose.

This book aims to give the reader general information about some of the current therapeutic and diagnostic nanopharmaceutical products as well as their in vitro and in vivo applications. The reader will be able to grasp the wide possibilities and most current applications of nanobiotechnology.

Many different nanodrug systems, such as biomimetic systems, lipid and metallic nanoparticles, exosomes and glycoconjugates and photodynamic therapy, are included. In addition, information about the emergence of nanobiotechnology in personalized therapy, nanobiotechnological approaches in cancer stem cells and glioblastoma, and their use as biosensors will be conveyed. Emphasizing the importance of the biocompatibility and toxicological profile of these products, information about the relationship and modulation of bio corona, which is one of the most current issues of recent years, will also be included. Following targeting strategies, which is one of the most important advantages of nanodrugs, the book is concludes with two chapters on in vitro and in vivo studies of nanopharmaceuticals.

The application areas and tools of nanobiotechnology are so wide that it has not been possible to include them all in this book. However, we expect that readers will be informed about the most current and promising approaches to nanobiotechnology from a medical point of view.