MOLECULAR NANOTECHNOLOGY

Molecular nanotechnology involves the ability to manufacture objects t o precise atomic specifications. A central postulate is that any struc ture that can be specified and that does not violate physical law can be built. Three pathways to molecular nanotechnology are proximate pro be technology (the use of improvements of the scanning tunneling micro scope, STM), biotechnology, and supramolecular chemistry. Combinations of these technologies appear particularly powerful. The biotechnologi cal approach should make it possible to use in vitro translation syste ms to manufacture polymers containing at least 10 times as many differ ent artificial monomers as there are natural amino acids. These polyme rs could further adsorb various other molecular devices, and the use o f STMs should enable the complexes to be arranged into sophisticated m achines, including molecular computers. The implications include pocke t superautomated analyzers and the ability to base medical therapy on the biochemical individuality of specific patients.