Biotechnology Applications of NIL

Abstract

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a very interesting technique for biotechnological applications due to the fact that nanostructures can reproducible be formed at a low cost. The real massive exploration of nanotechnology in biotechnological applications has not been hindered by lack of ideas of what to do but more about how to get it done at a sufficiently low cost. Biotechnology has for many years taken up technologies from microelectronics when their life time in the microelectronics arena has been completed. However, with the introduction of nanoimprint lithography a new scenario is established and it is possible for the biotechnological community to produce various kinds of advanced nanostructured surfaces without the need to build up a complete nanotechnology process line and without the need to take over used equipment from the microelectronics labs. Nevertheless, the NIL technique has not yet been widely adapted by the biotechnology community. The reason for this is first of all being due to small exposure of this technique to the biocommunity. This is however rapidly changing right now thanks to the worldwide boost of nanotechnology that presently is taking place, partly due to the US Nanotechnology Initiative that in turn made Asian and European governments and research organizations to launch similar kind of large programs devoted to nanotechnology and -science.