ABSTRACT
Developments in nanobionics promise to provide people with a range of impairments with new treatments or functional prosthetic devices. When many people discuss bionic devices, visions of human-machine hybrids familiar to science fiction often present themselves in their minds: like the title character in the US television series “The Six Million Dollar Man”. In developed countries around the world, research on applications of nanotechnology in health is progressing rapidly. The emerging field of nanobionics - the merging of biology, mechanics and electronics using advancements in nanotechnology and neuroscience - shows enormous potential in improving the health and wellbeing of people who have specific sensory deficits or neurological disorders. Advances in nanoscience are not only enabling scientists to develop devices for those with sensory disabilities. Individuals with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and stroke may also benefit from medical applications using nanoscience.
