Working Paper Cnr-Ceris, N° 07/2012

Groundbreaking technological applications of nanotechnology in biomedicine: detecting emerging pathways from scientific and technological outputs

Mario Coccia*
CNR-CERIS
National Research Council of Italy,
via Real Collegio, n. 30, 10024 Moncalieri (To), Italy
Tel.: +39 011 68 24 925
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Ugo Finardi**
University of Torino and CNR- CERIS
Department of Chemistry and NIS - Nanostructured Interfaces
and Surfaces Centre of Excellence
via P. Giuria, n. 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
Tel.: +39011-6708385
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to measure and analyze the rate of scientific and technological advances of nano-technological research in biomedicine. The approach, based on models of growth, shows the current evolutionary trends of nano-research that may underpin future patterns of technological innovation in biomedicine. In particular, results show that biosensors, nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotube and nanomicelle have innovative applications in diagnostics and target therapies that have been generating a revolution in clinical practice. The present study also shows two main implications of determinants that have been supporting continuous application of nanotechnology in biomedicines such as the patterns of technological innovation driven by converging research fields and a learning process. These factors have been paving the way to innovative nanomedical drugs applied in biomedicine that lead to longer, better and healthier living of patients and therefore of societies.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Nanoscience, Emerging Technology, Biomedicine, Nanomedicine, Nanoparticles, Quantum dots, Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Drug delivery.
JEL Codes: O30, C53, I10.

Acknowledgments: We thank CNR-Ceris staff and Prof. S. Rolfo of CNR-CERIS for supporting this research field. Ugo Finardi acknowledges the help and spur by Proff. S. Coluccia and L. Battezzati (University of Torino, Italy).
The authors in parentheses (MC: Mario Coccia and UF: Ugo Finardi) have made substantial contributions to the following tasks of research: Conception (MC); Design (MC and UF); theoretical framework (UF); acquisition of data (UF); modeling and analysis of data (MC); interpretation of data (MC and UF); drafting of the manuscript (MC and UF); critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content (MC); statistical analysis (MC), supervision (MC). Usual disclaimer applies.

* Mario Coccia is an economist at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-Ceris). He has been research fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Economics (Germany), visiting researcher at the University of Maryland (College Park, USA) and Institute for Science and Technology Studies at the University of Bielefeld (Germany), visiting professor of Economics and Management at the Polytechnics of Torino (Italy) and of Industrial Organization at the University of Piemonte Orientale (Italy). He has written extensively on Economics of Innovation and Science, Technometrics, Scientometrics, Technological and Economic Forecasting; his research publications include more than one hundred and fifty papers in several scientific disciplines.
** Ugo Finardi holds an MSc in Industrial Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Materials Sciences and Technology, discussing a thesis on “Best Practices in Technology/Knowledge Transfer and Innovation: the case of Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences”. He is at present Research Technician at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Torino and Fellow of CNR-Ceris. He performs research activities in the field of Innovation Studies, with a focus on nanotechnologies, research and industrialization of new materials, technology transfer, regional systems of innovation and management of research.

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