Moving Toward a Totally Synthetic Autonomous Nanoparticle

The driver for developing a totally synthetic self-replicating autonomous nanoparticle that duplicated the functions of the genetically modified biosynthetic ones was not totally scientific. The military requirement grew out of the necessity to avoid the prohibition under international law, the treaty against the development of biological weapons, and the domestic bioterrorism act. Even though such nanoparticles were a countermeasure against bioweapons, they could be turned into them. The other pragmatic reason that stood in the way of the application of the technology was the collateral, off-target, and potentially harmful effects. This chapter addresses the steps that have been taken for the conversion to a fully synthetic form that replicates a biosynthetic one. The collateral effects have not been fully investigated, but at least some of them may be worth retaining for the potentially useful positive biomedical effects discussed.