Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding and exciting field of science.

Nanotechnology refers to any applications of science that deals with elements between one hundred nanometers and a tenth of a nanometer in size, and in which that size is critical to the application's ultimate purpose.

One nanometer is one billionth of a meter in length and is approximately ten times the size of an individual atom. The unit of nanometer derives its prefix nano from a Greek word meaning "dwarf" or "extremely small".

Nanotechnology in medicine - the market

Nanotechnology in medicine is a rapidly expanding industry, applicable in all areas from therapy to diagnostics. The demand for nanotechnology healthcare products in the US will grow over 17% each year to be worth $50 billion by 2011. From there, it is predicted that the demand for nano-medicines, nano-diagnostics and nano-related medical supplies and devices will see the industry worth US $107 billion in 2016, to $225 billion in 2021 (Source: Nanotechnology in Health Care, Freedonia Group, February 2007).

AION has focused on development of early stage diagnostics based on its nano-scale platform; modified porous silicon (mpSi™).