The School of Life Sciences of Pondicherry University is organising a national seminar on Nanosciences and Nanobiotechnology in its campus on December 5–6, 2005.

The focal themes of the seminar include nanotechnology in the field of applied sciences and nanobiotechnology in drug delivery devices. Industry representatives, professionals, faculty, researchers and students in physics, chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology and related areas are expected to participate in the seminar.

Nanotechnology covers many areas of research dealing with objects that are measured in nanometers. Nanobiotechnology is an emerging area of scientific and technological opportunity. Nanobiotechnology applies the tools and processes of nano/microfabrication to build devices for studying biosystems. Nanobiotechnology as delivery platform offers very promising applications drug delivery, molecular diagnostics etc. Researchers also learn from biology how to create better micro-nanoscale devices. Applications of nanobiotechnology in drug delivery systems can be found in dry powder inhaler, needle-free injection, target delivery and microencapsulated controlled release devices, in the modern pharmaceutical industry.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology. The Bioinformatics Centre of Pondicherry University was established by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi as Sub-Distributed Information Centre in the year 1991-92 which was later upgraded to DIC in the year 2004. The centre is housed in the science block II of the Pondicherry University. It caters to the needs of a large number of scientists working in various areas of life sciences. The centre has been offering one year advanced post graduate diploma course in bioinformatics since 2001. The centre is having access to 4 Mbps Internet services through Software Technology Parks of India, Pondicherry.