Today, nanotechnology is still at the beginning, and only rudimentary nanostructures can be created with some control. The science of atoms and simple molecules, on one end, and the science of matter from micro-structures to larger scales, on the other, are generally established. The remaining size-related challenge is at the nanometer scale roughly between 1 and 100 molecular diameters where the fundamental properties of materials are determined and can be engineered. A revolution has been occurring in science and technology, based on the developed ability to measure, manipulate and organize matter on this scale. Recently discovered organized structures of matter (such as carbon nano-tubes, molecular motors, DNA-based assemblies, quantum dots, and molecular switches) and new phenomena (such as giant magnetoresistance, coulomb blockade, and those caused by size confinement) are scientific breakthroughs that merely hint at possible future developments [Roco, Sims, 2001].

More and more, small structures with dimensions in the nanometer regime play an important role within molecular biology, chemistry, materials science and solid-state physics.

Of particular interest in biology there is, for example, the replication of proteins, the functionality of special molecular mechanisms like haemoglobin or even such seemingly simple structures like the flagella of certain bacteria. Chemistry, on the other hand, deals with the synthesis and therefore also with an improvement of these structures with which nature solves so many problems. For example, the design of catalysts is a considerable commercial factor within the chemical industry. Specific modifications of properties of well-known materials using small particles and the development of fabrication processes...