Why Is Cancer a Threat - Essay Example

It is very important to develop technologies that would help detect the disease in its early stages.

HOW CAN NANOTECHNOLOGY BE USED FOR CANCER?
Nanotechnology refers to the creation of extremely small particles, devices which will are capable of interacting at the cellular level (Srinivas et al, 2002,) and is a potential tool for the early detection of cancer. Nano-tools can be successfully used for the proper detection of cancerous or even precancerous cells in the body because nanoparticles are capable of selectively targeting cancer biomarkers or cancer cells (Jaishree & Gupta,2012). Carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires, gold particles, quantum dots, etc can be used to fabricate nanotool sensors which may be used for the detection of cancer biomarkers accurately (Zhang et al,2013,71).
Recently colloidal gold or nano-gold particles had been used to distinguish cancerous cells from non-cancerous ones and by interacting these particles with light the cancerous cells were burnt up (Prajapati et al,2010). Thus nano-particles are not only used for detection but may be used for the diagnosis of cancer as well.

IS IT SAFE?
Nanoparticles are indeed bestowed with unique properties which are both a boon and a bane. Much of its efficacy is dependent on the way these particles are engineered. There is no way for the nanoparticles to target the tumourous cells solely and chances are that minimal damage may be inflicted on normal human body cells as well.
However, since this is a relatively new field, researchers are still to find out the negative points about nanotechnology. However, so far nanotechnology has shown positive results, especially in the field of medicine.

IS IT ETHICAL?
Questions are raised on the ethics of using nanotechnology, especially for health purposes. The engineering of materials at the atomic or molecular level may seem unethical to some. However, there is no doubt about the fact that nanotechnology is a revolution in the medical field which makes it easier for us to fight against diseases more efficiently.
THE FUTURE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
Oncologists think that nanotechnology may be the answer to many unanswered questions about cancer detection and treatment. Read More