Application of Nanotechnology in Medicine - Essay Example

Application of na chnology in medicine and Application of Na chnology in Medicine According to Bhushun (2005), the Nanotechnology in real world means any technology on a nanoscale. Therefore, this entails manipulating nano structures and properties at nonoscale, by involving dimensions which are as tiny as the human air. This leads to production of chemical, physical, and biological systems. The systems range from individual molecules or atoms to submicron molecules, through the integration of the nanostructure. Through theoretical knowledge and techniques, excellent discovery of processes, novel materials, phenomena at nonscale have been made. Also, new experiments through research have resulted in fresh opportunities for development of high quality nanostructure materials and nanosystem in the realm of medicine. According to Silva (2004), in medicine, the technology may revolutionize the world. One of the areas of nanotechnology application that hold great benefits, presently and in future, is in the area of medicine. Nanoamedicine is already being applied as the backbone for new and more effective drug manufacture and delivery and in early development of scaffolds such as in nerve regeneration research. Moreover, research being carried out in the branch of nanomedicine is aimed at leading to a breakthrough in diagnosing, detecting and treating the several forms of cancer. This field of nanotechnology will provide great impetus in computation and development of experiments, particularly in the field of medicine. Nature has many chemical, physical and biological processes, as well as objects particularly in the biomedical area, which can be imitated. These processes and functions range from nanoscale to macroscale, and through understanding of their functions, nanomaterials and nanodevices can be produced. Therefore, the nature has provided many materials and organisms, which scientist in medical area can use and apply to develop nanomaterials and nanodevices (Giersig and Gennady, 2008). These include the bacterias, Sean organisms, plants and aquatic animals with properties of medical commercial purposes. Science, research and technology continues to play a great role in making of nanodevices and possible systems for various biomedical applications. A variety of MEMS devices and sensors have been developed and produced, and some are underway in the biomedical and medical field. There are various fields of medicine where this technology is being applied as enumerated below. Orthopedics According to Cleaveland (2005), orthopedic implants are successfully and increasingly using nanostructured coating, which allows cells of organisms to colonize surface. Apart from improving the fixation of bone, orthopedics also rules out or reduces the chances of rejection. These include, among the least, the Vitoss synthetic substitute bone graph made from nanostructured tricalcium phosphate. This is derived from ultra hydroxyapatite and orthovita (calcium phosphate in bone) from spire biomedical coating. Nanotechnology is also applied in nanotubes, which are used in the elution of antibiotics and other implant drugs. Drug delivery Also according to Ioannis (2011), nanoparticles are applied most efficiently in detecting cells, which are diseased. Therefore, they are usually applied on the surface or within the cells themselves. As noted by NSTIs 2007, Nanotech great research is being carried in higher institution of learning to develop, through direct approach, nanoparticles of specific shape. This is being done by molding them through a process known as Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates (PRINT), almost in a way of embossing. These embossing, unlike in liquids, leaves no stains of neither flash nor waste material layers between the molded particles. The particles can also be made from different polymers, which can be forced and tuned to dissolve or degrade at selected pH values. This process is done through controlled rates in order to deliver their cargo most efficiently when they arrive at their target. These cargoes range from small or minor therapeutics molecules to large ones like taxotere and paclitaxol, as well as more complex biological cargoes such as proteins (Silva, 2004). The process is designed to deliver the particles where they are needed. Also the surfaces of the particles are decorated with ligand, facilitating targeting of long circulating particles like fragmented antibody or peptide. The drug delivery technology has been commercialized in drug delivery to facilitate production of large quantities of particles in a continuous manner and at less time. Nanosurgery Although nanosurgery is a new field, scientists are working tirelessly to make the dream of nanorobots real in the world by the next one decade. A lot of funds, worldwide, are being invested to facilitate the realization of this dream. According to Freitas (2005), the medical nanorobots will possess complete panoply of complex autonomous system and subsystems, which will include motors, onboard sensors, manipulators molecularcomputers and power supplies. The device will be capable of swimming in the human body using special flagella to perform various tasks by use of a remote control. This will be developed in a way to imitate or mimic the E.coli bacteria. The nanorobots sensors will be applied in locating target cells aided by an actuator by use of a power source. It will also be installed with a communication device to allow exchange of information on the finding, and also for receiving command outside the body. These surgical nanorobots will possibly be introduced in the body vessels at the end of the catheters or through vascular systems and other cavities within the human body. The nanorobots through the control of a surgeon will be used to perform functions such as diagnosing, pathology search and collection of lesion using nanomultiplication by maintaining contact by help of ultrasound signals. BioMEMS are also being developed and applied for invasive minimal surgery including laser angioplasty, endoscopic surgery and microscopic surgery. Antimicrobials As discussed by Ioannis (2011), antimicrobial coating, usually made from nanoparticulate silver, is one of the earliest applications of nanotechnology. These antimicrobial are mostly used in wound dressings in order to curb infections and prevent biofilms formations on catheters. Silver nanoparticles are also recently being applied directly on wounds. However, extensive research is being carried out on surface chemistry to comprehend the morphology and the mechanism employed by silver nanoparticles in the destruction of microorganisms. This is being carried out with the aim of modifying the surface in order for it to fit within various biological and chemical systems and chemistries in medical application, both as antimicrobial and as a carrier. Dentistry According to Freitas (2005), nanodentistry will enable maintenance of an elaborate and comprehensive oral health through employment of biotechnology and nanomaterial, which ultimately includes dental nanorobotics and tissue engineering. The new potential opportunities in dentistry treatment will include dentition renaturalization, permanent hypersensitivity, and covalent bonded enamel which are diamondised and frequent oral maintenance by use of mechanized dentifrobots. Earlier efforts to use titanium for plasma spraying for dental implant have not yielded reliable results. This has resulted to delimitation of the coating leading to implant rejection. To address the situation, acid etching methods and process called Osseotite have been developed to cover the surface with irregular pits of small and medium microns. These indeed have been found very effective. Also, in the field of dentistry, sophisticated dental anesthesia which will be capable of applying colloidal containing active analgesic into gingival of patient using micron sized nanorobots are been developed (Silva 2004). Therefore, the ambulating nanorobots after contacting the mucosa or crown surface will pass painlessly via the lamina propria into the gingival sulcus. Nanotechnology aim at cancer Cancer, being a grave disease, is becoming a rather huge health problem. As discussed by Service (2005), with the emergence and development of nanotechnology there is a great hope of overcoming the menace. Nanomedicine is one of the tools that will provide a cutting edge in perception of cancer in the future. The breakthroughs and advancements in technology and research are changing the perception of cancer and future medicine. The potential future of nanomedicine, the opportunity and ability to eliminate the deaths and suffering hinges on researcher’s ability to confront it at its molecular level. Potential future of nanomedicine Fosters (2006) elaborated that nanotechnology particularly in the field of nanomedicine suggests that nanomedicine application and use will lead to more benefits in the medical sector, within the next ten years. This will include the development of drug discovery devices such as microchip devices, powerful chemical microscope, sequencing nanopore and nanoscale laboratory based diagnostic. There is also massive research on the field of cancer in order to develop programs to produce multifunctional entities nanometers that will have the ability to diagnose , monitor cancer while still in progress and in the deliverance of therapeutic agent. These technologies will incorporate designs that will significantly improve the resolution of the cancer ailment in the world. All the above will be made possible by employing these small microns devices, which have more complex uses than the large devices The future of nanomedicine also seem beneficial to the general members of the public through the improvement of public health. Nanomedicine, therefore, has a great potential in fighting chronic disease across the world and mostly in first world countries. This will be made possible through the huge investment in this sector in terms of technology and training of specialist. Remarkable efforts and research is also being carried out in the cardiology to lender this area more useful to the members of the public. This field, therefore, has the potential of revolutionizing population and individual-based health in the world in the 21st century. The potential future of nanomedicine also looks very promising. There is a vast amount of medical and scientific research being done in research institutions, universities, in SMEs and in major companies. The prospect of product that offers more benefits and outcomes and modern medical treatment is high. This will be made real in the next decade through commercialization of medical and scientific research through collaborate funding. Though the future looks promising, the nanomedicine technology will be faced with some challenges. These will include challenges to the regulators, innovators, insurance companies and many others. There will also be challenges on toxicity and medical wastes. This is because most of the regulation were formulated and written without nanomedicine technology and knowledge in mind. However, this will be overcome over time, therefore, promoting nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Also addressing the key issue of perception of risk will be vital in propelling nanotechnology and nanomedicine easily to various health and medical stakeholder and including the patients themselves (Foster 2006). References Bhushan, B., 2007. Introduction to Nanotechnology. New York: Springer’s. Cleaveland, P., 2007. Nanotechnology: Huge future for small innovation. [online] Available at: http://www.mdtmag.com/articles/2007/07/nanotechnology-huge-future-small- innovation [Accessed 17 March 2014]. Giersig, M. and Gennady, B.K., 2008. Nanomaterials for application in medicine and biology. Moscow: Springer. Fosters, E.L., 2006. Nanotechnology: science, innovation and opportunity. Upper saddle river NJ: Prentice hall. Freitas, A.R., 2005. Nanotechnology, nanomedicine and nanosurgery. International Journey of surgery, 3 (4), pp. 243-246 Ioannis, S.V., 2011. Nanomedicine and personalized medicine towards the application of pharmacotyping in clinical practice to improve drug delivery outcomes. Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology and medicine, 7 (1), pp. 11-17. Service, R.F., 2005. Materials and Biology: Nanotechnology takes aim at cancer. Science, 310 (5751), pp. 1132-1134. Silva, A.G., 2004. Introduction to nanotechnology and its application to medicine. Surgical neurology, 61 (3), pp. 216-220 Read More