Enormous Profits in Nanotechnology and Soundness of Health - Essay Example

Nanotechnology and Health Summary This report examines nanotechnology, its applications in medicine and its management. Nanotechnology has brought solutions to many of the problems that exist in medical practice. It helps in early detection of diseases, faster diagnosis and targeted delivery of drugs. There are several applications of nanotechnology in medicine. These have consequently improved the quality of medical care in modern times. Although nanotechnology has tremendous gains in medicine, more research on this technology is required in order to ensure that it is being used maximally. Many of the problems still existing in medical practice will vanish when all the benefits and proper management of nanotechnology has been discovered. Table of Contents Summary………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………. 2 Medical Nanotechnology………………………………………………………………. 3 Nanotechnology and its benefits………………………………………………………. 3 Earlier Detection………………………………………………………………… 4 Faster Diagnosis………………………………………………………………… 4 Targeted Drug Delivery…………………………………………………………. 4 Applications in Medicine…………………………………………………………………5 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………… 7 Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………….. 8 1.0 Medical Nanotechnology One of the most celebrated Modern day science technologies is medical nanotechnology. Nanotechnology involves manipulation of atoms and molecules to form materials that have different new properties. It is a very promising research area and its potential in the medical area is huge (Shastri, ‎Shastri & Altankov, 89). In medicine, nanotechnology could revolutionize the delivery of drugs, diagnostic, gene therapy and several other research areas as well as clinical application and development. Medical nanotechnology is where nanotechnology is applied by the use of various approaches including nanoelectric biosensors, nano-materials and molecular manufacturing technologies. Through medical nanotechnology, people can obtain high quality but affordable medical and health equipment, strategies for treatment and facilities as a result of the ongoing investigations and research (Slevin 18). This is a report that looks into the medical aspects of nanotechnology as well as its management. 2.0 Nanotechnology and its benefits Nanotechnology in science refers to one billionth of anything. Nano is derived from the Greek word meaning dwarf. The possibility of manipulating properties of materials and structures on the nanoscale is the same as using a sub microscopic lab bench where you can work on cell components, DNA pieces and viruses by use of various tubes, robots and other tiny tools. In the previous years, medical experts adopted the technologies that could work and did away with those that were not working (Vo-Dinh 48). In modern times, there is improved knowledge on how the cells of the body function and this has resulted in the emergence of several new and better techniques for medical practice. Many pharmaceutical and medical organisations in the whole world have embraced nanotechnology because it has several practical uses and benefits. 2.1 Earlier Detection It is common knowledge that when a disease is diagnosed early enough getting its remedy becomes easier. In order for this to be achieved, researchers are investigating the introduction into the body of nanoparticles that are specially made. Such nanoparticles are made of very small fluorescent quantum dots that go for antibodies. The antibodies bind to unhealthy cells causing the quantum dots to shine brightly. This light can be taken up by new imaging systems that are specially created to enable a disease to be pinpointed very accurately even when its stage of development is very early (Vo-Dinh, 56). 2.2 Faster Diagnosis Medical practice also benefits from nanotechnology because it leads to faster diagnosis. Diagnosis may become very time consuming and stressful because the test samples may need to be taken to far away places so that the diagnosis in done. The required results may then take a long time to arrive (Koprowski & ‎Koprowski, 111). With nanotechnology, diagnosis is more accurate and faster because several tests can easily be done through a small device that takes very small volumes of sample. The device is normally known as ‘lab on a chip’ and the processing and analysis of samples can be done very rapidly that the results can be obtained at that very moment. 2.3 Targeted Drug Delivery The use of drugs for treatment of diseases is a burden to make sick people because drugs come with many side effects that may not be pleasing. The reason is that the body must be given high drug doses so as to ensure that adequate amounts get to the parts affected by disease (Karkare, 33). With nanotechnology it is possible to achieve extremely precise targeting of a drug to a particular part of the body. This is possible with the use of specially designed nanoparticles that carry drugs. The implication of this is that smaller amounts of a drug may be applied to the body and this could reduce the levels of toxicity in the body. The activation of the drug then only happens at the site of the disease for example a tumour using light or otherwise and advanced imaging techniques can also be used to monitor the progress of the treatment (Karkare, 49). 3.0 Applications in medicine In the next 20 years constructing machines on the micrometer scale composed of parts on a nanometer scale should be possible. The mini assemblies of these devices can be among others; useful robotic components such as 100 nm manipulator arms and smooth firm surfaces made of perfect diamond. Nano-computers would be used to activate, control and deactivate these nanomechanical devices. Nano-computers can store mission plans and execute them, take in and process stimuli and signals from outside, carry out communication with the other nano-computers the control and monitoring equipment used externally, and keep knowledge for ensuring that nanomechanical devices function safely. This kind of technology has tremendous dental and medical uses (Koprowski & ‎Koprowski, 90). Programmable devices can be used by doctors to do accurate interventions at the level of the cells and the molecules. Medical nanorobots could be used in genotological applications for research in pharmaceuticals, clinical diagnosis, dentistry, mechanical reversal of atherosclerosis, enhancing respiratory capacity, making close to instant homeostasis possible and boosting the immune system. They can also be used to re-write or replace the sequences of DNA in cells, curing brain damage and resolving gross insults in the cells resulting from reversible processes or storage of biological tissues cryogenically (Shastri, ‎Shastri & Altankov, 89). Most of the organisms that cause diseases including viruses and bacteria are nanosize. Nanotechnology therefore provides people with a way of countering the effect. In ancient Greece, Silver was used to stop infection and enhance healing but antibiotics took the place of this treatment. Nycryst pharmaceuticals in Canada made improvements on anexisting cure by coating the bandage of a wound with nanosize particles of silver whose reactivity is more than that of bulk metal (Silva & ‎Parpura, 39). The nanosize particles penetrate the skin and through this they can work very easily. Because of this people with burns can only change their dressings once every week. Genomics and protomics research is providing clarification for the molecular foundation of several diseases. This development creates new opportunities for the development of effective tools for diagnosis that can identify the predisposition of people to diseases as a result of their genes. In days to come, point of care diagnosis will be important in the identification of patients in need of preventive medication to choose the best treatment for patients and to monitor the patients’ response to treatment. Nanotechnology has a critical role in the realization of cost effective tools for diagnosis. The Lab on chip gives doctors instant outcomes from virus and cancer tests (Koprowski & ‎Koprowski, 77). The information on this device is obtained through an analysis of the materials existing in individual cells. Advanced gene sequencing implies that this can be accomplished within a short time by sequencing small samples of tumors, bone marrow and blood. The equipment has the ability to detect the BK virus which could spell trouble in patients that have received kidney transplants. Eventually, chip technology will have the power of detecting the type of flu a person is having or even if they are carrying HIV or SARS (Vo-Dinh, 43). Nanotechnology is able to provide incredible advancement such as using nanocoatings to reduce the rate at which asthma medication is released inside the lungs. This makes it possible for those suffering from asthma to get long term relief from symptoms whenever they apply inhalants. Nanotechnology helps through the creation of drugs whose particles cannot dissolve at a fast rate (Ratner & Ratner 34). Nanosensors have been made for use by military officers to recognize rogue agents in the air and chemical weapons. They also reveal the existence of drugs and other things in exhaled breath. It is possible to detect several drugs in breath using these nanosensors. At the moment many illegal and permitted drug overdoses do not have a particular way in which they can be neutralized. The use of nano particles for absorbing toxic drugs is a medical nanotechnology area that is receiving much attention (Tibbals, 10). The goal is designing nanostructures that can bind molecular entities that so far have no effective treatments. When nanosponges are placed inside the bloodstream, they soak up the molecules of toxic drugs and this reduces the free amount existing in blood and this results in a resolution of the existing toxicity prior to the placement of the nanosponges in the blood. Researchers in France and Italy have discovered a new of rendering antiviral and anticancer nucleoside analoges more powerful. These researchers linked the nucleoside analoges to sequalene which is a precursor to the steroid family. They found out that amphiphilic molecules inside water undergo some self organization. The nanoassemblies showed a more effective activity against cancer in vitro in cancer cells existing in human beings (Karkare, 67). 4. Conclusion In conclusion, the paper has examined the various aspects and applications of nanotechnology in medicine. Nanotechnology has brought a revolution in the area of medicine because it comes with a lot of advancement. Many of the treatment procedures such as diagnosis, deli9very of drugs and kidney transplants among others can now benefit from nanotechnology. More research is needed in order to ensure that the technology is used to solve other problems still existing in the area of medicine. There are many other applications of nanotechnology in medicine that are yet to be discovered. Research can help to bring them to people’s knowledge. Sources Cited Karkare Manasi. Nanotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications. I.K International Pvt Ltd, 2008. Koprowski Eugene & ‎Gene Koprowski. Nanotechnology in Medicine: Emerging Applications. Momentum Press, 2011. Ratner Mark & Ratner Daniel. Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea. Routlege, 2003. Shastri Venkatram, ‎Prasad Shastri & George Altankov. Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology and Engineering Principles. Springer 2010. Silva Gabriel & ‎Vladimir Parpura. Nanotechnology for Biology and Medicine: At the Building Block Level. Springer 2011. Slevin Mark. Current Advances in the Medical Application of Nanotechnology. Bentham Science Publishers 2012. Tibbals, F. Harry. Medical Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine. CRC Press, 2010. Vo-Dinh Tuan. Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine: Methods, Devices and Applications. Taylor & Francis, 2007. Read More