The Current Applications of Nanotechnology in Medicine - Essay Example

NA CHNOLOGY Group: NA CHNOLOGY Na chnology, which comes from a Greek word Nano, is defined as the study of application of small things across all science fields(Bhushan,2004,p.2). It involves manipulation of the smallest sizes of matter (molecules and atoms) in order to create new matter with different and unique characteristics. Nanotechnology is still under development and it has a lot of potential in health care construction in areas such as gene therapy, diagnostics and drug transport (Koprwoski, 2012, p.157). Over the years nanotechnology has been thought of being a dream for the future but time has come for its implementation to salvage the field of medicine. Nanotechnology is hence an important innovation in medicine and is essential since it has solutions to the technology demanding medicine field. Nanotechnology has been successfully launched in medicine although it holds much potential in the future that what has already been implemented. Delivering of medicines and drugs has been made possible using the technology whereby the nanoequipments are used and they have zero degree of harming the other parts of the body (Bhushan, 2004, p.3). In the fight against cancer, nanoparticles have been found very effective since it is easy to detect the cancerous cells and put anti-cancer gold nanoparticles in them. The Nano shells are very effective in fighting cancer since they have the ability to absorb radiations of high wavelength (Ferrari, 2005, p.366). The Nano shells are inserted into the tumor cells and radiation treatment is applied and they absorb the radiations and heat up killing the cancerous cells (Ferrari, 2005, p.392). This success story of nanotechnology has given heat to other ongoing researches on the utilization of the technology in medicine. In surgery, nanotechnology has been used although a lot is yet to come. Small surgical instruments are been used to perform microsurgeries in any body part without damaging the surrounding cells (Bhushan,2004, p.3). It has an advantage over normal surgical methods since it is precise an accurate and has improved visualization due to Nano cameras in the Nano instruments. Such technology has been used only in a few hospitals all over the world and has proved very accurate and can even be done to tissue and gene levels Nanotechnology has been applied in antimicrobial coatings to dress wounds so that further infection is reduced by formation of biofilms on the wound. This technology has helped fast healing of wounds from accidents or from surgical procedures (Cleaveland, 2007). Medical experts have utilized the nanotechnology by improvising orthopedics that are implanted on cells using nanostructured technology which helps reduce rejection by the cell and also improves fixation in the bone. Nanotechnology has also been commonly used in dentistry whereby the dentists use the technology to fasten things to bones just like the surgeons do (Bhushan, 2004, p.5). According to specialists in dental surgery, the speed by which Osseo integration process occurs depends in the surface characteristic of the implant. The technology used before introduction of the nanotechnology involved waiting for over a year for the crown to be attached (Ketul, 2011, p.67). However with nanotechnology, it’s possible to add a thin calcium layer (Nanotite) on the textured layer and these speeds up the process by ten or more times and hence the possibility of performing a dental transplant in a day. Nanomedicine is both a science and a technology that involves treating and preventing diseases which in turn improves the health of people. It also involves treating traumatic injuries and reliving pain by use of nanoscale materials, biotechnologies and complex machine systems and Nano robots (Service, 2005, p.1132). Nanomedicine involves utilization of Nanodiagnostics which are important in identifying a disease in its earliest stage. Nanomedicine uses specialized nanodevices to analyze human fluids so as to identify and diagnose any cells that would be affected by a disease. Vivo diagnostics that are incorporated in Nanodiagnostics are capable of developing special devices that will work in the body so that they can identify a disease and quantify its toxic molecules. Regenerative medicine is another discipline that has emerged in Nanomedicine that is aimed at improving and maintaining cells and tissues through application of modern tissue engineering. Nanotechnology has made it possible for doctors to manipulate cell mechanisms in such a way that they can control cell multiplication and differentiation as well as its organizational matrices. In the present day, nanomedicine utilizes nanoparticles to diagnose and perform therapies on tumors and cancerous cells but in the years ahead more complex nanodevices and even Nanorobots will come up to ease the process. Nanotechnology has a lot of potential to address more complex medical problems in the future since the human body is composed of molecules and molecular technology is available. Researchers say that with the current rate of nanotechnology development, within the next decade it will be possible to construct machines that are made up of parts with a nanometer scale. Such achiness may include robots that are capable of molecule purification (Service, 2005, p.1133). Nanomedine in the future will utilize Nanocomputers that will control Nanomechanical devices and hence make the nanotechnology more effective. Such computers will be in apposition to execute mission plans by receiving and sending signals and stimuli and will have contextual knowledge in the safe functioning of Nanomechanical devices (Cleaveland, 2007). In the future, Nanorobotic devices will be programmable such that they would operate at cellular and molecular levels in the absence of a physician. Such developments will make it possible to improve respiratory capacity, reversing atherosclerosis and even supplementing the Immune system which has not been done in the past. Researchers are also studying on methods of incorporating Nanorobots in the surgical process. With actualization of such targets, it will be possible to use a robot instead of a surgeon to perform heart surgeries which are very delicate. The nanorobot will be similar to swallowing a surgeon into the blood stream in order to identify the faulty valves in the heart. The technology might also lead to permanent incorporation of micro machines in the body which will boost the functionality of certain organs. Many diseases that are incurable in the preset day are caused by bacteria and viruses that are Nanosize and hence the nanotechnology is strategic in providing solutions to such situations (Service, 2005, p.1134). The ongoing research on genomics and protomics will be important in development of tools that are capable of genetic predisposition to diseases. It will also be important in identifying patients who require preventive medication, select for them the correct medication and monitor the response to treatment. Nanotechnology will have solved the major problem in the medicine field which is cost implication of personalized treatment. There have been continuous advancements in sequencing of genes and incorporation of the nanotechnology will see gene sequencing happen more quickly and will use tiny samples of blood, tumors or bone marrow. Invention of the lab-on-chip technology will make it very easy for doctors to have immediate medical information and these will speed up emergency problems such as blood transfusion and organ transplants (Service, 2005,p.1134). The chip technology will be effective in providing medical information of a person without undergoing any tests. Nanotechnology will be used in nanocoatings whereby they make drug particles that do not dissolve very fast and hence people who suffer from diseases such as asthma can experience longer periods of relief after medication. This improvement in technology will be utilized in other diseases in the future so as to increase the life spans of people. Doctors will be able to apply nanotechnology in detecting illegal drugs taken by people by using nanoparticles as an absorbent of toxic drugs and it will involve effectively binding molecular entities (Cleaveland, 2007). Nano sponges will be put in the blood stream and will absorb the elements of a drug and hence will be easy to identify the kind of drug taken. Following the ongoing development in rendering anticancer and antiviral nucleosides, it will be possible to fully cure cancerous diseases and viruses in the body. Bone grafting has been used to replace broken bones in human beings and often they do not fit exactly like the bone that was there (Coobs, 2012, p.78). However with the introduction of the nanoscale it will be possible to substitute bone grafting nanostructures that will match fully like the previous bone. In conclusion, there is a lot of potential in the medical field concerning the Nano technology and a lot need to be done to implement the vision. Implementation of the theoretical researches taking place rapidly and hence we expect a huge transformation in medicine, dentistry and health care. However, like any other technology, Nano technology has the potential to be misused and hence control measures on its use should be implemented. Bibliography Bhushan, B. 2004. Springer handbook of nanotechnology. Springer: Berlin Cleaveland, P. 2007. Nanotechnology: Huge Future for Small Innovation. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://www.mdtmag.com/articles/2007/07/nanotechnology-huge-future-small-innovation Coombs, R. 2012. Nanotechnology in medicine and the bio-sciences. Gordon and Breach Publishers. Amsterdam, USA Ferrari, M. (2005). Cancer nanotechnology: opportunities and challenges. Nature Reviews Cancer, 44(6), 341-456. doi:10.1038/nrc1566 Ketul , P. 2011. Nanotechnology in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.CRC Press. United Kingdom Koprowski, E. J. 2012. Nanotechnology in medicine: Emerging applications. Momentum Press. New York. Service, R. F. 2005. Materials And Biology: Nanotechnology Takes Aim at Cancer. Science, 310(1), 1132-1134. doi:10.1126/science.310.5751.1132 Read More