Nanomedicine

Nanomaterials in Medicine

Nanomedicine is an application of nanotechnology in medicine and in healthcare. Expansion of nanomedicine through health sector will fundamentally revolutionize the way care is being delivered. Nanomedicine is a highly interdisciplinary and converging novel practice, involving medicine, technology, biotechnology, pharmacology, genetics, genomics, pharmacogenomics, bioengineering, dentistry, other health related disciplines and technology related sciences. The breakthrough technology is believed to meet the global health challenges of both, developed and developing world, at cost-saving scale.

Implementation of nanomedicine is developing almost as fast as the technology does. Researchers and policy makers are promising to tackle upcoming health challenges such as aging and growing population, infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases, non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular problems, chronic, antibiotic resistant conditions, neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) and many more. Projected improvements cover intensive care, advanced vaccines, toxin removal drugs, pain relief, spinal cord and nerve repair. Identified applications can be tiered into those used for diagnosis and health- or a disease- monitoring and those used for treatment and repair of biological structures e.g. cells and tissues. Diagnostic and monitoring areas cover “in-vivo” and “in-vitro” devices for structural and functional and intra- and extra- cellular imaging. Used in screening, early diagnosis, development of diagnostic tests specific to the drug and to the development of “point-of-care”, POC, devices for POC diagnosis. Cell and tissue engineering researchers use compounds which are injectable, self-assembled and switchable. They create smart biomaterials which facilitate cell differentiation and cell transplantation to help the recovery of the damaged tissue. Those designs are promising to expand the horizons of the regenerative medicine.  The similar applications include nanodevices, which will produce new nanodevices, within the body, using the material from the biological environment they are in. Depending on the way that nanoparticles interact with the cells of living organisms, nanoscale devices can extra- and intracellular, out of which those passing blood-brain barrier cause more ethical concerns. Current legal and ethical regulations of the fast growing technology are under constant update and revision. The special interest given to the nanoscale manipulations related to DNA and genes and “DNA-computing”, as well as DNA-diagnostics contributing to the evolution of predictive medicine based on better genetic screening for early diagnosis of potential disorders for the sake of prevention.