Gateway

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Gateway is a term used in various fields of science, technology, and medicine. In the context of medicine, a gateway can refer to a point of entry into the body, such as the mouth or nose, or a method of delivering medication or therapy to a specific part of the body.

Overview[edit | edit source]

A gateway in medicine can be a physical point of entry, such as the mouth or nose, or a method of delivering medication or therapy to a specific part of the body. For example, in chemotherapy, a catheter may be inserted into a large vein to create a gateway for the delivery of drugs. Similarly, in gene therapy, a viral vector may be used as a gateway to deliver therapeutic genes to target cells.

Types of Gateways[edit | edit source]

Physical Gateways[edit | edit source]

Physical gateways include the mouth, nose, ears, and anus. These are the primary points of entry for many pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. They are also the points of entry for many medications, either through ingestion, inhalation, or insertion.

Therapeutic Gateways[edit | edit source]

Therapeutic gateways are methods used to deliver medication or therapy to a specific part of the body. These can include:

  • Catheter: A thin tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow for the delivery of drugs or other therapies.
  • Viral vector: A tool commonly used by molecular biologists to deliver genetic material into cells.
  • Nanoparticles: Tiny particles that can be used to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Gateway Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD