Nanomedicine (disambiguation)

Nanomedicine refers to the medical application of nanotechnology in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and traumatic injury, improving human health using molecular tools and molecular knowledge of the human body. Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology such as biological machines.

Overview

Nanomedicine seeks to deliver a valuable set of research tools and clinically useful devices in the near future. The National Nanotechnology Initiative expects new commercial applications in the pharmaceutical industry that may include advanced drug delivery systems, new therapies, and in vivo imaging. Nanomedicine research is receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US, including the funding in 2005 of a five-year plan to set up four nanomedicine centers.

Applications

Nanomedicine has multiple applications in healthcare including drug delivery, therapeutic applications, and in diagnostic processes. One of the promising applications is the use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light, or other substances to specific types of cells (such as cancer cells). Particles are engineered so that they are attracted to diseased cells, which allows direct treatment of those cells. This technique reduces damage to healthy cells in the body and allows for earlier detection of disease.

Drug Delivery

In the field of drug delivery, nanotechnology is used to improve the pharmacokinetic profiles of drugs. Nanoparticles can be designed to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, protect drugs from degradation, and target drugs to specific cells or tissues. This can lead to increased efficacy and reduced side effects of treatments.

Diagnostic Techniques

Nanomedicine also includes the development of nanoelectronic biosensors. These devices can detect the presence of pathogens or biomarkers at a very early stage, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Therapeutic Applications

Therapeutic applications include the use of nanomaterials for controlled drug release, regenerative medicine, and in the treatment of cancer through hyperthermia therapy where nanoparticles are used to heat cancer cells to temperatures that can kill them.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite its potential, nanomedicine faces several challenges including the need for comprehensive toxicological studies to understand the implications of nanomaterials on human health and the environment. Regulatory and ethical issues also need to be addressed to facilitate the translation of nanomedicine from the laboratory to clinical practice.

See Also

• Nanotechnology
• Drug delivery
• Regenerative medicine
• Molecular nanotechnology