Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1.1
Applications of Nanomaterials
Field of Application
Uses
Medicine and pharmacy
QDs biological imaging for medical diagnostics; early diagnosis of
atherosclerosis,Alzheimer's disease, and cancer; drug delivery systems
Computer technology
Nano transistors, computer and camera display and computer memory systems
Environment
Solar cells, solar panels, fuel additives, alternate sources fuels (cellulose intoethanol for
fuel), rechargeable batteries; longer, stronger, and lighter-weight wind mills to generate
more electricity; advanced filters for cleaner and more purified water
Transportation
Construction of better highways, bridges rails, tunnels, parking garages, pavements in terms
of performance, cost effectiveness and longevity; advanced vehicular operation to avoid
accidents; aviation
Commonly used products
Baseball bats, tennis rackets,motorcycle helmets, automobile bumpers, luggage, spectacles,
fabrics, food containers, sensors to alert food spoilage, cosmetic products,ceramics, tires,
cleaning agents, antimicrobial/antibacterial coatings, paints, and household tools
Source:
Adapted from NNI. National Nanotechnology Initiative, http://www.nano.gov/you/nanotechnology-benefits.
It is obvious that NMs trump their conventional counterparts due to their exceptional formability
and better chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. Modifying material properties allows for
applications as diverse as advanced ceramics, semiconductor electronics, sensors, special polymers,
magnetics, and membranes. Table 1.1 summarizes the applications of NMs used in different fields.
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1.4.1.1 Tissue Engineering
Nanotechnology has provided several elegant materials that are widely used for tissue repair and
replacements and implantable devices, such as sensory aids, retina implants, structural implant
materials, implant coatings, bone repairs, surgical aids, operating tools, smart instruments, tissue
regeneration scaffolds, and bioresorbable materials (Table 1.2 summarizes various applications in
TABLE 1.2
Applications of Nanomaterials in Medicine (Tissue Regeneration, Growth, and Repair)
Nanosystem
Application
Tissue Regeneration, Growth, and Repair
Nanoengineered prosthetics
Retinal, auditory, spinal, and cranial implants
Cellular manipulation
Persuasion of lost nerve tissue to grow: growth of body part
Cancer Therapy
Carbon nanotubes
DNA mutation detection, disease protein biomarker detection
Dendrimer
Controlled release drug delivery, image contrast agents
Nanocrystals
Improved formulation for poorly soluble drugs
Nanoparticles
MRI and ultrasound image contrast agents, targeted drug delivery, permeation enhancers,
reporters of apoptosis, angiogenesis
Nanoshells
Tumor-specific imaging, deep tissue thermal ablation
Nanowires
Disease protein biomarker detection, DNA mutation detection, gene expression detection
Quantum dots
Optical detection of genes and proteins in animal models and cell assays, tumor and
lymph node visualization
