Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1.3
Few Approved Nanoparticles Application in Imaging and as Drug Carriers
Compound
Use
Imaging Agents
Endorem
®
—superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (available in market)
MRI agent
Gadomer
®
—dendrimer-based MRI agents (phase III clinical trial)
MRI agent
—
cardiovascular
Drug Delivery
Abraxane
®
—albumin nanoparticle containing paclitaxel (available in market)
Breast cancer
covered with dextran are used as image-enhancement agents in MRI (Harisinghani et al. 2003).
Intracellular imaging is also feasible via the attachment of QDs to specific molecules, permitting
intracellular processes to be monitored directly.
1.4.1.8 Biosensor and Biolabels
Several analytical methods have been developed with the use of this innovative technology.
Examples are the determination of different pathological proteins and physiological-biochemical
indicators related to disease or disrupted metabolic conditions in the body. Several nanoenabled
technologies, techniques, and analytical applications are listed in Table 1.4.
In a general way, biosensors are defined as a measurement method composed of a probe with a
sensitive bioreceptor, or a biological recognition part, a physicochemical detector component, and
a transducer to transduce and amplify these signals into a measurable form. A nanobiosensor, or
nanosensor, is a type of biosensor that has dimensions on the nanometer scale. Applications of vari-
ous nanosystems as biosensors and biolabels are listed in Table 1.5.
Nanosensors could provide devices to explore important biological processes at the cellular level
in vivo
. The fundamental functions of nanosensors are to recognize and monitor cells; to be used as
biomarkers and sensors; and to act as fluorescent, biological labels (Kubik et al. 2005). Biosensors
are presently used in the field of target recognition and validation; assay method development; and
the determination of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (Jain 2005).
1.4.1.9 Antimicrobial Nanopowders and Coatings
Certain nanopowders, including metal NPs, demonstrate antimicrobial activity. It has been repeatedly
demonstrated that more than 90% of
Escherichia coli
, other bacteria species, and viruses are killed
within a few minutes when they come in contact with nanopowder. Silver and titanium dioxide NPs
(<100 nm) are assessed as coatings for surgical masks due to their antimicrobial effect (Li et al. 2006).
TABLE 1.4
Several Numbers of Nanoenabled Technologies, Techniques,
and Their Analytical Applications
Technology
Techniques
Use
Bioarrays and biosensors
Nanofabrication
Nano-object detection
DNA-chips
Lab on chip nanotubes
Electrochemical detection
Protein-chips
Pill on chip nanowires
Optical detection
Glyco-chips
Nanofluidics nanoparticles
Mechanical detection
Cell-chips
Nanostructured surfaces
Electrical detection
