Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A Brief Review on Role of Nanotechnology
in Medical Sciences
Kirti Vishwakarma, O. P. Vishwakarma and Mukta Bhatele
Abstract Medical nanotechnology or nanomedicine is the medical aspect or
application of nanotechnology using different approaches such as nanoelectronic
biosensors, nanomaterials, and a very futuristic but underdeveloped molecular
nanotechnology that includes molecular manufacturing. Medical nanotechnology
aims to provide cheaper yet quality health and medical equipment, facilities, and
treatment strategies through continuous researches and studies. A number of
pharmaceutical and medical companies all over the world have already adhered to
medical nanotechnology because of its numerous benefits and practical uses.
Current modalities of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, especially
cancer, have major limitations such as poor sensitivity or specificity and drug
toxicities respectively. Newer and improved methods of cancer detection based on
nanoparticles are being developed. They are used as contrast agents, fluorescent
materials, molecular research tools, and drugs with targeting antibodies. Para-
magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (qdots), nanoshells, and nanosomes are few
of the nanoparticles used for diagnostic purposes. Drugs with high toxic potential
like cancer chemotherapeutic drugs can be given with a better safety profile with
the utility of nanotechnology. These can be made to act specifically at the target
tissue by active as well as passive means. Other modalities of therapy such as heat-
induced ablation of cancer cells by nanoshells and gene therapy are also being
developed. This review discusses the various platforms of nanotechnology being
used in different aspects of medicine. The safety of nanomedicine is not yet fully
K. Vishwakarma (
&
)
Gyan Ganga Institute of Technology and Sciences, Jabalpur, India
e-mail: opkirti2007@gmail.com
O. P. Vishwakarma
Department of Nanotechnology, Gyan Ganga College of Technology, Jabalpur, India
M. Bhatele
Department of Computer Science, Gyan Ganga College of Technology, Jabalpur, India
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