Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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Introduction
Ineke Malsch and Claude Emond
CONTENTS
1.1 What Is Nanotechnology? ............................................................................ 2
1.2 Government Funding Programs Worldwide and Main Priorities
in Research ...................................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 North America ................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Europe ................................................................................................. 4
1.2.3 Japan .................................................................................................... 4
1.2.4 BRICS ................................................................................................... 5
1.3 State of the Art of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for Human
Health .............................................................................................................. 6
1.3.1 Section I: Nanoengineering Overview ........................................... 6
1.3.2 Section II: Biomedical Nanotechnology Overview ....................... 7
1.3.3 Section III: Nanotechnology and Agrofood and Water ............... 7
1.3.4 Section IV: Bionanotechnology and the Environment ................. 7
1.3.5 Section V: Nanotoxicology Overview and Problems .................... 7
1.3.6 Section VI: Life Cycle ......................................................................... 8
1.3.7 Section VII: Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of
Bionanotechnology ............................................................................ 8
1.3.8 Conclusions ......................................................................................... 9
References ................................................................................................................. 9
Nanotechnology is expected to bring benefits as well as risks for human
health. Most of the discussions on the potential and risks of nanotechnol-
ogy for health are limited to medical applications, including pharmaceuti-
cals and medical devices, or to toxicology of and exposure to nanomaterials.
However, in accordance to the World Health Organization's definition of
health as “a state of full physical, mental, and social wellbeing,” there are
more factors than just modern health care that influence human health: the
quality of the environment, agriculture, food, and water. In many of these
other factors, nanotechnology may be used to make the living conditions
for people more healthy. On the other hand, nanotechnology may also play
a role in deteriorating living conditions for humans, through exposure to
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