Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
impact. The number one question is if the quality of life will improve thanks
to the synthesis of new materials with new properties. How should people
benefit from achievements of nanotechnology and nanoengineering? The
answers to these and related questions are controversial, owing to the differ-
ent approaches of regulation rules before the market entry of new products.
While FDA requirements are strict for novel medications, conversely, regula-
tory mechanisms for cosmetic products allow earlier market entry. Unlike the
medical and health-care sectors, the cosmetic industry outpaces the commer-
cial potential of nanoparticle-containing products. To compare with the rate of
released cosmetics, widely distributed worldwide, the situation is quite unequal.
Drugs, food packaging, and new chemical compounds require premarket
review and approval, whereas in cases related to cosmetics and the majority
of consumer products, postmarket surveillance and monitoring are sufficient.1
1
Although the constituent materials used in cosmetic and personal care
products should be approved by the FDA, at the same time there is no need for
conducting long-running clinical trials, as in the case of pharmaceutical drugs.
However, regulatory mechanisms require revision when dealing with ingre-
dients processed to nanoscale dimension, where absolutely diverse chemical
and physical properties are revealed. Of particular interest are cosmetics and
personal care products. Recently, there is widespread use of nanoparticle gold-
containing cosmetics such as skin creams that are used on the whole body sur-
face for the “shining glow” appearance, lipsticks, antiaging face creams, and
many other products. Despite the large interest and widespread investigations
performed for safety and efficacy studies for nanoparticle gold utilization in
medical diagnostics and treatment, it is obvious that few, if any, are approved
for these purposes. An overview of the state-of-the-art exploration of nanopar-
ticle gold compounds will provide us with special knowledge about the dif-
ferences in physical and chemical properties of nanogold, dependent on size,
shape, charge, and even the solvent used in processing of this metal.
Gold nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical imaging and diagnostic
tests. On the basis of their established use in the laboratory and their chemical
stability, gold nanoparticles are expected to be safe. The recent literature, how-
ever, contains conflicting data about the cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles.
3.2 Health Monitoring Issues Concerning
Nondestructive Use of Nanoparticle Gold
Compounds in Medicine and Cosmetology
“All is not gold that glitters”
The postindustrial gold rush reflects the hype of nanotechnologies,
already ubiquitous in a wide range of consumer products, as diverse as
