Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
The Biological Significance
of “Nano”-interactions
Abstract
In the recent decade, the fabrication of nanoparticles and exploration of
their properties have attracted the attention of all branches of science such as
physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers, and even medical doctors. Interests for
nanoparticles arise from the fact that their mechanical, chemical, electrical, optical,
magnetic, electro-optical, and magneto-optical properties of these nanoparticles are
completely different from their bulk properties and the predetermined differences
are depended on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. There are
numerous areas where nanoparticles are of scientific and technological interest,
specifically for medical community, where the synthetic and biologic worlds come
together and lead to an important concern for design of safe nano-biomaterials. In
this chapter, we review and discuss the major biomedical applications of
nanoparticles.
1.1 Nanoscience in Medicine
Nanomedicine is the application of nanosciences to health and exploits the physi-
cal, chemical, and biological properties of nanomaterials. The advent of
nanoscience and nanotechnologies is shaping the face of industrial production
and economics. As a matter of fact, nano-based products now include electronic
components, paint, sports equipment, fabrics, sunscreens, and other cosmetics
[
1
]. However, the most exciting nano-innovations reside in the conception of new
medical products such as heart valves, drug-delivery systems, and imaging
techniques [
1
], which will surely obliterate the long-established boundaries amidst
chemistry, physics, and biology.
It is anticipated that nanotechnology will have substantial economic impacts by
encouraging productivity and competitiveness, converging different disciplines of
science and technologies, and stimulating education and human development
[
2
]. Experts predict market growth to hundreds of billions of dollars in the next
decade. The worldwide market for products exploiting nanotechnology reached
