Nanoscience in Healthcare Prevention Treatment Prosthetics Nanoscience From cancer to the common cold, from broken bones to sunburn, from cavities to heart disease. How can small science help us fight big medical problems? http://images.usefulzero.com/s/squirrel-broken-arm/ http://www.jadekimdds.com/ToothDecay.php How Big Is Nano? This is one nanometer! http://www.terressentials.com/exposure.html http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/The_scale_of_things.html Goals of Nanotechnology in Healthcare With the use of nanotechnology, scientists hope to prevent illness, more quickly diagnose, control disease and treat disease with fewer side effects, and create better medical aids such as more compatible prosthetics. Nanoparticles and surfaces made of nanostructures are used in many areas of healthcare research. You’ll read about some of these on the following pages. Ihttp://www.nanotruck.de http://www.publichealth.columbus.gov/programs/programs_114.asp Prevention Applications of Nanotechnology in Healthcare Specific applications for nanotechnology in medicine include these developments: 1. Better tools for prevention Nanoscopes and nanotweezers Novel membranes for cleaning blood Miniaturized probes for recognizing disease 2. Nano-dots that trace disease 3. Improved detection through medical imaging MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) with better contrast agents CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) scans http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17578&ch=nanotech http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/15jan_nano.htm http://medgadget.com/archives/2007/08/nanotweezers_help_understand_actions_of_chemotherapy_agent.html Nanotechnology Treatment Applications in Healthcare 4. Innovative medicines and drug delivery for detection and treatment Cancer medicines that only target cancer cells Antimicrobials (germs) 5. Implants and orthopedics (having to do with your bones) that are more compatible and that last longer http://hplusart.org/COMINGTECH.htm http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2007_0816.htm Besides, Nanotechnology can make healthcare less expensive! http://www.firststate-texas.com/images/piggy_bank.jpg 1. Nanoscience and Prevention Nanoscience can potentially help us detect and treat cancer at the molecular level. Nanotechnologies will most likely allow us to rapidly sequence DNA (nanosequencing). Doctors could know right away if you have a genetic tendency for a disease or a drug interaction. And imagine having a check-up without even leaving home. That may be possible with nanoscience and hand-held equipment . http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11894885/Nano_Gold_Toothpaste.jpg http://biosingularity.wordpress.com/category/nanotech/ http://pro.corbis.com/search/Enlargement.aspx?CID=isg&mediauid=8B73D1A6-1F70-42BB-BFDA- 29989FB797C0 1. Nanoscience and Prevention Toothpaste with special protection for tooth enamel could make happier and fewer dental visits. And imagine having a check- up without even leaving home. Potentially we could with nanoscience and hand-held equipment . Nanotechnologies will be used for improving human performance, too. Go, team! http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11894885/Nano_Gold_Toothpaste.jpg http://biosingularity.wordpress.com/category/nanotech/ https://www.alumni.unh.edu/connection/images/04_15_05/nanotech.jpg Microscopes, My How They’ve Changed! Atomic force microscope (AFM) technology (which can move single atoms around) is being used to create smaller devices for use in diagnostics and drug discovery. AFMs can also be used to create surfaces using nanotechnology which will be more biocompatible than previous materials. Material, using nanotechnology, will help reduce the rejection rate of implants and the number of microbes on surgical devices and implants. image: International Strategy and Foresight Report on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Final Report 19th March 2004 image: http://www.jnjgateway.com/home.jhtml?loc=USENG&page=viewContent&contentId=09008b9880ec8e18&parentId=09008b9880ec8c74 Nano-Tweezers New nano-tweezers can guide themselves to pick up and move individual cells without damaging them. They can be attached to a microscope and be programmed to function without human control. http://gizmodo.com/380882/robotic-hand-may-be-tiny-has-strong-grip Cleaner Air with Nanoscience Imagine an air filtering system that is activated by light. Nanoparticles inside the device will destroy airborne germs and pollutants. You can read about it here. http://nanopedia.case.edu/NWPage.php?page=car.air.filters.explanation http://www.tew.com.tw/images/4.jpg Nanofilter Masks Nanoscience can improve the filtration capabilities of masks because of the large amount of surface area in nanoparticles. They’re more efficient and last a long time. Read more about these masks here. http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17578&ch=nanotech Nanotechnology Fights Salmonella Pilot studies are underway to more quickly and accurately detect such pathogens using nanotechnology. Recent outbreaks in Salmonella have consumers demanding quicker detection of food-borne pathogens. http://blog.nanovic.com.au/2008/06/08/a-better-way-to-profile-nanotoxicity/ http://www.fehd.gov.hk/safefood/library/salmonella/1.html http://www.technologijos.lt/archyvas/medicina/k_tyrimai/Salmonella_typhimurium_kosmose Food Storage and Nanoscience Maybe you already have one of these new storage devices that use nanotechnology to keep food fresher (and safer) longer. http://www.nanosilverproducts.com/ 2. Diagnosis, Treatment and Control with Nanoscience Patient illnesses will be diagnosed and monitored more rapidly with lab-on- chip devices thanks to nanotechnology. Patients will be able to regain sight and hearing, too. http://www.frequencyclear.tv/index7.html Better Medications Medicines made with nanoparticles have great advantages: Nanoparticles can improve their solubility. Medicines usually need to be water- soluble. They can increase the drug's resistance to stomach acid and enzymes which will allow better uptake from the small intestine. Nanotechnology will provide controlled release, possibly over days rather than minutes or hours. image: live bovine cell with nanocrystal highlights :http://www.futureforall.org/nanotechnology/nanotechnology.htm International Strategy and Foresight Report on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Final Report 19th March 2004 http://images.premierfamilychiropractic.com/local/407/interior_momNanoGreen.jpg Better Drug Delivery Drug delivery with nanoparticles attached to red blood cells. Read more about it by clicking here. http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=616 Nanotech Approach to Heart Disease 1) Nanoscience is building delivery devices that carry medicines and nanodevices to where dangerous plague is located. 2) Scientists are also designing self-assembling molecular nano-stents, devices used to physically support arteries, and 3) Nanotechnology has also linked human proteins to nano- devices to sense and respond to vulnerable plaque. http://medgadget.com/archives/2005/06/burnham_institu.html Nano- Nerve Fibers Nanosized molecules can self- assemble into hollow, cylindrical nanofibers inside the bodies of mice. These nanofibers then act as a scaffold by trapping cells, which help nerve fibers grow. The surface of the nanofibers also inhibits scar tissue from forming which would block the nerve fibers and prevent their growth. http://blog.nanovic.com.au/category/biotechnology/ http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/images/nano/scott03_sm.jpg Nano-Nutrition If that weren’t amazing enough, the nanoparticles are injected as a liquid. They restore these nerve functions of the body and then breaks down into nutrients in the body within three to eight weeks. So they’re biodegradable, too. http://medicineworld.org/images/blogs/cancer-5522340.jpg Nano-Silver Silver is amazing; it has been used to fight infections and control spoilage since at least the times of ancient Greece and Rome! As nanoparticles it can be used as a wound dressing, like bandages, antimicrobial ointments and cleaners. Silver must come in contact with the cut or burn to work effectively. Silver kills bacteria by blocking their metabolism in a way that makes it difficult for bacteria to become resistant to silver. There are many examples of how we already use nano-silver products at this site. You can also find products and criticisms at this nanoproducts weblink. http://www.physorg.com/news5536.html http://www.jnjgateway.com/home.jhtml?loc=USENG&page=viewContent&contentId=09008b9880ec8e18&parentId=09008b9880ec8c74 More Wound Care at the Nanoscale A gecko-inspired medical adhesive may someday seal wounds and replace sutures or staples. Modeled after the feet of a gecko, it has extra sticking power. Someday they may also deliver medicines or growth factors to promote healing. http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=344 http://quickmedical.com/images/index/wound_care.jpg Sore Muscle Rescue - Nanosized Non-smelly nanoscopic fat-like spheres (liposomes) soothe away muscle pain. These liposomes surround the nutrients and medicines in the cream to help it be absorbed more deeply and irritate the skin less. Read more about it. No more smelly ointments! http://www.dermaviduals.de/english/publications/special-actives/active-agents-liposomes-nanoparticles-and-co.html http://www.nanovera.com/nanovera_science.htm No More Shots! Nanotubes could be a mechanism for drug delivery, both as a container and possibly “nano- injections” into specific cells. You wouldn’t necessarily have to take your medication as a shot! Medicines will be enclosed