Nanotechnology and the Field of Medicine - Coursework Example

Table of Contents: Introduction………………………………………………..3 Na chnology and Medicine……………………………3 FuturePotential……………………………………………7 Conclusion…………………………………………………11 References………………………………………………….12 Introduction: The concept behind nanotechnology and science emanated from Richard Feynman, a physicist. Feynman was able to describe a process in which scientists would manipulate and control individual molecules and atoms (Uldrich, 2006). This was in December 1959. Professor Norio Taniguchi later on came up with the word nanotechnology, in his experiments of ultraprecision. However, the study of nanotechnology began in 1991 with the development of tunneling microscope that had the capability of monitoring individual atoms. Uldrich (2006) explains that Nanotechnology is a scientific or technological practice that is carried out at a nanoscale. This is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology and science refers to the application and study of extremely small things, which can be used across other scientific fields (Fisher, 2006). Every substance found on earth consists of atoms, this includes the clothes we wear, the food we eat, our own bodies, and the houses in which we reside in. On this basis, the study of nanotechnology is important in helping our day to day life. Due to the important role that nanotechnology has played in the lives of people, a lot of research has been conducted in this field. Nanotechnology plays an important in facilitating the treatment of medical conditions. Nanotechnology and the Field of Medicine: Uldrich (2006) explains that the use of nanotechnology in a medical practice creates a variety of exciting possibilities. Some of these techniques are only imagined, others are in the process of testing, while other techniques are actually being used currently. The application of nanotechnology in medical practice involves the applications of nanoparticles that are currently under development (Fisher, 2006). It also involves long range research whose intention is to make it possible for medical practitioners to use nanorobots in repairing the cellular particles of individuals. Uldrich (2006) explains that the use of nanotechnology in the medical field revolutionalizes the manner in which medical practitioners are able to detect and treat any disease that affects the human body. Due to knowledge on nanotechnology, doctors are able to treat various diseases that it was impossible to treat in the yester-years. One of the important roles of nanotechnology is drug delivery. Researchers have developed the nanoparticles that have the capability of delivering vaccines to the body. A variety of bacteria and viruses normally infect human beings through mucosal surfaces. This includes areas such as the reproductive tract, gastrointestinal tract, the lungs, etc (Fisher, 2006). In fighting these pathogens, scientists have developed vaccines that have the capability of establishing a frontline defense at the mucosal surfaces. Service (2005) explains that it is possible to deliver vaccines to the lungs, through the aerosol spray. However, the lungs normally clear the vaccine before they can respond by providing immunity. To solve this problem, medical practitioners are using nanoparticles for purposes of protecting the vaccines for a period that can enable them to develop a strong immunity response. Vaccines that are delivered through this method have the capability of protecting the body against flue or other respiratory diseases or viruses. They also have the capability of preventing sexually transmitted diseases such as human papilloma virus, herpes simplex virus, etc. Furthermore, it is possible to use nanotypes in delivering drugs orally, and this is through a digestive tract. This is an important step in the administration of medicine, because it helps in allowing patients to take drugs. This is as opposes to an injection. On this note, patients have a choice on wether to be injected or to take drug pills in their delivery of drugs. It is important to denote that some patients prefers delivery of drugs through pills, while others normally prefer delivery of drugs through an injection. Furthermore, Roco (2001) explains that nanomedicine is used in therapy. Roco (2001) explains that scientists have come up with nanosponges aimed at absorbing toxins and removing these toxins from the bloodstream of an individual. These nanosponges are polymers, and they have a coating of the membrane of a red blood cell. This membrane is able to allow the nanosponges to travel safely, and in the blood stream. This will in return attract the toxins. Furthermore, Roco (2001) explains that researchers have come up with a method that has the capability of generating sound waves that are powerful, and also tightly focused, and hence it is possible to use them for noninvasive surgery. Scientists use a lens that is coated with a carbon nanotube to convert light substances from the laser to a focused sound wave. These nanotubes are used to develop a method that has the capability of blasting tumors or other diseases without damaging a healthy body tissue (Webster, 2006). Furthermore, nanoparticles that have a polyethylene glycol-hydrophilic cluster have the capability of absorbing free radicals at a higher rate when compared to proteins. This ability of nanoparticles to absorb free radicals can reduce the amount of harm or injury that a brain experiences caused by the release of free radicals. On this basis, nanoparticles have played a role in body therapy. Webster (2006) explains that nanomedicine has made it possible for medical practitioners to diagnose certain diseases at an early stage. On most occasions, this technology is used in the diagnosis of chronic diseases. Roco (2001) explains that nanotubes tubes that are embedded in a gel have the capability of monitoring the amount of nitric acid in the bloodstream of an individual. The level of nitric acid in an individual’s body is important mainly because it indicates the nature of inflammation that an individual has. On this basis, these nanotubes help in monitoring and controlling the emergence of an inflammatory disease (Fisher, 2006). It is important to denote that nanotubes are always placed beneath the skin of an individual. Furthermore, nanoparticles have been used for the early diagnosis and detection of infectious diseases. These nanoparticles are attached to the molecules of a blood stream, and this helps in indicating the start of a particular infection. When medical practitioners scan these samples for Raman scattering, the nanosubstances are able to enhance the Raman signal. This allows the detection of the molecules thus indicating the emergence of an infectious disease at an early age. Furthermore, researchers have developed a nanoparticle that has the capability of early detection of kidney damage. This method is able to use a gold nanorod that is functionalized for purposes of attaching it to a protein which is generated by a damaged kidney. When protein is able to accumulate on the nanorod, then the color of the nanorod will change, indicating the existence of a kidney problem (Fisher, 2006). This role of nanotechnology is an important step in detecting diseases early. This is because early diagnosis and treatment of a chronic disease is essential in effective treatment of the diseases under consideration. Due to this important role of nanotechnology, most countries have embarked on a research to improve their technological knowhow in nanomedicine and technology. This data indicates the number of patents applications by countries since 1991 to the year 2008 (Dang, Zhang, Fan, Chen and Roco, 2009). Name Number of applications USA 19665 South Korea 5,963 Taiwan 1363 Germany 1312 Japan 10763 Dang, Zhang, Fan, Chen and Roco (2009): Future Potential of Nanomedicine: Bushan (2007) explains that the future of nanomedicine is beginning to change the method and scale of drug delivery and vascular imaging. Balogh (2009) envisages a situation when the nanoscale technologies will start yielding an increased medical benefit for the coming years. Roco (2001) denotes that this includes the creation of a nanoscale laboratory that has the capability of providing a platform for diagnostic and drug discovery platform such as nanopore sequencing, microchip devices, etc. Cancer research institutes have related programs, which have a goal and an aim of creating a nanometer scale, with multifunctional capabilities, that has the capability of diagnosing and delivering therapeutic agents for purposes of monitoring the progress of cancer treatment programs(Fisher, 2006). For instance, in the United Kingdom, University institutions are leading the research in the field of nanotechnology. The following data gives an illustration of the leading universities engaged in research on nanotechnology in the United Kingdom (Innovation and Growth Team, 2014), University Amount in Pounds Oxford 37M Sheffield 21M Cambridge 27M Imperial London College 19M Courtesy of innovation and growth team, 2014: These programs include the engineering and design of a targeted contrast agent that has the capability of improving the resolution of the cells of a cancer, to a single cell level nanodevice with a capability of addressing the evolutionary and biological diversity of a multiple cancer cell that make up the tumor of an individual (Fisher, 2006). On this basis, for a complete potential of nanotechnology in drug delivery and targeted imaging to be realized, nanoparticles have to be smart. In order to realize this objective, there is a need of understanding the physiological and physicochemical processes of nanotechnology. Balogh (2009) provides an explanation that this would form the basis of a complex interaction of a nanovehicle and its environment. Examples of these include intracellular and extracellular rates of drug release in various pathologies, carrier stability, exploitation of various opportunities that are offered by the state of the disease, e.g. routes of escape from the vasculature. Furthermore, Balogh (2009) explains that issues of toxicity are of importance and concern. It is therefore important that a fundamental research needs to be carried out for purposes of addressing these issues. This would enable medical practitioners to successfully apply these technologies in their respective medical field. On this basis, the future application of nanomedicine will heavily depend on a rational design of tools and materials developed on a thorough understanding and knowledge of a biological process. Cleaveland (2014) therefore believes that the future potential of nanomedicine will help in treating diseases that have not been treated before, and this includes advanced stages of cancer and other cardio-vascular diseases. All that scientists need to do is to understand the biological processes of nanoparticles and substances. In improving the research on nanomedicine, the following statistics depict the amount of money that the American government has spent on research (Research n.d, 2014). These figures are obtained from the website managed by Plunkett Research (Research n.d, 2014). Year Amount in millions of dollars 2014 1538 2013 1550 2012 1857 2011 1847 2010 1913 2009 2213 2008 1555 Courtesy of Plunkett Research, 2014 (Research n.d, 2014). Conclusion: In conclusion, nanotechnology is a very important aspect in the provision of health care services. Nanomedicine is used extensively in the field of medical practice, and mostly in the delivery of drugs, and diagnostic services. Furthermore, nanotechnology is used in therapeutic techniques, and it enables medical practitioners to effectively conduct surgery. Nanotechnology is also used in the repair of cells, and it thus plays a great role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, this field of nanotechnology continues to evolve. This is because researchers are still involved in research, with the main purpose of coming up with ways and methods of improving its application in the field of medicine. Bibliography: Balogh, L. P. (2009). The future of nanomedicine and the future of Nanomedicine: NBM. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 5(1), 1. Bushan, B. (2007). Introduction to Nanotechnology. New York: Springer. Cleaveland, P. (n.d.). Nanotechnology: Huge Future for Small Innovation. Medical Design Technology. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://www.mdtmag.com/articles/2007/07/nanotechnology-huge- future-small-innovation. Dang, Y., Zhang, Y., Fan, L., Chen, H., & Roco, M. (2009). Trends in worldwide nanotechnology patent applications: 1991 to 2008. Journal for bNanoparticle Research, 12(3), 687-706. Fisher, R. (2006). NIH Roadmap on basic nanomedicine. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 2(4), 289. Innovation and Growth Team. (n.d.). NanoTechnology, A UK Industry View. NanoTechnology. Retrieved July 8, 2014, from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCEQFjAB&url= http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matuk.co.uk%2Fdocs%2FNano_report.pdf&ei=2vG7U4ftNK2y7Aat- IHoCQ&usg=AFQjCNFoIr8mecZifIEdRhgNvAgCIAPWaw Research. (n.d.). Plunkett Research®, Ltd.. nanotechnology-mems-materials-market-research. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from http://www.plunkettresearch.com/nanotechnology-mems-materials-market- research/industry-statistics Roco, M. C. (2001). Societal implications of nanoscience and nonotechnology. Dordrecht [etc.: Kluwer academic. Service, R. (2005). Nanotechnology takes aim at cancer. Science, 310, 1132-1134. Uldrich, J. (2006). Investing in nanotechnology think small, win big : profiles over 100 leading nonotechnology companies. Avon, Mass.: Platinum Press. Webster, T. J. (2006). Nanomedicine: Whats In A Definition?. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 1(2), 115-116. Read More