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| EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 2 | Page : 51-52 |
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Nanotechnology in health care
Ghanshyam Parmar
Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| Date of Submission | 22-Dec-2022 |
| Date of Decision | 16-Jan-2023 |
| Date of Acceptance | 01-Feb-2023 |
| Date of Web Publication | 16-May-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ghanshyam Parmar
Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Piparia, Waghodia, Vadodara - 391 760, Gujarat
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jihs.jihs_3_23
How to cite this article:
Parmar G. Nanotechnology in health care. J Integr Health Sci 2022;10:51-2 |
The term “nanotechnology” refers to the process of manipulating materials on a size that is either molecular or atomic, with dimensions measuring fewer than 100 nm. Nanotechnology has a wide range of possible applications in the medical field, each of which has the potential to significantly alter the ways in which we diagnose, cure, and prevent disease.[1] The creation of diagnostic tools is one of the most exciting potential applications of nanotechnology in the field of medicine. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans can be utilized, for instance, in order to detect the disease in its earliest stages. This is made possible by the fact that nanoparticles can be tailored to bind precisely to cancer cells. In addition, diagnostic materials, such as DNA or RNA, can be transported to the cells of interest via nanoparticles, which can then be utilized to conduct genetic testing.[2]
The treatment of cancer is another area where nanotechnology is having a substantial influence and is becoming increasingly important. Nanoparticles can be tailored to transport medications specifically to cancer cells.[3] This has the potential to lessen the negative effects that chemotherapy has on patients while also improving the treatment's overall efficacy. This method, which is referred to as targeted drug delivery, has the potential to significantly enhance the results of treating cancer patients. Gene therapy is a process that can make use of nanoparticles to transport genetic material from one cell to another.[4] This offers the potential to treat genetic illnesses like as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia by introducing healthy copies of the afflicted gene into the patient's cells. The examples of such conditions are sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis.[5]
In addition, new materials for use in medical equipment, like artificial joints and implants, are currently being developed with the assistance of nanotechnology. These materials have the potential to be tougher and more biocompatible than traditional materials, which would result in an increase in the devices' lifespan as well as a reduction in the danger of the body rejecting them. In addition, the field of regenerative medicine may undergo a sea change as a direct result of the application of nanotechnology. In order to stimulate tissue regeneration, nanoparticles can be used to carry growth factors and other chemicals, and they can also be used to form scaffolds for cells to grow on, which can then be utilized to repair or replace damaged tissue.[6]
The production of nanoparticles that are capable of being employed as a vehicle for the delivery of vaccines is one of the most intriguing areas of research in nanotechnology. Because the structure of these nanoparticles is similar to that of viruses, they can stimulate an immune response without actually causing infection. This has the potential to vastly enhance the speed at which vaccinations are administered and the efficiency with which they are administered.[7] In addition, it has the potential to make it possible to vaccine against diseases that are currently difficult to prevent. In addition, nanotechnology is being used to produce novel imaging techniques, such as super-resolution microscopy, which enables researchers to observe structures and processes with a significantly higher degree of granularity than was formerly feasible. This is assisting us in gaining a better knowledge of disease, which will be beneficial in the creation of new treatments. Concerns have been raised over the safety of the materials used in nanotechnology, despite the fact that there are many potential benefits of using nanotechnology in the medical field. There is evidence that certain nanoparticles are poisonous to cells, and there is also the possibility that these particles could cause unexpected injury to the body. Because of this, it is extremely vital to carry out exhaustive safety testing on these materials before attempting to use them on humans.[8]
In conclusion, nanotechnology has the potential to transform the ways in which we diagnose, cure, and prevent disease, and it is already being applied in a number of diverse sectors of healthcare provision. The applications of nanotechnology in healthcare are numerous and varied, ranging from the diagnosis and treatment of cancer to the creation of novel medical equipment and regenerative medicine. However, before these materials are used on humans, it is critical to ascertain that they are risk-free, and additional study is required to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the possible advantages and disadvantages associated with their application.
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| 2. | Allhoff F. The coming era of nanomedicine. Am J Bioeth 2009;9:3-11. |
| 3. | Bonnemain B. Superparamagnetic agents in magnetic resonance imaging: Physicochemical characteristics and clinical applications. A review. J Drug Target 1998;6:167-74. |
| 4. | Terreno E, Delli Castelli D, Cabella C, Dastrù W, Sanino A, Stancanello J, et al. Paramagnetic liposomes as innovative contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging applications. Chem Biodivers 2008;5:1901-12. |
| 5. | Kukowska-Latallo JF, Candido KA, Cao Z, Nigavekar SS, Majoros IJ, Thomas TP, et al. Nanoparticle targeting of anticancer drug improves therapeutic response in animal model of human epithelial cancer. Cancer Res 2005;65:5317-24. |
| 6. | Dutta D, Sundaram SK, Teeguarden JG, Riley BJ, Fifield LS, Jacobs JM, et al. Adsorbed proteins influence the biological activity and molecular targeting of nanomaterials. Toxicol Sci 2007;100:303-15. |
| 7. | Korbekandi H, Iravani S, Abbasi S. Production of nanoparticles using organisms. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2009;29:279-306. |
| 8. | Anton N, Benoit JP, Saulnier P. Design and production of nanoparticles formulated from nano-emulsion templates – A review. J Control Release 2008;128:185-99. |
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