Health implications of nanotechnology

The health implications of nanotechnology are the possible effects that the use of nanotechnological materials and devices will have on human health. As nanotechnology is an emerging field, there is great debate regarding to what extent nanotechnology will benefit or pose risks for human health.

Nanotechnology's health implications can be split into two aspects: the potential for nanotechnologcal innovations to have medical applications to cure disease, and the potential health hazards posed by exposure to nanomaterials.

Nanotoxicology

The extremely small size of nanomaterials also means that they are much more readily taken up by the human body than larger sized particles. How these nanoparticles behave inside the organism is one of the big issues that needs to be resolved. The behavior of nanoparticles is a function of their size, shape and surface reactivity with the surrounding tissue. They could cause overload on phagocytes, cells that ingest and destroy foreign matter, thereby triggering stress reactions that lead to inflammation and weaken the body’s defense against other pathogens. Apart from what happens if non-degradable or slowly degradable nanoparticles accumulate in organs, another concern is their potential interaction with biological processes inside the body: because of their large surface, nanoparticles on exposure to tissue and fluids will immediately adsorb onto their surface some of the macromolecules they encounter. This may, for instance, effect the regulatory mechanisms of enzymes and other proteins.

Other properties of nanomaterials that influence toxicity include: chemical composition, shape, surface structure, surface charge, aggregation and solubility,cite journal |journal=Science |date=3 February 2006 |volume=311 |issue=5761 |pages=622–627 |title=Toxic Potential of Materials at the Nanolevel |first=Andre |last=Nel |coauthors="et al." |doi=10.1126/science.1114397 |pmid=16456071 doi|10.1126/science.1114397] and the presence or absence of functional groups of other chemicals. [cite journal |journal=Nano Letters |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=1121–1125 |date=2006 |title=Cellular Toxicity of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials |first=Arnaud |last=Magrez |coauthors="et al." |doi=10.1021/nl060162e doi|10.1021/nl060162e] The large number of variables influencing toxicity means that it is difficult to generalise about health risks associated with exposure to nanomaterials – each new nanomaterial must be assessed individually and all material properties must be taken into account.

Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. [http://www.nanomedicine.com/NMI.htm Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities] , by Robert A. Freitas Jr. 1999, ISBN 157059645X ] The approaches to nanomedicine range from the medical use of nanomaterials, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology. Current problems for nanomedicine involve understanding the issues related to toxicity and environmental impact of nanoscale materials.

Nanomedicine research is directly funded, with the US National Institutes of Health in 2005 funding a five-year plan to set up four nanomedicine centers. In April 2006, the journal Nature Materials estimated that 130 nanotech-based drugs and delivery systems were being developed worldwide. [cite journal |author=Editorial. |title= [http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v5/n4/full/nmat1625.html Nanomedicine: A matter of rhetoric?] |journal= Nat Materials. |volume=5|issue=4|pages=243|year=2006]

Nanomedicine seeks to deliver a valuable set of research tools and clinically helpful devices in the near future. [cite journal |author=Wagner V, Dullaart A, Bock AK, Zweck A. |title= [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=17033654&cmd=showdetailview The emerging nanomedicine landscape] |journal= Nat Biotechnol. |volume=24|issue=10|pages=1211–1217|year=2006] [cite journal |author=Freitas RA Jr. |title= [http://www.nanomedicine.com/Papers/WhatIsNMMar05.pdf What is Nanomedicine?] |journal= Nanomedicine: Nanotech. Biol. Med. |volume=1|issue=1|pages=2–9|year=2005] The National Nanotechnology Initiative expects new commercial applications in the pharmaceutical industry that may include advanced drug delivery systems, new therapies, and in vivo imaging. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/2884490809 Nanotechnology in Medicine and the Biosciences] , by Coombs RRH, Robinson DW. 1996, ISBN 2884490809 ] Neuro-electronic interfaces and other nanoelectronics-based sensors are another active goal of research. Further down the line, the speculative field of molecular nanotechnology believes that cell repair machines could revolutionize medicine and the medical field.

Nanomedicine is a large industry, with nanomedicine sales reaching 6.8 billion dollars in 2004, and with over 200 companies and 38 products worldwide, a minimum of 3.8 billion dollars in nanotechnology R&D is being invested every year. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0131014005 Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea] , by MA Ratner, D Ratner. 2002, ISBN 0131014005] As the nanomedicine industry continues to grow, it is expected to have a significant impact on the economy.

References

See also

* Nanotechnology
* Implications of nanotechnology
* List of nanotechnology applications