Meet nanotechnology and its effects on medicine

in #stemng7 years ago

Man’s constant search for efficient and effective health care alternatives has driven man’s curiosity into diverse scientific innovations and methodologies over the past ten years, with noticeable significant growth in the field of nanomedicine and nanotechnology.


Image source

Nano was coined from the Greek word “dwarf”, nanotechnology is defined as the researching, modelling, stimulating and developing of materials, devices, and systems characterizing and exhibiting chemical, mechanical, physical, and biological features that are much smaller in size (microscopic), and matter composition. Nanotechnology is also mentioned to be molecular nanotechnology.

The debate on the future implications of nanotechnology which may be able to produce many new resources and devices coupled with a massive series of applications like the nanomedicine, biomaterial energy production, nanoelectronics as well as the consumer products.

In respect to these, nanotechnology brings raise on the same issue as new technology like the toxicity and environmental effect of nanomaterials

>Nanomedicine is define as the science and technology of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and traumatic injury, of relieving pain, and of preserving and improving human health, with the use of nanoscale structured materials, genetic engineering, biotechnology and eventually complex machine systems and nanorobotics..

It was perceived as embracing five main sub disciplines that in many ways are overlapping by common technical issues

NANODIAGNOSTICS
Nanodiagnostics is simply the practice of nanodevices for the early detection and identification of diseases at molecular and cellular level. During in-vitro diagnostics, nanomedicine is usually used to escalate and increase the productivity and dependability of the diagnostics through the use of human liquids or tissues samples by the use of the nanodevices.

Multiple analysis are carried out on subcellular scale and with the help of nanomedicine that uses devices operational inside the human body for early detection of diseases.

Presently in the world of nanomedicine, it gulps the usage of carefully structured nanoparticles such as carbon fullerenes (buckyballs dendrimers) , and nanoshells to aim specific tissues and organs. These nanoparticles aid research on diagnostic and therapeutic antiviral, antitumor, or anticancer agents. Which brings about complex nanodevices and even nanorobots that is fabricated, first of biological materials but later using more durable materials such as diamond to achieve the most powerful results.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Use of nanocoatings to slow down the rate of release of asthma medication in the lungs thereby enabling people with asthma to experience longer relief periods from symptoms after using Inhalants.

Use of nanosensors which are developed for the military in strategic detection of airborne agents and chemical weapons and other substances, basically spot many drugs in human breath.

Use of artificial phagocytes known as microbivores to scan the bloodstream, attacking and absolving unwanted pathogens like viruses, fungi, bacteria.

Use of nanorobots for surgically programmed and guidance by human surgeon, could serve as a semi-automated and semi-autonomous on site surgeon within the human body, when introduced into the body through vascular system or cavities. Such devices have the abilities to carry out numerous functions which includes might penetrating the pathology and then diagnosing and correcting lesions by nanomanipulation, coordinated by an onboard computer

Use of Nanogenerator in the development of independently powered embeddable implant of medical devices, by transforming mechanical energy from body locomotion, muscle relaxation and stretching or flow of water to electrical energy.


credit:Wikipedia

In nanotechnology, another main application of it is in the region nanoelectronics, this technologies is made of some little nanowires, the above image shows the simulation of a nanowire with a length of 10 nm. It shows and demonstrates the formation of frequency which are electron density and thereby the attainment of threshold voltage (IV) in a nanowire. The threshold voltage for the nanowire technology is about 0.45v

An author of Nanoscom in the name of William Atkinson made a statement where he said that

Nanotechnology will affect everything and the big changes coming from the inconceivably small. It will be like a blizzard, snowflakes whose weight you can’t detect can bring a city to a standstill.

NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN STEM CELL
The excellent impact of nanotechnology in the field of stem cell exploration has being magnifying just like the magnetic nanoparticles have been used successfully to separate and assembly stem cells. Tracing and molecular imaging of stem cells uses quantum dots for the transfer of gene or even drugs into the stem cells.
Nanostructures uniquely designed for controlling and regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the stem cells. All the advances are simply to speed up the expansion of stem cells towards the applicxation in regenerative medicine

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
This is the field of Nanotechnology that deals with the reparation, advancement and maintenance of cells, tissues as well as organs by the application of some cell therapy with tissue engineering approaches.

Cell interaction is made possible through the aids of nanotechnology to manipulate the cell differentiation and proliferation thereby producing the organized extracellular matrices.

Conclusion:
The world began without man and it will definitely complete it circle by itself, the researches as well as the theoreticals on nanotechnology is quickly and progressively turning into reality. Nanotechnology is taken over dentistry and human life as a whole.
However, the potentials of nanotechnology will bring a whole lot of benefits which includes health improvements, good usage of our natural resources as well as reducing most of the environmental pollution. The availability of nanomechanics which is the dream of all doctors and physicians will then be a reality. The nanomedical physicians in our 21st century will definitely take advantage of the body natural healing abilities.

References
Nanotechnological application in medicine

Nanotechnology: The Future Medicine

gif:wikipedia

Threshold formation

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Hey @charlescarter, great post! I enjoyed your content. Keep up the good work! It's always nice to see good content here on Steemit! :)

Thanks for reading through.

Nanotechnology has being of the efficient technologies used recently either in electrical energy or medical sciences. Nice post.

Yeah, that’s very true and nanotechnology is very broad.
Thanks.

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