Nanomedicine

"Nanotherapeutics" redirects here. For the company, see Nanotherapeutics (company).
For other uses, see Nanomedicine (disambiguation).

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Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology.[1] Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology such as biological machines. Current problems for nanomedicine involve understanding the issues related to toxicity and environmental impact of nanoscale materials (materials whose structure is on the scale of nanometers, i.e. billionths of a meter).[2][3]

Functionalities can be added to nanomaterials by interfacing them with biological molecules or structures. The size of nanomaterials is similar to that of most biological molecules and structures; therefore, nanomaterials can be useful for both in vivo and in vitro biomedical research and applications. Thus far, the integration of nanomaterials with biology has led to the development of diagnostic devices, contrast agents, analytical tools, physical therapy applications, and drug delivery vehicles.

Nanomedicine seeks to deliver a valuable set of research tools and clinically useful devices in the near future.[4][5] 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.[6] Nanomedicine research is receiving funding from the US National Institutes of Health Common Fund program, supporting four nanomedicine development centers.[7]

Nanomedicine sales reached $16 billion in 2015, with a minimum of $3.8 billion in nanotechnology R&D being invested every year. Global funding for emerging nanotechnology increased by 45% per year in recent years, with product sales exceeding $1 trillion in 2013.[8] As the nanomedicine industry continues to grow, it is expected to have a significant impact on the economy.

  1. ^ Freitas RA (1999). Nanomedicine: Basic Capabilities. Vol. 1. Austin, TX: Landes Bioscience. ISBN 978-1-57059-645-2. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2007.[page needed]
  2. ^ Cassano, Domenico; Pocoví-Martínez, Salvador; Voliani, Valerio (17 January 2018). "Ultrasmall-in-Nano Approach: Enabling the Translation of Metal Nanomaterials to Clinics". Bioconjugate Chemistry. 29 (1): 4–16. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00664. PMID 29186662.
  3. ^ Cassano, Domenico; Mapanao, Ana-Katrina; Summa, Maria; Vlamidis, Ylea; Giannone, Giulia; Santi, Melissa; Guzzolino, Elena; Pitto, Letizia; Poliseno, Laura; Bertorelli, Rosalia; Voliani, Valerio (21 October 2019). "Biosafety and Biokinetics of Noble Metals: The Impact of Their Chemical Nature". ACS Applied Bio Materials. 2 (10): 4464–4470. doi:10.1021/acsabm.9b00630. PMID 35021406. S2CID 204266885.
  4. ^ Wagner V, Dullaart A, Bock AK, Zweck A (October 2006). "The emerging nanomedicine landscape". Nature Biotechnology. 24 (10): 1211–7. doi:10.1038/nbt1006-1211. PMID 17033654. S2CID 40337130.
  5. ^ Freitas, Robert A. (March 2005). "What is nanomedicine?". Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine. 1 (1): 2–9. doi:10.1016/j.nano.2004.11.003. PMID 17292052.
  6. ^ Coombs RR, Robinson DW (1996). Nanotechnology in Medicine and the Biosciences. Development in Nanotechnology. Vol. 3. Gordon & Breach. ISBN 978-2-88449-080-1.[page needed]
  7. ^ "Nanomedicine overview". Nanomedicine, US National Institutes of Health. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Market report on emerging nanotechnology now available". Market Report. US National Science Foundation. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2016.