Novel applications of nanotechnology in medicine.
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Date
2009-12
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Abstract
Current modalities of diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, especially cancer have major limitations
such as poor sensitivity or specificity and drug toxicities respectively. Newer and improved methods of
cancer detection based on nanoparticles are being developed. They are used as contrast agents, fluorescent
materials, molecular research tools and drugs with targeting antibodies. Paramagnetic nanoparticles,
quantum dots, nanoshells and nanosomes are few of the nanoparticles used for diagnostic purposes.
Drugs with high toxic potential like cancer chemotherapeutic drugs can be given with a better safety
profile with the utility of nanotechnology. These can be made to act specifically at the target tissue by
active as well as passive means. Other modalities of therapy such as heat induced ablation of cancer cells
by nanoshells and gene therapy are also being developed. This review discusses the various platforms
of nanotechnology being used in different aspects of medicine like diagnostics and therapeutics. The
potential toxicities of the nanoparticles are also described in addition to hypothetical designs such as
respirocytes and microbivores. The safety of nanomedicine is not yet fully defined. However, it is possible
that nanomedicine in future would play a crucial role in the treatment of human diseases and also in enhancement of normal human physiology.
Description
Keywords
Diagnostics, drugs, nanomedicine, nanotechnology, therapeutics
Citation
Surendiran A, Sandhiya S, Pradhan S C, Adithan C. Novel applications of nanotechnology in medicine. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2009 Dec; 130(6): 689-701.