Application of nanotechnology in the field of medicine and drug discovery

1. KOLLA SRIVALLI
201709010
MSc Systems biology

2. DEFINITION
 Nanotechnology is the
understanding and control of
matter at dimensions
between approximately 1 and
100 nanometers, where
unique phenomena enable
novel applications.
 A nanometer is about three
to five atoms wide, or some
40,000 times smaller than the
thickness of human hair.
 A virus is typically 100 nm in
size.

3. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE
: AN IDEAL SCALE
 Aim – Nanomedicine may be broadly defined as
the comprehensive monitoring, control,
construction, repair, defense and improvement of
all human biological systems, working from the
molecular level using engineered devices and
nanostructures, ultimately to achieve medical
benefits.
 Nanodrug delivery systems cannot only transport
encapsulated or grafted small chemotherapeutic
drugs , with a size of less than a dozens of
nanometres, but also deliver them inside cells
once they have penetrated them.

4. Is the nanoscale adequate for medical
technologies?
Laws ( may favor or may not favor ) –
 As the Size decreases , surface/volume ratio increases .
 Ultra miniaturisation of sensing part leads to the extraction of
less amount of sample, and this favors the analysis of rare
samples like biopsies.
 Measuring low concentrations of biological molecule in large
samples like blood ,droplets require preliminary steps for
concentrating these molecules.

5. INVITRO DIAGNOSTICS
 An in vitro diagnostic tool can be a single biosensor, or
an integrated device containing many biosensors .
 ‘Lab-on-a-chip’ devices, which can mix, process and
separate fluids, realizing sample analysis and
identification. Integrated devices can measure tens to
thousands of signals from one sample.
 ‘Cells-on-chips’ use cells as their sensing elements,
employed in many cases for pathogen or toxicology
screening.

6. APPLICATION AREAS OF
INVITRO NANOTECHNOLOGY
Point of care (POC)
 Key features include –
Miniaturization
Integration
Multiplexing
 At this moment ,POC is not essential
as it doesn’t concentrate on huge
labs which leads to a good earning of
money.
 But , in future this POC plays an
important role as the number of labs
increases and lead to saturation.
Central analytical labs
 This central analytical labs in hospital
involves in the use of high
throughput technology with all the
automated machines.
 This provides accurate data which
helps doctor to analyze the disease
easily and provide the medicine.
 These are responsible for the earning
of money all over as it includes the
use of robust machines.

7. INVIVO DIAGNOSTICS
 It Involves imaging techniques along with
implantable devices.
 Nanoimaging includes several approaches
using techniques for the study of in vivo
molecular events and molecules
manipulation.
 Implantable drug delivery systems can deliver
small amounts of drugs on a regular basis, so
that the patient does not need to be injected.
FIND , FIGHT , FOLLOW

8. a) IMAGING
 Nanotechnology lead a drastic change involving the
detection of a disease in early stage and monitoring the
therapy effectiveness.
 Nanotechnology will enable the visualization of molecular
markers that identify specific stages and types of cancers,
allowing physicians to see cells and molecules
undetectable through conventional imaging.
 Imaging techniques - advanced optical imaging and
spectroscopy, nuclear imaging with radioactive tracers,
magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical and X-ray
imaging which uses tracers or markers introduced into the
body .

9. b) IMPLANTS AND SENSORS
 Nanotechnology also has many implications for
in vivo diagnostic devices such as the
swallowable imaging ‘pill’ and new endoscopic
instruments.
 Miniaturisation for lower invasiveness, combined
with surface functionalization and the
‘biologicalisation’ of instruments will help
increase their acceptance in the body.
 Nano catheters
 Nano sensors
 Nano harvesting of biomarkers
 Nano biopsy

10. NANOPHARMACEUTICALS
 Nanotechnology offers means to aim therapies directly and
selectively at diseased tissues or cells, with application in
cancer or inflammation for instance.
 The behavior of nanomaterials used for in vivo
administration should be demonstrated whether they are
biocompatible, or biodegradable.
 Generally three vector generations are considered:
• First generation –Nanospheres , Nano capsules
• Second generation vectors – PEGylated particles
• Third generation vectors – still under development

11. NANOCARRIERS
 Nanocarriers present several advantages over
conventional chemotherapy. They can:
• Protect drugs from being degraded in the body before
they reach their target;
• Enhance drug absorption into tumors and the
cancerous cells themselves;
• Allow for better control over the timing and
distribution of drugs to the tissue, making it easier for
oncologists to assess
how well they work;
• Prevent drugs from interacting with normal cells, thus
avoiding side effects.

12. Uses of nanocarriers-
 Passive targeting
 Active targeting
 Destruction from within ( NANOSHELLS )
 Drug delivery ( mechanical ) devices
 Theranostics - tagging of cells
 Bursting of cells by tagging it
 Reduces the cost and risk of surgery

13. REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
 It is the process of creating living, functional
tissues, to repair or replace tissue or organ
function lost due to age, disease, damage, or
congenital defects.
 This field holds the promise of regenerating
damaged tissues and organs in the body by
stimulating previously irreparable organs to heal
by themselves.
 It can safely implant the organs which are
damaged.
 The vision for nano-assisted regenerative
medicine is the development of cost-effective
disease-modifying therapies that will allow for in-
situ tissue regeneration.

14. a) Stem cells
 Nanomaterial-based gene delivery for
manipulating stem cells has a vital role in
recognizing the potential of regenerative
medicine.
 Nanotechnology will aid in pursuing two main
objectives:
1. Identifying signaling systems in order to leverage
the self-healing potential of endogenous adult
stem cells;
2. Developing efficient targeting systems for adult
stem cell therapies.
 This invitro cultured stem cells are used when
he/she has a tissue damage which cannot be
repaired.

15. b) Biomaterials
 Materials used in repairing the human body must
reproduce the correct signals that guide the cells towards
a desirable behaviour.
 It covers the fabrication of materials, such as
nanoparticles and scaffolds for tissue engineering, and
surface nanopatterning to elicit specific biological
responses from the host tissue.
 Biomaterials must simultaneously enhance tissue
regeneration while minimizing immune responses and
inhibiting infection.
 Nanomaterials must be designed to interact with proteins
and cells without perturbing their biological activities;
nanomaterials must maintain their physical properties
after the surface conjugation chemistry; and
nanomaterials must be biocompatible and non-toxic.

16. REFERENCES
 Andreou, C., Pal, S., Rotter, L., Yang, J., & Kircher, M. F. (2017). Molecular
Imaging in Nanotechnology and Theranostics. Molecular imaging and
biology, 19(3), 363–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-017-1056-z
 Emerich D. F. (2005). Nanomedicine--prospective therapeutic and diagnostic
applications. Expert opinion on biological therapy, 5(1), 1–5.
https://doi.org/10.1517/14712598.5.1.1
 Mishra S. (2016). Nanotechnology in medicine. Indian heart journal, 68(3), 437–
439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2016.05.003

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