The health impact 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 impact can be split into two aspects:
the potential for nanotechnological innovations to have medical applications to cure disease, and the potential
health hazards posed by exposure to nanomaterials.
Diseases such as diabetes, cancer,
multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s pose a tremendous challenge to modern
medicine. Societies are ageing around the world, yet today's elders wish
to remain active and healthy, and live useful lives for as long as possible.
Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology to human healthcare, offers numerous potential pathways to improving medical diagnosis and therapy and even to regenerate tissues and organs. It can provide personalised yet more affordable healthcare while at the same time offering an improved quality of life for everyone. Nanomedicine is also a strategic issue for the competitive position of the healthcare industry in Europe.
Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology to human healthcare, offers numerous potential pathways to improving medical diagnosis and therapy and even to regenerate tissues and organs. It can provide personalised yet more affordable healthcare while at the same time offering an improved quality of life for everyone. Nanomedicine is also a strategic issue for the competitive position of the healthcare industry in Europe.
Nanoparticles Find Significant
Application in Drug Delivery and Diagnostics
Being one-millionth of a meter, that is as small as
atoms or molecules, nanoparticles can be of immense use in the fields of drug
delivery and diagnostics. While conventional drug developments have relied on
organic chemicals, they have not been able to provide a complete cure for
cardiac attacks or neurological disorders because of the size of the particles
involved. Even as most conventional drugs can target the receptors on the site
alone, they may not assume a perfect fit. This is more so in the case of
neurological disorders that are caused due to imbalances in cell-signaling
pathways.
Nano Technology can Harm for Health ?
Nanoparticles,
can have the same dimensions as biological molecules such
as proteins.
In living systems, they may
immediately adsorb onto
their surface some of the large molecules they
encounter as they enter the tissues and
fluids of the body.
This ability of nanoparticles to
have molecules “sticking”
to their surface depends on the surface characteristics of the particles and
can be relevant for drug delivery uses. Indeed, it is possible to deliver a
drug directly to a specificcell in
the body by designing the surface of a nanoparticle so that it adsorbs specifically
onto the surface of the target cell.
But the interaction with
living systems is also affected by the dimensions of the nanoparticles.
For instance, nanoparticles no bigger than a few nanometres may
reach well inside biomolecules,
which is not possible for larger nanoparticles. Nanoparticles may cross cell membranes.
It has been reported that inhaled nanoparticles
can reach the blood and may reach other target sites such as the liver, heart
or blood cells.
Traditionally, doses are
measured in terms of mass because the harmful effects of any substance depend
on the mass of the substance to which the individual is exposed.
However, for nanoparticles it
is more reasonable to measure doses also in terms of number of particles and
their surface area because these parameters further determine the interactions
of nanoparticles with biological systems.
Several hypotheses
were proposed for the adverse health effects of nanoparticles as
part of ambient air
pollution. These hypotheses address nanoparticle characteristics, their
distribution, and their effects on organ systems, including effects on immune and inflammatory systems.
However, some of these
hypotheses may be of limited or no relevance for engineered nanoparticles.
For instance, the adhesion of toxic substances
onto the surface of nanoparticles may be of less relevance for production and
handling facilities of large volumes of engineered nanoparticles compared to
the particles in ambient air.
Nanotechnology In Health Domain
