Current uses of nanomedicine
When we hear the word ‘nanotechnology‘ or ‘nanomedicine‘, we think of something powerful and of something that the scientists are working on. ‘Nano*’ seems distant to most people and is thought of as something that has yet to be discovered. However, some divisions of nanomedicine are nowdays in research, pre-clinical or clinical phases. The human race has already started to benefit from nanomedicine, although most people don’t know it. Of course, this is a slow-paced dance and will take a lot of time to see nanomedicine in it’s full potential.
DISEASE DETECTION
Quantum dots are going to be used as devices to recognize ‘bad’ (cancer) cells and are currently in the research phase. These dots are able to emit a light similar to infrared. They travel through the body and they CAN be seen by the infrared scanner. When these come to the clinical phase, they will enormously reduce the use of radioactive materials which are being used for diagnostics at the moment. Of course, the results that we would be able to get with quantum dots would be way more precise and accurate than the ones we get today using radioactive devices.
Nanotechnology (nanomedicine) can also offer cancer cells detection on a much improved level. Nowdays, detection of cancer requires 1 million cancel cells to be present to be discovered. Nanodevices are able to reduce that number to 1,000.
DISEASE TREATMENT
Along with cancer cells detection, cancer treatment will be highly improved. Research on clinical mice has shown that a targeted nanoparticle injected in the bloodstream was successful with removing the prostate cancer.
DRUG DELIVERY
Research has shown that special substances which are now toxic when injected with non-toxic substances will become acceptable to various systems. It is also predicted that specially designed nanoparticles will be able to detect abnormalities and such.
CONCLUSION
Nanomedicine is a subfield of nanotechnology that the human race will get the most benefit from. It is being constanly researched and new discoveries are being presented every day. Nanomedicine is used today in a small amount, but time can only tell what nanomedicine potential is or will be. I am sure that it’s huge.
