{"id":1261,"date":"2021-12-08T00:15:15","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T23:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/?post_type=unit&p=1261"},"modified":"2021-12-08T00:15:15","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T23:15:15","slug":"the-principals-of-the-main-directions-of-the-use-of-nanotechnologies-in-contemporary-medicine","status":"publish","type":"unit","link":"https:\/\/lms.nanoproject.eu\/lms\/unit\/the-principals-of-the-main-directions-of-the-use-of-nanotechnologies-in-contemporary-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"The principals of the main directions of the use of nanotechnologies in contemporary medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Targeted distribution of drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanotechnology has provided healthcare specialists with the ability to deliver drugs to a specific location within the body using nanoparticles. This significantly reduces the quantity of drugs needed, while reducing side effects. First, the drug is encapsulated, then delivered to the target area of the body, and finally released. Nanoparticles can penetrate the cell membrane. Safe entry into cells is an important step in achieving high therapeutic efficacy. Treatment is then triggered by a certain signal, e.g. a magnetic field, activating rays of a defined wavelength, etc. Administration of drugs using nanotechnology is currently the dominant direction of nano development in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Nanoparticles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanoparticles are commonly defined as particles of 1 to 100 nanometers in diameter. Particles of this size can penetrate the cell membrane \u2013 therefore, they are subject to strict safety regulations. While the ability of nanoparticles to penetrate the cell membrane may be seen as adversary in many areas, it can be used with great success in medical treatment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Silica can trigger a catastrophic production of oxygen radicals in a cancer cell, causing such cell to die. The team of scientists lead by Dalton Tay of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, coated silica nanoparticles of 30 nanometers in diameter with L-phenylalanine \u2013 one of the essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesise but needs them. Therefore we must take phenylalanine through our diet, usually from meat or milk products. Phenylalanine is also essential for tumour cells, which is why they accept it willingly. However, with phenylalanine they also receive a silica nanoparticle as a \u2018Trojan horse\u2019. The newly created silica nanoparticles with molecules of phenylalanine target exclusively the tumour cells, while not requiring any external activating impulse. They kill about 80 % of aggressive breast, skin, and stomach tumour cells.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Diagnostics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanotechnology brings sensitive and extremely accurate diagnostic tools. The small size of nanoparticles delivers properties that may be highly useful in imaging, particularly in oncology. Quantum dots, i.e. nanoparticles with quantum confinement properties such as light-size adjustable emission, can produce tumour images in combination with magnetic resonance. When exposed to ultraviolet light, nanoparticles glow. When injected, they seep into cancer tumours. The surgeon can see the glowing tumour, using the image as a guide to remove the tumour more accurately. The nanoparticles glow much brighter than organic dyes and they require a single source of light. Fluorescent quantum dots produce a higher-contrast image at a price lower than that of organic dyes\u00a0 commonly used as contrast media. In the recent years, scientists have discovered that nanocrystals can enable them to study cell processes on the level of single molecules. This can considerably improve diagnostics and treatment of cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Quantum dot<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quantum dot is a confined area of a semiconductor of about 30 nm in diameter and 8 nm in height, capable of binding electrons due to its lower energy compared to the conduction band of the surrounding semiconductor. The electrons can only take on discrete energy values similarly to the atom. Quantum dots are used in special components capable of working with singular electrons or photons.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Nanodiamonds are about 5 nanometers in size. If their internal structure is modified, they can be used to diagnose diseases \u2013 including cancer. They act as miniature sensors that can be placed inside cells. We can measure e.g. temperature and acidity or detect the presence of certain crucial chemical substances. Nanocrystals can provide information about the surrounding environment only if their lattice is disturbed intentionally. The crystal lattice of a nanodiamond may be imagined as a carton of eggs. Each of the eggs represents a single atom of carbon, and if one of the atoms is knocked out, the optical properties of the material change completely. Neutrons shoot the boron nucleus which subsequently breaks into nuclei of lithium and helium. The particles act as a hand that rips the atom out of the crystal lattice. After additional modification, the crystals can fluoresce. And they can act as a sensor that can be used by doctors to detect tumours. It should also be noted that carbon as an element is naturally present in our bodies, i.e. it is not a foreign substance to the human organism. Thanks to that, nanodiamonds can replace other contrast substances and become a perfect alternative.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tissue engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n

New nanofiber structures allow for better healing of skin wounds and bone fractures. Wounds heal up to tens of percent faster compared to existing treatment methods; the structure of the filling in damaged bones is a lot more robust, almost identical to that of the original bone, and damaged skin shows a lot less scarring in the end. The nature of nanofiber layers is very similar to that of the intercellular substance. As a result, new cells can grow successfully on nanofiber structures. Therefore, the range of biocompatible and biodegradable substances used for production of nanofibers for medical purposes continues to grow. The new generation of nanofibers will find its use primarily in treatment of developmental defects, complicated splinter fractures, extensive burns, and abrasions. In addition to better healing, complicated cases of damaged skin and bone also show a lot less subsequent complications and a lower percentage of reoperations. Two-component nanofibers not only improve the quality of treatment, but also improve the efficiency of the treatment significantly. Nanoparticles like graphene, carbon nanotubes, etc. are used as reinforcement in production of strong biodegradable nanocomposites for the application for bone tissue. These nanocomposites are used as a new, mechanically strong, lightweight composite material for bone implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Biocompatibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

A material is biocompatible, if it does not induce any negative reaction in the organism.<\/p>\n

Biodegradability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biodegradation is a process of natural decomposition of a substance using natural biologic processes. Almost any material is biodegradable, but the time needed for decomposition in a natural environment can vary. The highest demands for the rate of decomposition are placed on a material that should biodegrade in a human body.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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Example<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

A team of chemists led by Samuel Stupp of Northwestern University in Evanston, US developed nanofibers that accelerate the healing process. The fibers are based on amphiphilic peptides (i.e. peptides having both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties). When injected into the organism, amphiphilic peptides form long nanofibers that attached their ends onto the wounded spot. Stupp also equipped amphiphilic peptides with a sequence of eight amino acids that bind heparin. Molecules of heparin are extremely \u2018sticky\u2019. Heparin binds growth factors responsible for repair and growth of blood capillaries in the wound.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nanoparticles against antibiotic-resistant bacteria<\/strong><\/p>\n

The numbers of multi-drug resistant microbes have been growing since the invention of antibiotics. This opened the room for new technologies using nanoparticles of silver that can destroy bacteria reliably. When treated with nano silver, numbers of bacteria in wounds drop by four to five orders in just 24 hours, which may not be achieved with antibiotics. The target is for the nanoparticles of silver to kill microorganisms, but not to settle in the patient\u2019s body. When applied to the wound, nanoparticles of silver should remain bound to the respective medium inseparably. If the nano silver is coherently bound e.g. to a polymer in the nanofibers of a non-woven textile, it will fulfil its antibacterial function to be removed later together with the nanofiber membrane. The nanofiber membrane in the wound dressing is permeable for molecules of air, but it will keep out microorganisms and other adverse substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Definition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Coherence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coherence (lat. co-haereo, keep together) means cohesion, either physical or logical.<\/p>\n

In this context, coherent means cohesive, well-ordered, non-separable.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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