Applications of Nanotechnology in the Biomedical Sciences: Small Materials, Big Impacts, and Unknown Consequences

Abstract

Nanotechnology is at the forefront of a revolution in the biomedical sciences. It has the potential to give both researchers and doctors' abilities they would never have previously dreamt of, including everything from the capability to deliver engineered drugs to specific target tissues to filtering even the smallest harmful particles out of our water supply. With such increased power, however, also comes increased responsibility. Nanotechnologies have as much potential to do harm as they do good. For instance, nanotechnology could be an enormously effective tool in the hands of a bioterrorist. As such, it is critically important for mankind to fully appreciate the technology's awesome potential and the possible harm it may cause before this potential is realized. To this end, this review discusses not only the current and future applications of nanotechnology in the biomedical sciences, but also the incredibly important ethical ramifications of such applications.

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