Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology in Healthcare Systems: Grand Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract

Healthcare, as a basic human right, has often become the focus of the development of innovative technologies. Technological progress has significantly contributed to the provision of high-quality, on-time, acceptable, and affordable healthcare. Advancements in nanoscience have led to the emergence of a new generation of nanostructures. Each of them has a unique set of properties that account for their astonishing applications. Since its inception, nanotechnology has continuously affected healthcare and has exerted a tremendous influence on its transformation, contributing to better outcomes. In the last two decades, the world has seen nanotechnology taking steps towards its omnipresence and the process has been accelerated by extensive research in various healthcare sectors. The inclusion of nanotechnology and its allied nanocarriers/nanosystems in medicine is known as nanomedicine, a field that has brought about numerous benefits in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Various nanosystems have been found to be better candidates for theranostic purposes, in contrast to conventional ones. This review paper will shed light on medically significant nanosystems, as well as their applications and limitations in areas such as gene therapy, targeted drug delivery, and in the treatment of cancer and various genetic diseases. Although nanotechnology holds immense potential, it is yet to be exploited. More efforts need to be directed to overcome these limitations and make full use of its potential in order to revolutionize the healthcare sector in near future.

Plant-Based Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization and Applications

“…In general, plant-derived green NPs are also less likely to cause severe side effects in humans when compared to chemically synthesized NPs, and have a great application potential with applications in a variety of areas, including but not limited to: Nanomedicine and human health protection (antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, pro- or anti-oxidative depending on the context, anti-inflammatory activities, etc.) [ 2 , 4 , 10 , 13 , 45 ]; Agriculture (precision farming with controlled release of agrochemicals, target-specific delivery of biomolecules, more efficient nutrients absorption, detection and control of plant diseases, etc.) [ 3 , 46 ]; Food science and technology (processing, storage, and packaging processes), in bioengineering (biocatalysts, photocatalysts, biosensors, etc.)…”

“…Nanomedicine and human health protection (antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, pro- or anti-oxidative depending on the context, anti-inflammatory activities, etc.) [ 2 , 4 , 10 , 13 , 45 ];…”

“…Nanomedicine is the use of nanotechnology in the treatment, screening, and diagnosis of a variety of diseases, including cancer [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 47 ]. It adds complete procedures and effective approaches against cancer through cancer prediction and diagnostics, prevention and medication, as well as possible individualized therapy [ 10 , 12 ].…”

“…Nanotechnology is a fast-expanding and multidisciplinary field with many applications in science and technology [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. This field combines key concepts from a variety of disciplines, including chemistry, engineering, physics, and biology, in order to provide novel methods for controlling and generating nanoparticles (NPs).…”

Quo Vadis Anesthesiologist? The Value Proposition of Future Anesthesiologists Lies in Preserving or Restoring Presurgical Health after Surgical Insult

“…Nanotechnology offers a unique forey into the new world of possibilities [129,130]. The most relevant and daring is the example of nanotechnology providing a new way of delivering and maintaining anesthesia to surgical patients [129].…”