Nanomaterials for Medical Applications

Abstract

Nanomaterials are anticipated to revolutionize disease detection and treatment leading to the realization of a potential world market of medical nanotechnology estimated to be > $3 billion within the next 5 years. This article provides an up to date summary of the current research investigations on Nanomaterials for medical applications. Nanomaterials have been categorized based on their shape, and within each shape they have been further categorized based on their chemical composition. Similarly, the medical applications have been categorized into four main sections:medical diagnosis, medical treatment, medical devices, and tissue engineering. Prior to the discussion of medical applications, approaches to biofunctionalization of nanomaterials are also presented as it is very important that the nanomaterials are compatible in biological environment for their application in medicine.

Quantum Dots: An Emerging Tool for Point-of-Care Testing

“…Semiconductor quantum dots are crystalline molecules made up of hundreds to millions of atoms with only a small number of free electrons. Colloidal semiconductor QDs are visible luminescent nanomaterials synthesized mainly with atoms of groups II-VI, III-V, or IV-VI, among which group II-VI compounds such as CdSe, CdS, and CdTe have gained importance, especially in medical applications, as they are the most widely developed and utilized [13]. As the sensitivity of QD detection is higher than that in other organic dyes, they have become attractive fluorophores, thus facilitating cellular imaging and quantitative cellular analysis with the help of fluorescent probes.…”

Engineered Nanomaterials

“…Although some in nanomedicine have used a different classification system based more on ENM shape: nanoparticles/wires/rods/tubes/cubes/channels/films, dendrimers, micelles, and lyposomes, which are then further subdivided into metallic, metal oxide, polymeric, quantum dot, biological (DNA, protein, and viral), and carbon-based materials (9). However, in the fast developing field of nanomaterial science it is difficult to develop a comprehensive categorization scheme.…”

Quantum Dots — Characterization, Preparation and Usage in Biological Systems

“…The use of non-toxic titanium dioxide can completely suppress the problem of QDs toxicity in biomedicine for in vitro applications. The enhanced photocatalytic effect of TiO 2 nanoparticles in skin and other types of cancers was recently demonstrated [ 2 ]. Oligonucleotide DNA covalently attached to the TiO 2 nanoparticles was shown to have a unique property of a light-inducible nucleic acid endonuclease, which could become a new tool for gene therapy.…”

“…in catalysis, coatings, textiles, data storage, biotechnology, health care, biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Concerning the medical applications, spherical nanoparticles are the most widely developed and utilized [ 2 ]. Nanoparticles can be prepared using metallic, metal oxide–ceramic, polymer, carbon, core-shell, alloy, composite, and biological components.…”