The nanomedicine landscape of South Africa

Abstract

Nanomedicine is one of the most exciting applications of nanotechnology and promises to address several of mankind’s healthcare needs. South Africa is one of the countries engaged in nanomedicine research and product development on the African continent. In this article, we provide a top-level description of the policy, infrastructure, and human capital development programs supported by the South African government. We also highlight the nanomedicine outputs (publications, patents, and products) that have emanated from South Africa. This description of a “newly industrialized” country engagement in nanomedicine is important within the global context of nanomedicine development.

From lab to market: Strategies to nanotechnology commercialization in Africa

“…Through the National Nanotechnology Equipment Programme, the South African government has made a substantial investment toward creating a critical mass of infrastructure to enable first-class basic research, exploration of applications, and human capacity development in nanotechnology. 4 For infrastructure investment, the focus was on nanotechnology research equipment, clean rooms, and piloting facilities. Cutting-edge equipment for nanotechnology characterization available in some South African universities and science councils includes scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes, and a nanoindenter.…”

“…In addition, inexpensive and simple handheld diagnostic devices that might not require expertise will be beneficial to those in rural areas where there is a lack of medical facilities. According to Dube and Ebrahim, 4 South Africa is one of the leading countries in nanomedicine (especially drug delivery and medical diagnostics) research and product development on the African continent. However, if African scientists need to capture the value of technology assets or to move their nanotechnology research from the laboratory to the marketplace, they will need to find a commercialization strategy that matches their potential and is sustainable.…”

Epidemics and the Health of African Nations

“…Nanotechnology is an emerging and rapidly developing field. It has become one of the most important scientific fields of the 21 st century (Dube & Ebrahim, 2017). In the health care sector, nanotechnology has the potential to transform medicine by creating new drug delivery systems and diagnostics (Maksimovi, 2017).…”

“…The South African government, for example, established a nanotechnology initiative in 2005 to promote and enhance nanotechnology research and development, with health care as one of its six focus areas, spending about R170 million (USD 26 million) on this (Claassens & Motuku, 2006). Researchers in South Africa, therefore, have been conducting nanomedicine research for some time, with a focus on its use in enhancing treatment of diseases affecting LMICs (Dube & Ebrahim, 2017). Moreover, South Africa is one of 27 African countries that constitute the Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), vii which was created in 2005.…”

Nanomedicines for Malaria Chemotherapy: Encapsulation vs. Polymer Therapeutics

“…Nanomedicines have even reversed drug resistance (102). This impact is yet to be seen in malariaindeed in most infectious diseases (103) but the therapeutic and pharmacological potentials offered by nanomedicines are increasingly being recognized (104,105).…”