Nanomedicine

Posted by admin on Apr 29, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

NANOMEDICINE in present century is the potent output of nanotechnology. It could changes the path of doctors to treat various life threaten diseases. Nanomedicine could increases effectiveness and reduces side effects unlike the other painful therapy. The basic principles of this technique are based on targeted drug delivery using nanoparticles, proper diagnosis using sensors and micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) and to monitor in vivo biochemical activities. Nanotechnology has provided the different important tools (nanomedicine) like nanoshells, nanomachines, nanobiosensors, nanofilms, nanocapsules and nanotubes for improvement of human health.

Nanoshell is made up of inner core of glass and coated with gold shell. It is 1000 times less than the actual size of human hair. Nanoshells are used in the treatment of solid tumors. After injecting the nanoshells deeply in the tumor, a dose of infra red radiations in the targeted area is given for 10-30 seconds. Nanoshell here performs dual role, either acts like scalpel or get heated by IR radiations to kill the cancerous cells. It is the work of Jennifer and Naomi halas at Rice University. Nanoshell avoids the unpleasant side effect of chemotherapy. The nanomachine can be also called as LAB ON CHIP that continuously monitors the level of biochemicals in the bloodstream and in response would release appropriate drugs. E.g. such device monitors and adjusts the insulin level in insulin dependent diabetes. The nanobiosensors & MEMS are used for pathogen and contamination detection. Person facing the problems of vitamin and nutrient deficiency could overcome by nanocapsule enriched with specific supplements.

The traditional system of drug delivery loss drugs from the body by means of water. Applying nanofilm coated with multiple drugs may be an effective approach for delivering drugs locally for longer duration. This technique would eliminate unrequited surgeries.

E.g. the dexamethasone coated nanoscaled polymer film when implanted in mice; it suppresses the cytokines of immune system. This could allow the successful skin grafting. Silver, for a long time is known for its potent antimicrobial activities. It controls microbial infection. It is reported to improve wound healing & is non toxic to human tissue. Based on these properties, nanocrystalline silver films coated with silver particles (average size 15 nm) have been developed. These stripes could be directly applied on the wounds. After contact with water, these stripes release silver particles in the form of silver radicals that penetrates in the wounded area to improve healing.

Scientist have shown for the first time that carbon nanotubes make an ideal scaffold for the growth of bone tissue because it has high mechanical strength, excellent flexibility and low density. It also mimics the role of collagen (the natural composite of bone) as a scaffold for the growth of hydroxyapatite in bone. Thus heal bone fracture, simply by injecting nanotubes solution to the fractured area.

Nanotechnology has wide applications in different scientific areas. However, there is the need of public awareness about the advantages, challenges and future of nanotechnology in medicine and other disciplines.

RAVI DHANDE & NILAM SHARMA

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A Simple Way to Detect the Deadly Microcystin-LR Algae-Producing Toxin in Our Drinking Water!

Posted by admin on Apr 29, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a deadly carcinogenic toxin found in blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. Microcystin-LR even in very minute quantities is responsible for causing liver cancer. MC-LR and other similar substances are found to be prominent players in biological water pollution. The algae-producing toxin was the chief culprit for causing large scale poisoning in humans, centuries ago when wells, springs, and lakes were the main sources for drinking water. A group of scientists lead by Nicholas Kotov, a professor in the departments of chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan discovered a simple method for testing the presence of MC-LR in drinking water.

The researchers found out that a strip of paper infused with carbon nanotubes could quickly and detect the MC-LR toxin produced by algae in drinking water. They found that the paper strips perform 28 times faster than the complicated method most commonly used today to detect microcystin-LR, (University of Michigan).

Water treatment plants, even in developed countries don’t always remove MC-LR completely according to Kotov. The safety of our drinking water is a vital issue in many developing countries and in many parts of the United States, He said.

There have been so many talks about the quality of our drinking water. So, whatever we can do to help the public stay safe from contracting diseases from drinking water is more than appreciated. This new technology for testing water can be used by cities and states to test drinking water quality on a regular basis. In addition, the technology can also be used to test for toxins in foods.

The technique works by measuring electrical conductivity of nanotubes in a special synthesized paper. Before the nanotubes are introduced into the paper, they are mixed with antibodies for the MC-LR toxin. So, when the paper comes in contact with water that is contaminated with the MC-LR toxin, those antibodies go between the nanotubes to bond with the MC-LR toxin, thus, causing the nanotubes to spread apart, (University of Michigan).

This spreading-apart of the nanotubes, cause a significant change to the nanotubes’ electrical conductivity. This electrical conductivity is measured by an external monitor, the researchers said. The result of testing water appears in about 12 minutes, (University of Michigan). Therefore, such rapid resulting can be beneficial to any city or state that wants to rule out a particular biological contaminant suspected in drinking water in very rapid fashion.

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