Nanotechnology to nanomedicine: reconciling ethical implications and public health

Current advances in nanotechnology and nanomedicine have demonstrated great promise in reducing the rates of morbidity and mortality of various diseases. As the science of nanotechnology and nanomedicine surge ahead, ethics, public health and policy are struggling to keep up. It is essential to simultaneously recognize contributions inimical to the ethical, social and regulatory aspects of this burgeoning technology in order to minimize its adverse impacts on the environment and public health. For example, the combination of cancer and cardiovascular diseases result in approximately half of all deaths in the United States every year. At present, the most significant concerns involve risk assessment and management, and a lack of a standardized protocol for the assessment of engineered nanomaterials. Although ex vivo and in vivo experiments can increase our understanding of the character of nanomaterials in biological systems, they cannot be certain in eliminating the risks associated with human exposure to nanomedicine products in clinical trials. Furthermore, continued use of engineered nanomaterials in nanomedicine has directed heightened attention to issues of ethical healthcare. The knowledge gaps regarding the potential health and safety implications of exposure to engineered nanomaterials, however, can be actively researched and addressed. Dynamic and socially responsible research across disciplines such as engineering, medicine, and public health will drive nanomedicine as it plays a transformative role in medicine and public health in the 21st century. This review looks at the burgeoning science of nanotechnology and nanomedicine, its applications and the ethical and the public health implications.