Nanomaterials in Medicine

For decades, man has explored the cures for many diseases and illnesses. Scientists now believe that nanotechnology can perform that miracle. Nanomaterials in medicine are an attempt to limit or reverse pathological processes, and its advantages are due to their specific characteristics, such as the capacity to interact with biological systems with a high degree of specificity. The ultimate goal of nanomedicine is to identify and treat diseases as early as possible at the subcellular level. The application of nanotechnology in medicine ranges from diagnostics to therapeutics. In diagnostic imaging, nanomaterials are used to target a specific type of cancer cell, which would enable radiologists to visualize insignificant features at a better resolution possible. Moreover, nanomaterials are thought to stimulate and interact with target cells and tissues in controlled ways and to induce desired physiological responses with minimal side effects. Nanomedicine researchers developed an assay for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease with better accuracy and sensitivity than conventional methods. This new assay uses gold nanoparticles (NP) and magnetic microparticles (MMP) to bind to the biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Physicians use nanoparticles to target drugs at the source of the infection, thereby increasing the efficiency and minimizing the side effects. Nanoparticles are also used to stimulate the body’s innate repair mechanisms by artificially activating and controlling the adult stem cells. To promote neuronal repair and regeneration, researchers use bio-reactive nanoscaffolding. In this chapter, we will explore how nanomaterials are used in medicine and its prospects.