By: Myka Villegas
Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering and science that focuses on its design. In this case, nanotechnology has been a part of medicine, and its development in making medications that are able to repair, produce, or reshape damaged tissue via nanomaterial-based scaffolds and specific growth factors. However, Nanotechnology also involves itself in the delivery of drugs to specific areas of a body. Speaking of which, what is the purpose of nanotechnology to allow our bodily systems to dissolve one drug into cells in our body? What is the use of this process if we already have our systems functioning, will it not work as similar as when we ingest Tylenol or Advil? Moreover, is Nanotechnology and its engineering behind it safe for us humans? Should we be worried about the medication complications since this kind of science revolves around the readjusting of atoms and molecules? Why Nanotechnology and not allow “normal medication?”
Nanotechnology within the human body influences the body's immune defence system. Drug delivery however allows the process of drugs that are poorly soluble, and also provides the means of bypassing the liver, while preventing first pass effect. Nanotechnology allows nanoparticles to be carriers to deliver drugs to specific tissue or cells in the body. These particles may be used for diagnostic purposes also. These Nanoparticles could be engineered to be able to have specific surface properties, like enzymes. These properties allow them to selectively target diseased cells while avoiding the healthy ones. This allows the increase of efficacy and decreases the side effects of the drug that was taken. Nanotechnology and its involvement in drug delivery permits the improvement of absorption, bioavailability, and its stability via the use of this technology in drug delivery. Furthermore, overcoming the defects of DDS.
Medical professionals and engineers have developed ways to bypass these limitations to provide the best to those in need. One approach is by modifying the nanoparticle’s surface by applying a biocompatible layer. This targets ligands on its surface to develop a stimulus-responsive particle. This allows it to release its cargo in response to a specific cue if in the tumour or harmful cell microenvironment. Another way is to make a way to control the nanoparticles’ size and shape to increase their circulation time within the human body. Thus allowing improvement to eliminate the harmful cell in sight. However, researchers are still in progress exploring the use of multifunctional nanoparticles that could be able to emit therapeutic agents, imaging agents, and target molecules to enhance the efficacy of treatment that is provided to the body. Furthermore researchers are looking forward to revolutionising treatments like these by providing more targeted and efficient ways for these cases.
Nanotechnology has been through some decent modifications which allows drugs to be pushed to the next level with significant healthcare results. Although researchers are still studying nanotechnology itself, this is one in many extensive research which undergoes into the best practices and procedures of traditional technology. Nanotechnology is engineered to aim at specific issues. They offer potential for in-vitro diagnosis by replacing the existing process for a more economical alternative that is more easy to access - knowing in this day in age, many medications are over our budgets. Nanoparticles can be made to operate as molecular imaging agents within devices, thus input in cancer instances, input cancer-related genetic alterations and also tumour cell functional features. Nanotechnology allows the delivery of drugs that are mostly insoluble in water also. This allows transportation of insoluble drugs to become more convenient.
Nanotechnology sounds new to many, however developing an understanding of what it is, its purpose, whether it's healthy and safe to use for humans allows us to gain more successful innovations in the medical world. Although it is still undergoing much research and learning, it has made many impressive outlooks in the medical world, and may be used much more in the future.
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