Nanomedicine: application areas and development prospects

Nanotechnology, along with related concepts such as nanomaterials, nanostructures and nanoparticles, has become a priority area for scientific research and technological development. Nanotechnology, i.e., the creation and utilization of materials and devices at nanometer scale, already has multiple...

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Published inInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 3303 - 3321
Main Authors Boulaiz, Houria, Alvarez, Pablo J, Ramirez, Alberto, Marchal, Juan A, Prados, Jose, Rodríguez-Serrano, Fernando, Perán, Macarena, Melguizo, Consolación, Aranega, Antonia
Format Journal Article Book Review
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 01.05.2011
Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
Subjects
Biosensing Techniques
Dendrimers - chemistry
drug delivery
Drug Delivery Systems
early diagnosis
Gold - chemistry
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
Liposomes
Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry
Micelles
nanomedicine
Nanomedicine - methods
Nanomedicine - trends
nanostructures
Nanostructures - chemistry
Quantum Dots - chemistry
Regenerative Medicine - methods
Regenerative Medicine - trends
Review
early diagnosis
nanomedicine
drug delivery
nanostructures
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Summary:Nanotechnology, along with related concepts such as nanomaterials, nanostructures and nanoparticles, has become a priority area for scientific research and technological development. Nanotechnology, i.e., the creation and utilization of materials and devices at nanometer scale, already has multiple applications in electronics and other fields. However, the greatest expectations are for its application in biotechnology and health, with the direct impact these could have on the quality of health in future societies. The emerging discipline of nanomedicine brings nanotechnology and medicine together in order to develop novel therapies and improve existing treatments. In nanomedicine, atoms and molecules are manipulated to produce nanostructures of the same size as biomolecules for interaction with human cells. This procedure offers a range of new solutions for diagnoses and "smart" treatments by stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms. It will enhance the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cardiovascular diseases. Preventive medicine may then become a reality.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms12053303