NANOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICINE

Abstract

Nanotechnology can be characterized as the science and engineering involved in the design, synthesis and applications of materials and devices which have at least one nanometer scale, or one billionth of a meter, of the smallest functional organization. At these scales, in relation to the bulk macroscopic properties of the substance or system, consideration of individual particles and communicating groups of molecules becomes important as control over the fundamental molecular structure allows control over the chemical and physical macroscopic properties. Medical and physiological applications include materials and instruments designed to communicate with the body with a high degree of precision on subcellular (i.e., molecular) scales. This can theoretically translate into complex clinical applications for targeted cells and tissues engineered to achieve optimum therapeutic benefits with minimal side effects. This overview explores the key scientific and technological aspects of nanotechnology and addresses some of its possible clinical applications.