Nanotechnology, nanotoxicology, and neuroscience (original) (raw)
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An Introduction to Nanotechnologies: What’s in it for Us?
Veterinary Research Communications, 2007
Nanotechnologies are one of the two most prominent actors of the scientific revolution marking the beginning of the new Millennium. As for biotechnology, nanotechnologies are the outcome of an interdisciplinary, new approach to old technological issues ranging from device manufacturing to energy conversion, from sensing to signal amplification and transmission. The discovery of unexpected physical and chemical behavior of matter at the nanometer scale has paved the way to a number of exploitations (some current, most real but prospective). In this paper I will briefly review the nanotechnologies, showing most promise for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. In this specific area, I will discuss current techniques and soon-to-come applications in nano-pharmaceuticals (i.e. pharmaceuticals based on the specific chemistry of nanoparticles), in vivo targeted nanodispensers, and nanoactuators. Some closing remarks will be made on how this will affect animal health control and healing in the near future.
Neuroscience nanotechnology: progress, opportunities and challenges
Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2006
Nanodevices and nanomaterials can interact with biological systems at fundamental, molecular levels with a high degree of specificity. By taking advantage of this unique molecular specificity, these nanotechnologies can stimulate, respond to and interact with target cells and tissues in controlled ways to induce desired physiological responses, while minimizing undesirable effects. Applications of nanotechnology in basic and clinical neuroscience are only in the early stages of development, partly because of the complexities associated with interacting with neural cells and the mammalian nervous system. Despite this, an impressive body of research is emerging that hints at the potential contributions these technologies could make to neuroscience research.
Fourth Annual Conference of the American Society for Nanomedicine
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 2014
The 4th Conference of the American Society for Nanomedicine is being held March 28-30, 2014 at the Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville, Maryland. The meeting's theme is on defining the role of nanomedicines for nervous system diagnostics and disease but balanced by broad and timely topics for nanotechnology. Nanoneuromedicine, as defined by the development of small drug formulations for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative, inflammatory, infectious, vascular, addictive, behavioral and metabolic disorders of the nervous system, will provide a focus for each of the scientific sessions. This research is interdisciplinary and it's in its infancy. The hurdles that preclude translation from bench to bedside would include its delivery across the blood brain barrier, limiting nervous system toxicities, and improving drug targeting to diseased brain subregions. These all pose challenges. Multidisciplinary works in neuroscience (neurobiology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, and neuroinflammation), bioimaging, and polymer chemistry to facilitate outcomes for formulation manufacture will be vigorously discussed. How drugs reach sites of action need include neural cell specific subcellular compartments. The ASNM meeting will showcase nanoneuromedicine research from leading investigators of divergent scientific backgrounds who define this new field. It will also serve as an incubator for developing investigators and broad new field discoveries. Welcome to the conference and enjoy!
Biomedical application of nanotechnology
PREFACE Nanotechnology is poised to make potentially revolutionary innovations in areas of biomedical science such as diagnostics, drug therapy, and imaging. In the future, nanotechnology using different biomarkers will be able to diagnose patients in much earlier stages of disease. Microchip-based diagnostic tests using biomarkers conjugated to nanoparticles or quantum dots can detect abnormalities at molecular levels that potentially can lead to disease progression. Nanotechnology can overcome anatomical and physiological barriers to deliver drugs more effectively to the target sites to reduce nonspecific effects. Many drugs, especially modern therapeutics, cannot be successful unless mechanisms for their effective delivery are developed. Nanotechnology can be a powerful tool to address delivery-related issues such as poor solubility or stability in biological environments. Imaging plays an important role in detection of pathologies such as tumors or vascular pathologies. Magnetic nanoparticles are under extensive investigation to enhance and improve the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability for early detection of diseases.
Nanotechnology Applications in Neuroscience: Advances, Opportunities and Challenges
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology
New treatment and prophylaxis needs, which have emerged as the incidence of central nervous system disorders (CNSDs) has increased, have brought two concepts together: neuroscience and nanotechology. Because of the restricton of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), conventional drug delivery systems do not always work to provide the levels of drug molecules to the CNS that are needed for the recovery from CNSDs. Nanotechnology products may provide increased compliance, enhanced bioavailability, better BBB penetration of drug molecules, and a minimized side effect profile. This review considers some important application examples of nanotechnology and micro-electromechanical systems in neuroscience, and drug delivery approaches across the BBB. The major controversies concerninginvasive procedures for application of some products and the use of microchips and nanodevices are also discussed.
Proceedings …, 2012
The interactions between biological systems and nanostructured materials are attracting great interest, due to the possibility to open up novel concepts for the design of smart nano-biomaterials that actively play a functional biological role. On the other hand, the assessment of the potential toxic effects arising from such interactions is gaining increasing attention, and a new field known as nanotoxicology is strongly emerging. In this frame, we investigated the response of human neurons to gold surfaces with different levels of nanoroughness, finding out that neurons are capable to sense and actively respond to these nanotopography features. These nanostructured substrates were also investigated to explore the impact of nanotopography on morphology and genomics of adherent bacteria. A multidisciplinary approach was exploited to characterize bacteria-nanostructured surface interactions, observing that type-1 fimbriae disappear in bacteria grown onto nanorough substrates. We also show how nanoparticles interact with biomolecules in culture media and in vitro and in vivo biological systems, by investigating the toxic effects of a wide range of nanomaterials (AuNPs, QDs, SiO 2 NPs), demonstrating the key role of size, shape, and surface coating.
Nanoscience and their biological importance: human health and disease
Nano-science is at the leading edge of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Several areas of medical care are already benefiting from the advantages that nanotechnology can offer. Applications of nano-science in biotechnology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, physics, material science and electronics are also covered in this review. Mankind is still fighting against a high number of serious and complex illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and diabetes as well as different kinds of serious inflammatory or infectious diseases (e.g. HIV). Most of theses diseases have a tremendous negative impact not only on the patient himself but also on the whole society and linked social and insurance systems. It is of utmost importance to face these plagues with appropriate means. This brief review tries to recapitulate the most recent developments in the field of applied nano-science, particularly in their relevance in treatment of various diseases and their biological importance in human health and to discuss their future prospects.