Nanotechnology plays a great role in the total health aspects from diagnostics to therapy and preventive medicine. Micro-organisms that are even resistant to antibiotics have been eliminated. Even the viruses that have no treatment except by prevention by vaccines are killed by nano silver bringing the era of antibiotics to an end globally.
Nano materials play a significant role in the production of light emitting diodes leading to higher efficiency but thinner. Like wise the layers deposited in a photo voltaic cell can be made of nano dimensions so as to enhance the efficiency of the cell to convert solar energy to electrical energy.
Nanotechnology has made a significant impact on surface coatings.
Ultra-hydrophobic surface coatings are being made using nano particles and poly electrolytes for making lotus leaf like surfaces and these are non-wetting, self cleaning that can be used for car window screens, textiles and the exterior surfaces of many structures. Nano composites of polymer containing carbon nano tubes have been extensively used where shock proof and sound absorbing functions are needed and in smart textile fibers that can sense and change according to atmosphere so as to increase the comfort level.
Electro-chromic materials that contain nano particle change the colour depending on the size of the particle. Some composites change colour with applied voltage. These are called electro-chromic materials that have found uses in making attractive signage.
Nano particles of different material are being produced for the use in coatings, catalysis and non-linear optics. Nano particles known as colloidal particles form the basic building blocks in nano structures. Nano tubes, nano wires and nano belts have the excellent features for carrying charge which are used in making composites of wide variety of applications.
Nanotechnology based water filters have been made in India by the excellent research done by Prof. Pradeep of IIT, Madras where gold and silver nano particles anchored on alumina to extract the endo-sulfan, malathion, chloropyrifos – the three pesticides that have --Nanotechnology have brought a new era for better health care.
If the drugs are fused with nano sized carriers and materials lead to the use of smaller doses that can be precisely targeted to deliver better results lin the selected organs. Nano products can replace tablets and injections by using spray inhalation. Research in IIT, Bombay is advancing to develop nano sized particles that act as surfactants (for prevention of surface tension) in the infants soon after the birth with neonatal respiratory syndrome. Tissue can be regenerated with nano sized smart materials.
Nano materials can be used in solar cells, cosmetics, super capacitors, paints, textiles, refrigeration and preservation using nano silver solution. It is possible even to prevent corrosion to water resistance. The market for nano products is expected to reach one trillion USD by 2015. USA and Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and China are far advanced in the applications of nanotechnology. India has yet to make a forward step in this aspect.
Nanotechnology is based on bottom – up – approach that leads to the most efficient use of mass and energy and it is the most prominent multi-disciplinary technology that has emerged in the history of science and technology. It has become the key technology of 21st century. It is a natural technology similar to biological building blocks. Many material properties change at the nano scale level and which can be exploited for the human society that are often found at elevated levels in drinking water in India.
Medical
Medical application potentials are the miniaturized analytical devices for medical diagnostics like Lab-on-a-chip system. Although biochips or Lab-on-a-chip system are micro-fluidic devices, these are often discussed in the context of nanotechnology.
Molecular diagnosis involves detection of analytical molecules – for example: gold nano crystals (the so called quantum dots) are also magnetic nano particles used as markers for the substances like proteins and DNA.
The detection method is based on several systems such as fluorescence spectroscopy, magnetic field measuring, and electron microscopy. The optical colour change is suitable for self diagnosis for the patients.
Drug delivery – therapeutics
Controlled and targeted drug delivery systems can be developed provided the nano scale transportable vehicles are formulated. Transport system can be developed from nano scale cage molecules (liposomes, fullerenes or dendrimers or by coupling nano particles). The goal is to carry the active drug selectively to the targeted cells by means of nano particles with specific functional sites. Nano particles penetrate the cell membrane and overcome the physiological barriers (blood – brain barrier) in the organism. Nano scale suspension improves the solubility and bioavailability of drugs.
The most prominent application of nanos is tissue and cell specific drug delivery. Unlike liposomes and dendrimers, the metal and semi-conductor nanos are made of biopolymers such as bacterial spores and viruses that are natural, uniform in size and other precise control for the surface displayed targeting groups and other components.
Anti VEGF antibodies on gold/silver nanos increase the ability of these antibodies to induce apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia B-cells.
Preventive medicine:
The entry of HIV-1 virus into the cell is governed by glycol-protein knobs of GP120. The human monoclonal antibodies coupled to silver nanos will effectively kill the virus before entry.
Nano-silver utilization in medical sector:
- Diagnosis
- Therapy
- Preventive Medicine including HIV1
- Medical textiles and hospital use : surgical gauze, wound dressings, bandages, surgical masks, gloves, self-sterilizing hospital gowns and beddings
- Wound management: Burns, ulcers, toxic epidermis necrolysis, meshed skin grafts and donor sites.
- Medical devices / surgical equipment: Catheters, surgical implants – artificial joints, bone pins, heart valves, endovascular stents, urological systems, endo-tracheal tubes, dental instruments, infusion parts, orthopaedic protruding fixation devices, endoscopes, peritoneal dialysis devices, sub-cutaneous cliffs
- Hand sanitizers, anti-bacterial, antifungal powders, disinfectants – surfaces, HVAC system dental water lines.
- Inhalation systems – replacing infusion
- Cosmetics
Diagnostics I. Detection of cancer location / size Cd solinide with 100 moles of PSA
Micro detection
13 – 20 AU (gold nanos)
Contrasting agents in diagnosisReplaces fluorescent dyes in vitro / in vivo to trace proteins by Ultrasonic, MRI scans tracing a single protein in living cell on the basis of colour.
BioavailabilityNano drugs and solutions
Preventive Medicine- HIV I: Silver nanos: Human monoclonal antibodies coupled to GP 120 binds HIV-I to kill the virus
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia – B-cells
Anti VEGF antibodies on Au / Ag induces apoptosis
Paint industry, Cosmetics, Creams and SolutionsTo impart whiteness in paper industry: TiO2 and ZnO To impart whiteness in Cosmetics, Creams and Solutions: TiO2 and ZnO
Medical diagnosis:- n Lab-on-a-chip system
- n Cell/Tissue specific drug delivery
Medical:- Preventive medicine: Ag, Au in HIV-1 infection
- Anti coating properties
- Anti inflammatory properties
- Medical coatings
Antimicrobial dressings
Acute Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API)
Silver in powder form
TopicalAg 150 – 400 nm
Anti – infection powder
Bactericide,
Nasal vaccines
Nano – emulsions/gels against E.col, salmonella
Viruses – HIV / Herpes
Fungi – Candida albicans, Anthrax sps
AEROGELS: www.aerogels.com
- Military shelters with high performance
- Improvements in aircraft thermal account, IR and fire protection, Light weight water repellents and alternate tents, markets, offshore, oil sand, Aerospace, Textile industry
Self cleaning liquids:
Natural non-sticking, cleaning process (self cleaning process) a permanent transferred to textile surface by nanotechnology.
Pharmaceuticals (nanoceuticals)
Lipophilic components with poor bioavailability and poor dissolution surround hydrophilic surface by small nano wet particles makes the compounds pass the unstirred water layer of intestines and absorbed without bile and pancreatic activity.
Vitamin A,D,E,K, Beta carotene, Vitamin C,Citric acid, Ascorbic acid, Benzoic acid, Tocopherol, Isoflavone, Alphalipoic acid, Lutein solubilised Omega-3-fatty acid, Coenzyme Q10.
Nano silver is used as anti coating, wound dressing.
PharmaAnti emetic, cholesterol lowering drugs, cacheyia and renal