Nanoparticles in Medicine - Case Study Example

Imaging and diagnosis is the first benefit. It is a significant discipline that is used in medicine and biology and can detect, measure and display molecular and cellular changes that occur in vivo and vitro (Li & Chen, 2015). The use of nanotechnology has played a vital role to in imaging to assist in the treatment of health diseases such as cancer for example in vivo imaging in animal studies based on semiconductor quantum dots.

It is beneficial in drug delivery. It is crucial in therapeutic modulation in health facilities for effective disease control and drug dose (Couvreur, 2013). The targeted drug delivery using NP-based drug delivery is efficient because there are fewer side effects, decrease in toxicity to other organs and also improves bioavailability (Patel, Souto & Singh, 2013). It was able to overcome the problem that arises in the quest to control a disease epidemic for instance tuberculosis.

It is also beneficial in anticancer therapy and gene therapy. There is a rise in anti-cancer treatment methods that are specific to killing the tumor cells through exploration of precise thermal scalpels that function to heat the tumor cells and burn to destroy them (Wicki, Witzigmann & Huwyler, 2015). It also works to assists in correcting and curing genetic diseases through the transfer of the affected genes cells transfected with the normal ones.

The risks of nanotechnology include the ability to assess the toxicity of these particles is difficult because not all engineered elements are more lethal than fine-sized components of the similar chemical composition. Some of the engineered nanoparticles may turn out to be more toxic than other identical fine-sized particles of the same chemical composition (Kovacic & Somanathan, 2013). Scholars raised an issue on whether the research has helped to understand nanotechnology.

The risk of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular effects. As a result of anthropogenic sources due to human exposure, there are increased health effects associated with cardiovascular diseases (Saso & Kampmann, 2016). Exposure to air pollution is associated with high blood pressure and decreased heart rate. There should be measures and precautions against these life-threatening impacts to the society.

There are numerous precautions for the workers involved with nanoparticles, for instance, hygiene and lab protection (Shukla, 2013). Facilities to ensure washing of hands is a vital precaution. Gloves in the handling of nanomaterials are essential. Ventilators and respirators for improvement of air circulation. Cleaning of machines regularly and spills. The precautions are put to ensure they minimize the threats they may pose to the health of an individual if not handled well.

In conclusion, the nanoparticles have revolutionized research in the field of medicine. The nanomaterials are crucial in the discovery of drugs and treatment of diseases such as cancer that has led to massive loss of lives in the society because of lack of adequate treatment. They also have a fair share of disadvantages that need to be addressed to ensure that they do not have health effects.

References

Couvreur, P. (2013). Nanoparticles in drug delivery: past, present and future. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 65(1), 21-23.

Kovacic, P., & Somanathan, R. (2013). Nanoparticles: toxicity, radicals, electron transfer, and antioxidants. In Oxidative Stress and Nanotechnology (pp. 15-35). Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.

Li, W., & Chen, X. (2015). Gold nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging. Nanomedicine, 10(2), 299-320.

Patel, M., Souto, E. B., & Singh, K. K. (2013). Advances in brain drug targeting and delivery: limitations and challenges of solid lipid nanoparticles. Expert opinion on drug delivery, 10(7), 889-905.

Saso, A., & Kampmann, B. (2016). Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus in pregnancy: a suitable tool to combat global infant morbidity and mortality?. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 16(8), e153-e163.

Shukla, R. K. (2013). Occupational Exposure of Nanoparticles in Forensic Science: A Need of Safe Use. Int J Forensic Sci Pathol, 1(3), 7-10.

Wicki, A., Witzigmann, D., & Huwyler, J. (2015). Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges, opportunities, and clinical applications. Journal of controlled release, 200, 138-157.