A nanotechnology application

Nanotechnology Application
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NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATION
A drug delivering technology based on the nanotechnology: chemotherapy.
Introduction
Chemotherapy is the employment of medical substances such as light, drugs and sound rays into the affected cells. In most cases the process of destroying the affected cells such as in the case of cancer, many other healthy cells are destroyed. This in turn leaves the patients with a number of side effects. Nanotechnology has taken its plight in medicine. The new technology is being used in employing drugs, light among other substances to particular specific cells. The nano-particles are designed in order to attract the affected cells hence allowing direct treatment of the affected cells without harming other healthy cells. The technology is of an inevitable advantage in the medicine field.
How the technology works
The technology enhances earlier detection of the diseases and reduces the chances of destroying unaffected cells. The technology has a range of particles of about 150-nm in diameter (the nano-particles) that are generated from a biodegradable polymer poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly (ethylene glycol). Drugs are encapsulated into the nano-particles that are attached to RNA strands called aptamers on the surface of each particular particle. In cases of cancer, aptamers are designed in a way that they could bind to the specific prostrate antigen membrane; this is because different aptamers bind only to specific type of proteins. An aptamer is attached on the membrane of specific prostate cancer cells. The PSMA antigens are expressed on the surface of the affected cells from where the nanoparticles dissolve and are taken up by the prostate cancer cells and they release the docetaxel. The adoption of the nanotechnology in medicine and chemotherapy would be a great achievement in fighting many diseases through the incorporation of various drugs.
How it was used to solve a particular problem
The nanotechnology has been used in various ways in the field of medicine especially in the treatment of cancer. There are various treatments to cancer such as radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. However patient relapse is common after the treatment. With chemotherapy as the most effective in the present day therapy, there are various side effects attached to the treatment. This is because the drugs and the therapy are unable to selectively target the affected cells. This has led to development of drug resistant cells in the body. This tends to limit the optimization of combining various clinical drugs for effective chemotherapy.
However, the nanotechnology has the solution to this problem. This is because the nano-particles are characterized by effective encapsulation of drugs, specificity, controllable self assembly and biocompatibility because of their own material properties. Because of the unique nano-scale size of the particles and the distinctive bio-effects of the nano-material components, the nano-particles technology is able to solve the problem of chemotherapy. It is therefore possible to treat cancer without necessarily destroying healthy cells that causes side effects and drug resistant cells.
What are the strengths AND weaknesses of the new technology relative to one other technology that is currently used to address the same problem
The nanotechnology in relation to other cancer therapies such as surgery and chemotherapy is more advantageous. The nano-particles are developed in a way that they can identify the affected cells and destroy them without destroying other healthy cells. This is unlike surgery where both affected and unaffected cells are subject to destruction. Further, the technology of nano-particles on drug delivery reduces the chances of drug resistance by the cells. On the other hand, it is quite challenging to convince patients to adopt the new technology. This is because many patients do not want to try something they are not sure of.
Conclusion
Nanotechnology introduces the use of nano-particles in order to increase the speed, reduce the costs and amplify the effectiveness of medicine. It has brought inevitable changes and advantages that improve the field of medicine. Some health problems such as the side effects of the traditional therapies have been solved through the nano-particles technology. Further it has helped reduce the resistance of drugs by the cells. Therefore, adoption of the nanotechnology especially in medicine is a great achievement on the fight against cancer.
References
Agarwal, MD Phd Anshul. (2011). Nanoformulation and Controlled Delivery of Low Solubility Cancer Drugs. Gardners Books.
American Scientific Publishers. () Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (J BIOMED NANOTECHNOL). USA: American Scientific Publishers. Retrieved from: /journal/1550-7033_Journal_of_Biomedical_Nanotechnology.
Bagchi, D. (2013). Bio-nanotechnology: A revolution in food, biomedical, and health sciences. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
Espinosa, H. D., & Bao, G. (2012). Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers. New York: Wiley.
Ho, D. (2010). Nanodiamonds: Applications in biology and nanoscale medicine. New York: Springer.
Popat, K. (2010). Nanotechnology in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. USA: CRC Press.
Peer reviewed article:
http://pharma.financialexpress.com/20110531/research01.shtml
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