Nanomedicines; the Application of Nanotechnology to Achieve Innovation in Healthcare
Nanomedicine is the medical application of
nanotechnology. Today, nanomedicines are often used to improve the treatments
and lives of people suffering from a variety of diseases including ovarian and
breast cancer, fungal infections, kidney disease, menopausal symptoms, elevated
cholesterol, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic pain, & emphysema, among
others. Nanomedicine ranges from
medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, to nanoelectronic
biosensors, and even possible future applications of molecular nanotechnology.
The Global
Nanomedicine Market is estimated to account for US$ 454.8 Bn in terms of value by the end of 2027.
Nanomedicines can be understood as the field of
diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease using molecular tools and
knowledge of the human body. It is interdisciplinary field, where nanoscience,
nanoengineering, and nanotechnology interact with life sciences. Application of
nanotechnology for medical purposes has been termed nanomedicine and is defined
as the use of nanomaterials for diagnosis, monitoring, prevention, and
treatment of disorders. Nanomedicine applies to the highly specific medical
interventions to prevent, diagnose, and treat variety of diseases.
Nanomedicine applications have the potential to
transform medicine. For instance, it could lead to the development of both
drugs and devices that have the ability to detect diseases at an early stage,
allowing for preventive care or targeted therapies. The most important impact of nanomedicine is the
development of novel therapeutics and drug delivery systems. This would enable
precise, site-specific therapies, thereby reducing the risks and side effects
of treatment. Nanomedicines improve
diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of many diseases.
Over the years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(USFDA) has approved commercialization of 100 nanomedicine applications and
products. Over 50 nanomedicines
(referred to by the FDA as drugs containing nanomaterials) are available in the
U.S market. Doxil (liposomal doxorubicin HCl injection, Janssen) and Abraxane
(paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, Celgene) are two
FDA-approved cancer nanomedicines. Nanomedicine
research is also receiving funding from the United States National Institutes
of Health Common Fund program, supporting four nanomedicine development
centers.
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