Foreword
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized
from 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology as defined by size is naturally very
broad, including fields of science as diverse as surface science, organic chemistry,
molecular biology, semiconductor physics, energy storage, microfabrication,
molecular engineering, etc. The associated research and applications are equally
diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new
approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials
with dimensions on the nanoscale to direct control of matter on the atomic scale.
Scientists currently debate about the future implications of nanotechnology
which may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of
applications. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as
any new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental
impact of nanomaterials, and their potential effects on global economics, as well as
speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate
among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.
Nanomedicine can be defined as medical application of nanotechnology.
Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, nanoelectronic devices and biosensors and possible future applications
of molecular nanotechnology. Nanomaterials can be functionalized to interface with
biological molecules and structures as the size of nanomaterials is comparable to
most biological molecules and structures. Nanomaterials can be useful for both
in vivo and in vitro biomedical research and applications and integration of
nanomaterials with biology has led to the development of advanced diagnostic
devices, physical therapy applications, analytical tools, contrast agents, and drug
delivery vehicles. The expansion of nanomedicine is a radionanomedicine which
relies on the labeling of radionuclides onto nanomaterials. The key advantage of
radionanomedicine is a possibility of using low amount of nanomaterials for
theragnosis. Nanotheranostics, the merger of diagnostic and therapeutic function as
a system using the benefits of nanotechnology. Since treating cancer is not similar
in all cases, it requires therapy to be adapted to the patient’s specific biomolecules.
v
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized
from 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology as defined by size is naturally very
broad, including fields of science as diverse as surface science, organic chemistry,
molecular biology, semiconductor physics, energy storage, microfabrication,
molecular engineering, etc. The associated research and applications are equally
diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new
approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials
with dimensions on the nanoscale to direct control of matter on the atomic scale.
Scientists currently debate about the future implications of nanotechnology
which may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of
applications. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as
any new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental
impact of nanomaterials, and their potential effects on global economics, as well as
speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate
among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.
Nanomedicine can be defined as medical application of nanotechnology.
Nanomedicine ranges from the medical applications of nanomaterials and biological devices, nanoelectronic devices and biosensors and possible future applications
of molecular nanotechnology. Nanomaterials can be functionalized to interface with
biological molecules and structures as the size of nanomaterials is comparable to
most biological molecules and structures. Nanomaterials can be useful for both
in vivo and in vitro biomedical research and applications and integration of
nanomaterials with biology has led to the development of advanced diagnostic
devices, physical therapy applications, analytical tools, contrast agents, and drug
delivery vehicles. The expansion of nanomedicine is a radionanomedicine which
relies on the labeling of radionuclides onto nanomaterials. The key advantage of
radionanomedicine is a possibility of using low amount of nanomaterials for
theragnosis. Nanotheranostics, the merger of diagnostic and therapeutic function as
a system using the benefits of nanotechnology. Since treating cancer is not similar
in all cases, it requires therapy to be adapted to the patient’s specific biomolecules.
v