430
R. Mankamna Kumari et al.
more positive cultures in the control groups compared to 0% in the treatment group
using silver catheters. Now it is extensively used in the treatment of diseases (Wong
and Liu 2010).
Arthritic disease is very common in population. The major symptom of this disease
is joint pain and swelling. The treatment for many types of arthritis involves artificial
joint replacements.
There is a high risk of bacterial infection in the bone cements such as polymethylmetacrylate when inserted into the human body. Hence, an increasing number
of joint infections with multi resistance bacteria are very problematic. Nanosilver
came as a boon to overcome this problem. Bone cements loaded with nanosilver
have shown high antibacterial activity against multiple strains such as methicilinresistance staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and also it does not show any cytotoxicity
to osteoblasts grown in vitro. Nanosilver is also used in joint inserts. Earlier the joint
inserts were made up of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The
major drawback with longevity of UHMWPE is wear and containment of debris
generation, which can activate the macrophages that cause inflammation and eventual failure of the inserts in the joints. Incorporation of silver NPs demonstrated
both physical and chemical stabilization of the polymer surface layer toward friction
oxidation and degradation. Hence, the use of nanosilver greatly reduces the debris
formation and at the same time enhances the biocompatibility and antimicrobial
activity of UHMWPE (Wong and Liu 2010).
There is a wide use of surgical mesh in bridging large wounds as well as reinforcements to tissue repair. However, being foreign material for the human body
they do carry a risk of infection. It has been observed through data collected that
one million nosocomial infections are seen each year in the patients with prosthetic
implanted materials. The recent studies showed that silver NPs polypropylene mesh
have significant advantages over the regularly used surgical mesh. The silver nanoparticle polypropylene has remarkable bactericidal efficacy against S. aureus. Another
notable property of silver nanoparticle is that they can diffuse off the mesh and have
sustained activity (Wong and Liu 2010).
4.3 Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon NPs (CNTs) are the cylindrical nanostructure of carbon’s allotrophes. These
cylindrical carbon nanostructures have unique electrical and optical properties which
are very beneficial in nanotechnology and other medical technologies. These basically consist of carbon atoms arranged in a series of condensed benzene rings rolled up
into the tubular structure. They own extraordinary thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. There are different types of carbon nanotubes single, double, triple,
and multi-walled.
Carbon nanotubes have immense role in diagnostics and therapeutics. It is used
in various biomedical applications. Absence of acute toxicity, rapid renal clearance,
R. Mankamna Kumari et al.
more positive cultures in the control groups compared to 0% in the treatment group
using silver catheters. Now it is extensively used in the treatment of diseases (Wong
and Liu 2010).
Arthritic disease is very common in population. The major symptom of this disease
is joint pain and swelling. The treatment for many types of arthritis involves artificial
joint replacements.
There is a high risk of bacterial infection in the bone cements such as polymethylmetacrylate when inserted into the human body. Hence, an increasing number
of joint infections with multi resistance bacteria are very problematic. Nanosilver
came as a boon to overcome this problem. Bone cements loaded with nanosilver
have shown high antibacterial activity against multiple strains such as methicilinresistance staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and also it does not show any cytotoxicity
to osteoblasts grown in vitro. Nanosilver is also used in joint inserts. Earlier the joint
inserts were made up of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The
major drawback with longevity of UHMWPE is wear and containment of debris
generation, which can activate the macrophages that cause inflammation and eventual failure of the inserts in the joints. Incorporation of silver NPs demonstrated
both physical and chemical stabilization of the polymer surface layer toward friction
oxidation and degradation. Hence, the use of nanosilver greatly reduces the debris
formation and at the same time enhances the biocompatibility and antimicrobial
activity of UHMWPE (Wong and Liu 2010).
There is a wide use of surgical mesh in bridging large wounds as well as reinforcements to tissue repair. However, being foreign material for the human body
they do carry a risk of infection. It has been observed through data collected that
one million nosocomial infections are seen each year in the patients with prosthetic
implanted materials. The recent studies showed that silver NPs polypropylene mesh
have significant advantages over the regularly used surgical mesh. The silver nanoparticle polypropylene has remarkable bactericidal efficacy against S. aureus. Another
notable property of silver nanoparticle is that they can diffuse off the mesh and have
sustained activity (Wong and Liu 2010).
4.3 Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon NPs (CNTs) are the cylindrical nanostructure of carbon’s allotrophes. These
cylindrical carbon nanostructures have unique electrical and optical properties which
are very beneficial in nanotechnology and other medical technologies. These basically consist of carbon atoms arranged in a series of condensed benzene rings rolled up
into the tubular structure. They own extraordinary thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. There are different types of carbon nanotubes single, double, triple,
and multi-walled.
Carbon nanotubes have immense role in diagnostics and therapeutics. It is used
in various biomedical applications. Absence of acute toxicity, rapid renal clearance,