206
S. James
9.2 Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disease marked by fluctuations in blood
sugar levels. A person with diabetes requires invasive methods to measure blood
glucose levels by pricking a finger and injecting insulin if needed. These invasive
methods cause pain and discomfort, which leads patients to less compliant [34].
Researchers have proposed non-invasive methods to measure blood glucose levels
using nanoparticles as insulin carriers via less invasive pathways like oral and nasal
routes, without injection [34]. Recent research has explored several nanoparticles
for oral administration of insulin. Lipani et al. have proposed a proof-of-concept
for a needle-free glucose monitoring system [35]. It is a non-invasive transdermal
patch made up of graphene-based pixel-array of sensors, which measures the glucose
levels in interstitial fluid [35]. These arrays extract the fluid through electro-osmosis
to monitor the interstitial fluid-borne glucose [35].
9.3 Alzheimer’s Disease
Brain complexity lies in its connections and communication pathways among
neurons called synapses. These synapses make us think, talk, move, eat, and perform
all our daily functions. A minor disruption in the communication pathway can cause
brain disorders, which can cause problems [36]. During aging, the neurons shrink and
eventually die, leading to loss of functions, skilled movements, memory, and thought
processes. Neurological disorders have some common characteristics of neuronal
loss, synaptic abnormalities, and deposits of misfolded proteins. The blood-brain
barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from entering brain cells.
In the US, 5.5 million people have Alzheimer’s Disease [37]. The pathology
shows an accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles [38]. The
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and
aphasia. Alzheimer’s is diagnosed based on cognitive tests that do not detect the early
onset of the disease [39]. Scientists studied several in vitro and in vivo experiments to
remove the amyloid fibrils, improve drug permeability, improve drug retention, drug
solubility, and drug stability. Nanomaterial based brain imaging studies can diagnose
various neurological disorders using iron-oxide, gadolinium-based, and plasmonic
nanoparticles. See Table 8.2 for more research.
9.4 Heart Diseases
Atherosclerosis is a gradual deposition of plaque in the arteries [40]. If this plaque
is abundant in the coronary arteries, it can block blood flow, which is known as
coronary artery disease (CAD). When the heart muscle receives less or no blood
S. James
9.2 Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disease marked by fluctuations in blood
sugar levels. A person with diabetes requires invasive methods to measure blood
glucose levels by pricking a finger and injecting insulin if needed. These invasive
methods cause pain and discomfort, which leads patients to less compliant [34].
Researchers have proposed non-invasive methods to measure blood glucose levels
using nanoparticles as insulin carriers via less invasive pathways like oral and nasal
routes, without injection [34]. Recent research has explored several nanoparticles
for oral administration of insulin. Lipani et al. have proposed a proof-of-concept
for a needle-free glucose monitoring system [35]. It is a non-invasive transdermal
patch made up of graphene-based pixel-array of sensors, which measures the glucose
levels in interstitial fluid [35]. These arrays extract the fluid through electro-osmosis
to monitor the interstitial fluid-borne glucose [35].
9.3 Alzheimer’s Disease
Brain complexity lies in its connections and communication pathways among
neurons called synapses. These synapses make us think, talk, move, eat, and perform
all our daily functions. A minor disruption in the communication pathway can cause
brain disorders, which can cause problems [36]. During aging, the neurons shrink and
eventually die, leading to loss of functions, skilled movements, memory, and thought
processes. Neurological disorders have some common characteristics of neuronal
loss, synaptic abnormalities, and deposits of misfolded proteins. The blood-brain
barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from entering brain cells.
In the US, 5.5 million people have Alzheimer’s Disease [37]. The pathology
shows an accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles [38]. The
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and
aphasia. Alzheimer’s is diagnosed based on cognitive tests that do not detect the early
onset of the disease [39]. Scientists studied several in vitro and in vivo experiments to
remove the amyloid fibrils, improve drug permeability, improve drug retention, drug
solubility, and drug stability. Nanomaterial based brain imaging studies can diagnose
various neurological disorders using iron-oxide, gadolinium-based, and plasmonic
nanoparticles. See Table 8.2 for more research.
9.4 Heart Diseases
Atherosclerosis is a gradual deposition of plaque in the arteries [40]. If this plaque
is abundant in the coronary arteries, it can block blood flow, which is known as
coronary artery disease (CAD). When the heart muscle receives less or no blood