Nanomedicine Research and Background Information
The scale of things
It is quite challenging
to get a good idea of what "nanometre" actually means. On the scale
below an indication is given of the size range of structures and
elements in the biological world. One realises quickly that this is a
world that is beyond what can be directly experienced or observed.
There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom
This
famous quote by physicist R. Feynman is often seen as the birth of
nanotechnology. The vision of a whole new world that goes beyond simple miniaturization because the laws that govern interactions at this level
are quite different from what we are used to. Understanding these
interactions is important to be able to assess the potential of such
technologies - for good and for bad.
A lack of understanding
of the underlying science sometimes makes it difficult to separate fact
and fiction. A emotive vision of nanotechnology taking over the world
is nothing but science fiction but has nevertheless received some
publicity (Gray goo).
Clearly we need to continuously monitor where these advances are taking
our society. However in particular in the area of Nanomedicines the
same stringent criteria and regulations that apply to other medicines
also ensure patients' safety with these systems.
In the area of medicine nano systems have already started to make their imapct.
Nanomedicines
Nanotechnology or the science of the very small offers the pharmaceutical scientist a wealth of opportunities. By fabricating at the nano scale and loading the resulting nano systems with certain drug compounds, it is possible to exert unprecedented control on drug biodistribution and ultimately drug activity. Therapeutic benefit results when compounds which are otherwise largely inactive are made active by targeting said compounds to their site of action and also by enhancing the activity of some compounds and reducing their side effects as the compounds are steered away from healthy tissues. These are the fundamental concepts which underpin nanomedicines. Nanomedicines may be made from polymers, amphiphiles, various self assembling molecules and even biological species such as viruses. This is a science that is at the cusp of its delivery potential and while only a few licensed products currently exist, the level of scientific activity in laboratories around the world should yield yet more licensed therapeutics.
Bibliography
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- Uchegbu IF, Pharmaceutical nanotechnology - polymeric vesicles for drug and gene delivery, Expert Opin Drug Delivery, 3: 629-640.
- Dufes C, Uchegbu IF, Schätzlein AG (2005), Dendrimers in gene delivery, Adv Drug Del Rev, 57: 2177-2022.
- Brown MD, Schätzlein AG, Uchegbu IF (2001). Gene delivery with non-viral vectors, Int J Pharm 229: 1-21.