The aim of this issue is to highlight recent achievements in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of nanomaterials that meet the demand for clinical approaches.
During the last two decades, nanotechnology has rapidly been expanded into biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. This technology provides a toolbox for the development of new nano-based platforms for diagnosis and treatment. Compared with the currently used diagnostics in the clinic, nano-based methods show improved selectivity and sensitivity with potential capacities that could not be achieved with traditional approaches. These advances will improve the survival rate of patients by enabling early detection and monitoring progress in response to treatment. For example, nanosensors are able to sense biomolecules at low concentrations through a noninvasive sampling of clinically relevant biomarkers in various biofluids such as tears, saliva, and sweat. Emerging nanoparticle technologies are joined by intense development of imaging modalities to assist with disease detection. Using novel nanoparticles as contrast agents for biomedical imaging improve the accuracy of molecular imaging over conventional imaging techniques.
Developments of nano-based drug delivery systems enable pharmaceutical companies to reformulate current drugs on the market with improved lifetime and enhancing the performance which ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Nano-based drug delivery systems are one of the first products to generate serious nanotechnology patents which are adopted by multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industries.
From this viewpoint, it is anticipated that a tropical issue will be pioneering and a significant contribution to the scientific literature with the following topics:
1) Nanocomposite materials for biosensors.
2) Nanocomposite materials for gene and drug delivery.
3) Nanocomposite materials for cell and enzyme immobilization.
4) Nanocomposite materials as contrast agents for bio-imaging.
5) Nanotechnology for cancer diagnostics and treatment.
6) Nanotechnology for tissue engineering.
7) Potential health risks of biomedical and pharmaceutical application of nanomaterials.
The aim of this issue is to highlight recent achievements in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of nanomaterials that meet the demand for clinical approaches.
During the last two decades, nanotechnology has rapidly been expanded into biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. This technology provides a toolbox for the development of new nano-based platforms for diagnosis and treatment. Compared with the currently used diagnostics in the clinic, nano-based methods show improved selectivity and sensitivity with potential capacities that could not be achieved with traditional approaches. These advances will improve the survival rate of patients by enabling early detection and monitoring progress in response to treatment. For example, nanosensors are able to sense biomolecules at low concentrations through a noninvasive sampling of clinically relevant biomarkers in various biofluids such as tears, saliva, and sweat. Emerging nanoparticle technologies are joined by intense development of imaging modalities to assist with disease detection. Using novel nanoparticles as contrast agents for biomedical imaging improve the accuracy of molecular imaging over conventional imaging techniques.
Developments of nano-based drug delivery systems enable pharmaceutical companies to reformulate current drugs on the market with improved lifetime and enhancing the performance which ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Nano-based drug delivery systems are one of the first products to generate serious nanotechnology patents which are adopted by multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industries.
From this viewpoint, it is anticipated that a tropical issue will be pioneering and a significant contribution to the scientific literature with the following topics:
1) Nanocomposite materials for biosensors.
2) Nanocomposite materials for gene and drug delivery.
3) Nanocomposite materials for cell and enzyme immobilization.
4) Nanocomposite materials as contrast agents for bio-imaging.
5) Nanotechnology for cancer diagnostics and treatment.
6) Nanotechnology for tissue engineering.
7) Potential health risks of biomedical and pharmaceutical application of nanomaterials.