Nanomedicine: A Tiny World

Nanomedicine: A Tiny World

Medical technology is advancing faster today than ever before allowing for easier, faster, simpler and advances in medical devices, procedures and diagnosis’. Medical devices also keep getting smaller; very, very small – the size of a nanometre. Nanotechnology is technology that controls matter at a molecular level. Nano means one billionth of a metre which is the range of an atom. (Appendix 1, Figure 1)

From its beginning, nanotechnology has been more of a dream than reality. In recent years, however, these dreams are being transformed into reality. Medical procedures will become more efficient by targeting diseases and repairing damaged tissues at the molecular level by using nanoparticles. (Appendix 1, Figure 2) Nanowires are one of these materials that can detect illnesses that are found in human body. Scientists are also working on the creation of nanorobots to improve the tools that are used in medical procedures. (Medical Nanobots, Kroeker, 1) However, nano-toxicologists are worried that these new materials which contain nanoparticles could be harmful to humans and the environment. (Nanotechnology Demystified, Williams, and Adams, 91-108)

Nanowires are wires that have a diameter of 100 nanometers or less. (Appendix 1, Figure 3) Nanowires can be efficiently used to detect illnesses found in today’s society. The book Nanotechnology Demystified explains “These nanowire detectors can also tell the difference between viruses with great accuracy. If single wires were combined into an array, it is possible that complex arrays could be designed that are able to sense thousands of different viruses.” (Williams, and Adams, 96) These wires are made of various materials such as lead. Harvard chemistry pr...

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...benefit our future. This assignment can be related to Human Ingenuity because scientists are in the process of creating nanobots that will be able to deliver drugs to human organs where they are needed the most. These scientists are developing ideas to improve the quality of life and contribute to the world. This essay would fall under the area of interaction of Community and Service considering that scientists are trying to help patients by creating nanomaterials that will cure their diseases. Health and Social Education can be referred to this assignment since nanowires can help detect viruses in the body while nanobots can help remove them. However, nanoparticles may have a toxic effect on human health. Environment can also be referred to this essay because scientists are using resources that we already have to create new resources that we need to help society.