Nanomedicine—Challenge and Perspectives

Abstract

Nanomedicine introduces nanotechnology concepts into medicine and thus joins two large cross disciplinary fields with an unprecedented societal and economical potential arising from the natural combination of specific achievements in the respective fields. The common basis evolves from the molecular scale properties relevant in the two fields. Nanoanalytical tools such as local probes and molecular imaging techniques, allow us to characterize surface and interface properties at a nanometer scale at predefined locations, while elaborated chemical approaches offer the opportunity for the control and addressing of surfaces e. g. for targeted drug delivery, enhanced biocompatibility and neuroprosthetic purposes. This commonality opens a wide variety of economic fields both of industrial and clinical interests. However, concerns arise in this cross disciplinary area about toxicological aspects and ethical implications. This review gives an overview of selected recent developments of nanotechnology applied on medical objectives.

Single-pixel digital ghost holography

“…Digital holography is currently a ubiquitous diagnostic and metrological tool [4,5]. Taking biological applications as an example, digital holographic microscopy offers the capability of measuring phase variations in the nanometer range, allowing a marker-free quantitative analysis in the cellular and subcellular ranges [6]. Nowadays, digital holographic microscopes are so compact and versatile that they can be integrated in a cellular phone to offer a cost-effective tool for telemedicine applications [7].…”

Multi-functional liposomes having temperature-triggered release and magnetic resonance imaging for tumor-specific chemotherapy

“…Toward establishment of safe and effective tumor therapy, accurate drug delivery is a promising approach, which enables to attack specifically the target malignant cells with drugs [1][2][3]. Regarding improvement of tumor specificity of drug delivery, efficient strategies are the use of nano-sized particles with a long circulation property with stimuli-sensitive properties as drug carriers.…”

Application of nucleic acid–lipid conjugates for the programmable organisation of liposomal modules

“…A further application of compartmentalised nanostructures is within the field of nanomedicine [5]. Nanomedicine aims to use soft and nanoscale materials to control the temporal and spatial distribution of therapeutics within a patient by determining the biodistribution and drug release kinetics of a particular formulation in a predictable fashion.…”