Nanomedicine for The Poor: A Lost Cause or An Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come?

Uskoković, Vuk

doi:10.2217/nnm-2021-0024

Cited by 30 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…The high cost of COVID-19 vaccines equates to low affordability. While three out of four COVID-19 vaccines procured by wealthy countries by the end of 2020 were nano vaccines, this amounted to only 1 in 10 for middle-income countries and none for low-income countries, [ 14 , 41 ] which meets out the finding that the CC is 0.66 ( t = 12.21, P < .01) between VD100 and GDP in countries/regions. As such, high-income countries, representing just one-fifth of the global adult population, have purchased more than half of all vaccine doses, resulting in disparities between adult population share and doses purchased for all other country income groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Vaccination associated with gross domestic product and fewer deaths in countries and regions

et al. 2022

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Background: Vaccination can have a substantial impact on mitigating COVID-19 outbreaks. However, the vaccine rollout rates associated with the gross domestic product (GDP) and few deaths are required for verification. Three hypotheses were made: the inflection point (IP) days on the cumulative number of confirmed cases (CNCCs) in 2021 are improved (i.e., shorter than 2021); the vaccinations are associated with national GDP and fewer deaths; and the association is weak between vaccinations and CNCC IP based on the argument that vaccinations are limited to protection against milder infection. Methods: The corresponding CNCCs and deaths were downloaded from the GitHub website. Four variables, including IP days on CNCCs and deaths, GDP per capita, and vaccine doses administered per 100 people (VD100) in countries/regions, were collected. Correlation coefficients (CCs) between variables were computed to verify the association with vaccination rates. Four tasks were achieved: determining IP days for each country/region; drawing forest plots to identify the improvement in 2021; using a pyramid plot to identify the improvement in US states; and applying the Kano diagram to verify the three hypotheses mentioned above. Results: We observed that the IP days on CNCCs in 2021 were shorter than those in 2021 among continents and US states; the CCs were 0.66 ( t = 12.21, P < .01) and −0.15 ( t = 2.11, P < .01) using the paired variables of [VD100, GDP] and [VD100, deaths IP], respectively; and the CC between CNCC IP and deaths IP was 0.73 ( t = 14.84, P < .01), but a weak association with CC = −0.01 existed between CNCC IP and VD100. Conclusion: Our results indicate that vaccination has a significant effect on mitigating COVID-19 outbreaks, even with limited protection against infection. Continued compliance with nonpharmaceutical interventions is essential to the fight against COVID-19 in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Vaccination associated with gross domestic product and fewer deaths in countries and regions

et al. 2022

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“…175 More recently, the concentrated distribution of NP-stabilized COVID-19 vaccines in wealthy countries has been questioned. 176 Like any advanced technology, nanobiotechnology has the potential to exacerbate socioeconomic imbalances. If used nefariously or to enhance human performance, it might also create significant geopolitical or military power imbalances ( Figure 3 ).…”

Section: In Vivo Nanotechnology Holds Promise and Potential Concernsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…NPs are common constituents in cosmetic, electronic, 177 optic, automotive, 178 wound dressing, 176 , 179 surgical equipment, 179 and food products. 180 As a result, they are commonly distributed throughout the environment.…”

Section: In Vivo Nanotechnology Holds Promise and Potential Concernsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Promise of Emergent Nanobiotechnologies for In Vivo Applications and Implications for Safety and Security

et al. 2022

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Nanotechnology, the multidisciplinary field based on the exploitation of the unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoscale materials, has opened a new realm of possibilities for biological research and biomedical applications. The development and deployment of mRNA-NP vaccines for COVID-19, for example, may revolutionize vaccines and therapeutics. However, regulatory and ethical frameworks that protect the health and safety of the global community and environment are lagging, particularly for nanotechnology geared toward biological applications (ie, bionanotechnology). In this article, while not comprehensive, we attempt to illustrate the breadth and promise of bionanotechnology developments, and how they may present future safety and security challenges. Specifically, we address current advancements to streamline the development of engineered NPs for in vivo applications and provide discussion on nano–bio interactions, NP in vivo delivery, nanoenhancement of human performance, nanomedicine, and the impacts of NPs on human health and the environment.

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“…Undoubtedly, immunization of the population continues to be the most cost-effective way to prevent diseases [160]. Efforts continue to focus on low-cost excipients; however, only interdisciplinary work in conjunction with the production laboratories will improve production costs [161]. Needle-free administration must focus on the size and stability of the nanosystems and their composition and rational design.…”

Section: Projectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Nanocarrier Design and Composition for an Efficient Nanoparticle-Mediated Transdermal Vaccination

et al. 2021

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The World Health Organization estimates that the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus claimed more than 3 million lives in 2020 alone. This situation has highlighted the importance of vaccination programs and the urgency of working on new technologies that allow an efficient, safe, and effective immunization. From this perspective, nanomedicine has provided novel tools for the design of the new generation of vaccines. Among the challenges of the new vaccine generations is the search for alternative routes of antigen delivery due to costs, risks, need for trained personnel, and low acceptance in the population associated with the parenteral route. Along these lines, transdermal immunization has been raised as a promising alternative for antigen delivery and vaccination based on a large absorption surface and an abundance of immune system cells. These features contribute to a high barrier capacity and high immunological efficiency for transdermal immunization. However, the stratum corneum barrier constitutes a significant challenge for generating new pharmaceutical forms for transdermal antigen delivery. This review addresses the biological bases for transdermal immunomodulation and the technological advances in the field of nanomedicine, from the passage of antigens facilitated by devices to cross the stratum corneum, to the design of nanosystems, with an emphasis on the importance of design and composition towards the new generation of needle-free nanometric transdermal systems.

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Nanomedicine for The Poor: A Lost Cause or An Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come?

Cited by 30 publications

References 32 publications

Vaccination associated with gross domestic product and fewer deaths in countries and regions

Vaccination associated with gross domestic product and fewer deaths in countries and regions

The Promise of Emergent Nanobiotechnologies for In Vivo Applications and Implications for Safety and Security

The Importance of Nanocarrier Design and Composition for an Efficient Nanoparticle-Mediated Transdermal Vaccination

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