The Significance of Nanoparticles in Medicine and Their Potential Application in Asthma

Abstract

In an attempt to diagnose and treat highly complex and often heterogeneous diseases, research aims to utilise the modifi able properties of nano-sized particles. Properties such as size, shape, charge, hydrophobicity, and surface chemistry may be altered in order to facilitate and promote targeted cellular uptake. Following the fi rst FDA-approved nanotherapeutic in 1990, more than 40 have been marketed worldwide with multiple nano-based medicines currently in development. Despite promising results, translation from pre-clinical experimentation to a clinical setting has proven to be diffi cult. In theory, nanoparticles are designed to possess characteristics which address many of the challenges associated with current clinical practices, such as low toxicity, stability, biocompatibility, favourable distribution within target tissue, and benefi cial pharmacokinetic profi les. However, the complexity in the identifi cation of the ideal properties which result in such characteristics is inherent of any therapeutic research, especially one as novel and relatively progressive. The development of nanoparticles for localised and systemic delivery to the lung in the treatment of respiratory disease also shows great potential. Due to the highly effi cient clearance mechanisms in the lung, the ability for therapeutics to successfully deposit in the respiratory tract is a major challenge. Yet a correlation between exposure to environmentally and occupationally derived ultrafi ne (nano-sized) particles and respiratory disease has been established. By confi rming that ultrafi ne particles have the capacity to deposit in parts of the lower respiratory tract to elicit a response albeit toxic, such epidemiological studies provide rationale for the

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts and their antimicrobial activities: a review of recent literature

“… 12–14 Furthermore, nanotherapeutic has been promoted everywhere throughout the world after the first FDA affirmed nanotherapeutic in 1990, to build up different nano-based drugs. 15 …”

Effects of Branched Fins on Alumina and N-Octadecane Melting Performance Inside Energy Storage System

“…Interactions between cell/tissue systems and nanoparticles are no longer a surprise. According to [9], there is a link between respiratory illness, environmental exposure, and nano-sized particles. [10] recently published the results of another investigation on the addition of multi-walled carbon nanoparticles to the dynamics of water within a vertical Cleveland Z-staggered cavity, which demonstrated that raising the Reynold number increases the inertial force.…”