Too advanced for assessment? Advanced materials, nanomedicine and the environment

Abstract

Advanced materials, and nanomaterials, are promising for healthcare applications and are in particular in the spotlight of medical innovation since rapidly developed nano-formulated vaccines provide relief in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further increased rapid growth is to be expected as more and more products are in development and reach the market, beneficial for human health. However, the human body is not a dead end and these products are likely to enter the environment, whereas their fate and effects in the environment are unknown. This part of the life-cycle of advanced medicinal products tends to be overlooked, if the perspective is human-centered and excludes the connectedness of human activity with, and consequences for our environment. Gaps are reviewed that exist in awareness, perspective taking, inclusion of environmental concerns into research and product development and also in available methodologies and regulatory guidance. To bridge these gaps, possible ways forward start to emerge, that could help to find a more integrative way of assessing human and environmental safety for advanced material medicinal products and nanomedicines.

Nanoformulations in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications: Green Perspectives

“…Three-dimensional printing allows for the fabrication of targeted drug carriers, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles, with precise control over the size, shape, and surface functionalization. By conjugating targeting ligands or antibodies onto the surface of these carriers, researchers can achieve site-specific targeting, enhancing drug accumulation and efficacy at the diseased site [ 252 ].…”

“…Three-dimensional printing enables precise control over drug release kinetics, formulation compositions, and drug targeting from oral and transdermal dosage forms to implantable devices and targeted drug carriers. As researchers continue to explore the potential of 3D printing in nanopharmaceuticals, the future holds promise for innovative drug delivery solutions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life [ 251 , 252 ].…”

Materials Advances to Achieve One World Climate

“…Biosensing systems integrated into digital health care have the potential to improve disease diagnosis and treatment [16,17]. Various applications of advanced materials and nanomaterials have positive effects on human health, and innovations in these areas have allowed for the creation of new commercial products [18,19]. The release of biomedical nanomaterials, drugs, and vaccines from medical applications into the environment requires consideration of green chemistry and sustainable practices [20][21][22].…”

Safe-and-sustainable-by-design chemicals and advanced materials: a paradigm shift towards prevention-based risk governance is needed

“…6 These new functional materials offer unprecedented technological benefits, but their more complex identity and interactions have also raised new environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. 7 From a risk governance perspective, it has become a real challenge to accommodate these technologies correctly and uniformly across all relevant regulatory domains ( i.e. , chemicals, biocides, consumer products, food and medicine).…”

“…This has made it very difficult to appropriately govern any identified or prospective risks of the advanced (nano)materials. 7,8…”