Abstract
Nanomaterials are particles in sizes from 1-100 nm. Nanomaterials have a
wide field of applications in aviation and aerospace, chemical industries, optics, solar
hydrogen, fuel cell, batteries, sensors, power generation, aeronautic industry, buildingconstruction industry, automotive engineering, consumer electronics, thermoelectric
devices, pharmaceuticals, paints, and cosmetics. Also, efforts are being made to
develop friendly alternate energy sources using nanomaterials. In this chapter, the main
focus will be on the application of nanomaterials in various aspects of the medical
field.
Nanomaterials are used in various medical devices. Some of the nanomaterials used in
the area of optical imaging are quantum dots, and in MRI are superparamagnetic iron
oxide nanoparticles. Also, nanomaterials are applied in ultrasound imaging and
radionuclide imaging. Due to the small size of batteries (e.g., for pacemakers) or
electronic circuits and sensors utilized in medical devices presently made using
nanomaterials. New ceramics consisting of materials derived from sintered
nanopowders (comparable to 3D-printing) or having a specially designed surface are
made from so-called nanostructures for teeth filling or screws for dental implants. For
bio-detection of pathogens, detection of proteins, and phagokinetic studies,
nanomaterials are also used.
For fluorescent biological labels, drug and gene delivery, probing of DNA structure,
tissue engineering, tumour destruction via heating (hyperthermia), separation and
purification of biological molecules and cells, MRI contrast enhancement, osteoporosis
treatment, infection prevention, bone regeneration are some of the applications of
nanomaterials used in medicines. Cancer therapy, neurodegenerative disease therapy,
HIV/AIDS therapy, ocular disease therapy, respiratory disease therapy, sight-restoring
therapy, and gene therapy are various therapies nanomaterials are used Nanomaterials
used in various surgeries are surgical oncology, thoracic surgery, replacement of heart
with an artificial heart, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, radiosurgery, ophthalmic
surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery,
intracellular surgery by nanorobots. Although all applications of nanomaterials have pros and cons, care should be taken so
that the cons can be minimized.