nanotechnology in diagnostics and drug delivery

Nanotechnology helps in accurate diagnostics and drug delivery

The potential medical applications of nanotechnology are by the use of human-engineered devices. These can interact with biological processes in sophisticated ways by the creation of a "smart drug,". Smart drug is a nano-scale device designed to perform a particular medical task such as destroying cancer cells, cleaning out clogged arteries or to construct needed proteins or mimicking anti-bodies. Nanomaterials can be useful for both in vivo and in vitro biomedical research and applications, development of diagnostic devices, contrast agents, analytical tools and physical therapy applications. The overall drug consumption and side-effects can be lowered significantly by depositing the active agent in the morbid region only and in no higher dose than needed. This highly selective approach reduces costs and human suffering. An example can be found in dendrimers and nanoporous materials. They could hold small drug molecules transporting them to the desired location.