Nanotechnology changes the way we perceive medicine

Nanotechnology is one of the most fascinating trends in biology, technology, and medicine. Various scientific groups as well as pharmaceutical industries have generated significant interest in this field. This science is a rapidly developing field, at the forefront of biomedical research.

Nanotechnology is a branch of science that deals with the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular scale. It is used to create new materials, devices, and systems by controlling the structure of individual atoms or molecules. It is employed to develop new products and enhance existing ones. Nanotechnology has applications in various industries, including healthcare, encompassing treatments, medications, and novel therapies.

It is a vast field, and it is important to understand how nanotechnology can be utilized in medicine.

One of the most significant applications of nanotechnology in medicine is the creation of new drugs that are more effective than traditional medications. Nanoparticles can be designed to target specific cells or tissues (such as cancer cells) and deliver drugs directly to where they need to go without harming healthy cells or organs. This means that less medication is needed to achieve effective results, resulting in fewer side effects for patients. Recently, boron nitride nanomaterials have been used in conjunction with acetylsalicylic acid as a proposed new therapy for cancer treatment. ¹

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¹ M.C. Flores Bautista, D. Cortés Arriagada, E. Shakerzadeh, E. Chigo Anota, Acetylsalicylic acid interaction with Boron nitride nanostructures – A density functional analysis. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2022, Journal of Molecular Liquids.

Another application of nanotechnology in medicine is through advanced imaging techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), also known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic resonance imaging uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of bodily tissues; these images are valuable for diagnosing diseases such as cancer because they show doctors exactly what types of cells are present in different parts of the body (or within the body).

The contrast agents or substances used for imaging must be compounds that exhibit certain magnetic properties and are non-toxic to the human body. However, they must also be small enough (nanometers) to be administered, absorbed, and excreted without risk to human metabolism.

Nanotechnology has the ability to manipulate matter at the atomic level. It is a field that has gained momentum in recent years and has the potential to revolutionize everything, from medicine to energy production, to name a few options.

The medical applications of nanotechnology are particularly exciting, as they could enable us to do various things such as creating new types of vaccines and medications, or even building tiny machines that could perform surgeries inside your body without the need for external tools. The importance of this field has led to the development of new technologies that are used for social well-being, as well as personalized medicine and the improvement of the quality of life for both the patient and their family members who help them cope with a particular illness.

M. en C. Maria Corazón Flores Bautista

Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, with a master's degree in Chemical Sciences in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, specializing in materials with a focus on Computational Chemistry for the development of new technologies in drug delivery.