PRACTICUM

A STUDY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NANO

TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN MEDICAL FIELD

INTRODUCTION
Nano technology is defined as the study and use of structures between one nano meter and hundred nano meter in size . The word nano is a scientific prefix that stands for 10-9 or one billionth : the word itself comes from the Greek word "nanos" , meaning dwarf . "Structures , devices , & systems having novel properties & functions due to the arrangement of there atoms on the 1-100 nm scale .Many fields of endeavour contribute to nano technology , including molecular physics , material science , chemistry , biology , computer science , electrical engineering & mechanical engineering . The ability to see nano size materials has opened up a world of possibilities in a variety of industries & scientific endevours . Because nano technology is essentially a set of techniques that allow manipulation of properties of at a very small scale , it can have many applications ..

NEED & SIGNIFICANCE
Nano technology has the real potential to revolutionaise wide array of medical & biotechnology tools & procedures so that they are personalized , portable , cheaper , safer & easier to administer . Nano technology has been used in early diagnosis of artherosclerosis , or the build up of plaque in arteries , gold nano particles can be used to detect early stage Alzheimer's diseases & also helps to the direct treatment of cancer cells.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The present investigation aims to find out the importance of nano technological applications in medical field . The study under investigation is thus entitled as " A study on the importance of nano technological application in medical field " .

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To find out the different nano technological applications in medical field .
2. To find out the importance of nano technological applications.

METHODOLOGY ADOPTED
Since the present study aims to find out " The imporatnce of nano technological applications in medical field" it was decided to adopt observation technique & group discussion .

PROCEDURE ADOPTED
For collecting data necessary for find out the importance pf nano technological applications in medical field was followed by the analysis of textbooks , journals , magazines & also with net search for collecting more efficient & current details .

NANO TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS IN MEDICAL FIELD
An application of nano technology in various fields such as health & medicine , electronics . energy & environment ,drug delivery , protein & peptide delivery , cancer  etc . The advancement in nano technology helps in the treatment of neuro degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease & Alzheimer's disease . Application of nano technology in tuberculosis treatment , the clinical application of nano technology in operative dentistry , in ophthalmology , in surgery , visualisation , tissue engineering , antiobiotic resistance , immune response are important . Nano pharmaceuticals can be used to detect diseases at much earlier stages . Nano medicine is relatively new field of science & technology .

NANO MEDICINE 
Nano medicine ranges from the medical applications of the nano materials & biological devices , to nano electronic bio sensors , & even possible future applications of molecular nano technology such as biological machines . Current problems of nano medicine involves understanding the issues related to toxicity & environmental impact of nano scale materials . The size of nano materials is similar to that of most biological molecules & structures , therefore nano materials  can be useful for both in vivo & vitro bio medical research & applications . The integration of nano materials with biology has lead to the development of diagnostic devices , contrast agents , analytical tools , physical therapy applications & drug delivery vehicles .

DRUG DELIVERY
One application of nano technology in medicine currently being developed involves employing nano particles to deliver drugs , heat , light , or other substances to specific types of cells . Particles are engineered so that they are attracted to diseased cells , which allows direct treatment of those cells . This technique reduces the damage to healthy cells in the body & allows for earlier detection of disease . 
Nano particles that deliver chemo therapy drugs directly to cancer cells are under development  .
Researchers at the university of Illinois have demonstrated that gelatin nano particles can be used to deliver drugs to damaged brain tissue more efficiently than standard methods . Researchers hope that this method will result in more effective drug delivery for brain injuries . The nano  particles protect the vaccine , allowing the vaccine time to trigger a stronger immune response as shown in the lab test with mice . Additional works needs tio be done to adopt the technique to human patients .

THERAPY TECHNIQUES 
Researchers have developed " Nano sponges " that absorb toxins & remove them from the blood stream. The nano sponges are polymer nano particles quoted with a red blood cell membrane . This allows the nano sponges to travel freely in the blood stream & attract the toxins . The use of Bismuth nano particles to concentrate radiation used in radiation therapy to treat cancer tumors . Targeted heat therapy is being developed to destroy breast cancer tumors . In this method antibodies that are strongly attracted top proteins produce in one type of breast cancer cell are attached to nano tubes , causing the nano tubes to accumulate at the tumor. Infra res light from a laser is absorbed by the nano tubes & produces heat that incinerates  the tumor .

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
Researches have developed a sensor using carbon nano tubes embedded in a gel; that can be injected under the skin to monitor the level of nitric oxide in the blood stream . The level of nitricoxide is important because it indicates inflammation , allowing easy monitoring of inflammatory diseases . A test of early detection of kidney damage is being developed . The method uses gold nano rods functionalised to attach to the type of protein generated by the damaged kidneys . When protein accumulates on the nano rod the coloue of the nano rod shifts . The test is designed to be done quickly & in expensively for early with detection of a problem .

ANTI- MICROBIAL TECHNIQUES
Researchers at the university of New South Wales are investigating the use of polymer coated iron oxide nano particles to treat chronic bacterial infections . The use of nano crystalline silver which is an anti microbial agents for the treatment of wounds .
Nano particles cream has been shown to fight staph infections . Nano particles contain nitric oxide which is known to kill bacteria . Burn dressing that is coated with nano capsules containing  antibiotics . If a infection starts the harmful bacteria in the wound causes the nano capsules to break open , releasing the antibiotics . This allows much quicker treatment of an infection & reduces the number of times a dressing has to be changed .

 CELL REPAIR
 Nano robots could actually be programmed to repair specific diseased cell , functioning in a similar way to antibodies in our natural healing processes.

CONCLUSION
After we have taken a journey into the world of nanotechnology & nano medicine  ,we have gained a better understanding of the countless ways in which technology & medicine can interest to improve humanity . Through the future is  indeed truly difficult to predict , with so many uncertainties & unforeseable factors , nano medicine represent a technology of the future that cannot only reshape the power of medicine but also potentially revolutionize the way we live our everyday lives .

REFERENCE

1.  TEACHING SCIENCE FOR BIOLOGICAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCE - Dr. MARIAMMA MATHEW
2. www. understanding nano.com

SUBMITTED BY 

RENJITHA R V