Nanotechnology and its Place in Modern Medicine

Abstract
Nanotechnology is the study and application of extremely minute structures known as nanomaterials. These nanomaterials have sizes ranging from 0.1-100nm. Nanomaterials are produced using two approaches which are the bottom up approach and the top down approach and have been applied to various fields including medicine. The application of nanotechnology in medicine is known as nanomedicine. Nanomaterials such as liposomes, dendrimers, and quantum dots have been applied in disease diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, surgery, and cancer treatment. In diagnosis, nanomaterials have been used as florophores to reveal images in vivo and with this method, diagnosis is faster and more accurate. In treatment, nanomaterials have been applied to enhance specificity in drug delivery at appropriate concentration. To achieve this, drugs loaded in nanomaterials are released to the target site with the aid of ligand specific receptors, and with this, diseases can be easily treated as drugs are released at their required concentration. Nanotechnology in surgery has brought about non-invasive surgical techniques which can be achieved by the use of nanoscale endoscopes and also, more accurate surgical procedures are achieved with the use of nanomaterials imaging platforms as a guide for surgeons. In cancer treatment, nanomateials have not only been used for the early detection of cancer, but also for the treatment of cancer. In cancer treatment, gold nanoparticles are used to lyse tumor cells in vivo. Nanotechnology in medicine has created a new face for healthcare systems which has brought about safer and quality life.