Nanotechnology in Medicine

Applications of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involve employing nano-particles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific cells in the human body. Engineering particles to be used in this way allows detection and/or treatment of diseases or injuries within the targeted cells, thereby minimizing the damage to healthy cells in the body.
The longer range future of nanotechnology in medicine is referred to as nanomedicine. This involves the use of manufactured nano-robots to make repairs at the cellular level.
Nanomedicine refers to future developments in medicine that will be based on the ability to build nanorobots. In the future these nanorobots could actually be programmed to repair specific diseased cells, functioning in a similiar way to antibodies in our natural healing processes.
Nanotechnology in Medicine: Current Applications
While most applications of nanotechnology in medicine are still under development nanocrystalline silver is already being used as a antimicrobial agent in the treatment of wounds.
Nanotechnology in Medicine: Applications under Development
Qdots that identify the location of cancer cells in the body.
Nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells to minimize damage to healthy cells.
Nanoshells that concentrate the heat from infrared light to destroy cancer cells with minimal damage to surrounding healthy cells.
Nanotubes used in broken bones to provide a structure for new bone material to grow.
Nanoparticles that can attach to cells infected with various diseases and allow a doctor to identify, in a blood sample, the particular disease.
Developing Nanorobots for Nanomedicine
Design analysis for a cell repair nanorobot: The Ideal Gene Delivery Vector: Chromallocytes, Cell Repair Nanorobots for Chromosome Repair TherapyDesign analysis for an antimicrobial nanorobot: Microbivores: Artifical Mechanical Phagocytes using Digest and Discharge ProtocolA Mechanical Artificial Red Cell: Exploratory Design in Medical Nanotechnology