Chapter 13 - Principles and applications of medical nanotechnology devices

Abstract

The area of drug delivery using various nanosystems has developed well in the past few decades. A variety of nanodrug delivery systems (nano-DDS) have been developed for this purpose. Moreover, there are multiple applications of nanotechnology devices that play important roles in the development of drug delivery devices and their assessment. Apart from actual drug delivery nanosystems, nanoparticles can be used for detection, separation, tracking of biomolecules, or drug molecules inside mammalian cells. It is also necessary sometimes to use various nanoprobes to study interaction between drug molecules and targeted biomolecules. Such observations are necessary for the development of fundamental understanding about the behavior of nano-DDS in vivo environment. A major requirement in such investigations is well-engineered nanoscale imaging devices that can be conjugated with the molecule of interest suitable for long-term imaging in vitro as well as in vivo. Nanoscale imaging devices produce plasmonic or fluorescent signals that can be detected using advanced microscopic techniques. Other classes of nanoscale imaging devices include contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or similar computed tomographic (CT) imaging techniques. Apart from this, various nanodevices have been developed for sensing applications required at the various stages in nano-DDS development. Sensors can be used to detect drug-target binding, understand the effect of cellular environments on drug molecules, or to quantify the interaction of drug on target biomolecules. In many such applications, it is necessary to work with the biological samples of microliter volumes. For this purpose, microfluidic devices have been developed. These devices can mix or separate biomolecules of interest. Sensors can be integrated into microfluidic devices for miniaturizing and minimizing the need of equipment. This is helpful in not only reducing the volume of sample but also in reducing the cost. While these devices and nanosensors are continuously under development, recent advances in research are also focusing on the development of nanorobots for in situ repairing and manipulation of cells as well as onsite delivery of drugs. Nanorobots can be constructed from biological components or nonbiological inorganic micro/nanostructures. Recent developments in the area of nanorobotics are crucial in defining future of nano-DDS for biomedical applications. Herein this chapter we discuss principles and concepts behind the development of aforementioned nanodevices and provide details about their applications in the area related to drug delivery.