Environmental Challenges for Nanomedicine

Abstract

Along with the possibilities of lighter and stronger materials, clean water and sustainable energy, the development of nanomedicine is one of the primary reasons why huge amounts of public funding are currently going into the development of nanotechnology worldwide. The environmental risks of conventional medical products did not receive much attention until the 1990s; however, the potential environmental side effects have come under increased scientific and regulatory scrutiny in the last decade. In this Editorial, we will take a closer look at scientific and regulatory issues related to the environmental risks of nanomedical products and we will discuss some of the challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that nanomedicines are not only safe for humans but also for the environment. Although the field of nanotechnology is very broad in scope, most attention with regard to human health and environmental risks has evolved around engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), such as C60, carbon nanotubes, metals, metaloxides and quantum dots [1]. At the same time, potential risks related to dendrimers and liposomes have only been raised to a lesser extent. The application of ENPs for medical use offers immense benefits within areas, such as diagnosis, targeted drug delivery and drug development [101]. However, the use of ENPs in nanomedicine has not been subject to much regulatory scrutiny because existing laws and regulatory instruments are believed to also cover medical products based on nanotechnology. The extensive testing requirements prior to marketing of medicine may also contribute to the notion that the potentially negative effects will be discovered prior to marketing, that patients are adequately informed about negative side effects and that the benefits outweigh the risks or the adverse effects, should such be found to occur.