Transcript Nanotechnology Challenge Biomedical Science

Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Problem: Broken Bones
Complicated breaks sometimes have to be operated on. In these operations
plates and screws are often used to hold the bones together. To prevent a
second operation surgeons prefer to leave the plates and screws in after the
bone has healed. However, sometimes the body’s immune system attacks
the screws and plates, because they are made of foreign tissue. In this case
the screws and plates need to be taken out. A second operation is costly and
takes a long time to recover from.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Nano-solution: Diamond Coating
Nanotechnology has enabled the development of coatings that can make
normal materials ultra-strong.
An example of this is a coating with a layer of nano-sized diamond crystals a
1000th of a millimetre thick. This coating can be applied to many different
inorganic surfaces. The good news for using this coating in medical
applications is that our bodies are less likely to reject something that is
coated in the diamond crystals, because diamond is a pure form of carbon
and so are our bodies.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Problem: Targeted drug-delivery
Being able to deliver a specific drug to a specific location would improve
treatment speed and effectiveness. In order for targeted drug delivery to
work, two conditions must be met: the carrier must have internal space that
can carry a drug, and the carrier must have attachment points tailored for its
target location.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Nano-solution: Buckyballs
Buckyballs consist of 60 Carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a football and
are absorbed into the bloodstream very easily. They are extremely stable and
have 60 attachment points (one per carbon) for other molecules. One example
could be attaching an antibody to the buckyball. Because they are hollow they
can also encase molecules.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Problem: Bone grafts
When our bones are damaged, our body receives the message (via growth
factors) that repair is required. Sometimes our bones need help to repair
themselves. This is where a bone graft comes in. The most common use of a
bone graft is to stimulate the healing of bone. The bone graft is used similar
to "fertiliser" that stimulates the bone to heal and speeds up the process.
Doctors can either use the patient’s own bone, or a donor’s bone. If bone is
taken from a donor then there is a risk of the body’s immune system attacking
the tissue. If bone from the patient themselves is used, then this means more
operations for the patient (with potential complications) and weakened bones
where the donor bone was taken.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Nano-solution: Carbon Nanotubes
Nanotubes are in the same structural family as
Buckyballs, but rather than a sphere-shape, they
are cylindrical. Nanotubes, like Buckyballs, are
made up of carbon atoms and are very light, but
very strong. They make an excellent scaffold for
tissue to grow on. In the future the nanotubes
could possibly be injected into our bodies.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Problem: Disease Diagnosis
Even though modern medicine has moved very quickly in the last few
decades, diagnosing disease can still be a complicated and time-consuming
process. Doctors often have to do a lot of tests to find out what is wrong with
someone. This is not only stressful for the patient, but it also costs the NHS a
lot of money.
Challenge Biomedical Science –
Nanotechnology
Nano-solution:
Microcantilever
Microcantilevers are a bit like tiny ‘diving boards’
on a micro chip. They can be coated with
antibodies. When antigens in the blood attach to
the antibodies on the cantilever this causes the
microcantilever to bend down. When there are no
antigens to match the antibodies on the
microcantilever it stays straight. A number of
microcantilevers (with different antibodies) can be
put side by side on a microchip.