In my second research, I got
interested in nanotechnology with medicine. Nanotechnology is being used as the basis for more
effective drug delivery systems
One interesting fact that I got from it is that it is still
on the early stage development as scaffolding in nerve generation research. It
is said that the National Cancer Institute has made the Alliance for
Nanotechnology in Cancer in hope of Nano medicine to help detecting,
diagnosing, and treating various type of cancer.
Also, with the Biomedical Engineering, researchers can focus
on cancer treatments that are more effective and have few to no side
effects. This year, $180 billion will be
allotted to nanotechnology medical research.
I know it is some deep and scary facts, but I would like to
talk about the scale of cancer patients that are being treated. According to American
Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 1.33.910 individuals were diagnosed with
cancer in 2005, while another 50,280 people died from the illness. This large number indicates that cancer is
all around us and will happen to anyone in his or her life time with the 40 %
chance of getting it.
Current cancer treatments exists and helps a lot with
fighting the caner (like the chemotherapy of radiotherapy) however, it comes
with numerous side effects.
The medical use of nanotechnology does not come without its
fair share of concerns.
Some of the concerns are:
- Nano-scale particles can accidentally be inhaled and
ingested.
- Nano-sized particles also show tendencies to alter their
chemical and physical properties that differ from their regularly sized
counterparts.
These concerns are to be considered, but if nanotechnology
and medicine can work together, we will have a better chance in diagnosing
cancer with deeper information and treatment that could target the cancer
without many side effects.
I am very amazed by the researchers that are making this
process possible, and hope this can be approved soon!
Final Project pitch:
For my final project, it would be thrilling to make a commercial for the new approved nano-scale medicine, or a treatment that the National Cancer Institute have passed.
"Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology" NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 17 Apr. 2006 <http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/ nano_exchange_health.html>.
K. Kelleher. "Engineers Light Up Cancer Research." Popular Science Nov. 2003. 10 Feb. 2006 <http://www.popsci.com/popsci/medicine/d865c4522fa84010vgnvcm 1000004eecbccdrcrd.html>.
"Nanotechnology Project." PEN News. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.
"Radiotherapy." NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopedia NHS Direct. 24 Feb. 2006 <http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/en.aspx?articleId=309ionId=5410>.
"Shrinking Technology. Nanotechnology holds promise of spectacular medical advances, including cure for cancer, but critics warn of dire consequences." Modern Healthcare (2003): 32-33. 12 Feb. 2006. Keyword: Nanotechnology and Cancer.
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