Behaviors and Persistence of Nanomaterials in Biomedical Applications

Chapter 1Introduction

Industry analysts have been forecasting groundbreaking advances as a result of nanotechnology application in renewable energy, communications, pollution removals, agriculture, and medicine [1]. Clothing, sunscreens, cosmetics, sporting equipment, batteries, food packaging, dietary supplements, and electronics are just a few of the kinds of nanotechnology-enabled goods in use [1]. For example, nanosized: i) silver is used in food packaging, ii) silica is employed in food additives, and iii) titanium dioxide, gold, platinum, and zinc oxide are used in cosmetics, such as sunscreens and toothpastes [2, 3]. Although there are several uses of nanomaterials in daily products, the most promising application is in the medical field [2]. A lot of excitement has been generated during last decades about the medical and economic impact of nano-technological approaches in healthcare [4]. The first medical nanosystem was introduced in human therapy at the end of the last century to increase the efficacy of known, but poorly bioavailable drugs [5]. Today, research on nanomaterials is aimed to decrease the side-effects of therapies while increase their action thanks to the unique physical, chemical and physiological features of the matter at the nanoscale. Such advances include improved early screening and diagnosis, as well as treatment regimens that have reduced off-target toxicity; areas where nanoparticle approach is likely to have significant future impact [6].

The ...