I wanted my first post on science in today’s news to be about nanoparticles as it is a growing field and one that interests me a lot as I find it interesting how such a small-scale product is used in large-scale projects. The reason for the interest of nanoscience in scientific research is because of the bridge it creates between bulk materials and atomic structures.
One of the fields that excite me most is the use of nanoparticles in the medical field. Having contact with people who are doctors or chemists who work with medicine, I am more than aware of the importance medication has in our lives and the possibilities of development of these products to make it most effective.
In the human body, active transport is a vital mechanism that allows molecules to move around at an effective pace to carry out the necessary tasks to keep the body running healthy. This active motion allows microorganisms to move around freely without the help of the central nervous system but instead using the chemical feedback mechanism to guide them to their required destination. This chemical feedback mechanism thus shows that active transport does not only get carried out by living matter but even something that is not alive can undergo the active motion. If nanoparticles could be synthesized in a way that they respond to an external signal, they could have the property to actively move through an environment also.
This idea that nanoparticles can move through the body simply using active transport will massively impact the medical field, as a medicine that will be able to only target a small region of the body rather than the whole body itself will reduce the chances of side effects but will also give the opportunity to use more powerful drugs. This advancement will also develop medication for treatments such as cancer. If these nanoparticles, that already can accumulate in a tumour, were designed in a way that they can vary in temperature such as through absorbing radiation, then this will cause these tumour tissues to die due to the extreme temperature conditions.
One way in which nanoparticles can be designed to move through the body is to use an approach pathogen take, which is to mask itself with enzymes. This will allow them to access areas that would otherwise be impossible. Another approach to allow nanoparticles to move around the body is using magnetic motion.
Issues that come with trying to manipulate nanoparticles through the body are vast. Problems such as barriers in the tissues that will prevent the movement of nanoparticles using magnets have still not been overcome. Another major issue is the compatibility of the material of the nanoparticle and the ease of removing it from the body after its completed its job. If further research allows these hurdles to be overcome, then the use of nanoscience in medicine in the future can be very beneficial.
Reference:
https://physicsworld.com/a/nanoparticles-on-the-move-for-medicine/
Hasan's thoughts and analysis of science related topics 