Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are now becoming a significant fraction of the material flows in the global economy. We are already reaping the benefits of improved energy efficiency, material use reduction, and better performance in many existing and new applications that have been enabled by these technological advances. As ENMs pervade the global economy, however, it becomes important to understand their environmental implications. As a first step, we combined ENM market information and material flow modeling to produce the first global assessment of the likely ENM emissions to the environment and landfills. The top ten most produced ENMs by mass were analyzed in a dozen major applications. Emissions during the manufacturing, use, and disposal stages were estimated, including intermediate steps through wastewater treatment plants and waste incineration plants. In 2010, silica, titania, alumina, and iron and zinc oxides dominate the ENM market in terms of mass flow through the global economy, used mostly in coatings/paints/pigments, electronics and optics, cosmetics, energy and environmental applications, and as catalysts. We estimate that 63–91 % of over 260,000–309,000 metric tons of global ENM production in 2010 ended up in landfills, with the balance released into soils (8–28 %), water bodies (0.4–7 %), and atmosphere (0.1–1.5 %). While there are considerable uncertainties in the estimates, the framework for estimating emissions can be easily improved as better data become available. The material flow estimates can be used to quantify emissions at the local level, as inputs for fate and transport models to estimate concentrations in different environmental compartments.

Global life cycle releases of engineered nanomaterials

This review summarizes recent progress in the design and applications of cadmium-free quantum dots (Cd-free QDs), with an emphasis on their role in biophotonics and nanomedicine. We first present the features of Cd-free QDs and describe the physics and emergent optical properties of various types of Cd-free QDs whose applications are discussed in subsequent sections. Selected specific QD systems are introduced, followed by the preparation of these Cd-free QDs in a form useful for biological applications, including recent advances in achieving high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) and tunability of emission color. Next, we summarize biophotonic applications of Cd-free QDs in optical imaging, photoacoustic imaging, sensing, optical tracking, and photothermal therapy. Research advances in the use of Cd-free QDs for nanomedicine applications are discussed, including drug/gene delivery, protein/peptide delivery, image-guided surgery, diagnostics, and medical devices. The review then considers the pharma...

New Generation Cadmium-Free Quantum Dots for Biophotonics and Nanomedicine

Nanotechnologyis the study of extremely small structures, having size of 0.1 to 100 nm. Nano medicine is a relatively new field of science and technology. Brief explanation of various types of pharmaceutical nano systems is given. Classification of nano materials based on their dimensions is given. An application of Nanotechnology in various fields such as health and medicine, electronics, energy and environment, is discussed in detail. Applications of nano particles in drug delivery, protein and peptide delivery, cancer are explained. Applications of various nano systems in cancer therapy such as carbon nano tube, dendrimers, nano crystal, nano wire, nano shells etc. are given. The advancement in nano technology helps in the treatment of neuro degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Applications of nano technology in tuberculosis treatment, the clinical application of nanotechnology in operative dentistry, in ophthalmology, in surgery, visualization, tissue engineering, antibiotic resistance, immune response are discussed in this article. Nano pharmaceuticals can be used to detect diseases at much earlier stages.

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Nanotechnology and its Applications in Medicine

Colloidal gold has been studied for its potential application in medicine for centuries. However, synthesis and evaluation of various gold nanoparticles have only recently been met with a wide interest of scientists. Current studies confirm numerous advantages of nanogold over different nanomaterials, primarily due to highly optimized protocols for the production of gold nanoparticles of countless sizes and shapes, featured with unique properties. The possibility to modify the surface of nanogold particles with different targeting and functional compounds significantly broadens the range of their potential biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on cancer treatment. Functionalized gold nanoparticles exhibit good biocompatibility and controllable biodistribution patterns, which make them particularly fine candidates for the basis of innovative therapies. Considering the high amount of scientific data on nanogold, this review summarizes recent advances in the field of medical application of gold n...

Gold Nanoparticles in Cancer Treatment.

Drug delivery vehicles on a nano-engineering perspective.

Nanomedicine, nanotechnology in medicine

Nanomedicine is a relatively new field of science and technology. It looks sometimes ill defined and interpretations of that term may vary, especially between Europe and the United States. By interacting with biological molecules, therefore at nanoscale, nanotechnology opens up a vast field of research and application. Interactions between artificial molecular assemblies or nanodevices and biomolecules can be understood both in the extracellular medium and inside the human cells. Operating at nanoscale allow to exploit physical properties different from those observed at microscale such as the volume/surface ratio. The investigated diagnostic applications can be considered for in vitro as well as for in vivo diagnosis. In vitro, the synthesized particles and manipulation or detection devices allow for the recognition, capture, and concentration of biomolecules. In vivo, the synthetic molecular assemblies are mainly designed as a contrast agent for imaging. A second area exhibiting a strong development is the "nanodrugs" where nanoparticles are designed for targeted drug delivery. The use of such carriers improves the drug biodistribution, targeting active molecules to diseased tissues while protecting healthy tissue. A third area of application is regenerative medicine where nanotechnology allows developing biocompatible materials which support growth of cells used in cell therapy. The application of nanotechnology to medicine raises new issues because of new uses they allow, for instance: Is the power of these new diagnostics manageable by the medical profession? What means treating a patient without any clinical signs? Nanomedicine can contribute to the development of a personalized medicine both for diagnosis and therapy. There exists in many countries existing regulatory frameworks addressing the basic rules of safety and effectiveness of nanotechnology based medicine, whether molecular assemblies or medical devices. But there is a need to clarify or to modify these regulations which mobilize many experts. France is a country where the medical development of nanotechnology is significant, like Germany, the United Kingdom or Spain, as regards the European Union. There is an active scientific community and industrial partners of all sizes, even if the technology transfer to industry is not as effective as in North America.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00598930/document

Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology in medicine

Nanomedicine is a new field of research and industrial development which aims to use nano-objects for therapeutic purposes. Through miniaturisation, labs-on-chips can improve the performance of medical analysis and diagnosis, while biosensors become less invasive, hence better tolerated or implanted. With the development of nanoscale contrast agents, clinical imaging benefits from better resolution. In the field of therapy, nanocarriers can transport medicines right up to the sick tissue within the organism, while metal nanoparticles can be used for localised destruction of tumours. The possibility of combining diagnosis and therapy by means of these nano-objects (theranostics) also offers hope of improving medical practice generally. Likewise, the controlled combination of stem cells and biomaterials should lead to a new form of regenerative medicine, able to regenerate and repair damaged or destroyed tissue in vivo. This chapter deals precisely with these developments made possible by nanomedicine, discussing the relevant ethical problems which arise also for conventional medicine. It ends with a discussion of the industrial prospects, describing some of the many clinical trials now under way and the promise of innovative drugs for the benefit of the patient.

Patrick Boisseau

Papers

Nanomedicine, nanotechnology in medicine

Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology in medicine

Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology for Medicine