Quantum Leaps with Nanotechnology

Various marketing surveys carried out in recent months have predicted the astronomical rise of the use of nanotechnology in many areas to come in years, such as coating technology. When it comes to drug research, however, analysts are uncertain about its market potential. Nevertheless, the first results in this area show that it is certainly worthwhile to continue working with this technology.
American medics at Washington University in St Louis have been able to construct nanoparticles that help to detect the smallest cancer tumors. They make use of the capacity of the metal-laden nanoparticles to stick to tumor cells that are made visible by means of magnetic resonance tomography. Researchers have already successfully tested these methods on mice: Only 30 minutes after injecting the rodents with nanoparticles, it was possible to identify skin cancer tumors. The nanoparticles can also be laden with agents. Using the docking-on mechanism, drugs can be targeted to hit the cancerous focus. The total organism is then no longer laden with agents, as is the case with traditional chemotherapy.

Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) in Saarbrücken are also using metal nanoparticles for cancer therapy. Together with the Berlin-based start-up company, Magforce, they have developed a magnetic fluid, which is already in the second phase of its clinical trials. The fluid contains over one billion magnetic particles per cubic centimeter. When a tumor cell picks up these particles and is then controlled externally by a magnetic field, it warms up until it dies off. The first clinical trials have shown that with nanoparticles different types of cancerous growths in humans can be made to disappear.
Furthermore nanotechnology also has an important role to play in drug formulation. A whole series of developments concerns new formulations for insulin. Regular injections of this vital protein are often indispensable for diabetic patients. With the help of these new transport molecules, insulin can be released in a controlled way and therefore offers a considerable improvement in the patient's quality of life. A completely different development in formulation for agents allows their use via lungs. Already under development  are inhalers that dispense an aerosol mist of nanoscopically fine dust which can reach the furthest depths of lungs.
This example and many others prove that nanotechnology can offer quantum leaps for pharmaceutical development.

-Marc Platthaus-