Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Nano-solution: Diamond Coating

Nanotechnology has enabled the development of coatings that can make normal materials ultra-strong.

An example of this is a coating with a layer of nano-sized diamond crystals a 1000th of a millimetre thick. This coating can be applied to many different inorganic surfaces. The good news for using this coating in medical applications is that our bodies are less likely to reject something that is coated in the diamond crystals, because diamond is a pure form of carbon and so are our bodies.

Problem: Broken Bones

Complicated breaks sometimes have to be operated on. In these operations plates and screws are often used to hold the bones

together. To prevent a second operation surgeons prefer to leave the plates and screws in after the bone has healed. However, sometimes the body’s immune system attacks the screws and

plates, because they are made of foreign tissue. In this case the screws and plates need to be taken out. A second operation is

costly and takes a long time to recover from.

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Problem: Targeted drug-delivery

Being able to deliver a specific drug to a specific location would improve treatment speed and effectiveness.  In order for targeted

drug delivery to work, two conditions must be met: the carrier must have internal space that can carry a drug, and the carrier must

have attachment points tailored for its target location.

Nano-solution: BuckyballsBuckyballs consist of 60 Carbon atoms arranged in the shape of a

football and are absorbed into the bloodstream very easily. They are extremely stable and have 60 attachment points (one per carbon)

for other molecules. One example could be attaching an antibody to the buckyball. Because they are hollow they can also encase

molecules.

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Problem: Bone graftsWhen our bones are damaged, our body receives the message (via growth factors) that repair is required. Sometimes our bones need help to repair themselves. This is where a bone graft comes in. The

most common use of a bone graft is to stimulate the healing of bone. The bone graft is used similar to "fertiliser" that stimulates

the bone to heal and speeds up the process. Doctors can either use the patient’s own bone, or a donor’s bone. If bone is taken from a donor then there is a risk of the body’s immune system attacking the tissue. If bone from the patient themselves is used, then this

means more operations for the patient (with potential complications) and weakened bones where the donor bone was

taken.

Nano-solution: Carbon Nanotubes

Nanotubes are in the same structural family as Buckyballs, but rather than a sphere-

shape, they are cylindrical. Nanotubes, like Buckyballs, are made up of carbon atoms and are very light, but very strong. They make an excellent scaffold for tissue to

grow on. In the future the nanotubes could possibly be injected into our bodies.

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Challenge Biomedical Science – Nanotechnology

Problem: Disease DiagnosisEven though modern medicine has moved very quickly in the last few decades, diagnosing disease can still be a complicated and

time-consuming process. Doctors often have to do a lot of tests to find out what is wrong with someone. This is not only stressful for

the patient, but it also costs the NHS a lot of money.

Microcantilevers are a bit like tiny ‘diving boards’ on a micro chip. They can be coated with antibodies. When antigens in the blood attach to the antibodies on the cantilever this causes the microcantilever to bend

down. When there are no antigens to match the antibodies on the microcantilever it

stays straight. A number of microcantilevers (with different antibodies) can be put side

by side on a microchip.

Nano-solution: Microcantilever