Nanomedicine WQ WQ WQ - Medicine of the future

Medical application of nanotechnology Nanotechnology: the study of the control of matter at the atomic/molecular level Nanotechnology: the study of the control of matter at the atomic/molecular level

What is nanotechnology? Nano = 10 -9Nano = Nanometer is one billionth of a meterNanometer is one billionth of a meter Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and manipulation of structures, devices, and phenomena on the length scale of less than 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and manipulation of structures, devices, and phenomena on the length scale of less than 100 nanometers.

All substances (including you and me) are made up of atoms If we learn to control those atoms we will control the substances. Nanotech deals with substances that are 100 nm or smaller DNA diameter: 2 nm DNA diameter: 2 nm Smallest bacteria: 200 nm Smallest bacteria: 200 nm

The comparable size of 1 nm to 1 m is…

How does nature compare? Dust mite 200  m Red blood cells (~7-8  m) Human hair ~  m wide Ant ~ 5 mm DNA ~2-1/2 nm diameter Proteins ~10 nm diameter Head of a pin 1-2 mm Carbon nanotube ~1.3 nm diameter MicroElectroMechanical (MEMS) devices  m wide Carbon buckyball ~1 nm diameter Milli Micro Nano

Nanomedicine has the potential to deliver Advanced drug delivery systems Advanced drug delivery systems New therapies New therapies In vivo imaging In vivo imaging neuro-electronic interfaces (biosensors)$ neuro-electronic interfaces (biosensors)$ Perhaps even….cell repair machines Perhaps even….cell repair machines

~4 billion dollars are currently being invested in research and development of nanomedicine Sales of 7 bill. In 2004 Sales of 7 bill. In companies 200 companies 130 drug delivery systems are under development… 130 drug delivery systems are under development… HA HA HA HA

Medical Uses 1. Drug delivery Nanoscale particles could improve the availability of the drug to cells that most need it Targeting is a huge issue: $65 billion are lost each year due to poor targeting Nanoparticles are easily taken up by cells because of their size

Could allow for lower doses that are much more effective because of targeting Less toxic (less side effects) Less toxic (less side effects) Less costly Less costly

2. In vivo imaging Nanodyes provide better contrast for MRI/ultrasound ex. quantum dots (give off light when excited by waves) localize to cancer tumors and allow for much better imaging Toxic! Toxic! Could THEY be used to treat tumors???? Could THEY be used to treat tumors????

3. Surgery applications Since quantum dots localize to cancer cells would allow much better removal of dangerous tissues. Photodynamic therapy: metal nanotubes localized to cancer cells could “melt them” when heated using a light source. Noninvasive Noninvasive Not toxic to other tissues, like chemotherapy Not toxic to other tissues, like chemotherapy

Flesh welders: fix cuts by “welding”them together, ex. arteries

4. nanorobots Nanosize machines that could be activated by light to do things inside our bodies… ex. fullerine

DNA as a nanomachine We are probably years away from nanomachines that can do complex tasks Current nano- machines (synthetic or bio) are very simple

Real Nanomachines do simple tasks like rotate… A tiny blade of gold is attached to a carbon nanotube An electrical current causes it to spin 500 nm across A. M. Fennimore, T. D. Yuzvinsky, W. Han, M. S. Fuhrer, J. Cummings, A. Zettl, Rotational actuators based on carbon nanotubes, Nature 424, 408, 2003.

DNA as a nanoscaffold One approach uses “sticky ends” and DNA tiles Seeman et al Nature 1991, 350, 631

DNA as a nanoscaffold Very complicated tiles can make interesting patterns Seeman JACS, 2004, 126,

Is this useful? Can use the DNA patterns as a scaffold or a template for other nanocomponents Seeman Proc. IEEE nano., 2005.

A new approach is called “DNA origami” A long piece of DNA is chosen by a computer program to fold in a certain pattern Short “staple” DNA is used to hold the folds in place

“DNA Origami” can make complex patterns Rothemund, P.W.K. Nature 2006, 440,

“DNA Origami” can make complex patterns Rothemund, P.W.K. Nature 2006, 440,

Is DNA nanotechnology safe? Grey Goo Hypothesis Self-replicating nanobots