The role of nanomedicine in growing tissues.
Nanomedicine (a division of nanotechnology) is an interdisciplinary research field incorporating biology, chemistry, engineering and medicine with the intention to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Specifically, there have been great strides made in using nanomedicine to enhance the functions of cells necessary to regenerate a diverse number of tissues (such as bone, blood vessels, the bladder, teeth, the nervous system, and the heart to name a few). Traditional (micron-structured or nano-smooth) implants suffer from: (i) infection, (ii) inflammation, and (iii) insufficient prolonged bonding between the implanted material and surrounding tissue. To date, such conventional implants have been improved by implementing nanotopographical features on their surfaces. In this review paper, the application of nanomaterials to regenerate numerous organs (including, as specific examples, bone, neural, and bladder tissues) will be presented with necessary future directions highlighted for the field of nanomedicine to progress.
Chun
Young Wook
YW
Division of Engineering, Department of Orthopedics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Webster
Thomas J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D001187:Artificial Organs / Q000639:trends*; D021522:Bioartificial Organs / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000639:trends*