title: Nanotechnology, neuromodulation & the immune response: discourse, materiality & ethics.
abstract: Drawing upon the American Pragmatic tradition in philosophy and the more recent work of philosopher Karen Barad, this paper examines how scientific problems are both obscured, and resolved by our use of language describing the natural world. Using the example of the immune response engendered by neural implants inserted in the brain, the author explains how this discourse has been altered by the advent of nanotechnology methods and devices which offer putative remedies that might temper the immune response in the central nervous system. This emergent nanotechnology has altered this problem space and catalyzed one scientific community to acknowledge a material reality that was always present, if not fully acknowledged.
authors: Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College , 435 East 70th Street, Suite 4-J, New York, NY, 10021, USA, jjfins@med.cornell.edu.
authors: Joseph J
authors: JJ
authors: Fins
mesh_terms: D001675:Bioethics; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000941:ethics* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009415:Nerve Net; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents