Researchers have directed their attention to the application of nanotechnology in the biomedical sciences owing to their promising effects. In light of this, the present chapter is a concerted effort to highlight the emerging application of nanotechnology in the field of biomedical sciences. The first part of the chapter describes the introduction to biomedical science, followed by an introduction to the development of nanotechnology, the types and characteristics of nanosized materials, and their potential therapeutic properties. Next, the present chapter describes the application of nanotechnology in biomedical sciences. It also highlights the current issues regarding the usage of nanotechnology in biomedical science, especially safety, regulation, and toxicity. This chapter aims to provide new insights into the extraordinary application of nanotechnology in the biomedical science field for researchers, policymakers, regulators, healthcare professionals, and others involved in the nano biomedical application field.
TopIntroduction
Biomedical science is the field of study that emphasises the aspects of chemistry and biology that are relevant to the healthcare system. This is also referred to as biomedicine is the combination of medicine and biology fields that focuses on the health of humans and animals (Keating & Cambrosio, 2003). This is a very wide-ranging discipline, and there are a few general areas of speciality including biochemistry, bioengineering, physiological sciences, pharmacology, epidemiology and life sciences (Crinson & Crinson, 2021; Keating & Cambrosio, 2003). This field serves as a centralized platform to delve into fields including parasitology, cell and molecular biology and toxicology (Kumar, 2013).
Over the years, scientific discoveries in this field provide a valuable contribution to the medical field, especially clinical studies on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and infectious diseases (National Research Council, 2003; Duarte et al., 2018; Garcia-Gonzalez et al., 2020; Zhu et al., 2020). The prominent importance of this field is evident in the discovery of potent therapeutic drugs and underpinning the mechanism and delivery of drugs (Li et al., 2022). It is also important to note that biomedical science has been playing a pivotal role in the healthcare sector by facilitating effective diagnosis and imaging of diseases (Rhodes, 2011; Ng & Etehadtavakol, 2017).
Despite the effective diagnosis and treatment methods employed in the biomedical industry, it has been a great challenge for healthcare practitioners in providing better healthcare services with cost-effective diagnosis and treatment to patients. Thus, the biomedical industry rapidly shifts its direction toward developing potent therapeutic drugs and devices that satisfy the needs of both the healthcare industry and patients. In light of this, the application of nanotechnology and biomedicine has been a promising approach to revolutionising biomedical research including enzyme encapsulation, drug delivery, drug discovery, gene delivery, protein delivery, biosensor advancement and so forth (Machtakova et al., 2022; Deng et al., 2020; Wong et al., 2017; Yu et al., 2016; Mujawar et al., 2020). Today, nanoscale materials have successfully emerged as key players in advancing the healthcare sector and biomedicine with promising applications to curb ongoing healthcare crises as illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Nanotechnology advances in the biomedical science field
TopNanotechnology
Healthcare is one of the fields in which humankind finds challenges to treat diseases. One of the limitations in solving health-related problems is the lack of the ability to understand and monitor the biological and environmental systems of physiology at the molecular level (Zhang & James, 2023). Nanotechnology is a field comprised of techniques and tools developed at the nanoscale range using nanomaterials. Nanoparticles refer to materials synthesized at the nanoscale which range from 10 to 100 nm in size (Sakthi Devi et al., 2022). Nanomaterials are nanosized structures that exist in both organic, inorganic and combined forms that give space for flexibilities in various modifications and loading to perform their functions. Nanomaterials have been extensively used in biomedical applications such as therapy, imaging, biosensors, biomedical devices, intracellular trafficking and gene delivery (Diez‐Pascual & Rahdar, 2022).