Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine Ethical Issues

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As the science and technology of nanomedicine speeds ahead, ethics, policy, and the law struggle to catch up also chases after it. It is important to proactively address the ethical, social and regulatory aspects of nanomedicine to minimize its adverse impacts on the environment and public health and to avoid a public backlash. In the next 10–15 years, nanotechnology is likely to revolutionize the practice of medicine and have a significant impact on human health. Nanotechnology is already contributing to the development of new drugs, biologics, and medical devices and the augmentation of existing therapeutics. Over 200 companies are involved in nanomedicine research and development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved nine different types of therapies that employ nanoscale materials, including products used for medical testing and imaging, drug delivery, wound healing, and bone and tissue repair. Discoveries and innovations in nanomedicine have occurred at a breathtaking pace in just a short time, uses of nanotechnology in medicine have moved from laboratory testing, to clinical trials, to medical applications.