Biomedical Nanotechnology Related Grand Challenges and Perspectives
Ajeet Kaushik- Division of Sciences, Art, & Mathematics, Department of Natural Sciences, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL, United States
Introduction
Biomedical nanotechnology is dedicated to exploring nanoscience and nanotechnology for health wellness, with the ultimate goal of personalized health management, as shown in Figure 1. Reports released by health agencies have confirmed the significant role technologies play in disease monitoring, treatment, and progression management. It is also evident that the introduction of nanotechnology assisted approaches makes diagnostics and treatment of a targeted disease more sensitive, affordable, and accessible (Kaushik and Dixit, 2016; Kaushik et al., 2017c; Kaushik and Mujawar, 2018). The tunable performance of nano-systems, investigated for biomedical research, is advantageous for the design and development of therapies that consider patient profiles i.e., personalized health management (Nair et al., 2016; Kaushik et al., 2018a,b). Besides salient features of nano-assisted approaches, the introduction of numerical approaches i.e., artificial intelligence (AI) (Yu et al., 2018; Zhu and Zheng, 2018), involving deep & machine learning, and bioinformatics (Chou, 2004; Greene et al., 2014) has emerged as a very useful tool in understanding predictions and trends. Such information is useful to understand epidemic variations, therapy optimization, and risk assessment. At the same time, suitable management of bioinformatics is crucial for a timely and effective analysis (Altman and Levitt, 2018; Lesk, 2019). Presently, significant efforts are being made to promote the internet of medical things (IoMT), an approach in biomedical nanotechnology for data sharing, storage, and analysis (Chiuchisan et al., 2015; Yuehong et al., 2016; Rodrigues et al., 2018). IoMT outcomes are useful in transitioning biomedical technology from the laboratory to the field. Keeping these outcomes in mind, efforts are being made to transform electronic health to intelligent health (Eysenbach, 2001; Berrouiguet et al., 2018).
Figure 1. Illustration of Biomedical Nanotechnology for personalized health care management.
The significant contributions of state-the-of-art biomedical nanotechnologies along with its challenges are summarized below:
a) The foundation of biomedical nanotechnology is always a nano-scaled platform which exhibits tunable features such as surface functionalization (for immobilizing and binding bio-actives), stimuli-responsive properties (controlled multi-functional outcomes within a single nanostructure, a need to a combinational approach), easy to fabricate (especially thin films needed for sensor fabrication), and tunable properties (especially morphological, optical, electrical, magnetic, and molecular properties). However, developing a nano-system that exhibits properties with targeted application in mind is always challenging (Figure 1; Kaushik and Dixit, 2016).
b) Detection of targeted biomarkers at pM level, is very useful for early-stage diagnostics and therapy efficacy assessment. However, significant efforts have been suggested to develop a miniaturized sensing system that is integrated with smartphones to perform the detection of point-of-care (POC) applications i.e., infectious diseases (Figure 1; Kaushik and Mujawar, 2018).
c) Accurate and precise detection of a biomarker is the primary requirement for designing and developing an analytical device. This raises the demand for developing smart arrays (interdigitated electrode system), multiple detection methods, highly sensitive transducers, and microfluidic systems. A perfect combination of the above-mentioned components will certainly be a sensing system that can detect a biomarker selectively and in a timely manner, at a very low level of POC (Figure 1; Dixit and Kaushik, 2016; Kaushik and Dixit, 2016; Kaushik et al., 2016a,c,d, 2017b, 2018c; Tiwari et al., 2019).
d) Functional biomaterials for tissue engineering are mainly tissue regeneration and regenerative medicine. This area of research explores new bio-mimic biomaterials that are constructed to minimize the effect of tissue injury and artificial organ issues. However, exploring the fundamental understanding of biomaterial-organ interaction behavior and strategies of scaling up these biomaterials, along with federal approval for clinical application is the suggested future approach (Vashist et al., 2016, 2018b; Sharma et al., 2019).
e) Nanotechnology assisted drug delivery systems have demonstrated site-specific delivery and drug release to manage targeted diseases. Presently, this area of biomedical nanotechnology is widely covered, and outcomes are of very high value. However, so far, developed systems' multi component-based nano-assisted therapeutics, may have longer term side-effects. Experts have suggested the development of least-component based nano-pharmacology wherein selected drug nano-carriers should be bio-compatible and stimuli-responsive. Such materials can perform controlled drug delivery and release, even in the brain (Figure 1; Kaushik et al., 2016b, 2019; Nair et al., 2016; Rodriguez et al., 2017; Vashist et al., 2018a).
f) Nanotechnology assisted combinational therapy is emerging as one of the best alternatives in conventional approaches. The approach optimizes a perfect combination of various therapeutic agents, therapeutic fabrication processes, and stimulations to treat multiple symptoms, at one time, while exploring the effects of various stimulations, exposures, drug-to-drug interactions, and drug/stimulation-human interactions in acute and chronic timelines (Figure 1; Kaushik et al., 2017a; Tomitaka et al., 2017, 2019; Jayant et al., 2018).
g) The design and development of a new therapy is a well-planned experiment. Managing a lot of data, optimization of a perfect drug to create a therapy, the associated risk assessment, and possible predictions along with trends are always major concerns. To manage data related to every aspect, a new algorithm has emerged that analyzes every aspect and provides an idea of a better approach with no or the least risk assessment. Keeping this in mind, the emergence of bioinformatics, AI, and IoMT significantly assist the development of novel biomedical nanotechnology (Figure 1; Chou, 2004; Greene et al., 2014; Chiuchisan et al., 2015; Yuehong et al., 2016; Altman and Levitt, 2018; Rodrigues et al., 2018; Yu et al., 2018; Zhu and Zheng, 2018; Lesk, 2019).
h) Health agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), etc., have announced the development of biomedical technology with a special focus on efficient approaches that manage and target diseases. They have initiated various programs, alone and in collaboration with industries, to promote fundamental and applied aspects of biomedical nanotechnologies. These initiatives aim to develop translational research to introduce new therapies at the clinical level. However, poor regularities and the time required for approval sometimes limit the promotion of developed biomedical nanotechnology for patients. Significant efforts are being made to involve a multi-sector, mainly public-private partnerships, to promote research from a clinical translational point of view (Figure 1; Kaushik et al., 2018b).
i) Special assertion from the WHO, NIH, etc., type of health agencies is also required to make people aware of the significance of biomedical nanotechnology. For example, gene therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach, but some people are not comfortable in adopting it as a therapy. Therefore, awareness is also really very important as with conducting cutting edge research (Figure 1; Kaushik et al., 2018b).
Biomedical Nanotechnology, A Great Initiative of Frontiers of Nanotechnology
As discussed above, biomedical nanotechnology is needed for a better future. Therefore, highlighting the need for the promotion and related critical aspects of biomedical nanotechnology is very important for education and training. Keeping this in mind, the mission of the Biomedical Nanotechnology Journal featured in the Frontiers in Nanotechnology Journal will aim at exploring the fundamentals as well as applied research investigating novel nano-enabled therapeutics and diagnostic approaches to developing effective and affordable therapies and diagnostics. The outcomes of these approaches, alone or in combination, will certainly be a useful disease management approach that aims to improve personalized health needs. Based on these objectives, this Journal will cover all aspects of fundamental and advanced research related to the following areas:
• Nanoscale for biomedical applications
• Miniaturized systems for health care
• Nano-enabled sensing systems
• Simulation and theoretical aspects of developing sensors
• Point-of-care systems for personalized health care
• Microfluidic for biologist
• Image-guided therapy
• Personalized nanomedicine
• Nano-enabled tissues and gene engineering
• Nanotechnology for drug delivery systems
• Nano-pharmacology
• Nanobiotechnology for drug addiction
• Translational and clinical research
• Theoretical aspects of diseases managements
• Bioinformatics for diseases management
• Artificial Intelligence for biomedical application
• Internet of medical things (IoMT)
• Numerical aspects of nanotechnology for health care
• Ethical and regulatory issues in theranostics.
An editorial board of experts along with the advanced publication platform offered at Frontiers this Journal will be fully dedicated to publishing high-quality Original Research articles. In addition to high-quality Original Research articles, this Journal will also publish Technical Notes, Opinion articles, research highlights, brief communications, Letters, Book Reviews, comprehensive Reviews, and important announcements. This Journal will pay special attention to Published Book series related to all the fields of nano-enabling advancements in biomedical science.
This Journal will be a unique platform that provides an understanding of the aspects of smart nanomaterials, nano-devices for biomedical application, rapid diagnostics, and effective therapeutics developed using nanoscience and nanotechnology. The possibilities of numerical simulations, theoretical aspects, regulatory issues, and the ethical knowledge required to manage clinical and translational research of a targeted disease will be covered here. To support the aims of Frontiers, this Journal will serve as a guide to researchers in future research strategies on developing nano-enabled smart and effective diagnostics and therapies for health wellness.
Viewpoint
Despite the significant contribution of biomedical nanotechnology in health care management, significant efforts are being made to overcome the challenges of poor reproducibility, specificity and efficacy, affordability, and to avoid the regulatory landscape associated with state-the-of-art biomedical nanotechnology. Keeping advancements and prospects in mind, experts suggest increasing efforts to build new systems that meet patient requirements. Health agencies are seeking developments that can make health accessible, affordable, and manageable. This could be achieved by focusing efforts on the design and development of smart and effective nano-enabled components, which can elevate diagnostics and therapies to the desired level of performance. This Journal explores the demand, significance, challenges, and prospects of biomedical nanotechnology for personalized health wellness. We also encourage experts in the field to try their level best to solve and explore problems, by conducting cutting edge research in biomedical nanotechnology. To support the research of industries, institutions, and universities, the supporting and motivating policies of federal agencies are also very important. Overall, balanced research, supported by public-private partnerships is suggested to develop and promote the biomedical nanotechnology of health care management in a personalized manner.
Author Contributions
The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
I acknowledge Frontiers for providing the publication platform and opportunity. The facilities and resources of the Department of Natural Sciences, Division of Sciences, Art, & Mathematics, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL-33805, USA are also acknowledged in this report.
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Keywords: nanotechnology, smart diagnostics, nanomedicine, nano-sensors, drug delivery nano-systems, nano-theranostic, advanced therapies
Citation: Kaushik A (2019) Biomedical Nanotechnology Related Grand Challenges and Perspectives. Front. Nanotechnol. 1:1. doi: 10.3389/fnano.2019.00001
Received: 14 October 2019; Accepted: 08 November 2019;
Published: 28 November 2019.
Edited by:
Bingqing Wei, University of Delaware, United StatesReviewed by:
Won Min Park, Kansas State University, United StatesCopyright © 2019 Kaushik. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Ajeet Kaushik, akaushik@floridapoly.edu