Nanotechnology consists of structures and technology relative to a nanometer. A nanometer is a unit of measure equal to one billionth of a meter. Many forms of technology exist today that utilize nanotechnology already, i.e. nano-silver lined socks, nano-coated “self-cleaning” cement, nano-zinc in suntan lotion, and many more in cosmetics. Above all, Biomedical applications of nano technology succeed any others in importance, and usefulness in our society. Dr. Rome is a lead researcher in the studies of Cancer treatment by using nanotechnology to distribute medicine throughout the body, targeting certain cells. Rome’s team bases their research on Vaults, capsules in the body that can travel through the blood stream to target cancer cells. These capsules are naturally found throughout the human body. Researchers have determined no definite use for the vaults in the human body, and have speculated that it is safe to utilize them for cancer tumor treatment. The Vault is composed of 3 proteins and a small RNA. The proteins are MVP (Major Vault Protein) and VPARP, TREP1. The small RNA is called Vault RNA. This vault is only 41 by 72 nanometers, and therefore it is easy to attach to cells. The vaults used for medicinal delivery are composed of adding MVP to DNA and inserting it into an insect cell. After that, the Vault assembles itself and is ready for use. These vaults have only been tested in Petri dishes, and will soon be ready for animal testing. In theory, if everything goes accordingly, then these vaults could be ready for use on humans in about 2 years. This would bring out a new era of medicine, and medicinal treatment. The theory could not only be applied to cancer, but almost every disease plaguing humans today. Nanotechnology could reinvent the future medicinal world as we know it.
http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanomedicine
http://www.physorg.com/news3260.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nanomedicine-targets-cancer
http://www.nanoscienceworks.org/articles/nanomedicine-project-targets-prostate-cancer/?searchterm=Nanomedicine%20Cancer
