Page "Nanomedicine" Paragraph 5

Nanomedical approaches to drug delivery center on developing nanoscale particles or molecules to improve drug bioavailability.

Bioavailability refers to the presence of drug molecules where they are needed in the body and where they will do the most good.

Drug delivery focuses on maximizing bioavailability both at specific places in the body and over a period of time.

This can potentially be achieved by molecular targeting by nanoengineered devices.

It is all about targeting the molecules and delivering drugs with cell precision.

More than $ 65 billion are wasted each year due to poor bioavailability.

In vivo imaging is another area where tools and devices are being developed.

Using nanoparticle contrast agents, images such as ultrasound and MRI have a favorable distribution and improved contrast.

The new methods of nanoengineered materials that are being developed might be effective in treating illnesses and diseases such as cancer.

What nanoscientists will be able to achieve in the future is beyond current imagination.

This might be accomplished by self assembled biocompatible nanodevices that will detect, evaluate, treat and report to the clinical doctor automatically.