The Future is Small: What is Nanomedicine?

Nanomedicine is a groundbreaking field at the intersection of molecular science and healthcare, revolutionizing how diseases are diagnosed and treated at the nanoscale. This innovative approach harnesses the power of atoms and molecules to target disease sites with unparalleled precision, significantly enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.

Kendra Damaske, a nanomedicine research assistant at Biola University, spoke with us about nanoemulsion technology’s role in nanomedicine, from its applications in drug delivery and cancer treatment to the potential of nanoemulsions to transform medical treatments and future directions in this innovative field.

Nanomedicine is an interdisciplinary field that merges the principles of nanotechnology and medicine to revolutionize the way diseases are treated and diagnosed. This innovative field leverages the unique properties of materials at the nanoscale—approximately 1 to 100 nanometers in size—to create more effective, targeted, and less invasive medical treatments.

“The way that I would define nanomedicine would be something that is obviously in the nanoscale and interacting with the biological system,” Damaske described. “Specifically, what I think is a very key part of nanomedicine is this targeted delivery.”

At its core, nanomedicine seeks to exploit the small size and large surface area of nanoparticles to deliver drugs directly to specific cells and tissues in the body. This precision aims to improve the efficacy of treatments while minimizing the side effects commonly associated with conventional drug therapies. For example, nanoparticles can be designed to interact only with cancerous cells, thereby sparing healthy tissues from the harmful effects of chemotherapy.

Beyond drug delivery, nanomedicine encompasses a variety of applications, including diagnostic techniques, imaging, and sensors. Nanoparticles can be engineered to enhance the contrast of MRI scans, making it easier to detect abnormalities at much earlier stages. Similarly, nanotechnology-enabled sensors can detect pathogens or chemicals at incredibly low concentrations, improving the speed and accuracy of diagnostics.

Nanomedicine also holds the promise of regenerative medicine. Using nanostructured materials, scientists aim to mimic or restore the function of damaged tissues and organs. These materials can help repair damaged cells or even control the release of growth factors that encourage tissue regeneration.

The potential of nanomedicine extends beyond individual healthcare, offering new ways to address complex medical challenges at the molecular level. As this field continues to evolve, it could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of some of the most challenging diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease, ultimately reshaping the landscape of medical treatment and advancing public health.

In the field of oncology, nanomedicine’s capacity for targeted drug delivery is transforming cancer treatment. These innovative formulations utilize nano-sized droplets to encapsulate chemotherapeutic agents, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of treatments.

“Currently, I’m working with cancer cells, nanoemulsions, and nano-intercalation,” Damaske shared on her work. “What we’re trying to do in my lab is trying to have a targeted drug delivery system for colorectal cancer cells and hopefully broadening it to other cancer cells as well because, as we know, chemotherapy is a great therapy for cancer, but it also affects the healthy cells and the rest of our body.”

The primary advantage of nanomedicine, she explained, lies in its ability to deliver drugs directly to tumor cells with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissues. This targeted approach is crucial for reducing the systemic side effects commonly associated with conventional chemotherapy, such as nausea, hair loss, and immunosuppression. By ensuring that higher concentrations of the drug are delivered directly to the malignancy, nanoemulsions improve the therapeutic efficacy and significantly lessen the discomfort and health risks to patients.

“Nano-intercalation, put very simply, is the process of putting one thing in between the layers of something else. So, we have worked with different phytochemicals, which are chemicals extracted by different plants and circulating it in an edible clay called montmorillonite, but for short, we call it MMT,” she says.

In a research or therapeutic context, nanoemulsion and nano-intercalation might be used in conjunction to create a more effective drug delivery system. For example, intercalation can be employed to incorporate a drug into a carrier matrix like clay, as Damaske described, and then this matrix could be further processed into a nanoemulsion for easier biological administration and targeted delivery. The intercalation ensures the drug is securely held and released at the target site, while the nanoemulsion facilitates the transport to and interaction with the target cells.

The stability of nanoemulsions is one of their most valued properties; they do not easily coalesce, sediment, or cream due to the constant motion of their droplets, which distributes kinetic energy throughout the system. This stability extends the shelf life of pharmaceutical products and ensures consistent drug dosing. 

Furthermore, the increased surface area of nanoemulsion droplets facilitates rapid and complete absorption of the drug into the bloodstream, thereby enhancing bioavailability. The ability of nanoemulsions to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs broadens their applicability, enabling efficient delivery of various medications.

Moreover, nanoemulsions and nano-intercalation can be engineered to release their active ingredients in a controlled manner. This sustained release ensures a constant therapeutic level of the drug in the bloodstream, which is vital for effective cancer treatment. The stability of nanoemulsions also plays a critical role; it prevents the premature degradation of drugs, thereby maintaining their potency over longer periods.

The potential of nanoemulsions to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs expands their utility in oncology, accommodating a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents. This versatility, combined with the enhanced delivery capabilities, positions nanomedicine as a pivotal technology in the ongoing effort to improve cancer treatments.

The future of nanomedicine is ripe with opportunities for groundbreaking applications. But it also confronts a series of challenges that could influence its widespread adoption in medical applications. 

As examined in the case study, nanomedicines enhance the way medicines interact with the body. Researchers are exploring its potential in fields such as gene therapy, personalized medicine, and non-invasive delivery systems. 

By increasing the bioavailability of drugs, these microscopic carriers ensure that treatments are not only more effective but also faster-acting. This is especially vital for drugs with poor water solubility, as it maximizes their therapeutic potential. Additionally, the precision of nanomedicines in targeting specific tissues reduces the collateral damage to healthy cells, minimizing side effects—a game changer for patient comfort and treatment efficacy.

“For example, they can be used in post-surgery scenarios and even for breaking down blood clots,” Damaske said on its potential applications. “I just had a friend who had a blood clot in her lung, and so she has to monitor that, whereas in the future nanoemulsions could be used to treat it more readily. So that’s a potential thing as well. There’s so many avenues.”

However, one of the primary hurdles though is the scalability of production processes. For example, transferring the sophisticated techniques used to create nanoemulsions, such as high-pressure homogenization and ultrasonication, from the lab to industrial scales involves significant challenges. These methods require complex machinery and high energy inputs, which can escalate costs and complicate large-scale manufacturing.

In addition to scalability, achieving consistent quality across extensive production batches poses another critical challenge. The efficacy and stability of nanoemulsions can be jeopardized by even slight variations in their formulation, making rigorous quality control essential. This aspect is particularly vital in medical applications where uniformity in drug delivery systems directly impacts patient safety and treatment effectiveness.

Regulatory hurdles further complicate the landscape for nanomedicines. Products based on this technology must navigate through stringent approval processes established by bodies like the FDA or EMA. The unique properties of nanomedicine technologies necessitate comprehensive safety and efficacy studies that can prolong the time to market. Moreover, the lack of standardized regulations specific to nanomedicine adds another layer of complexity, requiring detailed documentation and testing to ensure compliance.

“I definitely think in the States, there will also be some difficulty with accessibility at least initially because of just the cost of research,” Damaske said thoughtfully. “So new things like this will cost more money. And that might be a restriction on who gets the care and who doesn’t.”

Despite these challenges, the potential of nanomedicine to revolutionize treatment paradigms across various medical fields remains immense. With ongoing research and interdisciplinary collaboration, the hurdles can be addressed, paving the way for innovative solutions that could significantly improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

Nanotechnology presents a transformative approach in nanomedicine, offering significant advancements in the delivery and efficacy of pharmaceutical treatments. Its ability to increase bioavailability, ensure stability, and provide targeted drug delivery makes it an invaluable tool in modern healthcare.

Despite the challenges associated with scaling production and navigating regulatory landscapes, the potential benefits of nanomedicine justify the ongoing investment in research and development. Innovations in nanoemulsion applications continue to promise new ways to treat complex diseases more effectively and with fewer side effects.

Looking forward, the integration of nanotechnologies in medical treatments is set to evolve further. As researchers overcome existing hurdles and harness the full potential of this technology, the future of medicine could see remarkable improvements in patient care standards. The continuous exploration of nanomedicine technology not only aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes but also hopes to bring about economic and social benefits by making treatments more accessible and even environmentally sustainable.

“We are very interested in trying to use natural resources that we have on our planet, like phytochemicals, that maybe we can find and design into a treatment at the nanoscale by using these resources that we already have,” Damaske explained. “So we try to look at nature as a blueprint of where to start. And I really like that point of view because I think nature is amazing, and there’s so much that we still can learn from it.”

Ultimately, nanotechnology is at the forefront of a healthcare revolution, embodying the promise of nanomedicine to bring substantial improvements to medical treatments and patient quality of life. As this field advances, it holds the potential to reshape healthcare delivery in profound ways, making a lasting impact on society.