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ROB BURGESS
UNDERSTANDING
NANOMEDICINE
An Introductory Textbook

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Understanding Nanomedicine: An Introductory Textbook
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ISBN 978-981-4316-38-5 (Hardcover)
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Printed in the USA

To
my wife, Jane,
daughter, Zoie,
mother, Lola, and
father, Bob

Contents
Acknowledgment
Preface to the Professor
Preface to the Student
Reviewers
xix
xxi
xxvii
xxix
1 Fundamentals of Nanotechnology 1–44
Nanotechnology and Its Origins 1
The Basics of the Nanoscale 5
Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles 7
Fullerenes 7
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNT) 12
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWNT) 14
Thermal Properties of Carbon Nanotubes 15
Absorptive Properties of Carbon Nanotubes 16
Perfluorocarbons 18
Inorganic Nanoparticles 18
Types of Biocompatible Inorganic Metal Nanoparticles 19
Gold Nanoshells 19

viii
CONTENTS
Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles 21
Silver Nanoparticles 22
Other Types of Biocompatible Nanoparticles 23
Dendrimers 23
Micelles and Liposomes 24
Nanotools 27
Scanning Tunneling Microscope 27
Atomic Force Microscope 29
Commercial Nanotools: The nProber TM 30
Current Manufacturing Research 32
Top-Down Approach 33
Bottom-Up Approach 33
Atomically Precise Manufacturing 35
Bionanotechnology 36
Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology 36
Nanotechnology’s Potential Impact on Medicine 38
Chapter Summary 41
Nanotechnology and Its Origins 41
The Basics of the Nanoscale 41
Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles 41
Nanotools 42
Current Manufacturing Research 42
Bionanotechnology 42
Key Terms 43
Review Questions 44
2 Nanoparticles and Hyperthermic Cancer
Therapeutics 45–75
Nanoparticles and Thermal Ablation 45
Mechanisms of Action 45
Metals and Light 46
Metals and Radiofrequency Waves 46

CONTENTS ix
Carbon Nanotubes and Radiofrequency Waves 47
Carbon Nanotubes and Light 49
Carbon Nanotubes, Heat and Cancer Therapeutics 50
Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles, Magnetism
and Mechanism of Action 51
Treatable Types of Cancer 53
Non-specific, Localized Use of Nanoparticles
for Tumor Ablation 54
Targeting Nanoparticles to Specific Sites for Tumor Ablation 54
Targeting Agents 56
Monoclonal Antibodies 56
Small Molecules 59
Aptamers 63
Peptides 65
Targeting Moiety Attachment 66
Covalent Attachment 66
Non-covalent Attachment 68
In vivo Anticancer Platform Delivery 71
Localized Injection 71
Intravenous Injection 71
Chapter Summary 73
Nanoparticles and Thermal Ablation 73
Non-specific, Localized Use of Nanoparticles for
Tumor Ablation 73
Targeting Nanoparticles to Specific Sites for Tumor Ablation 73
In vivo Anticancer Platform Delivery 74
Key Terms 74
Review Questions 75
3 Nanofiber-Based Scaffolds and Tissue Engineering 77–116
Composition and Types of Nanofibers 78
Natural Polymeric Nanofibers 79
Collagen 79

x
CONTENTS
Chitosan 81
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) 81
Gelatin 82
Silk Fibroin 83
Human Protein 84
Synthetic Polymeric Nanofibers 87
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) 89
Synthetic Non-polymeric Nanofibers 91
Carbon Nanofibers 91
Techniques for the Synthesis of Nanofibers 93
Electrospinning 93
Self-Assembly 95
Phase Separation 98
Nanofiber Applications in Tissue Engineering 100
Bone, Cartilage and Ligaments 100
Skin 105
Vasculature 106
Nanofiber Applications in Controlled Drug Delivery 110
Chapter Summary 113
Composition and Types of Nanofibers 113
Techniques for the Synthesis of Nanofibers 114
Nanofiber Applications in Tissue Engineering 114
Nanofiber Applications in Controlled Drug Delivery 114
Key Terms 115
Review Questions 115
4 Nanotechnology and Neuroscience 117–154
Nanomaterial Scaffolds and Neuroregeneration 118
Carbon Nanotube-Based Neuronal Matrices 121
Neuronal Nanotube Matrices from Other Materials 125
Nanomaterials for Crossing the Blood/Brain Barrier 125
Micelles 128

CONTENTS xi
Liposomes 130
Dendrimers 131
Nanoparticles 136
Nanogels 139
Nanomaterials and Neuroprotection 143
Nanoparticle-Based Oxides (Anti-Oxidants) 143
Fullerenes 144
Cells as Nanomaterial Carriers for Clinical Neuroscience 147
Chapter Summary 150
Nanomaterial Scaffolds and Neuroregeneration 150
Nanomaterials for Crossing the Blood/Brain Barrier 150
Nanomaterials and Neuroprotection 152
Cells as Nanomaterial Carriers for Clinical Neuroscience 152
Key Terms 152
Review Questions 153
5 Nanotechnology and Surgery 155–196
Implant and Surgical Instrument Design 156
Nanocoatings for Implants 156
Nanomaterial Adsorption and Adhesion 156
Nanostructured Diamond Coatings 159
Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Coatings 163
Nanostructured Metalloceramic Coatings 166
Nanopolymer Scaffolds 168
Minimizing Surgical Damage 169
Nanopulses 169
Nanocoatings for Surgical Instruments 171
Post-surgical and Other Wound Healing 172
Point of Entry Repair 172
Laser-Assisted Nanosutures 173
Nanofiber-Based Bandages 173
Antisepsis 176

xii
CONTENTS
Antibiotic Nanocoatings 177
Nanosilver 179
Intracellular Nanosurgery 181
Laser-Based Nanosurgery 182
Non-Laser-Based Intracellular Nanosurgery 190
Chapter Summary 192
Implant and Surgical Instrument Design 192
Minimizing Surgical Damage 193
Post-surgical and Other Wound Healing 193
Intracellular Nanosurgery 194
Key Terms 195
Review Questions 196
6 Nanomatrices for Cell Culture 197–232
A Brief History of Tissue (Cell) Culture 198
Types of Cells Cultured 200
Manipulation of Cultured Cells 200
2D or Not 2D 202
3D Cell Culture and the Issues of Scale and Purity 203
Synthetic Nanofiber Scaffolds 205
Polymer-Based 205
Ultra-Web® 205
PLLA-Based 207
Carbon Nanofiber-Based 208
Natural Nanofiber Scaffolds 209
Collagen-Based 210
Silk Fibroin-Based 212
Chitosan-Based 213
Biocomposites 213
Three-Dimensional Self-Assembling Peptides 215
Cellularizing Nanofiber Scaffolds 219
Optimizing Nanoscaffold Architecture for Cellularization 219
Cell Seeding within the Nanomatrix 221

CONTENTS xiii
Other Nanotechnology-Based Cell Culture Systems 224
Titanium-Based Systems 224
Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Systems 226
Chapter Summary 228
A Brief History of Tissue (Cell) Culture 228
Types of Cells Cultured 229
Manipulation of Cultured Cells 229
2D or Not 2D 229
3D Cell Culture and the Issues of Scale and Purity 229
Synthetic Nanofiber Scaffolds 230
Natural Nanofiber Scaffolds 230
Cellularizing Nanofiber Scaffolds 230
Other Nanotechnology-Based Cell Culture Systems 231
Key Terms 231
Review Questions 232
7 Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery 233–280
Targeted Drug Delivery: Basic Principles 234
Active Targeted Drug Delivery 235
Passive Targeted Drug Delivery 237
Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Basic Requirements 238
Types of Nanoparticle-Based Systems for Drug Delivery 240
Synthetic Polymer-Based Nanoparticles 240
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 240
Poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) Acid (PLGA) 242
Polylactic Acid (PLA) 245
Polycaprolactone (PCL) 247
Polyacrylate (PACA) 249
Dendrimers 252
Synthetic Metal-Based Nanoparticles 257
Iron Oxide 257
Fullerenes 259
Buckyballs (C 60
) 259

xiv
CONTENTS
Buckysomes 260
Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) 263
Natural Material-Based Nanoparticles 267
Liposomes 267
Liposomal Nanoparticles and Targeting Inflammation 267
Chitosan 269
Gelatin 272
Albumin 275
Chapter Summary 276
Targeted Drug Delivery: Basic Principles 276
Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Basic Requirements 277
Types of Nanoparticle-Based Systems for Drug Delivery 277
Key Terms 279
Review Questions 279
8 Nanodiagnostics 281–225
In vitro Nanodiagnostics 282
Nanobiochips and Nanobiosensors 282
Cantilever Biosensors 295
Nanolaser Scanning Confocal Spectroscopy 296
Mass Spectroscopy and Nanoproteomics 299
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanobiosensors 300
In vivo Nanodiagnostics 304
Gold Nanoparticles 304
“Golden” Carbon Nanotubes 306
Magnetic Nanoparticles 307
Perfluorocarbons 310
Quantum Dots 312
Liposomes and Micelles as Diagnostic Metal
Nanoparticle Carriers 315
Chapter Summary 320
Nanodiagnostics Technologies and Applications 320
In vivo Nanodiagnostics 322

CONTENTS xv
Key Terms 324
Review Questions 324
9 Government Influence on Nanotechnology 327–388
Government Promotion of Advancements
in Nanomedicine 328
U.S. Government Funding and Initiatives 328
U.S. Federal Funding for Nanomedicine 328
U.S. Presidential Influence 328
The Federal Government’s National Nanotechnology
Initiative (NNI) 329
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) 330
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) 334
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) 336
The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Alliance for
Nanotechnology in Cancer 337
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) 338
U.S. State Funding and Initiatives 339
Missouri 339
New York 340
Texas 341
Australian Government Funding and Initiatives 343
Victorian Government 344
Canadian Government Funding and Initiatives 345
European Funding and Initiatives 347
Nano2Life 347
European Technology Platform (ETP) in Nanomedicine 349
Singaporean Government Funding and Initiatives 351
Mexican Government Funding and Initiatives 352
Global Institutional Collaborations 352
Global Enterprise for Micro-Mechanics and
Molecular Medicine (GEM 4 ) 353

xvi
CONTENTS
Government Evaluation, Policy and Regulation of Nanotechnology 355
The United States Federal Oversight 356
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Nanotechnology Task Force 356
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 359
The U.S. National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) 360
The U.S. National Research Council 361
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 362
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies 363
State and Local Oversight 363
California State Regulation of Carbon Nanotubes 363
Berkeley, California and the Regulation of Nanoparticles 364
The European Union 365
The United Kingdom 366
The Royal Society’s Analysis on the Safety of Nanoparticles 367
The Council for Science and Technology (CST) 368
Nanotechnology Engagement Group (NEG) 368
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 369
British House of Lords 370
The Government of the United Kingdom 371
Australia 372
Australian Government Department of Health
and Ageing 372
Monash University and Its Influence on Australia’s
Regulatory Framework 373
Canada 373
Environment Canada 374
Health Canada 374
International Efforts at Nanotechnology Regulation 375
The International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) 375
The International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) 376
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) 377

CONTENTS xvii
The International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) 378
The International Union of Food, Farm and
Hotel Workers (IUF) 379
US/EU Collaborative Efforts 380
Chapter Summary 381
Government Promotion of Advancements in Nanomedicine 381
Government Evaluation, Policy and Regulation
of Nanotechnology 383
Key Terms 386
Review Questions 387
10 Future Concepts in Nanomedicine 389–426
Nanorobotics and Medicine 389
Nanomolecular Motors and Gears 390
Rotaxane-Based Nanomotors 391
Nucleic Acid-Based Nanomotors 393
Nanotube-Based Nanomotors 394
Nanogears 396
Nanocomputers 396
Electronic Nanocomputers 397
Mechanical Nanocomputers 398
Chemical and Biological Nanocomputers 401
Quantum Nanocomputers 402
Therapeutic Nanorobots 404
Respirocytes 405
Clottocytes 406
Microbivores 407
Chromallocytes 409
Personalized Nanomedicine 410
Nanoparticle-Based Theranostics 410
Whole-Genome Diagnostics 411
Nanonephrology 414

xviii
CONTENTS
Nanoneural Interfaces 415
Optical Imaging at the Nanoscale 417
Artificial Intelligence and “the Singularity” 420
Chapter Summary 422
Nanorobotics and Medicine 422
Personalized Nanomedicine 424
Key Terms 425
Review Questions 425
Appendixes 427–477
Glossary 427
Suggested Readings 460
Books and Compilations 460
Figure and Table Acknowledgments 479
Index 481
About the Author 493

Acknowledgment
I would like to sincerely thank all the scientists and doctors who allowed
for the reprinted publication of their research and data in this book. It is
your undying and unselfish pursuit of advances in nanomedicine that will
transform diagnostics and therapeutics as we know it and inspire the next
generation of nanomedical researchers. My hat is off to each and every one
of you.

Preface to the Professor
As I researched the currently available textbooks covering the basic
principles, applications and promise of nanotechnology as it applies to
medicine, I noted a dearth of introductory material tailored specifically
for students. While a number of comprehensive books exist outlining the
promise of the nanosciences as they apply to medical applications, including
most recent advances in medical research, these texts fail to properly
introduce the student to nanoscience and nanotechnology as it applies first
to biology and to potential therapeutics and diagnostics applications. Thus
this text is devoted to the basic principles of nanotechnology, focusing
on nanomaterials and nanoparticles, as with respect to the whole of
nanoscience, these sectors hold the most promise for the future of medicine.
It is tailored towards real-world applications of medical nanotechnologies
with a heavy emphasis on specific examples from the existing literature
available in this area. It is NOT (with the exception of Chapter 10) a
compilation of thoughts and essays describing what may occur in the
realm of nanomedicine in the distant future. The book is written at an
introductory level to allow the student to have a firm grasp of the principles
of nanotechnology first, followed by a discussion on the relationship
between nanoscience and biology, and ending with the majority of the text
outlining medical applications. As much of the content is not considered

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PREFACE TO THE PROFESSOR
to be central scientific dogma but rather exciting yet preliminary research,
the text is often written in review format, giving full credit to researchers
for their published findings and citing appropriate scientific articles. As the
scientific discipline of medical nanoscience advances, it is anticipated that
this text will mature into a more basic and fundamental description of the
field as is the case for biology or chemistry.
I have organized the contents of this book to emphasize the basic
principles of nanotechnology and how they might apply to the betterment
of mankind through an improvement in human health. I point out that
nanoscience, like all disciplines, is not an exact science, and that much of the
material presented is based on hypothesis and backed up by experimental
results. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the published experimental
research and results of key leaders in the field. To accomplish this task, I
have included:
1. A comprehensive description of the basic principles and
definitions of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
2. A breakdown in the origins and chemical makeup of some of the
most widely used nanomaterials and nanoparticles in medical
research.
3. A concentrated focus on detailing the relationship between
nanoscience and biology.
4. Descriptions of and principles behind the most high-profile
nanotechnologies, nanomaterials and nanoparticles currently
studied for applications in medicine.
5. An extensive review of the top five areas of therapeutic focus
involving nanotechnology.
6. An entire section on in vivo targeting of nanoparticles utilizing
cell type-specific ligands.
7. A breakdown of the principles behind the use of nanoparticles
in thermal ablation therapy, emphasizing the most high-profile
published examples.
8. An overview of the use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs in vivo
9. Descriptive explanations behind the principles and detail on
the use of nanomaterials and nanoparticles as contrast agents in
medical diagnostic applications.

PREFACE TO THE PROFESSOR xxiii
10. A glimpse into the future of nanomedicine and what the student
can expect to evolve regarding nanotechnology-based diagnostics
and therapeutics, finishing with the intriguing concept of the
“Singularity.”
This book is organized to naturally transition from a basic understanding
of the principles, including physics, behind, for example, nanoparticles
and nanomaterials, to how these principles might be exploited and used to
treat or at the very least efficiently diagnose human disease or anomalies.
Each chapter introduces topics and vocabulary at a very basic level and
transitions to more advanced coverage as the student’s knowledge level
matures.
Chapter 1 begins with an overview of the origins of nanoscience
and nanotechnology and progresses to explain the physical principles
behind nanostructures and nanotools. Although not related to medicine,
industrial applications of both nanostructures and nanotools are cited as
examples to give the student a firm understanding not only of the benefits
of nanoscience but also about how the physics of nanotechnology can
be exploited for gain. The chapter finishes with a shift in focus towards
the relationship between nanoscience and biology, thus introducing the
student to the major focus of this book.
In Chapter 2, I hope in on the basic potential for nanotechnology,
centered around nanoparticles and nanomaterials, to impact therapeutics,
specifically that in relation to cancer. A breakdown in the types of
nanoparticles currently being explored for cancer treatment primarily
via hyperthermia is presented, with specifics on different modes of
action. In this section I describe the physics, principles and therapeutic
concepts behind the use of nanoparticles, combined with external fields
for thermal ablation. This is followed by a comprehensive breakdown of
targeting nanoparticles to specific sites for tumor cell ablation outlining
targeting agents and targeting moiety attachment. The chapter finishes
with an overview of the use of nanoparticles for anticancer drug delivery,
describing both locally and intravenously applied therapeutic platforms.
Chapter 3 focuses on nanotechnology-driven tissue engineering
applications such as scaffolds for tissue repair. It begins with a breakdown
of the most high-profile types of nanofibers used in scaffold development
and details their compositions. This includes both natural and synthetic
examples. Techniques for the synthesis of certain nanofiber types are

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PREFACE TO THE PROFESSOR
described, such as electrospinning, and the chapter concludes with realworld
examples of nanofiber applications in tissue engineering, such as for
bone and vasculature repair.
Chapter 4 covers the impact that nanotechnology is beginning to
have on neuroscience and the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Examples of neuronal/neural matrices based on nanomaterials are cited
and described. This is followed by a special section on how nanomaterials
might effectively address the age-old problem of therapeutic delivery
across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Specific examples of nanomaterial/
nanoparticle strategies for BBB crossing are described and backed up by
in vivo data from a number of researchers. Chapter 4 also cites examples
of the neuroprotective effects of some nanoparticle systems such as
those designed to be anti-oxidants and finishes with by describing some
intriguing examples of combination nanoparticle/cell carrier strategies for
applications in clinical neuroscience.
Surgery is perhaps the oldest form of medicine known to man and
thus I have dedicated an entire chapter to nanotechnology’s emerging
impact on this field. Chapter 5 begins with a description of the need for
new biocompatible biomedical implant coatings. This is followed by a
description of several nanotechnology-based implant coatings currently
under development, including, for example, those of nanostructured
hydroxyapatite and metalloceramic origins. Surgery is addressed next
with an explanation of the need to better minimize surgical damage and
illustrations of nanotechnologies to address this issue such as nanopulses
and next-generation nanocoatings for surgical instruments. Next the
chapter addresses the need for better wound-healing technologies and
outlines examples of how nanotechnology is already making significant
inroads into this area with applications such as nanosutures, nanofiberbased
bandages and antibiotic nanocoatings. Chapter 5 ends with a look
at laser- and non-laser-based intracellular nanosurgery and how it is
impacting basic biomedical research and may impact therapeutics in the
future.
Chapter 6 tackles both the current potential and limitations of
existing cell culture methods and how nanotechnology may provide new
avenues for growing cells for research purposes as well as cell transplant
therapeutics. A brief history of cell culture is given and the most popular
cells for manipulation in vitro are described. The chapter’s emphasis is on
the development of new cell culture matrices that more effectively mimic

PREFACE TO THE PROFESSOR xxv
the natural in vivo environment. A comparison of 2D vs. 3D cell culture
methods is made illustrating the advantages of 3D for both scale and in
vivo mimicry. Examples of nanomaterial-based scaffolds for cell culture
are cited, including those of both natural and synthetic origin. Techniques
for the efficient cellularization of nanoscaffolds are also described and the
chapter concludes with some unique applications of titanium and magnetic
nanoparticle systems for cell culture.
Chapter 7 is therapeutically centric and focuses on the use of
nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles. The basic principles behind both
active and passive drug delivery are outlined and this is followed by a
thorough description of synthetic and natural nanomaterials currently
under study as drug delivery platforms. Examples include the widely
studied PLGA and PEG synthetic polymers along with some controversial
delivery systems such as fullerenes. It concludes with a section listing and
describing naturally occurring nanomaterials used or under study for drug
delivery such as liposomes and gelatin.
Aside from therapeutic applications, diagnostics is clearly the area of
medicine where nanotechnology holds the most promise. Chapter 8 is
dedicated to nanotechnology-driven advancements in diagnostics that may
allow for earlier and/or more efficient and sensitive detection of disease.
The chapter begins with descriptions and illustrations of examples in in
vitro-based nanodiagnostics such as nanobiochips and nanobiosensors.
Nanolaser spectroscopy and nanoproteomics are also covered in this
section. A detailed breakdown of the most widely studied nanotechnologies
and methods for in vivo nanodiagnostics follows the in vitro section. Gold
and magnetic nanoparticles acted upon by external fields for imagery are
cited as examples, and intriguing research into the use of liposomes and
micelles to deliver metal nanoparticles for in vivo diagnostics concludes
the chapter.
In Chapter 9, I have chosen to focus on governmental influence on
nanotechnology and, where possible, emphasize the effects it is beginning
to have on the emerging field of nanomedicine. The chapter is broken
down into two primary sections. The first illustrates government funding
and promotion of advancements in nanotechnology. The second seeks
to give the student a thorough understanding of government’s attempts
at regulating this rapidly maturing area of science. I have delineated the
growing influence of major world governments on nanotechnology and
have completed both sections with examples of globally and internationally

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PREFACE TO THE PROFESSOR
coordinated efforts at impacting nanotechnology in general and
nanomedicine in particular.
The book concludes with a glimpse into the conceptual future of
nanomedicine in Chapter 10. Here I take many of the more futuristic
concepts and examples regarding medical applications and advancements
of nanotechnology from leading nanoscientists and theoreticists around
the world and describe them in enough detail to capture and peak the
student’s interest and imagination in what may lie ahead for the future of
diagnosis, therapy and nanotechnology itself.
It should be noted that at the end of each chapter I have drafted a set of
key terms in the form of a glossary. In choosing the terms I have attempted
to drive home the most important points made within that chapter’s text.
In addition, I have also listed a review section of questions at the end of
each chapter that are designed to provoke the student’s intellect and grasp
of the contents of that particular chapter. The questions are meant to be
thought-provoking and many may be answered correctly in a number of
different ways given the essay format. The answers to these questions can
be found at www.understandingnano.org. It is up to the discretion of the
professor whether or not to utilize these additions to each chapter, but I am
convinced that if the glossary and review sections are properly studied the
student will have a firm understanding of the most critical concepts from
each chapter and section of this book.
As always, I am most certainly appreciative of comments and criticisms
regarding the content and format of Understanding Nanomedicine: An
Introductory Textbook. If you have input or suggestions pertaining to this
book, I’d love to hear from you as your response will most certainly impact
future editions.
Rob Burgess
www.understandingnano.org

Preface to the Student
As of the writing of this publication there is no introductory textbook
available which sufficiently teaches the emerging concepts and principles
behind nanotechnology and its potential enormous impact on the field of
medicine. The science of nanotechnology is maturing at such a rapid pace
that I feel the time is now to address its most promising area of application,
and that is medicine. It is crucial for the future scientists, researchers and
medical specialists of our time to have a strong grasp and understanding
of both the potential for nanotechnology to revolutionize therapeutics and
diagnostics, and the risks associated with these endeavors. I firmly believe
that if you take the time to study and enjoy this introductory text you will
not only appreciate the future impact that nanotechnology will have on
man’s health and well-being but also begin to form your own concepts and
ideas on how to realize that impact.
With the exception of Chapter 10, I have based this composition of
the concepts and examples presented in this book solely on hard facts and
published data. I have not, for example, glossed over the possibility of
nanoparticle toxicity but rather cited references to it where appropriate.
The book is heavily focused on the use of nanoparticles as thermal ablation
agents or drug delivery vehicles, as these areas are perhaps the largest areas
of focus for nanotechnology with respect to medicine today. In addition,

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PREFACE TO THE STUDENT
as much of the content is not considered to be central scientific dogma but
rather exciting yet preliminary research, the text is often written in review
format, describing profound data and research and giving full credit to
scientists and medical doctors for their published findings by citing
appropriate scientific articles.
The chapters are organized largely as self-contained in subject material,
beginning with non-medical definitions and descriptions of nanotechnology
and transitioning to biology and putative uses of nanotechnology
in medicine. The material transitions from the fundamentals of nanoscience
to applications of those fundamentals and physical properties for the
betterment of medicine and medical research. Each chapter is followed by
a glossary of key terms and a set of review questions. I strongly urge you to
study these in order to gain a thorough understanding of that particular
chapter’s material.
It is also recommended that the assigned material be read and
thoroughly reviewed prior to the corresponding lecture. In addition,
I suggest that you review the key terms at the end of each chapter and
make an attempt at answering the review questions prior to the material
being covered either in class or during study sessions. The answers to
these questions can be found at www.understandingnano.org. This will
allow you to have a basic grasp of the principles and subjects presented
or discussed and make the lecture series more interesting and enjoyable.
Also, take thorough notes in class and recopy those notes, preferably on
the same day to re-emphasize the material. You will retain it longer and
have less difficulty for recall during exams. If you are so inclined it is also
recommended that you reread the text covered by lecture after class to aid
understanding and retention.
Finally, I am always seeking comments, including both praise and
criticism, regarding my manuscripts and publications. I cannot obtain
more legitimate and valuable feedback than from the students for which
this book was written. If you have ideas or suggestions for how I might
make future editions of this book more useful, please contact me.
Rob Burgess
www.understandingnano.org

Reviewers
The author and publisher would like to express their sincere appreciation
to a number of scientists and researchers who have taken considerable time
and effort to assist with the development of this book. Nanotechnology is
a diverse and wide-ranging scientific discipline, and we owe a great deal to
the specialists who reviewed this material:
Rockford K. Draper
Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology and Chemistry
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, Texas
Gareth Hughes
President and CEO
Medical Nanotechnologies, Inc.
Dallas, Texas