Respiratory Research: Like two sides of the same coin,
nanotechnology
can be both boon and bane for respiratory medicine. Nanomaterials open
new ways in diagnostics and treatment of lung diseases. Nanoparticle
based drug delivery systems can help against diseases such as lung
cancer, tuberculosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, nanoparticles
can be loaded with DNA and act as vectors for gene therapy in diseases
like cystic fibrosis. Even lung diagnostics with computer tomography
(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) profits from new nanoparticle
based contrast agents. However, the risks of
nanotechnology
also have to be taken into consideration as engineered nanomaterials
resemble natural fine dusts and fibers, which are known to be harmful
for the respiratory system in many cases. Recent studies have shown that
nanoparticles in the respiratory tract can influence the immune system,
can create oxidative stress and even cause genotoxicity. Another
important aspect to assess the safety of
nanotechnology
based products is the absorption of nanoparticles. It was demonstrated
that the amount of pulmonary nanoparticle uptake not only depends on
physical and chemical nanoparticle characteristics but also on the
health status of the organism. The huge diversity in
nanotechnology could revolutionize medicine but makes safety assessment a challenging task.
