Nanomedicine in questions and Answers
On-line conference: "Application of nanotechnology in medicine"Published on 30.03.2010 on the NanoNewsNet website – thanks to the comrades for making me move my brains (A.Ch. :)
In the period from February 8 to February 19, 2010, visitors to our portal asked their questions, which were to be answered by scientists, businessmen and specialists in the field of biotechnology and medicine. But all those who initially agreed to participate, after seeing the questions, refused, citing either employment or their narrow specialization.
And so, after almost a month and a half, a volunteer was found (very respected by us for humor and a high level of competence – approx. NNN), who had enough time and knowledge to answer all the questions asked by readers.
Alexander Chubenko "by origin" is a biologist (in 1979 he graduated from the biology faculty of LSU with a degree in human and animal physiology). He worked in the specialty at the Research Institute of Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Diseases and other medical institutions.
In 2000, he poorly wrote the first popular science book on medicine, then the second, third, eighth... In 2003, unexpectedly for himself, he became the content editor of the Commercial Biotechnology website, then switched to another - with the ambitious title "Eternal Youth" and about the same topic.
#1Where is breast cancer treated?
How much does it cost?
Malyuta Lyudmila Grigorievna — 09.02.2010 11:51Where is breast cancer treated?
In the nearest oncological clinic, at the oncologist-mammologist
How much does it cost?
Depending on many factors. Ask comrades from the Union of Cancer Organizations of Russia "Together against Cancer" and from the charity program "Together against Breast Cancer", hotline: 8 800 200 70 07 (free for all regions of Russia).
#2What is new in the issue of restoring vision completely lost after injuries.
Sergey Pronenko, not working — 09.02.2010 13:02There are different ways to completely lose your eyesight.
The cornea is restored with the help of stem cells, but so far this is clinical research, and after how many years this and other methods of restoring vision will become publicly available, it is unknown. Deeper injuries are caused by an implant from a tooth, and several dozen such operations have been performed. Several systems of artificial retinas are being developed and tested on the first volunteers, but their mass introduction is also not in the coming years. There is even a BrainPort system – on the "Membrane" it was recently once again written about, with signals from the video camera to the tongue.
#3
Is it possible to use nanotechnology to create drugs based on monaclonal antibodies that interact with receptor molecules in the affected organ, but not systemically?
elena, doctor — 10.02.2010 08:15There have been a lot of such works in recent years, mainly for oncology (here, for example, here, etc. – look for yourself, just type in the "Search" window without typos, mon about clonal).
#4
This is the question that has arisen – everyone is just talking about nanotechnology, especially in medicine =) Can you name the real terms of the introduction and use of this technology in the Russian Federation and how exactly the technologies will be used?
Thank you in advance for the answer!
---
Sincerely, Dmitry!
Dmitry, student — 10.02.2010 16:33For example, a recent Rusnano press release says: "The production of liposomes based on doxorubicin, lysomustin, cyfelin, aranose, bacteriochlorin, as well as immunoliposomes and monoclonal antibodies is scheduled for 2013-2014."
And what kind of technologies will be used is too global a question. You can read, for example, the collection "Nanotechnology in biology and Medicine" (St. Petersburg, ed. "Lubavitch", 2009, 320 p.). True, it is written in heavy scientific language and has a circulation of 3000, but, according to rumors, it will soon appear on pirate websites.
There is a short and popular review of "Nanoparticles in medicine and pharmaceuticals". If this is not enough, read the materials on the tag "nanomedicine" on our website, and look in the headings – there is also a lot of stuff on this topic.
#5
Are nanotechnologies used in the treatment of stomach cancer? Are there any examples? How to get information about possible treatment if we live in a small town, far from major medical centers.
Thanks for the answer!
Olga , studetka — 11.02.2010 14:15If you did not ask such a question out of empty curiosity, I am very sorry, but I have not heard about any fundamental breakthroughs in the treatment of stomach cancer – neither with the help of nanotechnology, nor drugs based on monoclonal antibodies, nor personal vaccines ("trained" for a specific tumor of the cells of the patient's own immune system).
The main method of treatment is surgical, chemotherapy drugs are used either after surgery or in inoperable cases. The prognosis, alas, is much less favorable than in many other forms of cancer – including due to the fact that stomach cancer is rarely detected in the early stages.
Just in case – here is a relatively simple and sensible manual for medical students and, it seems, also a sensible and understandable article, even quite non-specialists, clearly pirated scanned (and with unrecorded typos) from some medical journal - of course, not for self–medication, but to know your maneuver.
And most importantly, as with any other diseases, especially cancer: no folk recipes, dietary supplements and quack drugs from "brilliant scientists who are not recognized as stagnant official medicine."
#6how is this a nanorobot?????
lubo tashev, student — 12.02.2010 21:32Yes, so, nanorobot, you know!
With nanolaps, nanotubes and nanodumer. With a nanopropeller in a nanopop. And also with a mega-multiplier to turn everything-everything-everything into gray slime!!!
But seriously, smart people are not lazy to even analyze this fantastic idea and explain to others (also smart) why nanorobots are nothing more than a dream. Here, for example, various nano-fantasies are well disassembled, and in paragraph 3.2. – specifically nanorobots. Well, to show off – here is the article "The future of medicine: biotech or nanotech?" in "Science and Life". However, in it my opinion about crazy nanomechters is set out extremely delicately, and in personal correspondence with Yura, from which this article grew, I did not even put dots :).
#7
The means used in the fight against cancer cost a lot of money. Will nanotechnology be more accessible?
And what are the forecasts of development in Russia?
Thank you in advance.
Ekaterina, student (programmer) — 13.02.2010 20:05It is hoped that traditional and new chemopreparations in nanopackage will not only be more effective and harmless (primarily due to targeted delivery), but also cheaper than the current ones (due to lower consumption of active substances).
But it is unlikely several times: medicines should be rolled up in nanoparticles, wrapped in a layer of antibodies specific to cancer cell proteins, etc. – and this is also high-tech, and not cheap.
But there is also good news: in a recent article in Plant Biotechnology Journal, the authors promise to reduce the cost of therapeutic proteins by 2 orders of magnitude (!) – see "Production of biological products: the future belongs to algae!".
And in Russia…
On the one hand, read the last paragraph of Rusnano's press release.
On the other hand, compare the pitiful sums given in this release with the well–known cost of drug development: on average, one billion pindobucks per new drug. And read the pessimistic article "Is it possible to resurrect the Russian pharmaceutical industry?" (in three parts)
Damn it, even the production of ascorbic acid has died in Russia – and we are importing it from China, so I, as a well-informed optimist :), do not believe in the implementation of programs like Pharma 2020. I still remember the program "Housing – two thousand", and even communism in 1980…
#8When will the allocated money finally be looted, they will announce that the development of nanotechnology, like state corporations, was an unsuccessful investment and will continue to quietly sell oil?
We live in Russia! :)
Sergey, unemployed — 02/15/2010 10:25I completely agree with you, comrade!
Only oil was sold and is being sold, and for the proceeds, in particular, Gryzlov and his entire E-Russia, despite the howl raised by both specialists (nanotechnologists and water purifiers) and the press, is going to finance (in an unknown amount, it varies by orders of magnitude from different sources) non-working nanofilters..gr.Petrika.
Rusnano Chubais threatens vouchers ... that is, to privatize already in the 15th year, but where else to invest oil tanks with benefit for themselves, the servants of the people will surely find.
#9
What are the prospects for the use of nanotechnology for the treatment of injuries, damaged tissues, restoration of bones and cartilage. Especially interested in the issue of recovery in intervertebral hernia.
Pavel — 02/15/2010 11:47Here, the main hopes are for stem cells (here, for example), and nanotechnology in this area often plays an important, but still auxiliary role (for example, here and here).
Or the fashionable prefix "nano" is attributed to facilitate the receipt of a grant – as here.
A short and clear overview of cellular technologies in the restoration of intervertebral cartilage – here. 2006, but nothing has changed fundamentally since then. If you want to make sure, type in the search on celltranspl.ru "intervertebral". And while doctors continue clinical studies, suspicious clinics offer to treat everything with cells, including intervertebral hernia. I don't recommend it. Except to get somewhere for clinical trials, but those who conduct them usually select volunteers themselves – including in order for the group to be homogeneous. And whether such studies are conducted in Russia, I have not heard. Probably not :(.
#10
What are the developments in dentistry? Will nanotechnology allow you to exploit your own teeth all your life?
Karen, 38 years old — 02/15/2010 18:31Read the latest review "Nanotechnology and nanomaterials: application in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery".
And the 2nd part of the note "Nanoparticles for medicine" is about nanopowder for super–grinding teeth to such a smoothness that carious monsters do not stay on them.
Plus biotech again: vaccines against Streptococcus mutans, toothpastes with bacteriophages against them, strains that do not secrete acids and are able to displace wild-type microbes from the oral cavity…
And, nevertheless, "your own all your life" is unlikely, under any technology:(
And do not read the articles on the rights of advertising about toothpaste, in which very, very nano-oligopeptides are added - poured Badovtiratelstvo.
#11The introduction of such progressive technologies into medicine, as well as other technologies, has always caused and causes extreme disapproval on the part of biased bioconservatives.
The example of stem cells, the study of which presents a number of ethical problems, will be indicative. What programs are planned and implemented as part of the integration of nanotechnology into medicine, as well as the safety of such integration (in particular due to the toxicity of nanoparticles)?
Eldar — 02/15/2010 18:38As in the case of genetic engineering, experts understand the potential danger of nanoparticles better than the "greens" and consumer societies (those, however, shout louder :).
And not only in medicine: there, testing for toxicity is one of the first stages of the development of any drugs. Methods for assessing the risks associated with the production and use of nanomaterials and ways to minimize them are being developed. Roszdravnadzor, Rospotrebnadzor, and other supervisors are vigilant. Briefly and succinctly about the situation in the world – in the review "Nanomedicine: apply, but check", and there is also a hyperlink to EMERGNANO, a 200–page report by British nanotechnologists on all aspects of nanosecurity.
#12
4to takoe nanotexnologiya
shoha — 16.02.2010 20:24Kakov vopros – takov otvet : eto o4en'-o4en' sil'noe koldunstvo belogo ryzhego 4eloveka!
#13Will there be developments in Russia in terms of symbiosis of electronics (microcomputers, sensors, etc.) with the human body?
Mikhail, student — 02/16/2010 21:21Oh, I doubt it…
In any case, according to the "bionics" tag on our website, there are a couple of dozen materials on this topic (and as many more on others), but there are no Russian developments there. And I really want to divide the tag "science in Russia" into 2: "halvahalva" and "heroveinekuda":(
Especially – posting such articles: one, two, three... twenty... Mnogabukaf can not be overpowered, just look at the chart tables…
#14It is better to use laser technology for the treatment of cancer diseases.
and all your nanotechnology consists in creating nanofilms that are unique in their properties.
Konstantin, Engineer-physicist, (specialty 140301) — 02/16/2010 23:44Our nanotechnology is able to do a lot of unique techniques for the treatment of cancer diseases.
And as for "laser is not a technology, however," – judge, my friend, no higher than a boot (C).
#15how to cure lung cancer
sergey, political strategist — 17.02.2010 13:45See above, about breast and stomach cancer.
The detectability is slightly better than with stomach cancer, but the probability of a complete cure is about the same.
And since there are so many oncological issues here, I will allow myself to outline the problem in more detail by the way.
Anti–cancer drugs based on nanoparticles are still at different stages of clinical trials, from cell cultures to animals, at best - in the first phase of clinical trials, on a small group of hopeless patients.
New generations of anti–cancer drugs are not necessarily nanotechnology. First of all, these are drugs based on monoclonal antibodies (about two dozen are approved and used, a bunch more are being developed, including with the fashionable prefix "nano".
An even younger direction is personal anti–cancer vaccines, and weakened tumor cells similar to classical vaccines, and cells of the same immune system "trained" on the tumor cells of a particular patient, and implants made of nanoporous material with proteins characteristic of the tumor-antigens and signaling substances – cytokines that stimulate the activity of the immune system.
The newest of cancer treatment methods is gene therapy, including with the help of microRNAs rolled into nanocapsules that block the work of key genes of cancer cells.
#16
Will the stavrinol nanopreparation be used soon for the mass treatment of cancer
Irina Petrova, microbiologist — 17.02.2010 14:06This drug is an obvious quackery.
It was discussed in sufficient detail in the community "Scientific Kunstkamera". And here is the first–hand information. In my opinion, this is enough, but if not, Google, maybe you will find something else besides suspicious advertising of this non-drug and swearing at its manufacturers and sellers.
It was with great chagrin that I saw an advertisement for stavrinol on Nanonews Network.
Administration! I suggest you ask a friend not to disgrace your site and remove this topic from your blog.
#17What can you say about the artificial cultivation of organs, as well as about the possibility of printing them on a bioprinter?
What forecasts can you give on the timing of the introduction of such technologies into everyday medical practice?
sergey — 17.02.2010 16:13I can say too much about artificial organ cultivation :)
– in order not to repeat myself, I can offer my article "Engineers of human bodies" in Popular Mechanics and "Fangs and claws from stem cells" in the Computer. True, for 3 and 2 years they have become outdated, but not by much, and most of the latest information can be found on our page with the tag "artificial organs" (there is also about bioprinters).
I have no doubts about the possibility of three-dimensional bioprinting, but it is more difficult with forecasts. I think that the first relatively simple organs, like large blood vessels and bladders, will be printed in 5-10 years, and the introduction into the clinic will begin well if in another 10-15. Medicine is a conservative science, clinical studies of techniques fully developed on animals do not take less than 10 years. Printing complex organs like hearts, eyes or limbs (at least fingers) is much more difficult – accordingly, the implementation time will be longer, but by one and a half times or ten times – I don't know. The main difficulty here, in my opinion, is to provide such an artificial organ with full–fledged innervation and, even more difficult, the integration of these nerves with the recipient's nervous system. A possible solution is to print "semi–finished products" with subsequent growth in the patient's body, directly on the spot or in the abdominal cavity, etc.
#18Will nanotechnology help purify the lungs of heavy smokers?
Vadim Tetenkov, collector of power transformers — 17.02.2010 20:44I can only answer the question with a question: is this a joke or an amazing naivety?
I can also advise electronic cigarettes – the same in some ways even useful (!) an alkaloid and no tar and other filth. Or take general health courses once or twice a year in a pulmonological sanatorium or day hospital.
Still, they say, you can throw ... I, however, am far from Mark Twain – he did it 20 times, and I did it only 5 times, but, alas, with the same result: (.
#19"cordyceps-containing bioimmunoenergoregulators,
(elixirs made by nanotechnology -extract from higher mushrooms Cordyceps, Lingzhi, Shiitake ...)"
Answer me, is this nonsense? In this way, they say, infertility is treated.
Yuri, Worker — 17.02.2010 21:06Utter nonsense.
All this (censored) is very, very helpful for obese wallets. From everything else – not a bit, even if you stuff them into the smallest nanoparticles.
#20Will outsiders be able to make changes to the assembly language and is there a possibility of viruses for them?
Dmitry, student (programmer) — 02/18/2010 15:55The virus for the assembler should have a size of no more than 100 nanobytes :)
Actually, it's not a bad idea – for a fantastic story. Since these assemblers themselves are nothing more than a dream (see above, #6). Besides, it's not sci-fi enough. But it is not harmful either: I am sure that no one will ever build any nanorobots, but a lot of useful results will be obtained on the way to this unattainable goal.
#21You can simply type in the Yandex search engine the name "Dorogov's Drug" And there is a lot of information there.
But I tried to find the drugs Vesugen and Ovagen produced by the St. Petersburg Research Institute, but it was useless. Neither on the Internet, nor even in pharmacies, they can not be bought. But on TV on the Phoenix channel very often they talk about them and give a phone number in Moscow 9679998 I called, but they are so expensive that I don't know who can buy them? 220 units for 20 tablets, t e package. And why aren't they on the public network? And why such actors as Yankovsky, Samokhina and many others die with such drugs. After all, 220 y. e is just pennies for them.Okay, we're in such a remote place that it will never reach us. Well, Muscovites, Petersburgers why do they die from the same stroke, heart attack, when, as I was told by the specified number, I should drink 3 packages of vesugen, as my vessels will be like a baby's. And this is the main thing. And Ovagen for the liver is only 1 package and that's it. So Dorogov's drug also works at the cellular level, only it is very unpleasant to drink it. But my grandchildren, who suffered from all sorts of acute respiratory infections, I treated only them. Instantly helps. Angina has been gone for a year, ASD-2 was rinsed, skin diseases passed with ASD-3. If the stomach is sick, they themselves ask "Baba, give me a stinky" And you know when the gastrointestinal tract is open, how it takes off with your hand. I also take off the temperature of my grandchildren with this. It costs 200 rubles 100 gr bottle.It is sold in the vetaptek, produced by the Armavir plant. So why are these vaunted peptides inaccessible to the people???
galina, pensioner — 02/18/2010 16:28And it's good that they are unavailable.
If you are really a pensioner Galina, I really sympathize with you: pacifiers under the guise of miraculous remedies for all diseases are all these bastards (I cannot and do not want to choose a more delicate definition!) they are diligently selling to everyone they can, and above all, to pensioners. For heartbreaking details, see our tags "dietary supplements" and "pseudo-medicines".
There are a lot of interesting and useful things for developing immunity to pseudo–medicines in my favorite "Scientific Kunstkamera" under the tags "healing", "scammers",
"dangerous scum" and "medical freaks". Especially this topic is impressive, in another feed, farma_fake. And there is a lot of useful information about such miracle remedies in the "anti-national medicine" community.
I am only tormented by doubt that you are not a deceived pensioner Galina, but a cunning and unscrupulous distributor of this rubbish among pensioners Galina. Your question is very similar to the hidden advertising of fake medicines – dietary supplements, among others, and this technique is constantly used, pretending to be a not very educated grandmother from the village of the Hinterland…
#22Which institutes in the Russian Federation are engaged in nanotechnology in the field of ophthalmology for the restoration of vision.
Where you can follow the developments and go to the experiments
Sergey Pronenko, Not working — 02/19/2010 08:51"Restoring vision" is too vague (see #2).
The causes of visual impairment, in addition to injuries, there are dozens of only the most common, starting with nearsightedness and farsightedness. Neither nanotechnology nor genetic engineering in this area is practically not engaged in in Russia. Except with cellular technologies, but so sluggish that you can't even see through a microscope. If you clarify your problem, it may be possible to advise a clinic where they can try to cure it. And it is almost impossible to get to the experiments : ( see at the end of the answer #9 ):
#23How do you feel about Vlad Bykov's film "Nanomedicine.
The species limit of man"?
And the second question:
Tell us about the problems of super- and artificial intelligence.
Thanks.
Nail, Nanopoisk — 02/19/2010 13:32I haven't seen the film, but judging by the annotations, this is an advertisement for the aforementioned dental nanopast, as well as peptides for all diseases and for prolonging life, which I am, to put it mildly, very skeptical about.
And this is not only my personal opinion – in the above-mentioned "Scientific Kunstkamera" there is a review of materials about these advertised peptides with quotes from the statements of authoritative figures of medicine.
By the way, these oligopeptides have nothing to do with nanomedicine, they just added a buzzword again, since the chain of two to five amino acids has the appropriate dimensions.
Tell us about the problems of super- and artificial intelligence.
Right here, in a quick way, in five minutes to review these problems? Let's do it another time, and in a conference on artificial superintelligence, and not on nanomedicine.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru31.03.2010