One of the most exciting medical advancements in recent times is Nanomedicine, the development of microscopic particles with healing effects. Dr Ulrike Sucher offers a health insurer's perspective.
Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing area of medical research, a medical application of nanotechnology, which is the science of manipulating matter at
a molecular level.
It will have a significant impact on patients and their insurance cover in the coming years, revolutionising prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus reducing the overall cost of medical care.
Insurance providers who understand the potential of this new technology, and provide cover for the latest approved developments, will be best placed for the future as the practice becomes more prevalent. While nanomedicine is still in a relatively early stage of development, the broader science of nanotechnology has actually been with us for many years.
In Ancient Greece, small lead crystals were used in a permanent hairdying solution, and unbeknown to the Greeks, this was an early form of nanotechnology.
However, the development of modern nanotechnology started in earnest in 1959, when the theoretical physicist Richard Feynman introduced the concept of ‘manoeuvring things atom by atom'. His idea was progressed in subsequent years by the desire to have ever smaller technological devices.
But it was really only in the late 20th century that the idea of manipulating matter at an atomic level was applied to medicine, with the development of nano-based cancer diagnostics and chemotherapy drugs such as Doxil, the first nano-drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995.
Since then, while a substantial number of nanomedicine clinical trials have commenced, there are still only about 20 nano therapeutic formulations approved for use on humans.
The regulatory agencies' approval process is cumbersome, demanding and time consuming. Despite this, it is expected that research and investment by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as government funding, will continue at a rapid pace.
Nanomedicine is still very much in its infancy, but it is one of the most promising areas of medicine in terms of its ability to diagnose and treat serious diseases as nanoparticles function on the same scale as biological processes. Today, nanomedicine provides clinical benefits in several areas of medicine, as shown below.
Diagnostics
The use of nanoparticles in diagnostics is considered one of its main applications in medicine. These particles engage in in the biochemical functioning of particular organs, and the enhanced imaging capabilities gives insights never available before, enabling a faster and more specific diagnosis.
Diagnostic kits that do not require refrigeration or sophisticated equipment are in development for diseases such as tuberculosis or malaria, which can be used in underdeveloped areas and at a significantly reduced cost.
Cancer
Conventional cancer diagnosis and treatment still relies heavily on invasive biopsies/surgery and non-targeted chemotherapy and radiation. This represents significant collateral damage to healthy tissue, resulting in unpleasant side effects, long hospital stays and high costs. Nanoparticle-based diagnostics are more sensitive and specific, offering an earlier cancer diagnosis than before, as well as therapeutics that selectively target specific tumours.
Cardiovascular Disease
Sensitive nanoparticles detect biomarkers, enabling the earliest diagnosis of coronary disease, even before any symptoms occur. Research in this area is currently focusing on tissue regeneration of heart valves.
Neurological Diseases
Due to their small size, nanoparticles can penetrate the brain, enabling drugs to be delivered directly to the affected brain cells and fibres. This is a critical advantage over conventional drugs which are blocked by the blood-brain barrier due to their larger molecular size.
Other Diseases
High cholesterol, macular degeneration (which can lead to blindness), hepatitis B and C, auto-immune diseases, multiple sclerosis, diabetes type I and many other diseases are already being treated with nanomedicine.
For example, Tricor for hypercholesterinemia; Paliperidone, the first long-acting injection for schizophrenia; Rapamune, a highly selective anti-rejection drug used after transplants; and Visudyne for macular degeneration. Tissue engineering is another promising area of research, whereby nanoparticles are used to create a scaffolding for stem cells to produce new organs.
