Biomedical applications of nanotechnology : exploratory research on the use of one dimensional nanostructures

Abstract

Studies related to the use of nanoscaled materials in biomedical science and engineering research is at the forefront of research in medicine. Applied research in nanotechnology, particularly as related to medicine, is central to advance new technologies to improve our quality of life. Applied research usually identifies a specific need and is followed by applied research in a laboratory setting. The success of the applied research to treat a condition usually dictates further experiments related to toxicology and animals before the nanotechnology is explored in humans. This dissertation summarizes the results of exploratory research at the laboratory scale on the effect of one dimensional nanostructures as a tool to (1) prevent rupture of aneurysms and (2) facilitate neuron growth and communication. One dimensional silver nanostructures (Ag 1d) are assembled from the reaction of silver nitrate with mercapto acetic acid and water. Dry deposits of the dispersion results in the formation of nanofibers with an optical absorption spectrum similar to the one reported for Ag nanowires in the literature. We found that Ag 1d nanostructures formed on blood vessels ex situ increase their resistance toward deformation. We estimate an elastic modulus between 1 and 3 x 103 N/m2 and 0.15 x 103 N/m2 for the blood vessels modified with the silver nanofibers and control, respectively. We also investigated the effect of Ag1d nanostructures in the growth and development of Rat Embryonic Dorsal Root Ganglion (ReDRG) cells cultures. We found that ReDRG growth and proliferation on control and Ag 1D nanostructures is similar. The Ag 1d reduced the attachment of Schwann cells to the neuron cell bodies and axons as compared to the control.

El desarrollo de nuevos nanomateriales y sus distintas propiedades los hacen blanco de interés en la investigación científica para su aplicación dentro de áreas como la medicina, bioingeniería, biotecnología, entre otras. El desarrollo de nuevas técnicas a través de la implementación de investigación exploratoria que permitan ampliar el conocimiento sobre la aplicabilidad de estos nanomateriales a un problema en específico es de alto interés científico. Nanomateriales unidimensionales han sido estudiados en aplicaciones relacionadas a implantes de huesos, piel y tejido cerebral. Nanostructuras uni-dimensionales de plata son han sido desarrolladas y sus aplicaciones en se encuentran bajo estudio. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de nuestra investigación en la implementación de nano estructuras uni-dimensionales de plata como herramienta para 1) prevenir la ruptura de aneurismas y 2) facilitar el crecimiento de células del sistema nervioso y su comunicación.