We keep writing about the risks involved with nanotechnology, so it’s nice to be able to highlight a potential benefit. Andrew Schneider reports for AOL News that researchers from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have developed a “nanopatch” that can deliver vaccines more effectively than intramuscular injection:
[University of Queensland Professor Mark] Kendall told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the nanopatch is designed to place vaccines directly into the skin, where a “rich body of immune cells are.” A needle, by contrast, injects vaccines into muscles with few immune cells. As a result, the vaccines delivered by nanopatch are more effective, he said.
Cheap, simple, and effective vaccine administration has the potential to dramatically increase immunization rates in underresourced areas. Currently, many agencies struggle to fund struggle to fund vaccination programs that rely on refrigerated vaccines administered by trained professionals. Kendall also points out that easier transportation and administration of nanopatches can speed vaccination when the next pandemic develops. (The kind of fast response he envisions would also require us to overhaul our current vaccine-production system, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Such worthwhile applications of nanotechnology reminds us why we need to get this right — study the risks of nanotechnology, and put appropriate safeguards in place before nanoparticles are omnipresent. If several years from now nanoparticles have become the next asbestos, the chances of successfully promoting this kind of promising application will shrink.
5 comments
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May 16, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Christian Walker
I really like the idea of patches anyway. They are way better then needles.
November 25, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Stop Sweat
This is right now the booming technology and probably in future NANO might be implemented in places where epidemic occurs.
September 16, 2011 at 10:16 am
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Let’s just hope they taste the safety of this in a appropriate matter. In my opinion, we need more education in prevention then anything else.
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November 21, 2011 at 1:17 pm
HECTOR GONZALEZ
The great risk with these new technologies such as the nanoindustry is that they become widespread without taking in consideration all the risks; without an exhaustive study of the benefits versus threats. The benefits, specially the monetary ones, are always evident and that’s the force that impulse its implementation. But a further research related to the hazards for the people should be mandatory every time a new technology it’s ready for use. Nevertheless, a technology of vaccinations that could be used without the infamous needles sounds really great for the consumers and health workers in general, that’s why I hope that a way will be found to administrate it safely. I also hope that new technologies like this one will appear in the health field to help us in many global health issues.