Fundamental Biomedical Technologies – serie

This text book will bring together a mix of both internationally known and established senior scientists along side up and coming (but already accomplished) junior scientists that have varying expertise in fundamental and applied nanotechnology to biology and medicine.

Nanobiotechnology of Biomimetic Membranes describes the current state of research and development in biomimetic membranes for nanobiotechnology applications. The application areas in nanobiotechnology range from novel nanosensors, to novel methods for sorting and delivering bio-active moleculres, to novel drug-delivery systems. The success of these applications relies on a good understanding of the interaction and incorporation of macromoleculres in membranes and the funamental properties of the membrane itself.

The current generation of imaging nanoparticles is diverse and dependent on its myriad of applications. This book provides an overview of how these imaging particles can be designed to fulfill specific requirements for applications across different imaging modalities. It presents, for the first time, a comprehensive interdisciplinary overview of the impact nanoparticles have on biomedical imaging and is a common central resource for researchers and teachers.

The use of various pharmaceutical carriers to enhance the in vivo efficiency of many drugs and drug administration protocols has been well established during the last decade in both pharmaceutical research and clinical setting. Surface modification of pharmaceutical nanocarriers, such as liposome, micelles, na- capsules, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid particles, and niosomes, is normally used to control their biological properties in a desirable fashion and to simulta- ously make them perform various therapeutically or diagnostically important functions. The most important results of such modification include an increased stability and half-life of drug carriers in the circulation, required biodistribution, passive or active targeting into the required pathological zone, responsiveness to local physiological stimuli, and ability to serve as contrast agents for various imaging modalities (gamma-scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultra-sonography).Frequent surface modifiers (used separately or simultaneously) include soluble synthetic polymers (to achieve carrier longevity); specific ligands, such as antibodies, peptides, folate, transferrin, and sugar moieties (to achieve targeting effect); pH- or temperature-sensitive lipids or polymers (to impart stimuli sensitivity); chelating compounds, such as EDTA, DTPA, and deferoxamine (to add a heavy metal-based diagnostic/contrast moiety onto a drug carrier). Certainly, new or modified pharmaceutical carriers (nanocarriers) as well as their use for the delivery of various drugs and genes are still described in many publications.

The current generation of imaging nanoparticles is diverse and dependent on its myriad of applications. This book provides an overview of how these imaging particles can be designed to fulfill specific requirements for applications across different imaging modalities. It presents, for the first time, a comprehensive interdisciplinary overview of the impact nanoparticles have on biomedical imaging and is a common central resource for researchers and teachers.

The use of various pharmaceutical carriers to enhance the in vivo efficiency of many drugs and drug administration protocols has been well established during the last decade in both pharmaceutical research and clinical setting. Surface modification of pharmaceutical nanocarriers, such as liposome, micelles, na- capsules, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid particles, and niosomes, is normally used to control their biological properties in a desirable fashion and to simulta- ously make them perform various therapeutically or diagnostically important functions. The most important results of such modification include an increased stability and half-life of drug carriers in the circulation, required biodistribution, passive or active targeting into the required pathological zone, responsiveness to local physiological stimuli, and ability to serve as contrast agents for various imaging modalities (gamma-scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultra-sonography).Frequent surface modifiers (used separately or simultaneously) include soluble synthetic polymers (to achieve carrier longevity); specific ligands, such as antibodies, peptides, folate, transferrin, and sugar moieties (to achieve targeting effect); pH- or temperature-sensitive lipids or polymers (to impart stimuli sensitivity); chelating compounds, such as EDTA, DTPA, and deferoxamine (to add a heavy metal-based diagnostic/contrast moiety onto a drug carrier). Certainly, new or modified pharmaceutical carriers (nanocarriers) as well as their use for the delivery of various drugs and genes are still described in many publications.

Nanobiotechnology of Biomimetic Membranes describes the current state of research and development in biomimetic membranes for nanobiotechnology applications. The application areas in nanobiotechnology range from novel nanosensors, to novel methods for sorting and delivering bio-active moleculres, to novel drug-delivery systems. The success of these applications relies on a good understanding of the interaction and incorporation of macromoleculres in membranes and the funamental properties of the membrane itself.

This text book will bring together a mix of both internationally known and established senior scientists along side up and coming (but already accomplished) junior scientists that have varying expertise in fundamental and applied nanotechnology to biology and medicine.

This book covers the state-of-the-art research on advanced high-resolution tomography, exploring its role in regenerative medicine.

This book highlights cutting-edge studies in the development of cell-inspired biomaterials and synthetic materials that manipulate cell functions and provide the next generation with contemporary tools for treating complex human diseases. It explores the convergence of synthetic materials with cell and molecular biology and surveys how functional materials, when patterned with spatial and temporal precision, can be used effectively to maintain cell proliferation and phenotype in vitro, to trigger specific cell functions, and to redirect cell-fate decisions. Human stem cells are a frequently discussed subject in this book. This is an ideal book for students, cell biologists, researchers interested in interdisciplinary research, and biomedical engineers.This book also:Highlights successfully developed technologies in cell engineering that make possible new therapeutic development for previously untreatable conditionsCovers topics including bio-inspired micropatterning, DNA origami technology, synthetic NOS inspired by compartmentalized signaling in cells, and light-induced depolarization of the cell membraneIllustrates in detail the use of stem cells and synthetic scaffolds to model ethically sensitive embryonic tissues and organs

This book highlights cutting-edge studies in the development of cell-inspired biomaterials and synthetic materials that manipulate cell functions and provide the next generation with contemporary tools for treating complex human diseases. It explores the convergence of synthetic materials with cell and molecular biology and surveys how functional materials, when patterned with spatial and temporal precision, can be used effectively to maintain cell proliferation and phenotype in vitro, to trigger specific cell functions, and to redirect cell-fate decisions. Human stem cells are a frequently discussed subject in this book. This is an ideal book for students, cell biologists, researchers interested in interdisciplinary research, and biomedical engineers.This book also:Highlights successfully developed technologies in cell engineering that make possible new therapeutic development for previously untreatable conditionsCovers topics including bio-inspired micropatterning, DNA origami technology, synthetic NOS inspired by compartmentalized signaling in cells, and light-induced depolarization of the cell membraneIllustrates in detail the use of stem cells and synthetic scaffolds to model ethically sensitive embryonic tissues and organs

The increasing use of implants in the body for various therapeutic purposes has created a need to know the exact function of these implants while inside the body. This book highlights the recent advances in communication technologies, and discusses the development of implants that have the capacity to communicate with the outside world and inform care providers of the status of the implant. Health data collected from implants using such communication is of great importance to advancing research for a new generation of smart implants. This book explores how the control of implants remotely is also increasingly important, especially where intervention is needed, or if controlled release of active substances are required. The chapters cover types of implants where communication may be used, communication strategies, communication tools, powering, data acquisition, management and security, standardization, approvals, clinical translation, as well as current challenges and future research directions.This comprehensive book focuses specifically on communicating medical implants, thereby serving as a reference for basic scientists, electrical engineers, people working with sensors and communication technologies, information technology, healthcare providers, and clinicians.

It can be argued that drugs generated using the conventional means of drug development (i.e., relying on facile biodistribution and activity after (preferably) oral administration) are not suitable for a target-specific delivery and would not benefit from such delivery even when a seemingly perfect delivery system is available.

This book provides an overview of the types, sources, and applications of stem cells in regenerating various ocular tissues, with a perspective on both potential applications of stem cells and possible challenges.

This book features a special subsection of Nanomedicine, an application of nanotech­nology to achieve breakthroughs in healthcare. It exploits the improved and often novel physical, chemical and biological properties of materials only existent at the nanometer scale. As a consequence of small scale, nanosystems in most cases are efficiently uptaken by cells and appear to act at the intracellular level. Nanotechnology has the potential to improve diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of diseases, and includes targeted drug delivery and regenerative medicine; it creates new tools and methods that impact sig­nificantly upon existing conservative practices. This volume is a collection of authoritative reviews. In the introductory section we define the field (intracellular delivery). Then, the fundamental routes of nanode­livery devices, cellular uptake, types of delivery devices, particularly in terms of localized cellular delivery, both for small drug molecules, macromolecular drugs and genes; at the academic and applied levels, are covered. The following section is dedicated to enhancing delivery via special targeting motifs followed by the introduction of different types of intracellular nanodelivery devices (e.g. a brief description of their chemistry) and ways of producing these different devices. Finally, we put special emphasis on particular disease states and on other biomedical applications, whilst diagnostic and sensing issues are also included.Intracellular delivery / therapy is a highlytopical which will stir great inter­est. Intracellular delivery enables much more efficient drug delivery since the impact (on different organelles and sites) is intracellular as the drug is not supplied externally within the blood stream. There is great potential for targeted delivery with improved localized delivery and efficacy.

This volume is a continuation of Volume 1 following the previously published Editorial. More emphasis is given to novel nanocarrier designs, their characterization and function, and applications for drug discovery and treatment. A number of chapters will deal with nanofibers as a new major application within the biomedical field with a very high success rate particularly in wound healing and diabetic foot and spine injuries. A major new subdivision will deal with mathematical methods for the assembly of nanocarriers both for simulation and function.