Book review

This book belongs to the series 'Perspectives in Nanotechnology' of CRC Press. It is a scientific encyclopedic monograph and, at the same time, a practical guide on two overlapping, closely related, very promising, recently emerging and rapidly developing areas of science and technology: medical nanotechnology consisting of a variety of nanoscale technologies applied to medicine and biomedical engineering, and nanomedicine being a newly emerging area of medicine which was created on the basis of the achievements of the research of molecular processes at the cellular level.

The book consists of three parts. Part I with the title 'Perspectives' has three short chapters. In chapter 1 the author presents the scientific basis of medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine and discusses their societal implications. The main content of chapter 2 is the brief history of nanomedicine and the milestones of medical nanotechnology. The research initiatives, important publications, organizations, scientific meetings on medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine are listed in chapter 3.

Part II with the title 'Beginning of Medical Nanotechnology' can be considered as a comprehensive presentation of the status quo of the successfully performed applications of nanotechnology in medicine and biomedical engineering. It consists of six chapters. In chapter 4 the author presents the impacts of nanotechnology on medicine, the natural evolution from physics, chemistry and bioscience to nanomedicine and the architecture of medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine. The other five chapters of part II are five encyclopedic bibliographical reviews on the advances in five main topics of medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine.

In chapter 5 'Medication: Nanoparticles for Imaging and Drug Delivery', after introducing general requirements for the use of nanoparticles, the author presents a review on nanoparticles for x-ray and tomography imaging as well as for the enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging, nanodots for quantum resonance effects, nanoparticles for enhancing IR, visible, UV, ultrasound and optoacoustic imaging, for targeted imaging and energy delivery, such as photothermal and photodynamic therapy. A major part of this chapter is a review on nanoparticles for drug delivery either by direct application of nanoparticles in therapy or by targeted drug delivery. Different examples of cellular nanomachinery targeted by nanodrug are presented. The materials for fabricating drug delivery nanosystems are reviewed: nanocrystal, albumin-based particles, colloids, emulsions, gels, nanodiamonds, fibers, nanotubes, dendrimer, polymer-based particles, polymer-conjugates, polymeric micelles, liposomes, nanocapsules, etc. The therapeutic applications of nanoparticles are also presented with the attention on cancer therapy.

The content of chapter 6 'Intervention: Nanotechnology in Reconstructive Intervention and Surgery' is the presentation on the nanoengineered materials in surgical and restorative applications, the use of endoscopic microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) for bridging the gap between drugs and surgery, and robotic technology in surgery.

Chapter 7 'Regeneration: Nanomaterials for Tissue Regeneration' is a review on the application of nanotechnology in tissue regeneration. After presenting on the biomaterials for tissue regeneration, the author reviews the application of nanotechnology in tissue engineering, bioactive scaffold-guided tissue regeneration, cellular signaling, cell transplants, stem cell-based therapies and tissue engineering, and nanoencapsulation of cells and tissues. The following topics are then reviewed: nanomaterials for nerve regeneration by means of tissue engineering, nanoengineered materials for brain regeneration, nanoengineered scaffolding with cells for central nervous system regeneration, and new developments in cell therapy accelerated by nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Chapter 8 with the title 'Restoration: Nanotechnology in Tissue Replacements and Prosthetics' is a review on the materials which have been used for implants, for tissue and organ replacements, and for prosthetics. Various nanomaterials in the form of nanofibrous and nanoporous thin-film scaffolds have been fabricated and used. The nanomaterials are: carbon nanotubes, titanium dioxide, viral and virus-like nanoparticles. They are fabricated by various technologies: layer-by-layer self-assembly, nanoskiving technique combining top-down and bottom-up approaches, and self-assembly on the macromolecular level. Various efficient clinical applications of nanoengineered biomaterials are also reviewed: nanoparticle materials for wound healing, nanoscaffolds for cartilage and bone. Concerning the impacts of nanotechnology on prosthetics, advances in the following topics are presented: neural stimulation and monitoring, neuroprosthetics, assistive devices, brain–machine interface and vision prosthetics.

The last chapter of part II, chapter 9, with the title 'Diagnosis: Nanosensors in Diagnosis and Medical Monitoring' is a review on the fabrication and the applications of medical nanosensors: active and passive cantilever sensors, surface plasmon resonance nanosensors, piezoelectric nanofiber sensors, electrochemical nanosensors, optical nanosensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, magnetic nanosensors, biomolecular nanosensors, and sensors for nerve activity. Different integrated nanosensor technologies are also presented: integration of nanosensors with fiber optics and with bioMEMs, incorporation of nanosensors into microfluidic and nanofluidic biochips as well as fabrication of Labs on Chips consisting of various nanosensors. The role of integrated nanosensors in the creation of new fields of genomics and proteomics is also presented: they are used for DNA measurement, DNA sequencing, genetic screening and protein analysis. As a result, the integrated technology for real-time and in vivo medical monitoring is being created.

Part III with the title 'Future Directions and Transformations', consisting of three short chapters, can be considered as the extended conclusion of the broad range of scientific and technical topics of the book: the maturation of medical nanotechnologies, the continued impacts of nanotechnology—driven capabilities, the implementation of medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine in healthcare activities. The challenging boundaries of the new scientific and technical areas presented in the book, the sustainability of their achievements and the future choices for society are also discussed.

In brief, this book is a highly valuable encyclopedia-type monograph on the broad range of scientific and technical topics of medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine. It would be beneficial for a wide community of medical professionals, scientists researching different topics of medical nanotechnology, nanomedicine and pharmaceutics, managers and planners of healthcare organizations, hospital and clinics, producers of pharmaceutical materials and drugs as well as managers of industrial enterprises producing medical tools and equipment. In particular, scientists working on some topic within medical nanotechnology and nanomedicine can find a comprehensive encyclopedic review with the almost complete bibliography on this topic in the corresponding chapter of part II.