GS 3, Sci & Technology, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
What are the potential applications of nanotechnology in the field of healthcare in India and how can policies and infrastructure be developed to promote research and development in this area? Examine.
भारत में स्वास्थ्य सेवा के क्षेत्र में नैनो तकनीक के संभावित अनुप्रयोग क्या हैं और इस क्षेत्र में अनुसंधान और विकास को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नीतियों और बुनियादी ढांचे को कैसे विकसित किया जा सकता है? जांच करें।
Approach
Start with basic intro on nanotechnology and then linking it with health sector write about application and also highlight relevant policies and infrastructure facilitated by government.
Introduction
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale, at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications.
Body
- Nanomedicine applies nanotechnology in healthcare applications such as treatment and diagnostics of various diseases using nanoparticles in medical devices, as well as nanoelectronic biosensors and molecular nanotechnology.
Application of nanotechnology in health sector:
- Health monitoring: With increasing life style disease and diabetic patients in India nanotubes and nanoparticles can be used as glucose, carbon dioxide and cholesterol sensors and for in-situ monitoring of homeostasis, the process by which the body maintains metabolic equilibrium.
- Nanofibers: With high number of disable population in India nanofibers can be used in wound dressings and surgical textiles, as well as in implants, tissue engineering, and artificial organ components.
- Disease diagnosis: It can be done using quantum dots nanosized semiconductors that can be used as biosensors to find disease and which can be made to fluoresce.
- For example, nanotechnology-based tuberculosis diagnostic kit would cut both the cost and time required for most prevalent TB tests in India.
- Targeted Drug Delivery System: Researchers are working on a number of different therapeutics where a nanoparticle can encapsulate or otherwise help to deliver medication directly to cancer cells and minimize the risk of damage to healthy tissue.
Concerns of using nanotechnology:
- Lack of proper knowledge about the effect of nanoparticles on biochemical pathways and processes of the human body.
- Expensive processes and treatments make them less desirable.
- Toxicity: Scientists are primarily concerned about the toxicity, characterization, and exposure.
Policies and infrastructure to promote:
- Institute like IISC, IITs can work on Nanotech detectors for heart attack and nanochips to check plaque in arteries.
- National Centers for Nanofabrication and Nanoelectronics can be established.
- Much larger funding and efficient policies for capacity building in fields of basic research in nanotechnology, infrastructure development, human resources development, and global collaboration can be done.
Conclusion
Nanotechnology helps to overcome the limitations of conventional dosage forms. This technology promises to be used in disease treatment as well as diagnostics with high efficacy. Meanwhile there is a need to identify key gaps in knowledge and areas where further research may be targeted in order to efficiently exploit the technology.
