Elsevier Smart Nanoparticles for Biomedicine (Micro and Nano Technologies)

Smart Nanoparticles for Biomedicine explores smart nanoparticles that change their structural or functional properties in response to specific external stimuli (electric or magnetic fields, electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound, etc.). Particular attention is given to multifunctional nanostructured materials that are pharmacologically active and that can be actuated by virtue of their magnetic, dielectric, optically-active, redox-active, or piezoelectric properties. This important reference resource will be of great value to readers who want to learn more on how smart nanoparticles can be used to create more effective treatment solutions. Nanotechnology has enabled unprecedented control of the interactions between materials and biological entities, from the microscale, to the molecular level. Nanosurfaces and nanostructures have been used to mimic or interact with biological microenvironments, to support specific biological functions, such as cell adhesion, mobility and differentiation, and in tissue healing. Recently, a new paradigm has been proposed for nanomedicine to exploit the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials as active devices rather than as passive structural units or carriers for medications. Discusses the synthesis, characterization and applications of a new generation of smart nanoparticles for nanomedicine applications Explores the problems relating to the biocompatibility of a range of nanoparticles, outlining potential solutions Describes techniques for manipulating specific classes of nanoparticles for a variety of treatment types Review Explores how active smart nanoparticles are used in a variety of treatment types From the Back Cover Explores how active smart nanoparticles are used in a variety of treatment types. Discusses the synthesis, the characterization and the applications of a new generation of smart nanoparticles, for nanomedicine applications. Explores the problems related to the biocompatibility of a range of nanoparticles, outlining potential solutions. Describes techniques for manipulating specific classes of nanoparticles for a variety of treatment types. Nanotechnology has enabled an unprecedented control of the interactions between materials and biological entities, from the microscale down to the molecular level. Nanosurfaces and nanostructures have been used to mimic or interact with biological microenvironments, to support specific biological functions such as cell adhesion, mobility and differentiation, as well as tissue healing. Recently, a new paradigm has been proposed for nanomedicine to exploit the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials as active devices rather than as passive structural units or carriers for medications. Here, the nanomaterial itself is the active device that responds to external stimuli by modifying its intrinsic chemical and/or physical characteristics, so as to provide useful bio-stimulation and/or bio-signaling. Smart Nanoparticles for Biomedicine explores this active category, introducing smart nanoparticles that change their structural or functional properties in response to specific external stimuli. Particular attention is given to multifunctional nanostructured materials that are pharmacologically active and that can be actuated by virtue of their magnetic, dielectric, optically-active, redox-active, or piezoelectric properties. This is an important reference resource, that will be of great value to readers in biomaterials and biomedical research who want to learn more about how smart nanoparticles can be used to create more effective treatment solutions. Gianni Ciofani is Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Torino, Italy. Hi is also a Principle Investigator at the Department for Center for Micro-BioRobotics at the Italian Institute of Technology. His research is focused in the field of smart nanomaterials for nanomedicine, bio/non-biointeractions, and biology in altered gra