Title : Nanomedicine for returning mobility to over 45,000 patients with no failures
Abstract:
Nanomedicine has already revolutionized medicine. This is because nanomaterials can mimic the size of natural components of tissue to increase tissue growth, inhibit infection, and limit inflammation. The surface energy of nanomaterials can also be easily controlled to in turn mediate initial protein adsorption that can promote neuron function. This invited presentation will summarize how nanomaterials can be designed, fabricated, and used to inhibit infection for numerous applications. Results from over 45,000 patients will be presented. Specifically, as just one nanomaterial example, spinal screws with nanoscale surface features were implanted into over 45,000 patients and no reports of infections were found. Moreover, as another example, carbon nanotubes were implanted with stem cells into stroke-induced rat brains and demonstrated statistically faster return of motor function compared to stem cells alone. Impressively, carbon nanotube implantation alone into stroke-induced rats returned motor function faster than stem cells alone after as early as 7 days. Moreover, neural probes have been modified to have nanoscale surface features that reduce glial scar tissue formation and infection without the use of drugs or antibiotics. Moreover, 4D printed materials (materials that can change shape remotely and with respect to time) have been used to deliver stem cells to the brain to treat numerous disorders. Catheters, endotracheal tubes, and other pulmonary assisted devices will be presented. This presentation will cover other nanomaterials that can improve medical device function and describes human clinical studies with very promising results.

