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Nanotechnology has been broadly defined as the one for not only the creation of functional
materials and devices as well as systems through control of matter at the scale of 1-100 nm, but
also the exploitation of novel properties and phenomena at the same scale. Growing needs in the
point-of-care (POC) that is an increasing market for improving patient's quality of life, are driving
the development of nanotechnologies for diagnosis and treatment of various life threatening
diseases. This paper addresses the recent development of nanodiagnostic sensors and
nanotherapeutic devices with functionalized carbon nanotube and/or nanowire on a flexible organic
thin film electronics to monitor and control of the three leading diseases namely 1)
neurodegenerative diseases, 2) cardiovascular diseases, and 3) diabetes and metabolic diseases.
The sensors developed include implantable and biocompatible devices, light weight wearable
devices in wrist-watches, hats, shoes and clothes. The nanotherapeutics devices include
nanobased drug delivery system. Many of these sensors are integrated with the wireless systems
for the remote physiological monitoring. The author's research team has also developed a wireless
neural probe using nanowires and nanotubes for monitoring and control of Parkinson's disease.
Light weight and compact EEG, EOG and EMG monitoring system in a hat developed is capable of
monitoring real time epileptic patients and patients with neurological and movement disorders
using the Internet and cellular network. Physicians could be able to monitor these signals in realtime
using portable computers or cell phones and will give early warning signal if these signals
cross a pre-determined threshold level.
In addition the potential impact of nanotechnology for applications in medicine is that, the devices
can be designed to interact with cells and tissues at the molecular level, which allows high degree
of functionality. Devices engineered at nanometer scale imply a controlled manipulation of
individual molecules and atoms that can interact with the human body at sub-cellular level. The
recent progress in microelectronics and nanosensors crates very powerful tools for the early
detection and diagnosis. The nanowire integrated potassium and dopamine sensors are ideal for
the monitoring and control of many cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. Selected
movies illustrating the applications of nanodevices to patients will be shown at the talk.
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