DEVELOPMENT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY: PROS AND CONS

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology is developing rapidly in various industrial applications, medical imaging, disease diagnosis, drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy and many more. However, some concerns have been expressed about risks posed by engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), their potential to cause undesirable effects, contaminate the environment and adversely affect susceptible parts of the population. Thus, substantial attention has to be paid to the potential risks of Nanoparticles. Some studies showed that numerous types of Nanoparticles are able to pass certain biological barriers and exert toxic effects on crucial organs like brain, liver, kidney and skin. Recently some of the studies showed that there may be reproductive toxicity of the nanomaterials. Nanotechnology is at the cutting edge of rapid technological development as it has many potential human health benefits, but it is perceived with some apprehension for its potential human health risks