On 5th October, 2010, the Medicine and Pharmacy Department organized a conference entitled “Nano Material Technology, Sensors and Drugs Delivery.”
Participants included Dr. Prasad, a faculty member of the Taiwan National University, over 20 doctors and nurses from the Danang Polyclinic, Hospital 17, Hospital 199, other faculty members of Danang Medical Centers and Professors and Doctors of the new DTU Department of Medicine and Pharmacy
Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Minh adresses the conference
At the working session, Dr. Prasad gave an overview on the founding and development of Nano Technology and its applications, particularly in medicine. In cancer treatment, we often try to direct drug doses to cancerous tissue, using nano particles as the vehicle. Using this technique, there are no side-effects on the healthy surrounding cells.
Today, Nano Technology is used to solve the most serious health problems caused by genetic mutation, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, obesity, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, dementia (Alzheimer's) and various cardiovascular diseases. So medicine can benefit greatly from this new technology. In cosmetic surgery, drugs containing certain kinds of nano particles are used in cosmetic to protect the skin. There is a big new potential market for this innovative technology.
TS. K.S. Prasad talks at the conference
Also at the conference, participants discussed issues about different methods of administering drugs using nano devices, their cost and their impact on patients.
Nano Technology is still a developing science and already plays a significant role in medicine today. With its miniscule scale, the maximum diameter of a nano particle is about 1/80,000 finer than a human hair. The technology can be used in conjunction with a large variety of highly effective drugs. Currently, the United States is the world leader in medical nano technology applications. In 2006, the market for Nano pharmaceuticals reached $6.32 billion and is estimated to be $69.6 billion by 2021.
The income from Nano technology diagnostic applications alone is expected to increase from $430 million to $30 billion and nano medical products will increased from $1.92 billion to $10 billion. The Medicine and Pharmacy Department of DTU has just been founded in 2010, so this conference was a good opportunity for lecturers to learn about such advanced technologies, new trends in the medical field and how to teach and research them at the university
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