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Drug Eluting Nanostructured Coatings Enable Targeted Drug Therapy for Patients With Orthopedic Implants, According to New Research

Posted on: Sunday, 20 May 2007, 03:00 CDT

SANTA CLARA, California, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Drug delivery systems have progressed from the teaspoon to time-release capsules to drug-eluting stents. Nanotechnology promises yet another advance by delivering therapeutic agents at desired rates exactly where needed in the body. In a paper presented at the NSTI Nanotech 2007 Conference, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco demonstrate how they have created nanotubes from biocompatible metal oxides that can hold therapeutic proteins or drugs and deliver these agents in a highly-controlled manner.

The fabrication strategies developed by the authors is flexible in terms of controlling the diameter and length scales of the tubes. By changing these physical parameters of nanotubes, they could precisely control the dosage and deliver drugs at physiological rates for desired duration of time. In the case of orthopedic implants with nanotubes on the implant surfaces, drugs such as antibiotics can be loaded in the tubes and released right at the site of implantation. This method, which targets the drug where it is needed, can avoid the side effects due to high dosages normally given to patients. Further, in cases where a very long treatment regimen is needed, such as in growth factor therapy, nanotubes may provide superior performance.

According to Ketul C. Popat, "When a person has an orthopedic implant surgery, they normally will have to take antibiotics and growth factors either orally or by injection. There are several side effects associated with taking drugs this way which can be very painful for the patient. However, by placing the drugs on to the surface of these implants, we can deliver them right where they are needed and can avoid larger doses and side effects. The nanostructured coating on the implant surface helps the drug to maintain its bioavailability as well as deliver the drugs at physiological rates for a desired duration of time."

The presentation is "Drug Eluting Nanostructured Coatings" by K.C. Popat, M. Eltgroth and T.A. Desai, from the University of California, San Francisco. It will be given at the NSTI Nanotech 2007 conference in Santa Clara, CA on May 23, 2007, 11:30 AM, Santa Clara Convention Center, Grand Ballroom D.

The mission of Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology & Medicine, the international peer-reviewed journal published by Elsevier, is to communicate new nanotechnology findings, and encourage collaboration among the diverse disciplines represented in nanomedicine. Because this closely mirrors NSTI's charter to seek the "promotion and integration of nano and other advanced technologies through education, technology and business development," Elsevier is pleased to be working in collaboration with NSTI to bring this presentation to the attention of the scientific community.

Press Room - NSTI Nanotech 2007, May 20-24, 2007, Santa Clara, CA Santa Clara Convention Center, Room 202

Contact Jami Walker at Jami.Walker@elsevier.com to arrange for an interview prior to or during the NSTI Nanotech 2007 Conference.

About The Nano Science and Technology Institute (NSTI)

The Nano Science and Technology Institute (NSTI; http://www.nsti.org/) is chartered with the advancement and integration of nano and other advanced technologies through education, collaboration and research services. NSTI accomplishes this mission through its offerings of continuing education programs, conventions, scientific and business publishing and custom research services. NSTI produces the annual Nanotech 200x conference and trade show, the world's largest event to focus on nanoscience and nanotechnology, attracting more than 3,000 industrial, academic, business and governmental attendees from around the world. http://www.nsti.org/Nanotech2007/

About Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology & Medicine

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine (Nanomedicine) is a newly established, international, peer-reviewed journal published quarterly. Nanomedicine publishes basic, clinical, and engineering research in the innovative field of nanomedicine. Article categories include basic nanomedicine, diagnostic nanomedicine, experimental nanomedicine, clinical nanomedicine, and engineering nanomedicine, pharmacological nanomedicine. Nanomedicine will provide the latest information in this rapidly developing field, both in research and clinical applications. The Journal publishes original clinical and investigative studies, state-of-the art papers, reports on new equipment and techniques, review articles, and more. Nanomedicine is the official publication of the American Academy of Nanomedicine (AANM) and is indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed.

http://www.nanomedjournal.org/ About Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/)

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com/), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Contact: Jami Walker Associate Publisher Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology & Medicine Published by Elsevier Tel: +1-314-579-3342 Jami.Walker@elsevier.com

Elsevier & The Nano Science and Technology Institute (NSTI)

CONTACT: Contact: Jami Walker, Associate Publisher, Nanomedicine:Nanotechnology, Biology & Medicine, Published by Elsevier, Tel:+1-314-579-3342, Jami.Walker@elsevier.com

Source: PRNewswire

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