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SUMMARY:Nanotechnology in healthcare: turning science fiction into science
  fact - Dr Luis Garcia-Gancedo (Electrical Engineering Division\, Universi
 ty of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20140131T181500Z
DTEND:20140131T191500Z
UID:TALK49551@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Stephen D Hoath
DESCRIPTION:Future techniques in medical diagnosis and disease treatment h
 ave often been the subject of science fiction films and books. However wha
 t once seemed science fiction is now closer to becoming reality. The human
  body operates at the nano scale\, and in the last few years we have been 
 gaining significant knowledge of natural processes at this scale\, enabled
  by a new generation of scientific instruments. This recently acquired kno
 wledge allows us to design increasingly complex medical devices that can e
 ither directly interact with\, or influence\, the behaviour of living cell
 s. \nNanotechnology has a trump card to play in the development of novel h
 ealthcare tools: by making use of the similar length scales between the bi
 ological and microsystems world\, we can design novel materials (or manipu
 late the structure of existing ones) to promote direct and unique interact
 ion with targeted biological molecules. Nanotechnology has also given rise
  to a new set of micro-fabrication tools for the miniaturisation of medica
 l devices. Micro-fabrication offers increased flexibility in design and ea
 se of manufacture compared to the processes employed to manufacture macro-
 scale devices\, lowers the fabrication costs and allows for easy integrati
 on with existing microelectronics.\nIt all now seems in place for a new ge
 neration of game-changing medical devices to be developed\; however\, as w
 ith any other rapidly developing field\, there are many technological and 
 ethical challenges to be considered\, and the approach to these can drasti
 cally change the future of our healthcare system.\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room\, Wolfson College
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