By Arzoo PuriJan 17 2023Reviewed by Megan Craig, M.Sc. This article focuses on how nanomaterials are being used in the manufacturing of medical devices. Why Are Nanomaterials Used in Medical devices? Medical devices have become an essential part of daily life and represent an expanding market.
The incorporation of nanoparticles offers the fabrication of miniaturized biosensors, allowing for the use of smaller analytical samples for various biochemical analyses and point-of-care diagnostics. Investigating the pharmacokinetic characteristics of a nanomaterial's possible degradation is also necessary. Researchers and manufacturers must take into account how the addition of nanomaterials affects device design, risk, toxicity, and the final product, before submitting nano-based medical devices for FDA or other authority approval.
SimpleSenseTM was introduced by the American company Nanowear. The remote diagnostic platform has FDA clearance. The non-invasive undergarment detectors used in the proprietary carbon nanotube, cloth-based nanosensor device track a myriad of patient vitals, including heart rate and rhythms, respiratory rate, physical activity, and lung volume.
Future Outlook Medical device manufacturers in the healthcare industry can develop devices like nanoscale sensors for point-of-care testing owing to the successful incorporation of nanomaterials such as iron oxide nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, nanotube arrays, and nanowires.