Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nanoscience in Veterinary Medicine

  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Scott, N.R., 2007. Nanoscience in veterinary medicine. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 139–144

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology, as an enabling technology, has the potential to revolutionize veterinary medicine. Examples of potential applications in animal agriculture and veterinary medicine include disease diagnosis and treatment delivery systems, new tools for molecular and cellular breeding, identity preservation of animal history from birth to a consumer’s table, the security of animal food products, major impact on animal nutrition scenarios ranging from the diet to nutrient uptake and utilization, modification of animal waste as expelled from the animal, pathogen detection, and many more. Existing research has demonstrated the feasibility of introducing nanoshells and nanotubes into animals to seek and destroy targeted cells. Thus, building blocks do exist and are expected to be integrated into systems over the next couple of decades on a commercial basis. While it is reasonable to presume that nanobiotechnology industries and unique developments will revolutionize veterinary medicine in the future, there is a huge concern, among some persons and organizations, about food safety and health as well as social and ethical issues which can delay or derail technological advancements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Drexler E.K., 1986. Engines of Creation – The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, (Archer Books, New York)

    Google Scholar 

  • Drexler E.K., Peterson C. and Pergamit G., 1991. Unbounding the Future: The Nanotechnology Revolution, (William Morrow and Company, New York)

    Google Scholar 

  • ETC Group, 2004. Down on the Farm: The Impact of Nano-scale Technologies on Food and Agriculture. Ottawa, ON, Canada, 68. (download available at www.etcgroup.org)

  • Feneque J., 2003. Brief Introduction to the Veterinary Applications of Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology Now, (www.nanotech-now.com/Jose-Feneque/Veterinary -Applications-Nanotechnology.htm)

  • Feynman R., 1961. There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom. In: Gilbert H.D. (ed), Miniaturization, (Rheinhold, NY), 282–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordijn B., 2003. Nanoethics: From Utopian Dreams and Apocalyptic Nightmares towards a more Balanced View. Third Session of World Commission on Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), 1–4 December, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12

  • Hirsch L.R., Gobin A.M., Lowery A.M., Drezek R.A., Halas N.J. and West J.L., 2006. Metal Nanoshells. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 34(1), 15–22

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn J., 2006. Nano’s Big Future. National Geographic, 209(6), 96–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Kan E., 2006. Implantable Miniature Sensors to Monitor Blood Flow. Technology News Daily, (http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/taxonomy/term/24?page=6)

  • Li Y., Cu Y.T.H. and Luo D., 2005. Multiplexed detection of pathogen DNA with DNA-based fluorescence nanobarcodes. Nature Biotechnology, 23, 885–889

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Science and Technology Council, 1999. Nanotechnology: Shaping the World Atom by Atom. Committee on Technology, (Interagency Working Group on Nanoscience, Engineering and Technology, Washington, DC, USA). (www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/iwgn/iWGN.Public.Brochure/welcome.htm)

  • National Science and Technology Council, 2004. National Nanotechnology Initiative. Committee on Technology. Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology. Supplement to the President’s FY 2004 Budget. (www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/iwgn/iwgn.fy04budsupporl/toc.htm)

  • O’Connell M.J., Bachilo S.M., Huffaman C.B., Moore V.C. and Strano M.S., 2002. Band Gap Fluorescence from Individual Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Science, 298, 2361–2366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott N.R., 2005. Nanotechnology and Animal Health. OIE Scientific and Technical Review, 24(1), 425–432

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott N.R. and Chen H., 2002. Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems. National Planning Workshop. Washington DC, USA, 18–19 November. (www.nseafs.cornell.edu)

  • Vogel V. and Baird B. (Eds), 2003. Nanobiotechnology. Report of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop, 9–11 October, Arlington, VA, USA

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    N. R. Scott

Authors
  1. N. R. Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. R. Scott.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Scott, N.R. Nanoscience in Veterinary Medicine. Vet Res Commun 31 (Suppl 1), 139–144 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0083-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0083-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation