The experts forecast that nanotechnology will lead to more efficient medical diagnosis as early as 2010. On the other hand, the experts predict that using nanotechnology to treat illnesses could still be more than a decade away. It will also be restricted to specific illnesses, such as cancer and viral infections.
The study by TA-SWISS also addressed fears about the safety of nanotechnology.
One area we do not know enough about is how nanoparticles impact on the immune system. We don’t want to repeat the mistake made with biotechnology and genomics. The way these technologies were communicated to the general public was arrogant. People’s fears need to be taken into account when it comes to deciding how nanotechnology will develop. Nanotechnology will revolutionize the way we live and have a huge impact on medicine. After all, the human body is composed of nanomachines!