Nanotechnology and Human’s Life Span, Research Paper Example

Abstract

Nano is a prefix that has the meaning of one billionth. This paper posits to explore the idea of nanotechnology and its application in the extension of the human life. Scientists believe that they have the ability of contributing to substantial gains in the extension of human life in terms of length as well as the quality of life as one continues to age. This extends beyond the breakthroughs that have so far been achieved on the laboratory. But it is also prudent to consider the contribution of the way human lives their live in this regard. The scientists are first required to answer a fundamental question; why are humans’ life loner as compared to other mammals? At the present time, the ordinary life expectancy across the globe is 67.2 years. In the USA, it is 78 years while in Japan it is a bit higher (Freitas, 2009). Genetics have a special role to play in determining the longevity of human life. Since the time man entered the genetic golden age, scientists have been striving towards the discovery of a ‘longevity gene’ which is responsible for facilitating in the increment in the number of years that a man can live even past one century.

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology also covers nanomedicine that involves application medical nanotechnology. This can be as extensive as application of medical nanomaterials to biological devices as well as Nano electronic biosensors. In the future, molecular nanotechnology is also anticipated which may entail the use of biological machines. The current application of nanomedicine is however hindered by one issues of failure to acknowledge the contribution of environmental impacts as well as the toxicity that is associated with nanoscale materials (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010).

Scientists have been conducting endless experiments using mice and roundworms which have yielded positive results with regard to extending human lifespan. Research findings have therefore indicated that, the use of nanotechnology can be harnessed to extend human life beyond the limits that are set by nature. According to the current state of events, scientists have already made tremendous achievements in the extension of human life. For example, the mortality rates, which is a crucial factor in human life has been lowered significantly. The deaths that are attributed to heart complications have also been significantly reduced and effective vaccines have been developed.  Scientists have therefore made noteworthy progress in extending the average lifespan of a person by a factor of about thirty years during the last one century. The ability to increase the lifespan of a human being from 80 years up to over 120 years is motivated by intensive research in the field of cellular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of wrinkles as well as the emergence of the gray hair, weakening of the mind, bone creaking and the other effects associated with shrinking and shriveling (Freitas, 2009).

Nanotechnology is a relatively new area of research that is gaining roots across the globe and it is being linked to many other topics and daily objects including clothing, food as well as medicine. Interestingly, in contemporary society, majority of the people are focusing on anti-aging especially the women who aspiring to continue with a feeling of being younger. Another fascination entails the proliferation of cosmetics with a a wide array of promise about what they are capable of doing including increasing of skin irradiancy and the antioxidants that are supposed to make the eyes of the use more awake.  Such experiences reveal that, anti-aging and beauty permeates beyond the depth of the skin  despite what is being portrayed by the society and the adverts (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010). Anti-aging is a process that affects the whole human body with the cells in the body playing the greater role. Rather than just applying the cosmetics as facial creams which are said by the manufacturers to reduce the extent of the wrinkles as well as the dark sports, it would be prudent for the person to remove the damaged cells that cause aging in the body so that the process of aging can be disrupted. This process can easily be achieved through the use of nanomedicine to remove and repair the damaged cells.

Nanotechnology by chromosome replacement therapy

Nanomedicine can be applied to accomplish a very crucial goal involving the application of nano-robots in executing crucial therapeutic procedures on the cells of the body of humans. The process of reducing the process of aging involves the use of a nano-robot that is responsible for cell repair that is termed as chromallocyte. This nano-robot executes the “chromosome replacement therapy” procedure that is responsible for correcting the cell damage as well as genetic mutations in the human body. The greater part of the DNA of a cell is contained in the nucleus and the DNA chromosome is a protein that appears in the shape of a coiled structure (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010). The failure of normal cell division causes the scattering as well as spreading out as mass of the chromatin, thus changing the usual coiled structure of the DNA chromosome. The use of chromosome replacement therapy entails the entire removal of the chromatin followed by its replacement with an original version of the chromosome that is artificially made and non-defective. The infusion of the chromallocyte in human body is important in this case as it facilitates in the performance of this procedure after it has travelled to the tissues targeted for this operation. Once the chromallocyte has completed the process, it returns back to the bloodstream to allow for its extraction from the site of infusion (Hall, 2005).

This is a procedure of cell repair that can be of great contribution in nanomedicine. It is within common knowledge that, surgeons can comfortably execute such crucial procedures as limbs reattachment as well as wounds stitching but they are incapable of stitching as well as cutting the fine tissues structures in the bodies of the human being, even when they are equipped with the contemporary scalpels as well as knives. Furthermore, the contemporary mechanism of cell repair is replaceable by a mechanism of tissue repair which leads to replacement of cells instead of their repair. The use of chromallocyte achieves automatic cells repair individually through the combination of technological aspects of a program. Sensors as well as tools of the size of a molecule called diamondoid materials.  The advancements so far achievable in the repair of individual cells gives an opportunity to the human beings to extend their lifespan because the cells that are defective are easily replaceable by other identical cells that are newly manufactured (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010).

Nanotechnology in human beings can also be accomplished through removal of extracellular buildup. In contrast to biotechnology that has relatively short term implications of repair because of the variation in age related damage, as some damages can hardly be repaired, the use of nano-technology along with nano robots in lifespan elongation is associated with more sustainable solutions as well as the treatment to any damages along with human senescence (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010).

Scientists have identified three stages that must be followed in the process of aging. They are metabolism, damage, pathology. The process of delaying aging can be achieved through interventions during the stage of damage which is the second stage. Eradication of damage means that the connection of the first and the third stages are disrupted. At the present time, such a damage can be achieved through seven categories of approaches that have so far been recognized to target the anti-aging treatment. A good example of the seven categories is the removal of ‘garbage’ or the extracellular buildup from the exterior surface of the cells. The ‘garbage’ comprises of some biomaterials that usually gather outside the cell and they serve no prudent purpose with respect to the structural and the physiological activities in the cell. Amyloid plaque is a good example of the biomaterials that usually forms little quantities of indigestible matter in form of drops that surround the cells of the brain tissue. If the amounts  of these materials increases, the human is affected by Alzheimer’s disease (Bawa & Johnson, 2008).

This situation thus warrants the use of nanomedicine in form of nano robots that permeates the brain and squeezes in the blood-brain barrier where it emits some peptides that are manufactured artificially around the region of the plaque, then gathers some agents after the degradation and dissolving of the plaque and finally exits from the brain through the same route. The artificial peptide is a compound that comprises more than two amino acids that are in the form of a chain (Bawa & Johnson, 2008).

The use of such kinds of peptides in dissolution of the amyloid plaques that are generally harmful to the brain plays a crucial role in delaying the onset of aging. This is attributed to the fact that any unwanted ‘garbage’ in the cells exterior surface is eliminated which leaves a protected room for the essential and harmless cells in the tissues of the brain (Fahy, West & Harris, 2010).

It is therefore prudent to appreciate that the advancements in nanomedicine coupled with nano-robots development are likely to affect the process of aging in the human beings in addition to enhancing their quality of life. This will in essence translate to the reduction in the expenses that are incurred in health care services because the medical procedures are likely to be eliminated or minimized and replaced by the nano-robots technology (Bawa & Johnson, 2008).This technology can detect medical conditions early enough thus minimizing the side effects that are associated with treatments and therapies thus enhancing the medical outcomes for the human race. Prevention of aging can be achieved through focusing on the cells of the body instead of the entire skin. The development of nanomedicine coupled with advancement in nano-robot technology will potentially guarantee several hundreds of years to live with no need of applying anti-aging cosmetics.

References

Bawa, R & Johnson, S. (2008). “Emerging Issues in Nanomedicine and Ethics.” Nanoethics: Emerging Debates. pp. 7.

Fahy, G. M., West, M. D. & Harris S. B. (2010). The Future of Aging: Pathways to Human Life Extension. New York: Springer.

Freitas, R. (2009). “The Future of Nanomedicine.” World Future Society. https://www.wfs.org/Dec09-Jan10/freitas.htm

Hall, S. (2005). Nanofuture: What’s Next for Nanotechnology. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.