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Review Article Plastic and Aesthetic Research

Current and future applications of

nanotechnology in plastic and reconstructive

surgery

Dana K. Petersen , Tate M. Naylor , Jon P. Ver Halen 3,4,5
1
2
1 Department of Otolaryngology ‑ Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

2 Department of Surgical Oncology,School of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
3 Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation,
Memphis, TN 38120, USA.
4 Department of Surgical Oncology, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
5 Department of Surgical Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Jon P. Ver Halen, Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery,
Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation, Memphis, TN 38120, USA. E-mail: jpverhalen@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Although nanotechnology is a relatively young field, there are countless biomedical applications in
use or under investigation. Many specialties have benefitted from nanoscale refinements of diagnostic
and therapeutic techniques. Plastic and reconstructive surgery is an incredibly diverse specialty,
encompassing craniofacial and hand surgery; trauma, oncologic and congenital reconstruction; burn care,
and aesthetic surgery. Advances in nanotechnology have significantly impacted wound management,
topical skin care, implant and prosthetic design, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems.
Currently, plastic surgeons are researching the utility of nanoscale tools for bone regeneration, bone
prosthetics, and drug delivery. Nanotechnology will continue to build upon preceding discoveries, and
its biomedical applications in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery will expand significantly.

Key words:
Bone graft, burns, drug delivery, implants, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, wound care

INTRODUCTION the past. In the 1950’s, European researchers discovered
formation of an active biological field from the oxidation
Nanotechnology can be defined as the science of design, of titanium when exposed to air. They identified that this
synthesis, characterization and application of materials promotes living tissue ingrowth. This phenomenon was
[4]
and extremely small devices. The smallest functional unit used to take a tremendous leap in medical technology,
of this technology, in at least one dimension, is on the specifically in bone implant applications. Nanomedicine
nanometer scale, which is one billionth of a meter. [1‑3] is a subdivision of nanotechnology that employs highly
Nanotechnology is the design and engineering of novel specific molecular interventions for both the diagnosis and
products that interact with biological, electrical and treatment of disease processes. Currently, nanomedicine
chemical systems on the atomic level, thus yielding a level has allowed advancement in the fields of drug delivery
of specificity and specialization that was not feasible in systems, gene therapies, body and organ imaging, surgical
tools, and diagnostic procedures.
Access this article online
Quick Response Code: SOFT TISSUE REPAIR AND HEALING
Website:
www.parjournal.net
Wound and burn care are two areas of clinical care
that are already benefitting from developments in
nanotechnology. Wound dressings constructed using
[5]
DOI:
10.4103/2347-9264.139698 nanoscale fabrication techniques can greatly improve
wound healing. Nanofibers may be created from various

Plast Aesthet Res || Vol 1 || Issue 2 || Sep 2014 43