Nannoparticles Case Study

Anything a mother consumes will affect her baby’s health, either positively or negatively. After the sperm enters into the egg, instantly, the baby begins to grow inside of the placenta, which is inside of the mothers’ uterus. “The placenta has been described as a pancake-shaped organ that attaches to the inside of the uterus and is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord.” As the placenta produces the hormones for the baby, it also supplies the blood to the fetus from the mother. The most important element that allows the fetus to grow is the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is composed of three blood vessels that attach to the placenta and the fetus. All of these components help the baby’s growth, but the amniotic sac, which is composed of amniotic fluid, helps protect the fetus. The amniotic fluid helps the baby maintain a regular body temperature that

Pregnancy is a very difficult time in a women’s life, everything that is digested, breathed, and felt affects the fetus. Teratogens are factors that cause developmental problems of an embryo. These factors include stress; toxin such as drug and cigarette use, the health and even the age of the mother can have an impact on the development of the fetus. Teratogen can cause birth defect that may lead to life long consequences to the child. I am very passionate about this topic due to the alarming increase of birth defects and abnormalities that have been occurring during my generation. In America one in every thirty-three babies are born with a defect

　　　　When these nanobots immigrate into the complex structures, that is the human body, they are introduced to the most sensitive parts especially at the child’s birth, when the blood is fresh and can be easily be exposed to the most diminutive of infections. The blood is at risk for contamination leaving the technology useless and more importantly putting the child’s life at risk for a plethora of infectious disease, more alarmingly the child could die hours after his/her birth. If the nanobots make it past the birth of the child and continues to function in ‘symbiosis’, then that is splendid. Overtime the nanobots become more vulnerable to damage and destruction.

When a woman finds out she is going to have a baby, it should be the most exciting times in her life. However, there may be many teratogens that interfere with the pregnancy and may cause future issues for the child. A teratogen “is any agent that can potentially cause a birth defect or negatively alter cognitive and behavioral outcomes” (Stantrock, page 63).

Any organs or structures that are developing at the time of exposure is most likely to be harmed. Unfortunately, during this time, it is common that women may not realize that they are pregnant and some may be in contact with teratogens. In turn, this can cause major structural birth defects such as neural tube defects and missing or deformed limbs. While the time period is a critical factor in determining whether a teratogen will cause harm to an embryo, the amount of the teratogen and genetics also determine whether or not defects will

Every woman when pregnant has a 3-5% chance of having a baby born with a birth defect and these chances increase when the developing fetus/embryo is exposed to teratogens whether it’s intentional or unintentional (Bethesda (MD), 2006). Teratogens may cause severe birth defects, malformations, or terminate the pregnancy altogether (Jancárková, & Gregor, 2000). The placenta is known to be an effective barrier from any harmful pathogen that may potentially harm the fetus. The timing of exposure of any teratogen is critical to the impact of prenatal development (Bethesda (MD), 2006). The most vulnerable time of the fetus for serious damage is during early pregnancy when all the major organ and central nervous system (CNS) are

When women are pregnant, it’s important for them to make multiple changes in their daily routine and life style, in order for their baby to be healthy and develop normally. There are many soon to be mothers that unintentionally expose their fetuses to things that could potentially be hazardous. Environmental perils that alter a fetus’s development negatively are called Teratogens. Teratogens, have the power to cause chemical and physical changes in fetuses, concluding with the baby being born with disorders, disabilities, defects and a shorter life.

The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles that have been identified as important factors in uptake and toxicity include crystal structure, size, surface charge, surface energy, and chemical composition [14].

Working with nanoparticles is critical due to its nanoscale; they should be handled carefully considering safety

Research Theme: Building on the building blocks of life: Nanoscale materials for investigating biologically inspired and environmentally important systems.

There are many factors that can interfere with a fetus’s development, causing birth defects or learning disorders. These factors are teratogens, environmental agents that have the potential to disrupt development and cause disabilities in the developing baby (Martorell et al., 2013). Perhaps the most common teratogens are drugs and viruses, and while some of these teratogens may affect some fetuses, others may not be affected as severely (Martorell et al., 2013). However, since the mother does not know the extent of how the teratogen can negatively affect her baby, she should avoid contact with a teratogen.

The placenta consists of a disk-shaped group of tissues in which small blood vessels from the mother that the offspring intertwine but do not join. The umbilical cord contains two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein and connects the baby to the placenta. Very small molecules, oxygen, water, salt, food from the mother’s blood, as well as carbon dioxide and digestive wastes from the embryo’s blood, pass back and fourth between the mother and embryo (Bush & others, 2001). Large molecules cannot pass through the placental wall; these include red blood cells and harmful

Pregnancy is a very delicate period of time for the pregnant woman and her child. There are several factors that can interfere with the wellbeing of the baby before and after birth, and the pregnant woman. Although there are several structures and organs that protect the unborn baby, the mother needs to be careful during gestation, to protect the baby. One of the most important structures that support the embryo and fetus is the placenta. Besides its role metabolic, endocrine and immunologic functions, it is the connection between the mother and the fetus. The placenta is the organ responsible for the exchange of nourishment, oxygen and waste between them (London, Ladewig, Ball, Bindler & Cowen, 2011, p. 72). However, besides transporting the essential substances for the baby’s life, the placenta can also transport substances that can potentially harm it. Teratogen is the name for everything that, besides genetic abnormalities, can negatively affect the embryo or fetus including medications, illegal and legal drugs, viruses, bacteria, maternal antibodies, pollution, and radiation (Belsky, 2013, 50). The effects of teratogens vary according to the gestational stage of exposure, and frequency and duration of exposure. In early pregnancy or embryonic stage is the most vulnerable time of pregnancy. During this first stage of pregnancy, teratogens may inhibit implantation or lead to major structural malformation because this is when they form (Belsky, 2013, 50). The frequency and

In present times “green” method in the synthesis of nanoparticles has greatly become a topic of interest. This is because the conventional chemical methods are expensive and require the use of chemical compounds or organic solvents as reducing agents which are toxic as well [C.Manson, 2012].

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are the use of capsules between 1nm and 100nm large to store medicine within them and protect the drugs until it reaches the affected area it must treat. This method allows smaller amounts of drugs to enter the body and prevent severe side effects by reacting with unaffected parts of the body. These nanocapsules travel in the bloodstream and release the drugs once in close proximity to the affected area. The main focus for this application is to treat cancer, where the capsules can either identify and attach to cancer cells or a magnet worn by the patient can trigger the capsule once it reaches a specific place in the body.