Outlining ethical issues in nanotechnologies

Bioethics

Volumn 23, Issue 7, 2009, Pages 394-402

  Spagnolo, Antonio G ^a   Daloiso, Viviana ^a  

^a CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY   (Italy)

Author keywords

Ethical issues; Nanomedicine; Nanotechnology

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BIOETHICS; BIOTECHNOLOGY; ETHICS; HUMAN; NANOMEDICINE; NANOTECHNOLOGY; RESEARCH ETHICS;

BIOETHICAL ISSUES; BIOTECHNOLOGY; ETHICS, RESEARCH; HUMANS; NANOMEDICINE; NANOTECHNOLOGY;

EID: 70350341702     PISSN: 02699702     EISSN: 14678519     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2007.00623.x     Document Type: Article

References (37)

1. This opinion is shared also by J. Moor and J. Weckert. 2004. Nanoethics: Assessing the Nanoscale from an Ethical Point of View. In D. Baird, A. Nordmann and J. Schummer (eds), Discovering the Nanoscale, Amsterdam: IOS Press.
2. G. Khushf. 2006. New ethical issues arise in the convergence of nano-technology, biomedicine, information technology, and cognitive science (NBCI). In Managing nano-bio-info-.cogno innovations. Converging technologies in Society. (W.S. Bainbridge and M.C. Roco). Springer. 255-278.
3. A. Grunwald. Nanotechnology-ANew Field of Ethical Inquiry? In Science and Engineering Ethics 2005; 11: 1-15.
4. R. Feynman. There's a Plenty of Room at the Bottom: an Invitation to Enter a New Field in Physics. Engineering and Science 1960; 23.
5. K.E. Drexler, 1986. Engines Of Creation. The Coming Era of Nanotechnology. New York: Anchor.
6. History contents are available in the brochure of the Division of Ethics of Science and Technology of UNESCO. 2006. Ethics and Policy of Nanotechnology. Available at: http://www.unesco.org/shs/ethics [Accessed 26 July 2006].
7. The US National Nanotechnology Initiative has given an official definition: 'nanotechnology involves research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1 to 200 nm range, to provide a fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nanoscale and to create and use structures, devices, and systems that have a novel properties and functions because of their small size and/or intermediate size'. Available at: http://www.nano.gov.html/facts/ whatIsNano.html [Accessed 16 July 2006].
8. A nanometer is one thousand millionth of a meter, or in other words, one millimetre equals a million nanometers. [...] The size of a red blood corpuscle is approximately 7,000 nm'. A. Hett (ed), 2004. Nanotechnology. Small matter, many unknowns. Swiss Re Publications0
9. European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine. 2005. Vision Paper. Available at: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/nanotechnology/docs/nanomedicine- visionpaper.pdf [Accessed 26 July 2006]
10. European Science Foundation (ESF). Forward look on Nanomedicine. 2005. Available at: http://www.esf.org/publication/214/Nanomedicine.pdf [Accessed 2 February 2007]
11. K. Kostas. The emergence of nanomedicine: a field in the making. In Nanomedicine 2006; 1: 1-3.
12. European Commission. European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine. Nanotechnology for Health. Vision Paper and Basis for a Strategic Research Agenda for Nanomedicine. November 2006. Available at: http://cordis.europa.eu/ nanotechnology/nanomedicine.htm [A ccessed 7 February 2007].
13. See: J A Borm, Muller-Schulte. Nanoparticles in drug delivery and environmental exposure: same size, same risk? In Science 2006; 1: 235-249.
14. The VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH. Wolfgang Luther (ed). 2004. Technological analysis Industrials applications of nanomaterials - chance and risks. Dusseldorf. (ISSN 1436-5928)
15. This opinion is also shared by the Health Council of Netherlands. Health significance of nanotechnologies. 2006. Available at: http:// www.healthcouncil.nl [A ccessed 7 February 2007].
16. According to the International Risk Governance Council, privacy problems and the toxicity of readily degradable nanoparticles, such as those used for drug delivery, are in between the 'simple' and the 'uncertain' risk category. International Risk Governance Council. 2005. White Paper. Available at: http://www.irgc.org/irgc/-b/contentFiles/IRGC-white-paper-2-PDF-final-version. pdf [Accessed 14 September 2006].
17. Recommendation of the national hearth, lung and blood institute of nanotechnology, Circulation, 2003, 108, 2737-2742.
18. There are Some Studies Assessing the Efficacy of Antineoplastic Drug on Animals, Ibid: 2001; 104:473-479
19. There are Some Studies Assessing the Efficacy of Antineoplastic Drug on Animals, Ibid: 2003; 106: 1195-1197.
20. See: The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering 2004. Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. Human defences against particles are divided into three groups: lungs, skin and gut. The risk of toxicity occurs, above all, when the material is released into the air and may be inhaled by humans. Available at: http://www.nanotec.org.uk/ finalReport.htm [Accessed 17 July 2006].
21. A. Nel, T. Xia, L. Madler & N. Li. Toxic potential of materials at the nanolevel. In Science 2006; 1: 622-627.
22. Experimental Studies on animal-based research (rats) using nanomaterial, have shown that at equivalent mass doses, insoluble ultra fine particles are more potent than larger particles of similar composition in causing pulmonary inflammation, tissue damage, and lung tumours. For further information: 2nd International Symposium on Nanotechnology and occupational health, October 3-6, 2005, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Available at: http://www.cce.umn.edu/pdfs/cpe/ conferences/nanotech-abstract.pdf [Accessed 17 July 2006].
23. See T. Beauchamp and J Childress. 1989. Principles of biomedical ethics.3rd New York: Oxford University Press.
24. Medical devices are defined as 'any instrument, apparatus, appliance or other article, whether used alone or in combination, including the software necessary for its proper applications, intended to be used for human beings for the purpose of (a) diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of diseases; (b) diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for an injury or handicap; (c) investigation, replacement or modification of the anatomy or of a physiological process; [...] (e) and which does not achieve its principal intended action in or on the human body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, but which may be assisted in its function by such means'. Article 1, European Council Directive. 93/42/EEC.
25. National Cancer Institute (NCI) 2004. A Strategic Initiative to Transform Clinical Oncology and Basic Research Through the Directed Application of Nanotechnology. Available at: http://nano.cancer.gov/about-alliance/cancer- nanotechnology-plan.pdf [Accessed 24 July 2006].
26. European Molecular Biology Organisation Reports. Special Issues 2004; 4: 34-35.
27. The VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH. Wolfgang Luther (ed). op. cit. note 11.
28. Author. 2002. Bioethics. In Interdisciplinary Dictionary of Science and Faith. (G. Tanzella-Nitti, A. Strumia). Urbania University Press.
29. Drugs are defined as: [...]; (B) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals: and (C) articles (other then food) intended to affect the structure of any function of the body of man or other animals; and (D) articles intended for use as a component of any article specified in clause (A), (B), or (C). A device is defined as: An instrument, apparatus, Implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or other similar or related article, including any component, part, or accessory, which is [...] intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals, and which does not achieve its primary intended purpose through chemical action within the body of man or other animals and which is not dependent upon being metabolized for the achievement of any of its principal intended purposes. Fiedler, F. A. and Reynolds, G. H. 'Legal Problems of nanotechnology: An Overview', in Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal. 1994; 3: 593-629 (quoted in J.A. Roberts. Deciding the future of Nanotechnologies. D. Baird, A. Nordmann and J. Schummer. op. cit. note 1, p. 248).
30. Centre National de la Récherche Sciéntifique et Comité d'éthique (COMETS). 2006. Avis enjeux Ethiques des Nanosciences et Nanotech nologies. Available at: http://www.cnrs.fr/fr/ presentation/ethique/comets/index.htm [Accessed 30 January 2007].
31. Italian National Committee of Bioethics (CNB). 2006. Nanosciences and nanotechnologies. Available at: http://www.governo.it/bioetica/ pareri.html [Accessed 26 July 2006].
32. The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, op. cit. note 15.
33. see The European Group of Ethics in Science and new Technologies. 2005. Opinion n. 20. Ethical Aspects of ICT implants in the human body. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/European-group-ethics/docs/avis20-en.pdf [Accessed 20 February 2007].
34. Research Council of Norway, the National Research Ethics Committee for Science and Technology (NENT) and the Norwegian Board of Technology. 2005. Nanotechnologies and new materials: Health, the environment, ethics and society. Available at: http:// www.forskningsradet.no [Accessed 15 January 2007].
35. Centre National de la Récherche Sciéntifique (CNR) - Comité de éthique (COMETS), op. cit. note 25.
36. The European Group of Ethics in Science and New Technologies to the European Commission. 2007. Opinion n. 21on the Ethical Aspects of Nanomedicine. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/European-group-ethics/activities/docs/opinion- 21-nano-en.pdf [Accessed 20 February 2007].
37. Division of Ethics of Science and Technology of UNESCO, op. cit. note 6.