Nanotechnologies for Medical Devices: Potentialities and Risks

Many novel medical devices (implantable or not) include nanomaterials through either surface-coating by nanoparticles or by direct nanostructuration of the surface. In this review, we have identified several medical devices currently on the market in various health domains (wound healing, prevention or treatment of infectious diseases, cardio-vascular diseases, organ or joint replacement, and finally medical devices associated with nanomedicines). The very peculiar physicochemical characterization of the nanostructured medical devices is described. Keys to understand their possible interaction with the organism (positive or negative via toxicity) are given. Finally, as a conclusion, we discuss the specific quality control as well as the regulatory issues arising from the lack of regulation for approving nanomaterial combining medical devices