The term Nanotechnology is all over the news these days, whether it be in reference to medicine or technology. Join us in taking a brief yet thorough dive into what it is, what its applications are across cutting edge fields of science, and how it affects your health.
The term Nano reflects size, specifically 10 to the -9 power. It describes components the size of atoms, and particles so infinitesimal that there are 25,400,000 nanometers in one inch.
Nanotechnology is also called Molecular manufacturing when referring to extremely small mechanical devices (nanobots) which are built at the molecular level (a group of two or more atoms). These devices are assemblers or disassemblers that build, repair, carry or tear down objects, either biological or inorganic. The term nanotechnology was coined by MIT Engineer Eric Drexler in his 1987 book, Engines of Creation.
Applications include…in Manufacturing: The creation of precision miniature components, such as computer chips; in Medicine: creation of pharmaceutical treatments for diseases; assistance in precision surgeries like gene therapies; even Environment cleanup of toxins, and reduction of previously used resources, like recyclables.
For NCER’s purpose of educating on Bioethics, we will discuss how nanotechnology is used in medicine, both for Covid mRNA vaccines and future pharmaceutical therapies.
The new COVID-19 mRNA vaccines used over the last 4 years utilize Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP). Lipids include fats, oils, and hormones, and are made of fatty acids (hydrocarbon chain) plus a COOH (carboxyl group). An example of a lipid is your body’s cholesterol, such as Triglycerides. The mRNA vaccines must utilize LNPs for the mRNA + Viral Protein to gain access through the cell walls and into the cytoplasm, where they replicate the COVID-19 Spike protein. LNPs act like a key.
Right now, dozens of new mRNA clinical trials are currently in progress, as listed on ClinicalTrials.gov. The pharmaceutical industry is in the process of replacing several traditional vaccines (influenza, RSV, Shingles) with the new mRNA + LNP therapy. Moving beyond vaccines, they are even using it to target cancers and heart disease.
What are the benefits and risks of using nanotechnology in Medicine? Potential benefits include the promise of treating cancers directly, instead of systemically (Chemotherapy); the ability to monitor health from within a patient’s body, using internal nano-monitors (creating human-nanobot or AI symbiosis); or using nanobots to complete microscopic repairs internally.
However, these benefits come with baggage. Monitoring can be used for surveillance or tracking. Nanotechnology could be used as a weapon for malevolent purposes, to harm the health of the vulnerable. Or it could have unexpected consequences, even malfunction and cause harm, such as self-replicating without limit. Some of these negative outcomes have already been documented from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the last four years. LNPs have long been known to cause excessive inflammation within body tissue (implicated as causing myocarditis and blood clots), and damage to the immune system (causing repeated COVID-19 infection). The safety history for this technology in medicine is not favorable currently.
What are the ethics surrounding medical nanotechnology?
Bioethics involves three protective rights: Informed Consent, Benefits must outweigh the risks, Protection of the most vulnerable.
- The risks were not/and still have not been presented to patients who received the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. At a certain level within the pharmaceutical industry and our governments, people knew the probable harm. Informed Consent was denied (via mandates, blank package inserts, denial of immediate treatment using effective generic drugs), thereby stripping the patient community of Autonomy over their own bodies.
- The mRNA + LNP technology allowed the viral Spike protein into cells but did not produce any protection from infection (that was assured), did not prevent transmissibility (that was assured), nor diminish hospitalization (that was assured). On the contrary, it damaged the immune system while causing increased inflammation, resulting in suffering, disability and death of patients who trusted the authorities. The benefits did not outweigh the risks, as demonstrated by a 40% increase in global all-cause deaths, not from the virus, but from the vaccine.
- The most vulnerable are usually considered to include the elderly, the immune compromised, pregnant women and children/infants/unborn. New and unproven medicines have NEVER been allowed to be used on these populations before, but this protocol was breached during the pandemic. These patient populations, as well as all of humanity should be considered as vulnerable during the COVID-19 Pandemic because all were defrauded and put at risk of being severely harmed.
Moderna has received FDA approval for an mRNA vaccine to treat RSV, and it is being sold on the market right now, as of October 2024.
The recommendations from thousands of physicians and researchers around the world include: Before anyone receives another mRNA + LNP treatment for any cause, a non-governmental regulatory commission must be assigned the responsibility of acknowledging those harmed by the breach of ethics over the last four years. Only then can assistance be given to them. Additionally, those responsible must be held accountable. Finally, the harmful aspects of the mRNA + LNP technology must be corrected.
References:
Delivering the Power of Nanomedicine to patients Today, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365920303825
Pro-inflammatory Concerns with Lipid Nanoparticles, Molecular Therapy https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(22)00240-4
Nanoparticles and the Blood Coagulation System. Part II safety concerns https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23730696/
Lasting Impact of Lipid nanoparticles, Nature https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00398-6
mRESVIA’s FDA approval paves the way for mRNA vaccines across multiple indications, 06/06/24 https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/analyst-comment/mresvias-fda-approval-mrna-vaccines/
The Ethics of Nanotechnology, Andrew Chen https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/technology-ethics/resources/the-ethics-of-nanotechnology/
The Ethics of Nanotechnology: Vision and Values for a New Generation of Science and Engineering, George Khushf, USC https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11083/chapter/4
Let’s Talk About Lipid nanoparticles, Nature Review https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00281-4
National Nanotechnology Initiative https://www.nano.gov/about-nanotechnology
Suspicions Grow that Nanoparticles in Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Trigger Allergic Reactions, Science Adviser https://www.science.org/content/article/suspicions-grow-nanoparticles-pfizer-s-covid-19-vaccine-trigger-rare-allergic-reactions