Nanotechnology in medicine

Nanotechnology has been a rapidly growing field of advanced science in recent times. Nanotechnology has found many applications in treating infectious diseases induced by viruses, bacteria, protozoan, fungi etc. Nanoparticles are effective against a virus, since a virion is of the same dimension as a nanoparticle. Nanoparticles can attach to SARS COV-2 viruses, disrupting their structure and so kill the virus. A  low risk solution using antibody modified bismuth nanoparticle, in combination with an X-ray dose equivalent  to a chest X-ray specifically, has been shown to kill the common bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a set up designed to resemble a deep wound in human tissue. Heparin functionalized nanoparticles have been use for targeted delivery of anti-malarial drugs. Heparin is abundant and cheap, compared to treatments that involve antibodies, an important consideration, since malaria is most common in developing countries. A  bone repairing nano-particle paste has been developed that promises faster repair of fractures and breakages. DNA containing two growth genes is encapsulated inside synthetic calcium phosphate nanoparticles. Many medicinal endeavours have seen the use of Nanotechnology. These and other more recent advances in nanotechnology will be presented at this conference.

Audience Take Away:

• Most of the audience are nanotechnologists and thus can incorporate part of my research in their work or apply them to their work
• The audience will be more knowledgeable at work in nanotechnology. This research faculty can use part of my research to expand their research. However, they must reference my work. 

Prof. Raymond Jagessar obtained his BSc (Distinction) in Chemistry/Biology from the University of Guyana (1992) and his PhD from the UK (1995). He was Assistant Lecturer at the University of Guyana, 1991-1992. He held three Post Doctoral Research Fellowships (PDF) at the University of South Carolina, Columbia (USA), Wichita State University, Kansas (USA) and the University of the West Indies during the period, 1996 1999. He is also accredited with a distinction in DiPEd (higher education) at the University of Guyana in 2022. He has several international awards, amongst them are Chartered Chemist, CChem, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, FRSC, UK, Research Grants etc. He is an awardee of the Guyana Innovation Prize and a Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. His research interests are broad, covering the spectrum of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He has published over one hundred (100) research articles, five book chapters, one book, three e-books and presented at over 100 conferences locally, regionally and internationally. He has given keynote presentations at several conferences at the international forum. He is a member of several editorial boards and reviewer to several journals. He is currently Professor of Chemistry at the University of Guyana (South America), former President of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences (2020-2023) and currently, Foreign Secretary of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.