Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net Current Physical Chemistry, 2014, 4, 173-194 173 The Recent Patents and Highlights of Functionally Engineered Nanoparticles for Potential Applications in Biology, Medicine, and Nanomedicine Nguyen Viet Long 1-5, * , Cao Minh Thi 6 and Masayuki Nogami 3,5 1 Department of Molecular and Material Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasugakouen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan; 2 Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, Nguyen-Trai, Ha-Dong, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan; 4 Laboratory for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University, Linh-Trung, Thu-Duc, Ho-Chi-Minh, Vietnam; 5 State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science,1295, Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050, China; 6 Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, 144/24 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 25, BinhThach, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Abstract: In this review, we have investigated study results of recent patents, achievements, and applications of engineered nanoparticles and nanomaterials in nanomedicine. It includes aspects of practical applications of bioconjugated and engineered nanoparticles in medicine and biology for our better life. The methods of innovative drug delivery, diagnosis, treatment, and therapy of diseases are highlighted in novel applications of nanoparticles, nanomaterials, and nanosystems. The main aims of this review are to provide achievements and highlights of patents of recent applications of nanomedicine in the assays in both animal and human. In particular, the engineered nanoparticles of certain size, shape, structure, compositions associated with pharmaceutical compositions show great and promising medical applications, such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), iron (Fe) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles as well as their compounds in the treatments of various cancers. The new therapies associated with the engineered nanoparticles can improve future cancer therapy protocols. Finally, systems and methods for identifying and evaluating their safety, risk, and toxicity are also discussed in diagnosis, treatment, and therapy of diseases. Keywords: Biology, biomaterials, cancer, dendrimers, diagnosis, disease, drug delivery, gold, liposomes, medicine, nanofibers and nanowires, nanomedicine, nanoparticles, nanorods, nanotubes, platinum, polymeric micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, quantum dots, silica, silver, therapy, tissue engineering, toxicity, treatment, viruses, Fe based nanoparticles, Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 1. THE PRINCIPLES, METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF NANOMEDICINE Today, nanotechnology, nanomaterials (NMs), and drugs are being used in medicine and biology due to their great biomedical effects. This opens promising nanomedicine science for diagnosis and therapy for treating dangerous diseases in animal and human biological systems [1]. In biomedical applications, nanomedicine is defined as the uses of nanotechnologies and NMs below 100 nm [1-3]. The fundamentals of physics and chemistry are applied in nanomedicine. In theory, quantum mechanics predicts material properties such as magnetism, catalysis, optics, plasmonics, and color properties etc. in treating diseases [1, 2], which are exploited to develop methods of medication, diagnostics, and treatment in multidisciplinary approach. In nanomedicine, the effects of the interaction with cells and tissue can exhibit in a range of 1-100 nm [1-3]. The areas of *Address correspondence to this author at the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science,1295, Dingxi Road, Shanghai 200050, China, Tel: 86-21-52414321; Mobile: +81(0)90-9930-9504; Fax: 86-21-52414219; E-mails: nguyenviet_long@yahoo.com, nguyenvietlong01@gmail.com, and nguyenvietlong01@yahoo.com nanomedicine are focused on drug delivery, diagnostics, nanostructured biomaterials and tissue engineering [3], which offers the effects and applications for cardiovascular disease, rheumatic disease, oncology, gastrointestinal/hepatic disease, infections such as bacterial, viral, parasitic, and implant infections, tuberculosis, haematology, neurology/ neurosurgery, implants, inflammation, dermatology, diseases of skin, eye, and ear etc., tissue repair, orthopaedics, and others [1-6]. It becomes an interdisciplinary science in its biomedical applications by synergic collaborations of physicians, biologists, pharmacologists, chemists, and biochemists. It becomes an increasingly important area in all over the World, in US, Europe, and Japan in industry, clinical medicine, and academia [1-6]. Medicine and biology can realize diagnosis, prevention and treatment of serious diseases through nanotechnogies and NMs. In addition, nanomedicine, molecular imaging, drug delivery systems (DDSs), and biodiagnostics for personalized medicine are integrated in innovative tissue engineering and nanobiotechnology. The issues of specifying size, composition, morphology, surface and structure, contents and doses of NMs and drugs are of crucial in diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and therapy of diseases through nanomedicine [4-6], for example, the toxicity of Au-Fe nanoparticles [5], or the cytotoxicity of /14 $58.00+.00 © 2014 Bentham Science Publishers