Interventional radiologists will play a key role in nanotechnology

At the recent CIRSE meeting, John Abele, Co-Founder of Boston Scientific, discussed the latest technological advances in nanotachnology and highlighted the key role interventional radiologists will play in this emerging technology.

Abele began by stating that there are several developing technical trends that could change diagnosis, medical procedures and patient care outcomes in the future. These include imaging (high resolution rapid CT angiography), molecular biology (genetics and tissue engineering) and nanotechnology. Regarding the latter in particular, he believes the potential is huge because nano is moving into the biological world (nanomedicine). For example, recent work has shown the potential for connecting microchips to the brain to restore sight and utilising electroactive polymers that when stimulated will contract like a muscle. Abele states that nanomedicine already exists in a lot of areas from sensors, to drugs, to coatings and many others, and it will continue to expand as more diseases and conditions can be treated and outcomes improved.

Abele claims that out understanding of nanotechnology will improve as molecular imaging technologies improve, "the two go hand in hand." He claims this is where the skills of radiologist, and interventional radiologists in particular, will come into their own. Abele acknowledges that it is something of a "wild west" scenario as to which speciality will dominate clinical nanomedicine - there could eventually be a subgroup within specific specialities. However, Abele claims at the moment it is those specialities with extensive expertises in image-guided therapy that have a distinct advantage, as imaging is at the very centre of this technology.

Therefore, Abele believes that it is interventional radiologists who have the skills and experience necessary to provide the type of training and the credentialing of any training programme. Such a training programme will require differing strategies for education to develop an understanding of the subject and this is where interventional radiologists can come into their own and stamp their mark on this exciting and emerging technology.