Nanodosing Cannabis?
How cannabis and nanomedicines will improve our overall quality of life
The cannabis industry has come a long way since the days of mass propaganda and prohibition. Society has reached a state where cannabis has once again become commonplace for most adults across the globe. Aside from the record-breaking cannabis industry, companies that focus on biotechnology’s advancement are attempting to utilize cannabis on a subatomic level. These biotech companies are turning to fine-tuning nanorobotics that can be used in conjunction with the body’s Endocannabinoid System to improve a patient’s health and quality of life. What does this truly mean for cannabis and nanomedicine?
What are Nanomachines?
Nanomachines refer to microscopic machines that be utilized in a variety of ways. The etymology of the term is Latin, with the prefix ‘nano’ meaning very small or ‘dwarf.’ Nanomachines is an umbrella term that encompasses colloquialisms such as ‘nanites,’ ‘nanorobotics,’ and ‘nanomites.’ Nanomachines are often a nanometer or smaller. This is thousands of times smaller than a single strain of hair or a single period made with a pencil. With such subatomic feats, nanomachines showcase great promise in the advancement of medicine and biotechnology.
Current status of nanomedicines
Nanomachine is not a new concept; however, technology has only recently reached a level to explore nanomachines. Nanorobotics is currently in the research and development stage of biotechnology. Companies have been exploring nanomachines consistently for nearly 2 decades. Prior to this, the biotech industry focused on mastering micromachines. The advancement of micromachines saw the implementation of bio-robotics such as tracking devices for our pets (and even some kids with the CHIP program.) Now that the industry feels they have successfully tackled understanding micromachines, it is time to get even smaller with nanomachines. They are hopeful that nanomachines will become commonplace by 2040. What can mainstream nanomachine use look like for the future of biotechnology.
Examples of nanomachine use in popular culture
Even if you have never heard the term nanomachines or nanorobotics, there is a good chance that you have witnessed nanomachines in action. One of the most common examples of nanomachine implementation for a biotechnological scale is in the film franchise Terminator. The franchise’s star character was equipped with nanomachines, which allowed him to repair damage on a nanoscopic level.
Another example of nanomachines in pop culture is evident in the video game franchise Metal Gear Solid. This is a series that directly revolves around the implementation of nanomachines to create, protect, and heal members of the military and private military contractors. In this series, nanomachines are pretty much the end-all-be-all. The small machines also allow those equipped to communicate privately (like a Bluetooth device), to regulate bodily functions and hormones, and even completely heal cancerous cells.
How nanomeds can interact with the ECS
It is believed that nanorobotics possess the ability to interact with the body’s Endocannabinoid System, or ECS. This is the network of nodes located throughout the body that can regulate countless bodily functions, hormones, appetite, libido, inflammation reduction, and more. By this logic, nanomedicines can be developed to work directly with the ECS. These subatomic machines can theoretically carry small amounts of cargo (i.e., nano-doses of medications) that have been tailored to affect a single or group of dangerous cells.
In theory, this could be tantamount to the advancement of cancer research. Moreover, nanomeds can assist the ECS with regulating the countless functions supervised by the network. These meds can also make medical breakthroughs regarding Chron’s Disease. It is currently believed that the ECS’ network of CB2 receptors, located throughout the gastrointestinal tract, can assist in the fight against Chron’s. Maybe nanomeds and biotech advancement are all that holds us back from becoming the healthiest being we can be? We will find out by 2050.