Nanotechnology and the Developing World Peter A Singer

Nanotechnology and the Developing World Peter A. Singer Mc. Laughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health Program in the Life Sciences, Ethics, and Policy University Health Network and University of Toronto

Greatest ethical challenge of our time

United Nations Millennium Development Goals l l l l Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development

The Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without a focused policy for science, technology and innovation

Which nanotechnologies are most likely to benefit people in developing countries?

63 panelists in 26 countries UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND CANADA FRANCE UNITED STATES SPAIN MEXICO GERMANY SWITZERLAND TURKEY CHINA JAPAN ITALY GREECE ISRAEL SOUTH KOREA CUBA INDIA PHILIPPINES THAILAND VIETNAM BRASIL SOUTH AFRICA CHILE ARGENTINA ♀13 ♂50 NEW ZEALAND

Top 10 nanotechnologies for the developing world PLo. S Med 2006; 2(5): e 97 1. Energy storage, production and conversion 2. Agricultural productivity enhancement 3. Water treatment and remediation 4. Disease diagnosis and screening 5. Drug delivery systems 6. Food processing and storage 7. Air pollution remediation 8. Construction 9. Health monitoring 10. Vector and pest detection and control

Top 10 nanotechnologies vs. Millennium Development Goals Reduce child mortality IV 1 V Improve maternal health 2 3 VII Ensure environmental sustainability 4 5 6 7 I 8 9 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 10 VI Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Quantum dots Lab on a chip Dendrimers Buckyballs

Quantum dots for malaria

Decreasing infrastructure requirement of malaria diagnostic tests saves most lives Rafael ME et al. Nature 2006; 444, 39 -48

Domestic innovation needed in developing world ü Strong and sustained political will ü Individual leadership ü Close linkages, active knowledge flow ü Focused efforts in niche areas ü Temporarily permissive IP environment for initial capacity building ü Private sector development

Examples of nanotechnology innovation in the developing world l Nanodiagnostic systems for HIV, H-B, syphilis, pregnancy (Nano Biotech Ltd. ) l Nano drug delivery systems for cancer and for local delivery to eye and skin (CISR, U. Delhi, Dabur Research Foundation, Panacea Biotec) MEXICO Polymer nanocomposites for controlled drug release, nanoscaffolds, and dental materials CHILE Nano bone (Tsinghua University) l Nanomagnets as drug transporters l Carbon nanotubes for implants, prostheses, and biosensors SOUTH KOREA CHINA INDIA THAILAND l Front runners BRASIL ARGENTINA PHILIPPINES SOUTH AFRICA l Middle ground l Up-and-comers Court E. et al. Nanotechnology 15, 3 (2004)

Thank You Dr. Fabio Salamanca. Buentello Additional funding partners listed at www. geneticsethics. net