Application of Nanotechnology in Maxillofacial Reconstruction

Since 1999, when the term “nanomedicine” was first introduced, there has been significant progress in the use of nanotechnology in medicine. Materials behave differently at the nanoscale and exhibit unexpected properties compared to their larger counterparts. Furthermore, biomolecules operate at the nanoscale. These facts were the foundation of nanomedicine and suggested a shift from microscale intervention to nanoscale therapy. As a result, the nanomedical science is rapidly advancing and transforming the field of treatment, including surgical procedures. This chapter discusses the basics of nanotechnology and nanomedicine, as well as their use in reconstructive surgery in the maxillofacial region. It also briefly discusses the current clinical and preclinical status of nanotechnological approaches in surgery and their future directions.