NANOTECHNOLOGY IN UROLOGY, A NEW HORIZON IN REGENERATIVE AND ONCOLOGICAL TREATMENTS

Nanobiomaterials have opened new horizons in urology, offering innovative solutions for regenerative and oncological treatments. These materials, due to their unique properties such as nanometer dimensions, biocompatibility, and functionalization capacity, have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and precision of clinical interventions. In urological regeneration, nanostructures are used to design scaffolds that facilitate cell proliferation and tissue reconstruction, being applied in defects of the bladder, urethra, and kidney tissue. Also, in urological oncology, nano-biomaterials play a central role in targeted drug delivery, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy, as well as in early diagnosis through advanced imaging. However, the use of nanomaterials comes with significant challenges. Technical aspects include stability in the biological environment and limitations in synthesis and functionalization. Clinically, adverse reactions and toxicity require increased attention, and the scalability of production is a major barrier to widespread application. Also, the high costs and ethical concerns related to the use of nanotechnology in medicine limit the accessibility of these innovations. Despite these challenges, continued advances in research promise to completely transform urology, paving the way for personalized and more effective treatments.