Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing discipline with use in skin and personal care. Many cosmeceutical companies are currently using nanotechnology. But according to a recent study, “In an era when nanotechnology is being both incorporated into educational requirements for medical fields such as radiology and oncology and vigorously pursued and developed by cosmeceutical companies, dermatology is falling behind" (J Drugs Dermatol. 2011;10(9):1037-1041). A survey, conducted to ascertain knowledge, attitudes and perception of nanotechnology in dermatology teaching programs, indicated a significant gap in dermatology training. Participants indicated a need for more training and education in the area of nanotechnology, and called for more research to evaluate the potential pitfalls associated with nanomaterials as well and to seek new advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
In order to ascertain baseline knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding nanotechnology among dermatology trainees, dermatology investigators and dermatology faculty in U.S. academic medical centers, researchers sent out an online survey to random members of the dermatology community and data analyzed (100 participants, 23-percent response rate). Participants responded to a questionnaire on a five-point scale ranging from strongly disagree, disagree, uncertain, agree to strongly agree. Due to the low response rate, strongly disagree/disagree and strongly agree/agree values were combined and compared to uncertain responses.
Approximately equal numbers of faculty versus chief residents responded to the survey (52 percent versus. 47.75 percent, respectively). The majority of respondents had not previously attended any educational activity on nanotechnology (69.57 percent). The majority of participants agreed more education on nanotechnology for dermatologists is needed (78.26 percent agreed, 21.74 percent uncertain) and that it should be incorporated into the residency training curriculum (60.87 percent agree, 13.04 percent disagree). Participants mostly agreed nanotechnology research can contribute to better fundamental understanding of skin disease (78.26 percent), to advances in the diagnosis of skin disease (73.91 percent) and to therapies (78.26 percent). Participants mostly agreed more research is needed (82.60 percent) and this research should be funded (78.26 percent). Not surprisingly, respondents were uncertain with respect to issues of nanotechnology safety both in the pharmaceutical realm (60.87 percent) and cosmeceutical realm (69.57 percent). Furthermore, the overwhelming majority responded that research is also needed to evaluate nanomaterial safety (86.96 percent). The researchers did note, the populations size and response rate were low, possibly affecting the power and significance of the results in this study.