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Q23 (IAS/2015) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Biopharmaceuticals and nanomedicine Official Key

With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology. 2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C because both statements are correct.

**Statement 1 is correct:** Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of drug delivery by providing an effective and targeted delivery of drugs, minimizing side effects, and increasing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs.[1] The application of nanotechnology in drug delivery involves the use of nanoparticles that are designed to carry drugs and deliver them to the desired site of action.[2] Nanoparticles with a size of 1–100 nm are unique since they can pass cell membranes and cause characteristic reactions within cells, affecting both the cell structures and organelles.[3]

**Statement 2 is correct:** Gene therapy, combined with nanotechnology, holds great potential as an innovative approach to tackling numerous severe and untreatable illnesses, namely cancer.[4] Using nanotechnology that enabled mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, a new approach to gene therapy may improve how physicians treat inherited forms of blindness.[5] This demonstrates that nanotechnology can indeed contribute largely to gene therapy applications.

Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct, making option C the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10536529/
  2. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10536529/
  3. [3] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nanotechnology/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1639506/full
  4. [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1773224724007524
  5. [5] https://news.ohsu.edu/2023/01/11/nanotechnology-may-improve-gene-therapy-for-blindness
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Q. With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Targeted drug delivery…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10
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This is a classic 'Applications of Emerging Tech' question. It rewards general awareness over rote memorization. In Science & Tech, if a technology is broadly transformative (like Nanotech or AI), its potential applications in major sectors like Health are almost always 'True' unless the statement implies exclusivity or violates basic physics.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does the use of nanotechnology in the health sector enable targeted drug delivery?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of drug delivery by providing an effective and targeted delivery of drugs, minimizing side effects, and increasing the therapeutic efficacy of drugs."
Why this source?
  • Directly states nanotechnology enables effective, targeted delivery of drugs.
  • Links targeted delivery with reduced side effects and increased therapeutic efficacy, supporting the statement.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Targeted drug delivery system Nanoparticles Enhanced permeability and retention Active targeting Controlled release Theranostics Stimuli-responsive"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists 'Targeted drug delivery system' and related mechanisms (active targeting, EPR, controlled release).
  • Positions targeted delivery as a central keyword and focus of nanocarrier research, reinforcing the claim.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"NPs and other nanostructures with a size of 1–100 nm are unique since they can pass cell membranes and cause characteristic reactions within cells, affecting both the cell structures and organelles."
Why this source?
  • Notes nanostructures (1–100 nm) can pass cell membranes and act within cells, a mechanism enabling delivery to specific sites.
  • Highlights intrinsic functions of nanomaterials that make them essential in biomedical applications, implying targeted delivery capability.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Drug Policy > p. 62
Strength: 5/5
“The salient features of the modified drug policy (1986) as announced on 15 September, 1994 are: • 1. Abolition of Industrial Licensing for all bulk drugs, their intermediates and formulations except five bulk drugs of the public sector.• 2. Foreign investment up to 51% will be automatically permitted in the case of bulk drugs, their intermediares and their formulations.• 3. Automatic approval for foreign technology agreements shall be given in case of all bulk drugs, their intermediares and formulations, except those produced by the use of recombinant DNA technology.• 4. Measures to give further impetus to R & D in the drug sector: • (a) Newly developed drugs would be put outside price control for a period of 10 years;”
Why relevant

The modified drug policy explicitly promotes R&D in the drug sector and grants regulatory/exemptions (e.g., newly developed drugs outside price control), a pattern that encourages development of novel drug technologies.

How to extend

A student could infer that policy incentives for R&D make it more likely that advanced approaches like nanotechnology-based targeted delivery would be researched and developed domestically, and then check regulatory guidelines for such products.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Drug Policy > p. 63
Strength: 4/5
“• (b) Department of Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals to set up inter-ministerial group to decide, within a set time frame, on measures to give further impetus to R & D in the drug sector; and• (c) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take suitable steps for the quick clearance of new drug application, especially those developed through indigenous R & D.• 5. The system of price control would be operated through a single list of price-controlled drugs, selected on the basis of transparent and objective criteria as laid down in the modification in drug policy 1986.• 6. In case of basic manufacture, the rate of return would be higher by 4% over the existing rates which are 14% on net worth or 22% on capital employed.• 7.”
Why relevant

Calls for an inter-ministerial group to boost R&D and for quicker clearance of new drug applications indicate institutional mechanisms exist to evaluate and potentially approve novel drug technologies.

How to extend

One could use this to reason that if nanotech drug carriers are developed, there is a procedural pathway for their regulatory assessment and market entry; confirm by examining specific regulatory approval criteria.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY > p. 60
Strength: 4/5
“The drugs and pharmaceutical industry has made a phenomenal progress in India during the last four decades. The country now ranks third in terms of volume of production (10% of global share) and 14th largest by value. Indian exports are destined to various countries around the globe including USA, Europe, Japan and Australia (2011- 12). There are five Central Public Sector Undertakings and five joint Sector Undertakings in the pharmaceutical Industry Sector under the administrative control of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Besides, there are two wholly-owned subsidiaries. A brief profile of these organisations is given in the following paragraphs.”
Why relevant

The pharmaceutical industry has grown substantially (large production share and export orientation), showing infrastructure and expertise that can support development/manufacture of advanced formulations.

How to extend

A student might combine this industry capacity with knowledge of nanomedicine manufacturing requirements to judge feasibility of producing targeted nanodrugs in the sector.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 9: The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions > Our scientific heritage > p. 138
Strength: 3/5
“Water has primarily been used as a solvent for the preparation of medicinal formulations in Ayurveda, Siddha, and other traditional systems of medicine in India. Additionally, drug formulations have been prepared using hydro-alcoholic extracts of the herbs. The Indian systems of medicine have also referred to the use of oils, ghee, milk, and other substances as solvents for drug formulations, to help achieve the therapeutic benefits of the drug.”
Why relevant

Discussion of solvents and traditional formulation methods highlights that drug delivery depends on formulation techniques—implying that new formulation technologies (e.g., nanoformulations) are part of the same conceptual space.

How to extend

One could extend this by comparing standard formulation principles to nanocarrier approaches to see how formulation changes can enable targeted delivery.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 7: Indian Economy after 2014 > 7.7 Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLIS) > p. 238
Strength: 3/5
“Fact: Indian pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world by volume and 14th largest in terms of value. India contributes 3.5% of total drugs and medicines exported globally. Despite these achievements, India is significantly dependent on import of some basic raw materials (from China), viz., bulk drugs and APIs used to produce finished formulations.”
Why relevant

The industry’s dependence on imported raw materials (APIs) shows a supply-chain constraint that could affect adoption or scale-up of specialized technologies.

How to extend

A student could use this to temper expectations: even if nanotech enables targeted delivery technically, supply/dependency issues might affect implementation—check availability of required nano-grade materials.

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