CHAPTER 6: THE CONCEPT OF PERSONALISATION IN THE CONTEXT OF NANOMEDICINE

Abstract

Nanomedicine – the application of nanotechnology to medicine – is considered to be a major breakthrough in medicine. Based on interviews with Canadian researchers in nanomedicine, this article proposes an analysis of their conception of the personalisation of healthcare, which is one of the most important promises of the nanomedicine. Two major elements have been identified: (1) a molecular conception of the individuality of the patient; (2) a technical conception of the personalisation of healthcare. Those two intertwined elements are at the core of what we call a “techno-molecular” conception of healthcare.