New Technologies for Application to Veterinary
Therapeutics
Jim E. Riviere
Contents
1 Introduction and Historical Background ................................................. 192
2 Major Dynamics Affecting Veterinary Pharmacology ................................... 193
3 Technological Developments ............................................................ 195
4 Continued Advances in Computer Technology .......................................... 197
5 Microfluidics ............................................................................. 200
6 Nanotechnology .......................................................................... 201
7 High-Throughput Screening ............................................................. 203
8 Increased Ability to Control and Target Drug Delivery ................................. 204
9 Increased Knowledge of Pharmacogenomics ............................................ 205
10 Potential Impact on Veterinary Medicine ................................................ 206
11 Conclusion ............................................................................... 208
References .................................................................................... 208
AbstractThe purpose of this contribution is to review new technologies and make
an educated prediction as to how they will impact veterinary pharmacology over the
coming decades. By examining past developments, it becomes evident that change
is incremental and predictable unless either a transforming discovery or a change in
societal behaviour occurs. In the last century, both discoveries and behaviours have
dramatically changed medicine, pharmacology and therapeutics. In this chapter, the
potential effects of six transforming technologies on veterinary therapeutics are
examined: continued advances in computer technology, microfluidics, nanotech-
nology, high-throughput screening, control and targeted drug delivery and pharma-
cogenomics. These should lead to the more efficacious and safer use of existing
medicants, and the development of novel drugs across most therapeutic classes
J.E. Riviere
Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics, Department of Population
Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
F. Cunningham et al. (eds.),Comparative and Veterinary Pharmacology,
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 199,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10324-7_8,#Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010
191