Presently, experts
are accelerating innovation process in technically advanced environment. Nanotechnology
is an inexorable part of contemporary society.
The main uniting subject in nanotechnology is the control
of matter on a scale below 100 nano meters, as well as the fabrication of
devices on this same length scale. The term ‘nano’ is resulting from the Greek
word nannos which means very short man. Nanotechnology is a type of technology
that entails components smaller than 100 nanometers.
In the opinion of technical experts, Nanotechnology
research and development includes management under control of the nanoscale
structures and their integration into larger material components, systems and
architectures. Many scholars specified that Nanotechnology is the engineering
of functional systems at the molecular scale. This comprises both current work
and concepts that are more advanced. In fundamental sense, nanotechnology is
closely allied with Nanoscience.
Nanotechnology has the potential to solve problems
related to human civilizations, pertaining to both basic needs and aspirations
for a comfortable life. Even though nanotechnology involves the manipulation of
matter on an atomic, molecular and supramolecular scale, the particular
technological goal is of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for
fabrication of macro scale products, also now referred to as molecular
nanotechnology. Nanotechnologies may offer new solutions for the millions of
people in developing countries who are short of accessing to essential needs,
such as food, water, energy, health care, and education.
Foundation
of nanotechnology:
Numerous scientists investigated the notion of Nanotechnology
P.Feynman in 1959 developed the principles of miniaturization and atomic-level
precision and how these thoughts do not disturb any known law of physics. He anticipated
that it was conceivable to shape a surgical nanoscale robot by developing
quarter-scale manipulator hands that would build quarter-scale machine tools
analogous to those found in machine shops, continuing until the nanoscale is
reached, and eight iterations later. Norio Taniguchi first mentioned
‘nanotechnology’ in a paper entitled “On the Basic Concept of Nano-Technology”
in 1974. Many discoveries like the scanning tunnelling microscope in 1981 and
the discovery of fullerene (C60) in 1985 pushed to expand the term
nanotechnology. Taniguchi considered nanotechnology as the technology that
engineers materials at the nanometre level. According to Taniguchi, “Nano-technology
is the production technology to get the extra high accuracy and ultrafine
dimensions i.e. the preciseness and fineness of the order of 1 nm (nanometre)
or 10−9 m in length. Taniguchi considered his concept of
‘nanotechnology’ in materials processing, basing this on the microscopic
behaviour of materials.
Prime feature of nanoscience is understanding the
formation of nanoscale materials and devices. In looking at the nanoscale,
traditional (non-nano) materials, structures, and devices are often denoted as
“bulk technology.” Using bulk technology, researchers can create exquisitely
small devices and materials. Currently, Nanotechnology mainly concentrated on
the development, understanding, and use of materials at the nanoscale, or
nanomaterials.
Nanotechnology is categorized into three main segments.
1.
Identifying the chemical and physical changes
that occurs at the nanoscale
2.
Developing new tools to measure, and new
chemistry to make, highly miniaturized structure.
3.
Using the chemical and physical changes that
occur at the nanoscale to develop new technologies.
Approaches
of nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology encompasses several
technology fields especially in electronics.
1. Bottom up: In the bottom up approach, different
materials and devices are built from molecular components of their own. They
chemically assemble themselves by recognizing the molecules of their own breed.
For examples molecular self-assembly are Watson crick base pairing,
nanolithography.
2. Top down: In top down approach, nano objects and
materials are formed by larger entities without bouncing its atomic reactions.
Usually top down approach is practiced less as compared to the bottom up
approach. Solid-state techniques can also be used to create devices known as
nano electromechanical systems or NEMS, which are related to micro
elctromechanical systems or MEMS.
Application
of Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology is used in multiple
disciplines:
1. Nanotechnology
in medications: Nanotechnology is wonderful invention of scientists which
offers great options for drug delivery and drug therapies such as in cancer. It
allows drugs to be delivered to exactly the right location in the body and
release drug doses on a predetermined schedule for best treatment. In a recent
research, it is found by NIH that anti-cancer gold nanoparticles is highly
effective. Presently, the treatment of dreaded disease like cancer is done
through radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Nano dentistry will aid to maintain complete oral health
by employing nanomaterials, biotechnology, including tissue engineering, and
ultimately, dental nanorobotics. With nanotechnology, minute surgical instruments
and robots can be used to perform microsurgeries on any part of human body.
In dentistry, nanotechnology has diverse applications
that include, local anaesthesia, dentition renaturalization, permanent
hypersensitivity cure, complete orthodontic realignments during a single office
visit and continuous oral health maintenance using mechanical dentifrobots. With
the help of nano medicine, doctors can detect and prevent, diagnosis and give
proper treatment and follow-up of diseases at early stage. Certain nano scale
particles are used as tags and labels, biological procedure can be performed
quickly, and the testing has become more sensitive and more flexible. Gene
sequencing has become more efficient with nano devices like gold nano
particles. These gold particles when tagged with short segments of DNA, it can
be used for detection of genetic sequence in a sample.
Nanotechnology is beneficial in medical area as damaged
tissue can be reproduced or repaired. Nanotechnology has immense role in the
field of stem cell research. For example, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have
been successfully used to isolate and group stem cells. This will hopefully
lead to stem cell-based therapeutics for the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of human disease.
2. Nanotechnology
in Fabrics: Nanotechnology contributes a lot in the field of clothing. Presently,
nanotechnology is extensively used in the textile industry due to its valuable
properties. The properties of familiar materials are being changed by
manufacturers who are adding nano-sized components to conventional materials to
increase performance. Nanotechnology also generate revenues for the textile
industry. Conventional methods used to impart different properties to fabrics
often do not lead to permanent effects, and lose their functions after
laundering or wearing.
Nano-Tex improves the water-repellent property of fabric
by creating nano-whiskers, which are hydrocarbons and 1/1000 of the size of a
typical cotton fibre, that are added to the fabric to create a peach fuzz
effect without lowering the strength of cotton. The spaces between the whiskers
on the fabric are smaller than the typical drop of water, but still larger than
water molecules. Water thus remains on the top of the whiskers and above the
surface of the fabric.
Nanotechnology can increase durability for fabrics,
because nano-particles have a large surface area-to-volume ratio and high
surface energy, therefore giving better affinity for fabrics and make fabric
more durable. Additionally, a coating of nano-particles on fabrics will not
affect their breath ability or hand feel.
3. Nanotechnology
in Electronics field: Nanotechnology has revolutionized the electronics
industry. It empowered the further miniaturization of logic and memory devices.
Quantum mechanical confinement has been used to devise a high electron mobility
transistor and a quantum well laser. Such a semiconductor device greatly
improves reliability, competence, noise reduction and processing speed. Organic
molecules have been used to fabricate molecular wires and switches, and
unimolecular rectifiers and molecular field effect transistors, which will
hasten the development of quantum computers and nano-devices that have extraordinary
computational speed. Other applications of nano-electronics are spintronics,
memory and storage devices, hard drives and tapes, optical switching and
display technologies. Electrodes made from nanowires allow flat panel displays
to be flexible as well as thinner than current flat panel displays.
Nanolithography is used for fabrication of chips. The transistors are made of
nanowires that are assembled on glass or thin films of flexible plastic.
5. Nanotechnology
in computers: Nanotechnology is also used in computers. The silicon
transistors in computer may be replaced by transistors based on carbon
nanotubes. A carbon nanotube is a molecule in form of a hollow cylinder with a
diameter of around a nanometer which comprises of pure carbon. Nanorods is an upcoming
technology in the displays techniques as it consumes less electricity and heat
emission is also low. Nano-computers perform important task of activating,
controlling, and deactivating such nano mechanical devices. Nano-computers
would store and execute mission plans, receive and process external signals and
stimuli, communicate with other nano-computers or external control and
monitoring devices, and possess contextual knowledge to ensure safe functioning
of the nanomechanical devices. Such technology has huge medical and dental implications.
6. Nanotechnology
in food and agriculture protection: Nanotechnology technology is used to
enhance the quality of food. There are manifold application of nano particles
in food and agriculture safety. Nanotechnology has innovated new ways to
improve nutrient use efficiency. The developing of nanofertilizer should be
well thoughtful with sustainable agriculture practices to eradicate poverty and
hunger in the world.
Nanotechnology
in cosmetic field: There is a vast application of
nanotechnology in the arena of cosmetics. Nanotechnology is applied in numerous
cosmetic products such as moisturizers, hair care products, make up and
sunscreen. In the cosmetic industry, the nanoparticles are used in shampoos,
conditioners, toothpastes, anti-wrinkle creams, anti-cellulite creams,
whitening skin, moisturizing, face powders, aftershave lotions, deodorants,
soaps, sunscreens, make up in general, perfumes and nail polishes. The
nanoemulsions, in turn, constitute a class of emulsions with uniform droplets
of small size in the range between 20 and 500 nm, which become increasingly
popular as vehicles for the controlled release and optimized dispersion of
active ingredient. There are two types of uses for nanotechnology in this
arena. The first is the use of nanoparticles as UV filters. Titanium dioxide
(TiO2) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) are the main compounds used in these applications
and organic alternatives to these have also been developed. The second use is
nanotechnology for delivery. Liposomes and Niosomes are used in the cosmetic
industry as delivery vehicles.
Nanotechnology is also beneficial in sports arena. It is
used in every sports such as from bicycles to swimsuits to improve the
performance of participants. Carbon nanotubes, are used to make bicycle frames
and tennis rackets lighter and more durable and give golf clubs and hockey
sticks a more powerful and accurate drive, while a coating of nanomaterials
makes kayaks faster and more stable and keeps tennis balls bouncy for longer.
Within the niche of sport equipment, nanotechnology has numerous advantages and
it can improve sporting equipment making athletes safer, comfortable and more
agile. Sporting equipment such as baseball bats, tennis and badminton racquets,
hockey sticks, racing bicycles, golf balls/clubs, skis, fly-fishing rods,
archery arrows whose performance and durability are being improved with the application
of nanotechnology.
Drawbacks
of nanotechnology:
In spite of several advantages, nanotechnology also has shortcomings.
Application of Nanotechnology can augment health risk. Nano-particles can penetrate
into the body through the skin, lungs and digestive system, thus creating free
radicals that can destroy cell. Once nano-particles are in the bloodstream,
they will be able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Other disadvantage of nanotechnology is lessening job
opportunities in the fields of traditional farming and manufacturing and
industrial sector because of advanced technology. Nanotechnology can also
trigger terrorism. The terrorism and anti-groups exploit nanotechnology as a
new form of afflicting the societies.
With the advancement of nanotechnology, atomic weapons
are easily accessible to unauthorized, criminals. Nanotechnology has made these
weapons more powerful and more destructive. The most death-defying application
of Nanotechnology for military purposes is the Nano-bomb that contains
engineered self-multiplying lethal viruses which can continue to annihilate a
society.
Impact
of nanotechnology on the consumer market:
The improved consumer products and processes that
potentially will result from the application of nanotechnologies promise to
make major contributions to the quality of life, human health and the
environment. It is alleged that they will help resolve urgent issues such as
the provision of clean water, efficient energy production, safe and efficient
food supply and new ways to monitor and treat disease.
Environmental
impact of nanotechnology:
Burgeoning researches have revealed that Nanotechnology upsurges
the strengths of many materials and devices, as well as improves usefulness of
monitoring devices, remediation of environmental pollution, and renewable
energy production. These are the positive side of nanotechnology. But
nanotechnology can be detrimental for environment. It can lead to increased
toxicological contamination on the environment due to the unclear shape, size,
and chemical compositions of some of the nanotechnology products (or
nanomaterials).
In concluding statement, nanotechnology has great
significance for people living in hi tech society. It is application of tremendously
small things and can be used in other scientific arenas, such as chemistry,
biology, physics, materials science, and engineering. Nanotechnology has
potential benefits for society and its applications improve the environment.
Nanotechnology has offered pioneering and promising strategy to overcome the
side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Nanoscale materials will make the products
better in terms of functionality, weight savings, less energy consumption and a
cleaner environment. In spite of many advantages, nanotechnology has some
drawbacks and challenges for people. Nanomaterial helps in cleaning certain
environmental wastes, but also adulterate environment in other ways. Experts suggested
that engineering ethics must be defined before the profitable use of
nanotechnology.
