I.

INTRODUCTION

The term "nanotechnology" was invented at the University of Tokyo in 1971 by Professor
Norio Taniguchi. A nanometer is one billionth of meter - about one hundred thousand times
smaller than the diameter of a human hair. In our everyday life, nanotechnology manufactures
the innovative products to produce the new high performance battery storage systems and
lightweight components [1-5]. Not only nanotechnologists, here all fields that is biologist,
chemists, doctors and engineers contribute their experience and knowledge to develop our
society. Nanotechnology has the potential to the development all sector, ranging from disease
diagnosis and treatment to environmental remediation. Nanotechnology is the creation of
devices through the manipulation of matter.

Nanotechnology involves the ability to see and to control individual atoms and
molecules. Everything on Earth is made up of atoms—the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the
buildings and houses we live in, and our own bodies.

But something as small as an atom is impossible to see with the naked eye. In fact, it’s
impossible to see with the microscopes typically used in a high school science classes. The
microscopes needed to see things at the nanoscale were invented relatively recently—about 30
years ago.

Once scientists had the right tools, such as the scanning tunneling microscope (STM)
and the atomic force microscope (AFM), the age of nanotechnology was born.

Although modern nanoscience and nanotechnology are quite new, nanoscale materials
were used for centuries. Alternate-sized gold and silver particles created colors in the stained
glass windows of medieval churches hundreds of years ago. The artists back then just didn’t
know that the process they used to create these beautiful works of art actually led to changes in
the composition of the materials they were working with.

Today's scientists and engineers are finding a wide variety of ways to deliberately make
materials at the nanoscale to take advantage of their enhanced properties such as higher
strength, lighter weight, increased control of light spectrum, and greater chemical reactivity than
their larger-scale counterparts.

Objectives of the Topic:

 The objectives of this research paper include the following:

 To define nanotechnology
 To identify the risks and ethical considerations in nanotechnology
 To site some examples of nanotechnology applications and product

Concept Map

Schematic illustration of the relationship between nanotechnology and neuroscience.

The two fields are closely intertwined, and it is difficult to clearly separate any one subfield. A
new field – nanoneuroscience – is emerging with the combination of two different sciences to
gain a better understanding of brain function. (Reprinted with permission by Wiley-VCH Verlag)

Nanoneuroscience is a science that bridges neuroscience and nanotechnology (see

figure above) by concurrently addressing the fundamental goals of these two separate fields.
Nanotechnology is the science that deals with materials at nanoscale levels, and the
collaboration of this field with bioengineering and neuroscience can transform basic science into
novel materials and devices for the treatment and monitoring of the pathological condition of
neurological disease.

The main goals of this technology are to understand how the nervous system operates
and how neurons communicate and organize themselves into ordered networks in various
action and mental states to treat the disease related to nervous system.

The collaboration between nanotechnology and neuroscience, though still at the early
stages, utilizes broad concepts, such as drug delivery, cell protection, cell regeneration and
differentiation, imaging and surgery, to give birth to novel clinical methods in neuroscience.

The potential applications of this union are not limited to those named above, as the
assimilation of nanotechnology into optogenetics and the piezoelectric effect further indicates its
prospective applications in neuroscience.

Ultimately, the clinical translation of nanoneuroscience implicates that central nervous

system (CNS) diseases, including neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and psychiatric
diseases, have the potential to be cured, while the industrial translation of nanoneuroscience
indicates the need for advancement of brain-computer interface technologies.

Definition of Terms

Atomic Force Microscope- Atomic force microscopy or scanning force microscopy is a

very-high-resolution type of scanning probe microscopy, with demonstrated resolution on the
order of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit.

Atoms- are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter.

Molecules- is the smallest particle in a chemical element or compound that has the
chemical properties of that element or compound

Nanometers- The nanometre or nanometer is a unit of length in the metric system,

equal to one billionth of a metre. The name combines the SI prefix nano- with the parent unit
name metre. It can be written in scientific notation as 1×10−9 m, in engineering notation as 1
E−9 m, and as simply metres.
 Nanoscale- is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering experimental and theoretical
research in all areas of nanotechnology and nanoscience.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope- A scanning tunneling microscope is an instrument

for imaging surfaces at the atomic level. Its development in 1981 earned its inventors, Gerd
Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer, the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986.

Definition of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a field of research and innovation concerned with building 'things' -

generally, materials and devices - on the scale of atoms and molecules. A nanometer is one-
billionth of a meter: ten times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. The diameter of a human hair is,
on average, 80,000 nanometers. At such scales, the ordinary rules of physics and chemistry no
longer apply. For instance, materials' characteristics, such as their color, strength, conductivity
and reactivity, can differ substantially between the nanoscale and the macro. Carbon
'nanotubes' are 100 times stronger than steel but six times lighter.

Nanotechnology is hailed as having the potential to increase the efficiency of energy

consumption, help clean the environment, and solve major health problems. It is said to be able
to massively increase manufacturing production at significantly reduced costs. Products of
nanotechnology will be smaller, cheaper, lighter yet more functional and require less energy and
fewer raw materials to manufacture, claim nanotech advocates.

Risks and Ethical Considerations in Nanotechnology

What are the possible dangers of nanotechnology?

Although most of the press coverage has been on the dangers of 'nano-goo' such as
self-replicating particles that get out of control, or 'nano-robots', the real risks are much more
simple, and real. The miniature size of nanomaterials and the way their surfaces are modified to
increase the ease with which they can interact with biological systems - the very characteristics
that make them attractive for applications in medicine and industry - makes nanomaterials
potentially damaging for humans and the environment.

Nanoparticles are likely to be dangerous for three main reasons:

 Nanoparticles may damage the lungs. We know that 'ultra-fine' particles from diesel
machines, power plants and incinerators can cause considerable damage to human
 lungs. This is both because of their size (as they can get deep into the lungs) and also
because they carry other chemicals including metals and hydrocarbons in with them.
 Nanoparticles can get into the body through the skin, lungs and digestive system. This
may help create 'free radicals' which can cause cell damage and damage to the DNA.
There is also concern that once nanoparticles are in the bloodstream they will be able to
cross the blood-brain barrier.
 The human body has developed a tolerance to most naturally occurring elements and
molecules that it has contact with. It has no natural immunity to new substances and is
more likely to find them toxic.

The danger of contact with nanoparticles is not just speculation. As more research is
undertaken, concerns increase. Here are some of the recent findings:

 Some nanoparticles cause lung damage in rats. Several studies have shown that carbon
nanotubes, which are similar in shape to asbestos fibres, cause mesothelioma in the
lungs of rats (see below)
 other nanoparticles have been shown to lead to brain damage in fish and dogs
 a German study found clear evidence that if discrete nanometer diameter particles were
deposited in the nasal region (in rodents in this case), they completely circumvented the
blood/brain barrier, and travelled up the olfactory nerves straight into the brain
 inhaled carbon nanotubes can suppress the immune system by affecting the function of
T cells, a type of white blood cell that organises the immune system to fight infections.

According to the USA's Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars chief science
advisor (speaking at a conference organised by the Australian Institute of Occupational
Hygienists - AIOH), Dr Andrew Maynard, 'Whether [the research] is relevant to humans we're
not sure yet. But it does indicate nanometer-size particles and nano-structured materials behave
in different ways to what we're used to.' One of the big problems is that it's impossible to know
whether a product or substance contains nanoparticles, as current legislation does not require
these to be labelled.

The US government safety research body NIOSH has produced a guide (see below) which
states nanomaterials may interact with the human body in different ways than more
conventional materials, due to their extremely small size. For example, studies have established
that the comparatively large surface area of inhaled nanoparticles can increase their toxicity.
Such small particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and may move to other parts of the body,
including the liver and brain.

NIOSH's Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), has also released an interim report
Progress Towards Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace [pdf] (Feb 2007). The NTRC was
established to coordinate and facilitate research in nanotechnology and develop guidance on
the safe handling of nanomaterials in the workplace. The report identifies 10 critical OHS areas
and reports on the advancements to date. The areas include toxicity and internal dose
-determined heart and lung responses to nanoparticles; risk assessment; epidemiology and
surveillance - developing guidance for nanotechnology employers and workers on how to
implement OHS surveillance programs in the workplace; engineering controls and PPE; and
measurement methods.

Applications of Nanotechnology in:

Medicine

Researchers are developing customized nanoparticles the size of molecules that can
deliver drugs directly to diseased cells in your body. When it's perfected, this method should
greatly reduce the damage treatment such as chemotherapy does to a patient's healthy cells..

Electronics

Nanotechnology holds some answers for how we might increase the capabilities of
electronics devices while we reduce their weight and power consumption.

Food

Nanotechnology is having an impact on several aspects of food science, from how food
is grown to how it is packaged. Companies are developing nanomaterials that will make a
difference not only in the taste of food, but also in food safety, and the health benefits that food
delivers.

Fuel Cells
 Nanotechnology is being used to reduce the cost of catalysts used in fuel cells to
produce hydrogen ions from fuel such as methanol and to improve the efficiency of membranes
used in fuel cells to separate hydrogen ions from other gases such as oxygen.

Solar Cells

Companies have developed nanotech solar cells that can be manufactured at significantly lower
cost than conventional solar cells.

Batteries

Companies are currently developing batteries using nanomaterials. One such battery will
be a good as new after sitting on the shelf for decades. Another battery can be recharged
significantly faster than conventional batteries.

Space

Nanotechnology may hold the key to making space-flight more practical. Advancements in
nanomaterials make lightweight spacecraft and a cable for the space elevator possible. By
significantly reducing the amount of rocket fuel required, these advances could lower the cost of
reaching orbit and traveling in space.

Fuels

Nanotechnology can address the shortage of fossil fuels such as diesel and gasoline by
making the production of fuels from low grade raw materials economical, increasing the mileage
of engines, and making the production of fuels from normal raw materials more efficient.

Better Air Quality

Nanotechnology can improve the performance of catalysts used to transform vapors escaping
from cars or industrial plants into harmless gasses. That's because catalysts made from
nanoparticles have a greater surface area to interact with the reacting chemicals than catalysts
made from larger particles. The larger surface area allows more chemicals to interact with the
catalyst simultaneously, which makes the catalyst more effective.

Cleaner Water

Nanotechnology is being used to develop solutions to three very different problems in

water quality. One challenge is the removal of industrial wastes, such as a cleaning solvent
called TCE, from groundwater. Nanoparticles can be used to convert the contaminating
chemical through a chemical reaction to make it harmless. Studies have shown that this method
can be used successfully to reach contaminates dispersed in underground ponds and at much
lower cost than methods which require pumping the water out of the ground for treatment.

Chemical Sensors

Nanotechnology can enable sensors to detect very small amounts of chemical vapors.
Various types of detecting elements, such as carbon nanotubes, zinc oxide nanowires or
palladium nanoparticles can be used in nanotechnology-based sensors. Because of the small
size of nanotubes, nanowires, or nanoparticles, a few gas molecules are sufficient to change the
electrical properties of the sensing elements. This allows the detection of a very low
concentration of chemical vapors.

Sporting Goods

If you're a tennis or golf fan, you'll be glad to hear that even sporting goods has
wandered into the nano realm. Current nanotechnology applications in the sports arena include
increasing the strength of tennis racquets, filling any imperfections in club shaft materials and
reducing the rate at which air leaks from tennis balls.

Fabric

Making composite fabric with nano-sized particles or fibers allows improvement of fabric
properties without a significant increase in weight, thickness, or stiffness as might have been the
case with previously-used techniques.

Products with Nanotechnology

 Sunscreen - Many sunscreens contain nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium oxide.

Older sunscreen formulas use larger particles, which is what gives most sunscreens
their whitish color. Smaller particles are less visible, meaning that when you rub the
sunscreen into your skin, it doesn't give you a whitish tinge.
 Self-cleaning glass - A company called Pilkington offers a product they call Activ Glass,
which uses nanoparticles to make the glass photocatalytic and hydrophilic. The
photocatalytic effect means that when UV radiation from light hits the glass,
nanoparticles become energized and begin to break down and loosen organic molecules
 on the glass (in other words, dirt). Hydrophilic means that when water makes contact
with the glass, it spreads across the glass evenly, which helps wash the glass clean.
 Clothing - Scientists are using nanoparticles to enhance your clothing. By coating
fabrics with a thin layer of zinc oxide nanoparticles, manufacturers can create clothes
that give better protection from UV radiation. Some clothes have nanoparticles in the
form of little hairs or whiskers that help repel water and other materials, making the
clothing stain-resistant.
 Scratch-resistant coatings - Engineers discovered that adding aluminum silicate
nanoparticles to scratch-resistant polymer coatings made the coatings more effective,
increasing resistance to chipping and scratching. Scratch-resistant coatings are common
on everything from cars to eyeglass lenses.
 Antimicrobial bandages - Scientist Robert Burrell created a process to manufacture
antibacterial bandages using nanoparticles of silver. Silver ions block microbes' cellular
respiration [source: Burnsurgery.org]. In other words, silver smothers harmful cells,
killing them.

New products incorporating nanotechnology are coming out every day. Wrinkle-resistant
fabrics, deep-penetrating cosmetics, liquid crystal displays (LCD) and other conveniences using
nanotechnology are on the market. Before long, we'll see dozens of other products that take
advantage of nanotechnology ranging from Intel microprocessors to bio-nanobatteries,
capacitors only a few nanometers thick. While this is exciting, it's only the tip of the iceberg as
far as how nanotechnology may impact us in the future.

Sources:

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/nanotechnology-and-its-application-2157-7439-
1000502-101920.html

https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1134

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nanotechnology3.htm

https://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=48348.php