Distinct Features of

Nanoscale
1. Scale at which much biology occurs.
• Various activities of the cells take place at the
nanoscale. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) serves as
the genetic material of the cell.
• Example is the bio-barcode assay, which is fairly
inexpensive approach for identification of specific
disease markers in the blood despite their small
number in a particular specimen.
2. Scale at which quantum effects
dominate properties of materials.
3. Nanoscale materials have far larger
surface areas than similar masses of larger
scale materials.
Benefits and Concerns of
Using Nanotechnology
• Nanotechnology has various applications in
different sectors of the society and environment.

• Salamanca-Buentello et al. (2005) proposed an

initiative called “Addressing Global Challenges
Using Nanotechnology” to accelerate the use of
nanotechnology to address critical sustainable
development challenges.
Concerns that need to be addressed before using
and promoting materials from nanotechnology:
1. Nanotechnology is not a single technology; it may become
pervasive.
2. Nanotechnology seeks to develop new materials with specific
properties.
3. Nanotechnology may introduce new efficiencies and paradigms
which may make some natural resources and current practices
uncompetitive or obsolete.
4. It may be complicated to detect its presence unless one has the
specialist tools of nanotechnology.