SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY EXAMPLES OF NANOSTRUCTURES

CHAPTER 10: THE NANO WORLD 1. Hydrophobic wax crystals of lotus leaf

“NANO”
- Expresses a very tiny amount or size
- A unit meaning one billionth or ten raised to
negative nine (10-9 )
- illustrative examples:
o 1 inch = 25,400,000 nanometers
o A sheet of newspaper = 100,000
nanometers thick
- On a comparative scale - Measures 1nm-5nm
o if a marble were a nanometer, then one - For water-repelling property of lotus plant
meter would be the size of the Earth
2. Exoskeleton with nano-sized photonic crystals of
NANOTECHNOLOGY Opal Weevil
- the study and use of structures between 1
nanometer and 100 nanometers in size
- Refers to manipulation of matter on an atomic
or subatomic scale

NANOSCIENCE
- deals with materials that are very small using
specialized microscopes and other nanodevices
- study of structures (NANOSTRUCTURES) and - Measures 2nm
materials on the scale of nanometers - These 3D crystals can reflect light at any angle
(NANOSCALE)
and produce bright, brilliant colors that appear
metallic or iridescent.

3. Gecko toes hair

NANOSTRUCTURES - Measures 2nm – 100 nm

- structures that range between 1 nm and 100
nm in the nanoscale
- exists also in nature
- cannot be seen by the naked eye
- can only be observed using specialized
equipment:
o SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE
o ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE
(when these two were invented,
nanotechnology was born)
- Allows geckos to adhere strongly to a surface
NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
- Nanotechnology is helping to considerably
improve, even revolutionize, many technology
and industry sectors: information technology,
homeland security, medicine, transportation,
energy, food safety, and environmental science,
etc.
1. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATIONS development to diagnosis which type of
a. RADIOACTIVE WASTE CLEANUP cancer is present.
o Use of titanate nanofibers and o Gold nanoparticles that have antibodies
nanotubes attached can provide quick diagnosis of
 as absorbents for the removal flu virus.
of radioactive ions from water d. REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
 superior materials for removal o for bone and neural tissue engineering
of radioactive cesium and o Mimic nanoparticles (ex. Minerals of
iodine ions in water. bones) for restoration of degenerated
tissues
b. OIL SPILL CLEANUP
 graphene nanoribbons
o Use of nanofabric "paper towel"
 help repair spinal cord injuries
woven from tiny wires of potassium
manganese oxide that can absorb 20
times its weight in oil for cleanup
applications.
3. OTHER APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
o Use of magnetic water-repellent
a. REDUCTION OF POLLUTANTS
nanoparticles in oil spills and magnets
o use of silver nanoclusters as catalysts
to mechanically remove the oil from the
can significantly reduce the polluting
water.
byproducts generated in the process
c. GROUNDWATER CLEANUP
used to manufacture propylene oxide.
o Use of iron nanoparticles which
 Propylene oxide is used to
disperse throughout the body of water
produce common materials
and decompose the organic solvent in
such as plastics, paint,
place.
detergents and brake fluid.
o more effective and cost significantly less
b. GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY
than treatment methods that require
o an array of silicon nanowires
the water to be pumped out of the
embedded in a polymer results in low
ground.
cost but high efficiency solar cells.
o Nanotechnology can be incorporated
2. MEDICAL FIELD (under development)
into solar panels to convert sunlight to
a. NANOFLARES
electricity more efficiently.
o designed bind to genetic targets in
cancer cells, and generate light when
DANGERS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
that particular genetic target is found.
1. LUNG DAMAGE
b. DRUG DELIVERY
- Since nanoparticles are “ultra fine” particles,
o nanoparticle can encapsulate or
there is a tendency that it may be inhaled and
otherwise help to deliver medication
could damage the lungs
directly to cancer cells and minimize the
- Inhaled nanoparticles may carry other
risk of damage to healthy tissue
chemicals including metals and hydrocarbons in
o This has the potential to change the
with them.
way doctors treat cancer and
2. CELL DAMAGE AND DAMAGE TO DNA
dramatically reduce the toxic effects of
- Nanoparticles can get into the body through the
chemotherapy
skin, lungs and digestive system.
c. GOLD NANOPARTICLES
o Used as probes for the detection of - This may help create 'free radicals' which can
targeted sequences of nucleic acids to cause cell damage and damage to the DNA.
detect disease/cancer at a very early 3. IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
stage - Inhaled carbon nanotubes can suppress the
o also being clinically investigated as immune system by affecting the function of T
potential treatments for cancer and other cells
diseases.
o in combination with fluorescent
protein, is being used in a system under