IMPACTS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Discuss the antecedents of nanotechnology and its importance to the society.
2. Enumerate the positive and negative impacts of nanotechnology.
3. Identify the moral and ethical questions concerning nanotechnology.

DEFINITIONS

NANO: 10-9
- A unit meaning one billionth or ten raised to negative nine (10-9)
- 1 inch = 25,400,000 nanometers
- A sheet of paper is 100,000 nanometers thick
- if a marble were a nanometer, then one meter would be the size of the Earth

NANOTECHNOLOGY
- engineering of matter at the molecular or even atomic scale
- study and use of structures ranging from 1 to 100 nm
- refers to the design, characterization, production and application of structures, devices and
systems by controlling shape and size at nanometre scale

NANOSCIENCE
- deals with materials that are very small using specialized microscopes and other
nanodevices
- study of structures (NANOSTRUCTURES) and materials on the scale of nanometers
(NANOSCALE)
- The study of phenomena and manipulation of materials at atomic, molecular and
macromolecular scales, where properties differ significantly from those at a larger scale.

NANOSTRUCTURES
- structures that range between 1 nm and 100 nm in the nanoscale
- nanomaterials also exists in nature (volcanic ash, ocean spray, fine sand, and dust)
- individual structures 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)

METHODS OF MAKING NANOPARTICLES

1. Top Down Approach

- traditional process of slicing or cutting larger particles to nanosize structures
a. microchip manufacturers (intel)
- nanolithography used to make microprocessors
b. nanocomposites and nanocoatings
- mix nanoscale additives with conventional materials to improve their internal or surface
properties
 Silver nanoparticles added to plastics to make them antibacterial
 Titanium dioxide make surface of glass reject dirt thus becomes “self-
cleaning”
 Carbon nanotubes (graphenes) added to paints or plastics for strength and
conductivity
 2. Bottom Up Approach
- assembly of atomic size particles to form nanoparticles
- new nanomaterial with new properties: stronger, lighter
- achieved by molecular self-assembly: molecules in collision: join together if angle is right,
allowing for the precursor to grow in size

Developments in self-assembly
o Advancement in genetic modification, synthetic biology, protein engineering, and
even artificial viruses
o Foldamers: like self-assembling lego

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
a. Radioactive Waste Cleanup
o Use of titanate nanofibers and nanotubes
 as absorbents for the removal of radioactive ions from water
 superior materials for removal of radioactive cesium and iodine ions in water.
b. Oil Spill Cleanup
o Use of nanofabric "paper towel" woven from tiny wires of potassium
manganese oxide that can absorb 20 times its weight in oil for cleanup applications.
o Use of magnetic water-repellent nanoparticles in oil spills and magnets to
mechanically remove the oil from the water.
c. Groundwater Cleanup
o Use of iron nanoparticles which disperse throughout the body of water and
decompose the organic solvent in place.
o more effective and cost significantly less than treatment methods that require the
water to be pumped out of the ground.

2. Medical Field (under development)

a. Nanoflares
o designed bind to genetic targets in cancer cells, and generate light when that
particular genetic target is found.
b. Drug Delivery
o nanoparticle can encapsulate or otherwise help to deliver medication directly to
cancer cells and minimize the risk of damage to healthy tissue
o This has the potential to change the way doctors treat cancer and dramatically
reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy
c. Gold Nanoparticles
o Used as probes for the detection of targeted sequences of nucleic acids to detect
disease/cancer at a very early stage
o also being clinically investigated as potential treatments for cancer and other
diseases.
o in combination with fluorescent protein, is being used in a system under development
to diagnosis which type of cancer is present.
o Gold nanoparticles that have antibodies attached can provide quick diagnosis of flu
virus.
d. Regenerative Medicine
o for bone and neural tissue engineering
 o Mimic nanoparticles (ex. Minerals of bones) for restoration of degenerated tissues
 graphene nanoribbons
 help repair spinal cord injuries

3. Food Industry
- nanosilver has antibacterial properties that can be used in food contact materials such as
cutting boards
- food supplements, nanosized carriers increase absorption of nutrients
- nanosensors can be incorporated into packaging to monitor the quality and shelf-life of
food from manufacturer to consumer
- make food ingredients tastier or healthier like carving up salt into a nanosize increases
surface area…tasty food with less salt

4. Other Applications of Nanotechnology

a. Reduction of Pollutants
o use of silver nanoclusters as catalysts can significantly reduce the polluting
byproducts generated in the process used to manufacture propylene oxide.
 Propylene oxide is used to produce common materials such as plastics,
paint, detergents and brake fluid.
b. Generation of Electricity
o an array of silicon nanowires embedded in a polymer results in low cost but high
efficiency solar cells.
o Nanotechnology can be incorporated into solar panels to convert sunlight to
electricity more efficiently.
o Bionanotechnology helps in cleaner production of alternative and renewable
energy sources
o
c. Agriculture
o Breeding of crops with higher micronutrients to detect pests & to control food
processing
o Nanoparticles to control soil, water and air contamination
d. Surfaces
o Graphene used as one-layer coating material
o Heat-resistant & self-cleaning surfaces like floors and benchtops
o Silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide for water & stain resistant surfaces

PHILIPPINES’ DOST NANOTECH LAB

1. Nanofiber from zeolite for purifying methane gas in biodigesters

2. Chitosan fiber membrane from crustacean shells for heavy metal treatments in water
3. Nanobiosensors, nanosensors, biosensors, portable nanosensors, portable biosensors

GLOBAL CHALLENGES

1. sustainable global energy supply

a. efficient solar energy gathering cells
b. batteries out of twisted carbon nanotubes
- charge by stretching
- make shirt
- stretched while breathing
- powers a glucose sensor that monitors the amount of glucose in the sweat
c. fuel cell patches
- generate electricity from lactic acid in the sweat
- charge mobile using sweat
 2. rapid urbanization
- need for lighter, stronger materials for infrastructure and transport

DANGERS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

1. Impacts of Nanotechnology to Health

a. Lung Damage
- Since nanoparticles are “ultra fine” particles, there is a tendency that it may be inhaled and
could damage the lung
- Inhaled nanoparticles may carry other chemicals including metals and hydrocarbons in
with them.
b. Cell damage and damage to DNA
- 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.
c. Immunosuppression
- Inhaled carbon nanotubes can suppress the immune system by affecting the function of T
cells

2. Impacts of Nanotechnology to Environment (nano-contaminants)

a. Mining
- fine metal oxide particles
b. Combustion
- soot/carbon, fly ash, fullerenes
c. Laundry
- silver nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles
d. Medicine
- silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles
e. Auto-traffic
- pyrenamine and platinum nanoparticles
f. Battery waste
- fine carbon particles

RISK ASSESSMENT PROBLEMS

1. Very difficult to detect without sophisticated equipment

2. Difficult to predict how particles will behave in the environment (dispersed/clumped)
3. Potential to adsorb toxic chemicals
4. Persistence : Longevity of particles in the environment and body are unknown

ETHICAL DILEMMAS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

1. Playing God?
2. Risk and Harm: patients and testing?
3. Control over personal information?
4. Values: individual or community?

OTHER ISSUES
- Limits? - Grey goo?
- Essence of humanity? - Possibility of sentient machines?
- Ethics of implants? - What can be patented?
- Eugenics? - What research gets funded?