NANO TECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the

nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and
nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and
can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology,
physics, materials science, and engineering.

Nanotechnology proposes the construction of new nanoscale devices that

possess extraordinary properties as they are lighter, smaller and less expensive,
and more precise. Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show properties
compared to whatthey exhibit on a macro-scale, enabling unique applications.
(1) Health sector

 Nanomedicine: It has healthcare applications such as treatment and

diagnostics of various diseases using nanoparticles in medical devices, as
well as nanoelectronic biosensors and molecular nanotechnology.
 Smart pills: Nano-level electronic devices that are shaped and
designed like pharmaceutical pills but perform more advanced
functions such as sensing, imaging, and drug delivery.
 Cancer detection and treatment: Regular chemotherapy and radiation
damages body’s healthy cells during the treatment. New nanomedicine
approaches are being used in the treatment of skin cancer, which enables
efficient delivery of drugs and other therapeutic treatments to specific tumor
sites and target cells withlow toxic side-effects.
 Nanobots: Nanobots are micro-scale robots, which essentially serve as
miniature surgeons. They can be inserted into the body to repair and
replace intracellular structures. They can also replicate themselves to
correct a deficiency in genetics or even eradicate diseases by replacing DNA
molecules. Nanobots can also be used to clear artery blockages by drilling
through them.
 Nanofibers: Nanofibers are being used in wound dressings and surgical
textiles, as well as in implants, tissue engineering, and artificial organ
components.
 Nanotech-based wearables: Such wearables have embedded nanosensors
in the cloth that record medical data such as heartbeat, sweat components,
and blood pressure. It helps save lives by alerting the wearer and medical
professionalsof any adverse changes faced by the body

Dhyeya IAS (1) Science & Tech. By : Peeyush Sir

 (2) Transport

 Nanotechnology contributes to manufacturing lighter, smarter,

efficient andgreener automobiles, aircraft and ships.
 It also allows various means to improve transportation
infrastructures like providing resilience and longevity of the highway
and other infrastructure components.
The nanoscale sensors and devices can also provide for cheap and effective
structural monitoring of the condition and performance of the bridges, rails,
tunnels, etc. They can also enhance transportation infrastructure that
makes the drivers avoid collisions and congestions, maintain lane
position, etc.

(3) Electronic components

Nanotechnology has greatly improved the capacity of electronic components

by:

 Reducing the size of the integrated circuits’ transistors

 Improving the display screens of the electronic devices
 Reducing power consumption, weight, and thickness of the
electronicdevices.

(4) Energy-efficient

 This technology can improve the efficiency of the existing solar panels. It
can also make the manufacturing process of solar panels cheaper and
efficient.
 It can improve the efficiency of fuel production and consumption of
petroleummaterials.
 It is already being made use of in many batteries that are less-
flammable, efficient, quicker-charging and are lightweight and
higher power density.

(5) Textile industry

 Nanotechnology has already made revolutionary changes in the textile
industry and is estimated to make a market impact worth hundreds of
billions of dollars.

Dhyeya IAS (2) Science & Tech. By : Peeyush Sir

 Nanoscience has now produced stain and wrinkle resistant cloths
and mayfurther improve upon the existing innovations.

(6) Environment

 It has the potential to address the current problem of pollution.

 It can provide for affordable, clean drinking water through swift
detection ofimpurities and purification of water.
 The nanotechnology can be used to remove industrial water pollutants
in thegroundwater through chemical reactions at a cheaper rate.
 Nanotechnology sensors and solutions also have the potential to detect,
identify, filter and neutralise harmful chemical or biological agents in
theair and soil.

(7) Food processing

 Nanotechnology provides the potential for safe and better

qualityfood and improved texture and taste of the food.
 A contamination sensor, using a flash of light can reveal the presence of E-
coli.
 Antimicrobial packaging made out of cinnamon or oregano oil or
nanoparticles ofzinc, calcium, etc., can kill bacteria.
 The nano-enhanced barrier can keep oxygen-sensitive food fresh.
 Nano-encapsulating can improve the solubility of vitamins,
antioxidants,healthy omega, etc.
 Nanobarcodes are used to tag individual products and trace outbreaks.

(8) Space

 Materials made of carbon nanotubes can reduce the weight

of the spaceships while retaining or increasing the structural
strength.
 They can also be used to make cables that are needed for the space
elevator. Space elevators can significantly reduce the cost of sending
materials to the orbit.
 The nanosensors can be used to monitor the chemicals in the spacecraft
to lookinto the performance of the life support system.

Dhyeya IAS (3) Science & Tech. By : Peeyush Sir

 (9) Agriculture

 The nanocapsule can enable effective penetration of herbicides,

chemical fertilizers, and genes into the targeted part of the plant. This
ensures a slow and constant release of the necessary substance to the plants
with minimized environmental pollution.
 The nanosensors and delivery systems can allow for precision farming
through the efficient use of natural resources like water, nutrients,
chemicals etc.
 The nanosensors can also detect the plant viruses and soil nutrient levels.
 Nano-barcodes and nano-processing could also be used to monitor the
quality ofagriculture produce.
Carbon Nanotubes

 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules that consist of rolled-up

sheetsof single-layer carbon atoms (graphene).
 They can be single-walled (SWCNT) (dia<1nm) or multi-walled
(MWCNT) (dia>100nm), consisting of several concentrically interlinked
nanotubes. Their length can reach several micrometers or even
millimeters.
 Like their building block graphene, CNTs are chemically bonded with sp2
bonds, anextremely strong form of molecular interaction

Applications:

 Used in electric wires to reduce losses

 It can replace silicon made transistors as they are small and emit less
heat and itcan revolutionise electronics
 Can be used in solar cell

Graphene
 Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a
honeycomb-like pattern. Graphene is considered to be the world’s thinnest,
strongest and most conductive material – of both electricity and heat.
 All of these properties are exciting researchers and businesses around the
world – as graphene has the potential to revolutionize entire industries – in
the fields of electricity, conductivity, energy generation, batteries, sensors
and more.

Dhyeya IAS (4) Science & Tech. By : Peeyush Sir

 CHALLENGES IN NANO-TECHNOLOGY

 The nanotechnology may pose a potential risk to the environment,

health andother safety issues.
 Since this field is still at its nascent stage, the likely risks are contentious.
As for whether or not this technology requires special government
regulation, the issue isstill debated.
 The regulatory authorities like the US Environmental Protection Agency
and the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European
Commission have started assessing the potential risks posed by the
nanoparticles.
 The organic food sector is the first to be regulated so that the engineered
nanoparticles are excluded from the organic produce. It has been
implemented in Australia, UK and Canada as well as all the food certified
under the Demeter International Standards.
 Nanotoxicology is the study of potential health risks of nanomaterials. The
humanbody can easily take up the nanomaterials as they are small in size.
 However, there is a need for detailed research on how it would behave
inside an organism. The behaviour of nanoparticles based on their size,
shape and surface reactivity must be thoroughly analysed before
launching them into the market.
 Nanopollution is the generic term that is used to describe the waste
generated by the nanodevices or nanomaterials during the manufacturing
process.
 Nanowastes may be of risk due to their size and different properties
and interactions. Since the man-made nanoparticles are not naturally
made, living organisms may not have the appropriate means to deal
with them.
 The risk of nanotechnology on health, environment, society, economy,
security,and trade is not yet fully assessed. This in itself is a threat.

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Dhyeya IAS (5) Science & Tech. By : Peeyush Sir