Nanotechnology – What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the study of small materials. They are made of tiny particles and can be made into various products and structures. Some of these materials are used in consumer products. The use of nanometer-scale materials dates back hundreds of years. In the 4th century, Roman artists discovered that gold and silver particles could be used to make glass. In this experiment, the metals were suspended in a glass solution. The result was a cup known as the Lycurgus Cup.
Structures of nanomaterials
Nanostructures have properties that make them ideal for many applications. They have one dimension of less than one meter and are created through various methods. Some techniques are simple, such as solution processing, while others require advanced lithography. Many industrial applications exist for nanostructured materials. They are also useful for various applications, including bio-medical, textiles, and sensors.
Most nanomaterials are made up of nanoparticles in dispersions, but some other materials also make use of nanostructures. One example is metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which incorporate nano-voids into their crystal structure. The voids allow the MOFs to serve as host carriers for molecules and active pharmaceutical ingredients. They can be released directly into tissues, making them useful in drug delivery.
Properties of Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are small particles that have unique physical and chemical properties. The size of a nanoparticle can influence its toxicity and biological activity. Other important properties of nanomaterials include surface area and surface chemistry. Another important property of nanomaterials is their ability to agglomerate. Understanding these properties is crucial in developing safe applications of nanomaterials.
Nanoparticles have smaller atoms than bulk materials, so they can react with chemicals. For example, gold is inert at large scales, but at the nanoscale, it can act as a catalyst, oxidizing carbon monoxide, and other chemicals. Glass is another material with unique properties. However, it is brittle and has defects or microcracks that cause fast fractures.
Applications of nanomaterials
Nano-materials have high strength and are lightweight and can be used for many different purposes. For example, these materials can help reduce the weight of commercial jet aircraft, which can save fuel by as much as 15 percent. They can also help reduce the weight of launch vehicles by 63 percent. These materials can be used in many different areas of our lives, from transportation to medicine.
Nanomaterials also have biomedical applications, including coating vaccines, filters, and drugs. In addition, nanomaterials can help fight various viruses and diseases.
Health effects of of nanomaterials
While the scientific community is making progress toward better understanding the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials, it is far from knowing the full range of effects on the human body. There are knowledge gaps, for example, about the routes of exposure and how nanomaterials are taken up into and transported within the body. These gaps must be filled through additional research.
Nanoparticles have the potential to cross cell membranes and reach the blood and various organs. They also have higher surface area-to-volume ratios than larger particles, which means that they can hold more molecules. Consequently, their toxicity depends on their chemical composition and surface characteristics. Fortunately, it is possible to modify the surfaces of nanoparticles to make them less harmful.
