Nanotechnology: A Small Solution to Big Problems.

Have you ever wondered how Tony Stark was able to build an armor instantly by simply pressing the power source on his chest? The answer is simple. Nanotechnology is the primary inspiration for this technology.

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A recent study has revealed that In a COVID-19 macaque model, nano decoys produced from human lung spheroid cells (LSCs) can bind and neutralize SARS-CoV-2, increasing viral clearance and decreasing lung damage. Nanodecoy treatment might stay effective against evolving viral variations by imitating the virus’s receptor rather than attacking the virus itself.

So, what exactly is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is a branch of study and innovation focused on creating devices on the scale of atoms and molecules. A nanometre is one-billionth of a meter in length or 10 times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. A human hair has an average diameter of 80,000 nanometres.

History of Nanotechnology.

Although nanotechnology is a relative breakthrough in scientific study, the basic principles underpinning it have been developed over a longer time. The emergence of nanotechnology in the 1980s was triggered by the convergence of experimental advances such as the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981 and the discovery of fullerenes in 1985, as well as the elucidation and popularisation of a conceptual framework for nanotechnology’s goals, which began with the publication of the book Engines of Creation in 1986.

In the early 2000s, the field drew increasing public attention and controversy, with prominent debates about its potential implications and the feasibility of the applications envisioned by proponents of molecular nanotechnology and governments moving to promote and fund nanotechnology research.

Breakthroughs in Nanotechnology.

1. Medicine and Cancer Treatment: Rapid developments in science and technology have opened up a blossoming new sector of nanotechnology, which has created a slew of new prospects for medical science and illness treatment in human health care. Materials and technologies intended to interact with the body at subcellular (i.e., molecular) sizes with high specificity are examples of nanotechnology applications in medicine and physiology. This could contribute to tailored cellular and tissue-specific clinical applications aimed at achieving maximum treatment efficacy with the least amount of adverse effects. The use of nanoparticles for medicine delivery has been investigated by MIT researchers. To ensure survival in the circulation, they coupled the medication Doxil with an RNA interference treatment and covered the combination with hyaluronic acid. Nanotechnology may potentially aid in the earlier identification and diagnosis of cancer. A nanodevice aids in the collection of cancer-related proteins and circulating tumor DNA and tumor exosomes. In the absence of adequate treatment, a more effective diagnosis can enhance the odds of long-term survival.

Nanomedicine is the use of nanotechnology in conjunction with medicines to increase the capacity to target specific cells.

1. From self-sanitizing toothbrushes to clothing, silver nanoparticles are increasingly being employed. It might be used in toothpaste in the future. The capacity of small silver particles to destroy germs has long been recognized, but research on whether the silver also poses health concerns appears to be lacking.
2. Sustainable Energy: Nanostructures composed of gold and magnesium fluoride might be the key to developing thermophotovoltaic cells, which are far more efficient than traditional solar technology in principle. They can gather energy from infrared light even in the dark and release heat in specific spectral bands rather than even in all directions over a broad range.
3. Tiny 3-D Printed Batteries: Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign revealed that they had found out how to 3-D print tiny batteries with a diameter of 1 mm. Anode ink containing nanoparticles of one lithium metal oxide compound is included in the formulation. To generate a densely interwoven stack of anodes and cathodes, the printer applies ink to the teeth of two gold combs. The entire system is packed into a small container and filled with an electrolyte solution to finish the battery.

The functioning anode and cathode of a microbattery the size of a grain of sand were 3D-printed layer by layer to generate this interlaced stack of electrodes.

1. With nanotech catalysts that take carbon dioxide from the air and rearrange it into compounds that may be used in industry, we can clean up air pollution, including greenhouse gases. This research is being carried out by Christian Schafmeister of Temple University.
2. Tel Aviv University researchers have created revolutionary nanotechnology that converts a transparent calcite nanoparticle into a dazzling gold-like particle for the first time in the world. In other words, they transformed the transparent particle into a visible particle despite its small size.

Now, we shall discuss a few gizmos that make use of Nanotechnology.

Bulletproof materials that work are critical for law enforcement and military personnel who are frequently exposed to gunfire. Bulletproof vests spread the power of a bullet across a greater region than the point of contact, preventing the bullet from entering the wearer’s body. Nanotechnology is now being investigated as a way to improve traditional bullet-resistant materials, such as Kevlar.

Nanomaterials are used in nano surface protection materials to generate ultrathin protective layers that strengthen the surfaces on which they are applied. Nanorepel is a product that enhances surface flexibility and elasticity while preventing stress damage by covering it with a thin layer of pure quartz glass that is resistant to temperature and corrosive chemicals.

Transdermal administration involves injecting a solution into a person’s bloodstream through their skin. After applying to the skin, transdermal patches administer a particular dose of medication, allowing patients to avoid painful injections and gastrointestinal problems associated with swallowing the medication. The drugs that could be given using transdermal patches were restricted to those with molecules tiny enough to pass through the skin. Microneedles, tiny needles ranging in length from 100 to 1,000 mm, are being investigated as possible inclusion in the patches by nanotechnology engineers. The needles are attached to a transdermal patch and pierce the top layer of the user’s skin painlessly, allowing for the passage of denser medicines into the circulation.

What is the future of Nanotechnology?

Although visions of self-replicating nanomachines devouring the Earth in a “grey goo” are probably exaggerated, “radical nanotechnology” might nevertheless have significant societal advantages.

1. Nanotechnology may one day allow items to gather energy from their surroundings. New nanomaterials and ideas are now being developed that have the ability to produce energy with a high conversion efficiency from movement, light, temperature changes, glucose, and other sources.
2. Changing the structure of materials at the nanoscale may give them incredible characteristics, such as giving them a water-repellent texture. Nanotechnology coatings or additives may one day be able to allow materials to “repair” after being damaged or worn.

Nanobots

Nanotechnology has already contributed to and will continue to shape hundreds of commercial products and services in the not-too-distant future, although it sounds and feels like space-age science. It is the new frontier of technology.

References:

1. What is Nanotechnology? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQhhcgn8YZo
2. Nanotech-based approach to tackling COVID-19. — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/masy.202000336
3. Detailed analysis of Nanotech. — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWRxknlyaFY
4. Documentary on Nanotechnology — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brLe5lnkF6Y
5. Key Nanotechnology Developments — https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4995