The scientific community generally attributes the first acknowledgement of the importance of nanoscale range to Richard P. Feynman Noble Prize Winner in physics who remarked at the Annual meeting of the American Society at the California Institute of Technology (Dec 29, 1959) that “There’s plenty of room at the bottom”.
Nanotechnology as defined by Richard Smalley (1943-2005) Noble Prize Winner, Chemistry (1996) “is the art and science of building stuff that does stuff at the nanometer scale.”
“Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology” Eric Drexler, 1986
Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines— the projected ability to build things from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being develop to make complete, highly advanced products.
The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative defines nanotechnology as: “The science, engineering and technology related to the understanding and control of matter at the length scale of approximately 1 to 100nanometeres. However, nanotechnology is not merely working with matter at nanoscale, but also research and development of nanomaterials, devices, and systems that have novel properties and functions due to their nanoscale dimensions and components.”
Nanoscience & nanotechnology are concerned with the understanding & rational manipulation of materials at the atomic &molecular level, generally with structures less than 100nm in size.
Scientifically nanoscience is defined as the study of the phenomena & materials at the atomic, molecular & macromolecular scales, where properties differ from those at the larger scale.
Nanotechnology is defined as the design, production & application of structures, devices, & systems through control of size &shape of the material at the nanometer scale (10-9 m).
The ability of nanoscience to improve the quality of materials through understanding & refining their nanoscale structures is called incremental nanotechnology. When reduction in size of structures leads to step changes in properties that provide radical new solutions to problems & new commercial opportunities then these examples are called evolutionary nanotechnology.
Nanobiotechnology for Controlled Environment:
Other Developments in The Agricultural Sector
Microencapsulated Products
Dairy processors also like the promise of nanotechnology to reduce maintenance requirements.
Holes or material build-up on membranes employed in milk processing require cleaning or replacement.
Nanolaminates are consisting of two or more layers of material with nanometer dimensions, a nanolaminate is an extremely thin food-grade film (1–100 nm/layer) that has physically bonded or chemically bonded dimensions.
Edible film, a nanolaminate has a number of important food-industry applications.
Edible films are present on a wide variety of foods: fruits, vegetables, meats, chocolate, candies, baked goods, and French fries. Such films protect foods from moisture, lipids, and gases, or they can improve the textural properties of foods and serve as carriers of colors, flavors, antioxidants, nutrients, and antimicrobials. Currently, edible nanolaminates are constructed from polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids.
Cornell researchers are developing swabs containing nanosensors that can detect E. coli; avian influenza A (H5N1), the bird-flu virus; and other nasty bugs on countertops or in food, for example.
Nanosensors embedded packages could warn and repair the ruptured packages due to change in mechanical, thermal, chemical and microbial properties.
Biologically active nanoscale molecules can slip through cell walls and keep us healthy and functioning.
A new approach to Intelligent Weight Management
The German company Aquanova has developed a new technology, which combines two active substances for fat reduction and satiety into a single nano-carrier (micelles of average 30 nm diameter), an innovation said to be a new approach to intelligent weight management. Called NovaSOL Sustain, it uses CoQ1O to address fat reduction and alpha-lipoic acid for satiety.
DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM
Site specific Nutrients Delivery
“Nutraceuticals" recognize individual cells in the human body and deliver vital nutrients or drugs directly to the site
Nanotech Research
Nanotechnology as defined by Richard Smalley (1943-2005) Noble Prize Winner, Chemistry (1996) “is the art and science of building stuff that does stuff at the nanometer scale.”
“Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology” Eric Drexler, 1986
Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines— the projected ability to build things from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being develop to make complete, highly advanced products.
The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative defines nanotechnology as: “The science, engineering and technology related to the understanding and control of matter at the length scale of approximately 1 to 100nanometeres. However, nanotechnology is not merely working with matter at nanoscale, but also research and development of nanomaterials, devices, and systems that have novel properties and functions due to their nanoscale dimensions and components.”
Nanoscience & nanotechnology are concerned with the understanding & rational manipulation of materials at the atomic &molecular level, generally with structures less than 100nm in size.
Scientifically nanoscience is defined as the study of the phenomena & materials at the atomic, molecular & macromolecular scales, where properties differ from those at the larger scale.
Nanotechnology is defined as the design, production & application of structures, devices, & systems through control of size &shape of the material at the nanometer scale (10-9 m).
The ability of nanoscience to improve the quality of materials through understanding & refining their nanoscale structures is called incremental nanotechnology. When reduction in size of structures leads to step changes in properties that provide radical new solutions to problems & new commercial opportunities then these examples are called evolutionary nanotechnology.
Nanobiotechnology for Controlled Environment:
• “Smart" pesticides delivery,
• Control of Crops,
• Animal Food and Health,
• Control of microbial and chemical contamination,
• Complete plant health monitoring
• Extreme conditions agriculture & farming (Space, Cold, Hot areas)
• Genetic manipulations
Other Developments in The Agricultural Sector
>Nanotechnology can improve our understanding of the biology of different crops and thus potentially enhance yields, Medicinal or nutritional values.
>In addition, it can offer routes to added value crops or environmental remediation.
>Particle farming is one such example, which yields nanoparticles for industrial use by growing plants in defined soils.
>For example, research has shown that alfalfa plants grown in gold rich soil absorb gold nanoparticles through their roots and accumulate these in their tissues. The gold nanoparticles can be mechanically separated from the plant tissue following harvest.Microencapsulated Products
Another encapsulated product from Syngenta delivers a broad control spectrum on primary and secondary insect pests of cotton, rice, peanuts and soybeans.
Marketed under the name Karate® ZEON this is a quick release microencapsulated product containing the active compound lambda-cyhalothrin (a synthetic insecticide based on the structure of natural pyrethrins) which breaks open on contact with leaves.
In contrast, the encapsulated product "gutbuster" only breaks open to release its contents when it comes into contact with alkaline environments, such as the stomach of certain insects.
Nanofilters
The dairy industry has long known the benefits of microfiltration, and with health and safety issues always atop their list of concerns.
Dairy processors have given nano a warmer welcome. A nano membrane filter that only allows pure milk to go through.Dairy processors also like the promise of nanotechnology to reduce maintenance requirements.
Holes or material build-up on membranes employed in milk processing require cleaning or replacement.
Cheese makers in particular rely heavily on ultra-filtration for quality product and cost effective production.
Ultrafine nanoscale powders
Altairnano's Nanocheck contains lanthanum nanoparticles that absorb phosphates from aqueous environments and as a result prevents the growth of algae.
Research at Lehigh University in the US shows that an ultrafine, nanoscale powder made from iron can be used as an effective tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater.
The iron nanoparticles are recruited to catalyse the oxidation and breakdown of organic contaminants such as trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, dioxins, and PCBs to simpler carbon compounds which are much less toxic.
This could pave the way for a nano-aquaculture, which would be beneficial for a large world.
Nanoscale iron oxide particles are extremely effective at binding and removing arsenic from groundwater.
Nanolaminates are consisting of two or more layers of material with nanometer dimensions, a nanolaminate is an extremely thin food-grade film (1–100 nm/layer) that has physically bonded or chemically bonded dimensions.
Edible film, a nanolaminate has a number of important food-industry applications.
Edible films are present on a wide variety of foods: fruits, vegetables, meats, chocolate, candies, baked goods, and French fries. Such films protect foods from moisture, lipids, and gases, or they can improve the textural properties of foods and serve as carriers of colors, flavors, antioxidants, nutrients, and antimicrobials. Currently, edible nanolaminates are constructed from polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids.
Cornell researchers are developing swabs containing nanosensors that can detect E. coli; avian influenza A (H5N1), the bird-flu virus; and other nasty bugs on countertops or in food, for example.
Nanosensors embedded packages could warn and repair the ruptured packages due to change in mechanical, thermal, chemical and microbial properties.
Biologically active nanoscale molecules can slip through cell walls and keep us healthy and functioning.
A new approach to Intelligent Weight Management
The German company Aquanova has developed a new technology, which combines two active substances for fat reduction and satiety into a single nano-carrier (micelles of average 30 nm diameter), an innovation said to be a new approach to intelligent weight management. Called NovaSOL Sustain, it uses CoQ1O to address fat reduction and alpha-lipoic acid for satiety.
DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM
Maintain therapeutic levels of the drug
Minimize harmful side effects
Decrease necessary efficacious dose of the drug
Decrease the dosing frequency
Increase the bio-availability of drugs
Protect or deliver drugs having short systemic half-lives
Controlled release of drug
The tailor made Nanoproducts will release antimicrobial agents in a controlled manner (slowly or quickly) in response to different signals such as magnetic fields, heat, ultrasound, moisture, etc
Site specific Nutrients Delivery
“Nutraceuticals" recognize individual cells in the human body and deliver vital nutrients or drugs directly to the site
Nanotech Research
ØSeveral smart products that are already in the market include anti-bacterial dressings, transparent sunscreen lotions, stain-resistant fabrics, scratch free paints for cars, self-cleaning windows and many more.
Ø400 companies around the world today are active in nanotechnology R & D and expected to increase over 1000 within the next 10 years.
ØIn terms of numbers, the USA leads, followed by Japan, China, and the EU.
Ø7.6 billion USD in 2003 and is expected to be 1 trillion USD in 2011.
