Nano Technology

Lesson 10
▪ Nanotechnology is administered at the nanoscale, about
1 to 100 nanometers.

▪ It is science, engineering, and technology combined

with other sciences.

▪ Nanotechnology studies tiny things and applications of

these things in technology or nanoscience.

▪ It is useful across all the other science fields, such as

chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and
engineering (NNI, 2020).
▪ Physicist Richard Feynman at an American Physical
Society meeting at the California Institute of Technology
(CalTech) on December 29, 1959, described a process
in which scientists would be able to manipulate and
control individual atoms and molecules.

▪ Many consider Richard Feynman to be the father of

nanotechnology.

▪ In 1959, he offered a prize for the world's smallest

motor. Another award is given for a challenge involving
tiny writing
▪ How Small Is a Nanoscale?

▪ Nanotechnology can be found in several industries that

enabled them to create new materials application with
several applications and manufacture several devices in
ultra-small size. Nano came from the Latin word "Neus,"
which means dwarf.

▪ Hence Nanoworld means a small world.

▪ How small is nano?”
▪ In the International System of Units, the prefix "nano" means
one-billionth, or 10-9 ; therefore, one nanometer is
onebillionth of a meter.

▪ A human hair is approximately 80,000- 100,000 nanometers

wide. The average diameter of an atom is 0.1 to 0.5
nanometers.
▪ Nanomaterials are like a double-edged sword. The
same things that make them so fascinating also make
them impossible to work with. It's like making a statue
out of a pile of dust (Tulevski, 2016).
▪ Nanomaterials are so small, and it cannot be seen using
our naked eye.
▪ It is usually viewed by use of:
▪ 1. Electron microscope - uses a beam of accelerated
electrons as a source of illumination with up to about
10,000,000× magnification.
▪ Two types are:
▪ a. Scanning electron microscope
▪ b. Transmission electron microscope
▪ 2. Atomic Force Microscope – demonstrated resolutions
of nanometer best for use in insulating samples like
DNA.
▪ 3. Scanning, tunneling microscope – displays images at
an atomic level.
 ▪ There are two different main approaches to fabrication:
✔ Top-Down – you start with extensive material and cut it to make a
small product. In a Top-Down/mechanical-physical production
process, the traditional mechanical-physical crushing methods for
producing nanoparticles. It involves various milling techniques
where particles are ground or crushed until it is so small even
than that of an atom.

✔ Bottom-Up – building material starting from atoms and molecules

until it achieves the desired product's size based on
physicochemical principles of molecular or atomic self-
organization.

▪ This approach produces selected more complex structures from

atoms or molecules, better-controlling sizes, shapes, and size
ranges. It includes aerosol processes (fullerenes and carbon
nanotubes, titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide particles),
precipitation reactions (produce nanoparticles for pharmaceutical
and cosmetics applications, Zeolite), and solgel processes
(powders, fibers, ceramics, and coatings).
 ▪ 1. Materials and Coating Carbon nanotubes (aka CNTs)
are made from graphene sheets consisting of a single
atomic layer of carbon atoms in a framework that can be
rolled into a tube measuring a nanometer (one-billionth
of a meter) in diameter. CNT can clean water, boost
Nanotechnolog solar energy storage, make molecular syringes and

y Impacts on probes.

Human Lives ▪ Nano liquids are used as protectors in glasses and

screen protectors in our cellphones.
Various Uses of
▪ The applied liquid, once dried, is five times stronger
Nanotechnolog than tempered glass in protecting screens from
y: scratches.

▪ It could also be used in mirrors and make the surface of

materials resistant to bacterial growth.
▪ 2. Medicine Medical diagnostic pieces of equipment
that are more powerful and accurate are now available.
Nanomedicine helps make smart drugs that improve the
absorption of medicines within the body like
chemotherapy drugs, which only attacks specific cancer
cells, thus minimizing risk to normal tissues
surrounding it.

▪ Nanobots that only attack cancer cells are promising to

cut the risk of destroying healthy cells.

▪ Nanotechnology can also improve cosmetics coverage

or absorption (shampoos, lotion, sunscreen, make-up).
Nanomachines or Nanites (nanoscale robots) could be
expected in the near future to aid in the medical field.
▪ 3. Food Science Nanotechnology is enhancing the yield
of crops, so we are assured of food security.

▪ Better packaging of food extends storage life, improved

flavor, and nutrient delivery.

▪ Pathogen, toxin, and pesticide detection are done for

serving functional foods in the food industry. Silver
nanoparticles, together with nanocomposites, are one of
the most widely used nanomaterials.

▪ These are used as antimicrobials. Achievements have

been made in various areas of food systems,
particularly in food packaging.

▪ Most researches emphasize the regulation of

nanotechnology in food packaging and processing
(Xiaojiae, He, Huey Min H., 2016).
▪ 4. Electronics Nanoelectronics increases the capabilities of
electronic devices.
▪ It also enhances the density of memory chips. It reduces
power consumption and the size of transistors used in
integrated circuits.
▪ Nanotechnology in electronics offers faster and more
portable systems.
▪ It is also becoming popular in making materials like
semiconductors with electric properties by ejecting these
semiconductors' metal alloys (such as the silicon element),
with atomically-precise nanoparticles like phosphorus
particles, for example, will form diodes and also transistors.
▪ The manufacturing of computers uses these chips and
Central Processing Units. All electronic and electrical
devices also include polymeric Nano-films such as organic
light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
▪ 5. Engineering Cutting tool bits, chemical sensors,
Molecular sieves, pigments, and selfcleaning glass
using titanium dioxide are the nanotech's development
in engineering.

▪ Nano ultrafine particles are also used in fighter planes,

which absorb electromagnetic waves of different bands
to deceive radar to hide planes in military activities
against insurgents.
▪ 6. Forensics Forensic techniques have been improved by
nanotechnology. For instance, the material used to develop
fingerprints is replaced with many tiny nanoparticles.
▪ The said materials increase by orders of magnitude the
sensitivity of the forensic search. The nanoparticle
substituted materials used to develop fingerprints are
carbon black, aluminum flake, and gentian violet.
▪ Old or faint fingerprints will be easier to detect, especially
those left on difficult surfaces, such as adhesive or textured
ones. Nanoparticles bind with the fingerprint's pattern and
make it visible.
▪ A typical strategy is engineering fluorescent nanoparticles
to make the development easier (Catanzaro, 2013). Sweat left
in the fingerprint on the crime scene will also allow for
identifying drug use, thus giving rise to lifestyle intelligence
where people left traces on the things they touch.
▪ 7. Manufacturing Nano-sized water filters can remove all
viruses and bacteria. Nano clays incorporated in the
(pet) drinking bottle increase the product's shelf life by
several months.

▪ Carbon nanofibers are used in the manufacture of safety

wear sometimes.

▪ It is also used especially bio textiles, where they can

provide liquid and stain resistance and antimicrobial
properties and flame resistance.

▪ Nanopowders, when applied to plastics, make it behave

like ceramics or metal.
▪ 8. Automotive Lighter, more robust metal built for
vehicles and improved fuel consumption means better
gas mileage for automobiles. Manufactured high-end
tires using polymer nanocomposites increases its
durability or wear and tear.
▪ 9. Environment Improved industrial processes and materials with less
environmental wastes and hazards constitute green technology. Green
technology is a global aim at present.

▪ Better water and air treatment of industries or cleaner technology lessen

environmental pollution.

▪ Lesser environmental pollution is good for our environment to sustain

Biodiversity.

▪ Water treatment devices incorporating nanoscale materials are already

available.
10. Economy Better products are a factor in boosting the economy. Countries will profit with
patented Nano-products, which is a significant source of income.

▪ These are just a few of the various uses of nanotechnology in our society.
▪ This technology grows every minute, and the output of this technology will further enhance the
benefits humanity is experiencing.
▪ Nano Technology in The Philippines The Philippines' DOST or Department of
Science and Technology has outlined a roadmap for nanotechnology in the
Philippines for 2012-2016.
▪ The DOST roadmap outlines research and development in nanotechnology,
exploring and exploiting its high impact and life-enhancing benefits. Under the
national nanotechnology roadmap, DOST trimmed its priority projects to ICT and
semiconductors, agriculture and food, energy, medicine, and the environment. This
is due to the modest R&D fund of the department. The DOST's nanotech laboratory
was made open to the public on July 1, 2015. NanoLab has an array of sophisticated
equipment.
▪ It includes an Atomic Force Microscope, Particle Surface Area Measurement,
Scanning Electron Microscope, Dynamic Light Scattering Particle Size Analyzer,
etc. Materials like cassava, corn starch, nano clay from Bicol, and Zeolite from
Pangasinan have taken the nano research spotlight. The materials also include
silica or quartz from Camarines Sur, natural rubber and halloysite from Mindanao,
and calcium carbonate.
▪ After the required separation, consolidation, and re-development of materials by one atom or
one molecule, several innovations were developed:

▪ 1. Nanofiber from Zeolite for purifying methane gas in methane-running pipelines is ideal for
industries powered by biogas digesters and a 100 percent biodegradable food cutlery.

▪ 2. Fiber membrane/ filter for treating heavy metal contaminated water using chitosan
(chitosan is made by treating shells of shrimp and shellfishes), suitable for waste
management. DOST, together with Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging
Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD-DOST), has outputs for nanotechnology in
Food and Agriculture, Chemicals, and Semiconductors. In Food and Agriculture, the
development and optimization of Nanosensors to detect soil nutrients were made. Nano silica
has been applied in the production of Nanofluid for heat exchanger. Semiconductors have
plenty of development like Process technology for the fabrication of nanostructured solar
energy devices: scaling-up process, direct ethanol fuel cell-powered LED emergency light,
novel cathode material for direct ethanol fuel cell, Biofuel from Nano-carbon based catalysis
of biomass, nanomaterials for printed, electronic devices using carbon ink and carbon
nanotubes (CNT) - Silicon Heterojunctions for the Fabrication and Assembly of a Solar Panel.
▪ Major Impact of Nanotechnology Nanotechnology encompasses a broad range of
tools, techniques, and applications.

▪ It is widely perceived as one of the most important technologies of the 21st century.
▪ Their unique physicochemical (e.g., size, shape) and surface (e.g., reactivity,
conductivity) properties contribute to the evolution of materials with new properties
and technical solutions to challenging problems with conventional technologies.
Research outputs made these innovations possible. Although it is a promising
technology, it still has its advantages and disadvantages.
▪ Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Therapy has shared this
poster on their website to encourage precaution in using nanotech
products.

▪ Research in nanotechnology's effect on human health and the

environment are still few, so necessary caution is encouraged when using
these products, particularly those that could enter the human body via
different routes (mouth, skin, nose, and veins).
▪ Nanomaterials and COVID 19 Nanomaterials are available in the global market.
In this time of the pandemic, different products with nanomaterials are
accessible to the public.

▪ Nanoshel company (www.nanoshel.com) offers Covid-19 safety gears protective

Nano silver-coated three-ply face masks.

▪ These masks are guaranteed antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. They also
have silver nanoparticle-based organic sanitizers and different innovative
nanomaterials.
▪ How Nanotechnology Is Being Used to FIght Covid-19
▪ 1. Filters made with cellulose nanofibers can block virus size particles.
▪ 2. This was discovered by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology.
Researchers make use of gold nanoparticles to make probes that attach to
Covid-19 RNA. Testing equipment using these gold nanoparticles in probes that
they believe will produce fast turnaround testing with low error rate are being
developed.

▪ 3. Sona Nanotech (a nanotechnology life science firm) is developing a diagnostic

test for Covid-19. They are using gold nanorods. Fast results are expected in about
5 to 15 minutes and do not require lab analysis. Gold nanorods can also stop the
migration of cancer cells in different parts of the body.

▪ 4. Moderna produced a Covid-19 vaccine using mRNA molecules encapsulated in

lipid nanoparticles but have a legal battle with Arbutus Biopharma Corporation to
patent the lipid nanoparticles.
▪ 5.Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a
filter mask using orthogonal nanofibers. The report is equivalent to the N95 masks needed for
the coronavirus, with the advantage that the mask can filter small particles even after being
washed several times.

▪ 6. Novavax has developed a coronavirus vaccine candidate using protein nanoparticles has a
promising early trial result as of July 2020.

▪ 7. Mologic is developing and testing a handheld, nanoparticle-based, diagnostic system for

Covid-19 intended to provide results at the point of use, rather than waiting for lab results.

▪ 8. Some organizations apply a coating of titanium dioxide nanocrystals on surfaces such as

walls and ceilings to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. When the body is illuminated with
VU light, the nanocrystals act as a photocatalytic disinfection system, helping kill viruses on the
surface.

▪ 9. Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology have developed a test for
Covid-19 that doesn't require reagents (which are in limited supply). The test uses silica-coated
magnetic nanoparticles of which RNA from the virus is attracted to the nanoparticles, extracted
from the sample with a magnetic field.