Nanotechnology

What is nanotechnology?

This subject deals with ultrafine particles of size in nanometers.

One nanometer (nm) is equal to one billionth of a meter. In simple words, one nm is one hundredth of a croreth of a meter.

In general, any particle shows its own properties in its normal size range. but when we cut down its size to nanometers, it exhibits different properties based on their molecular arrangements. Based on their properties, we classify them as useful or not to humans. Useful means in terms of manufacturing useful products, for example, creating plastic that conducts electricity, non-rusting iron glass solar panels, etc.

Applications of nanotechnology:

Cheaper in cost:
In terms of cost, nanoproduct manufacturing is cheaper compared to traditional-sized products. As they are, they don't need square feet of area, a large human source for weight carrying, or bulk transport vehicles to transport. All these factors reflect the cost of production and services.

Nanotubes are being designed and researched in a laboratory at the University of Texas. They made nanotubes by treating iron-coated wafers with acetalene gas. These wafer threads are called nano tubes.They are 50 times harder and conduct electricity more than 1000 times better than iron.

Using in the textile and painting industries
Currently, textile companies manufacture fibers using nanoparticles to prevent staining on clothes. threads treated with flourinated nanopolymers to make fabrics. these fibres are stronger than bullet proof and doesn't get stain  if you accedentally pour coffee on ur clothes. and much research is going on to make advancements in fabrics and their designs.

Currently, many paint companies use nanotechnology in paint manufacturing to make walls smooth and shiny after painting, to enhance the life of paint, to resist environmental or seasonal changes, and to maintain the shine of paint used for cars and bikes.

Solar panel manufacturing:

 In general when light falls on panel the photons in light cause ejection of electrons to generate electricity. This traditional principle has a working efficacy of 19 to 30 %.By treating nanocrystals, we can enhance the efficiency of panels. Also, you can apply these nanocrystals to transparent window glass to make solar panels function. Research is going on for this glass-panel conversion. If this develops, we don't need to use batteries. Just by applying nanocrystals to mobile plastic, we may generate enough electricity for the working of mobiles, other gadgets, etc. This may cause another revolution in the electronic world.

In health care and treatment:

 In treatment of cancer Currently, research is going on for the treatment of cancer with nanoparticles. with using silicon-coated nanoparticles (120nm) injected into the blood. In the blood, they circulate and reach the target site. How they exactly reach cancer tissue means there's a pathology behind this. In cancer tissue, the cells proliferate abnormally, so to supply blood to all cells, new blood vessels are also formed( vasculogenisis). As they are newly formed, the blood vessels are thin and weaker, so these nanoparticles penetrate into tissue from the vessels easily. After reaching the target site, infrared rays are emitted from that site. These IR rays cause them to get heated and kill adjacent cancer cells. and surrounding non-cancerous cells and tissues are not harmed. This is an effective treatment for cancer compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

These nanoparticles are also used in suturing in vascular surgery and make leakproof suturing possible to thin blood vessels in vital areas of body organs. Vascular complications caused by throbolytics, diabetes nephropathy, and fat occlusion (atherosclerosis) in vessels can also be treated using nanoparticles.

They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.

They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body.

They can be used in biochemical sensors.

These carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.

In the future, many blood tests will be done by using nano sensors.A single blood drop may be enough for all types of diagnoses.

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize allopathic medicine. In allopathic medicine, the prescribed drugs used in target sites depend on the receptors present in them. If we replace the nanos in place of medicine, we can control them whenever it is necessary and not take them every time like medicine. The whole pharmaceutical industry may collapse, or a new nanopharma industry will arise.

In the food industry:

used for food preservation and packing. also to identify whether the water is polluted or spoiled by any fungus or bacteria with nanosensors.

This nanotechnology will definitely dominate the computer world and introduce us to a new world.

Sources: internet, Discovery monthly magazine.