This technology has signaled potential and breakthroughs in many areas such as medicine, computer technology, food industry, building construction, and environment protection. The many exciting products it promises have drawn a lot of attention to it, and many findings of nanotechnology are quickly being implemented in viable commercial products, despite insufficient toxicological data about the environmental and biological effects of such nanomaterials.
As nanotechnology gains widespread application in various disciplines, it is imperative to understand its potential effects for its long-term sustainability. It is also equally critical to set up necessary control legislations and benchmark standards to control research and commercial application of this emerging technology.
Nanotechnology is the “creation of functional materials, devices, and systems through the manipulation of matter at a length of ~1-100 nm”. At such scale, matter exhibits new properties unlike those observed at larger scales (Wickson, Baun, & Grieger, 2010). These properties include enhanced plasticity, change in thermal properties, enhanced reactivity and catalysis, negative refractivity, faster ion/electron transport, and novel quantum mechanical properties (Vaddiraju, Tomazos, Burgess, Jain, & Papadimitrakopoulos, 2010).
The applications of nanotechnology are as a result of investigating and utilizing these properties (Wickson et al., 2010). There are a host of substances utilized in nanotechnology, such as carbon, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum, zinc, silver, copper, and gold (Robinson, 2010).
Nanotechnology projects continue to channel out a wide range of applications at a very high rate (Dang, Zhang, Fan, Chen, & C.Roco, 2010). This exponential growth rate is evident from the number of patent applications. Data by Dang and fellow researchers (2010) shows that patent application for nanotechnology inventions in developed countries increased from zero percent in 1991 to about 27 % in 2008, and this growth is set to continue for the better part of this century.
Applications of nanotechnology include pharmaceutical and medical nanotechnology, which promises novel therapeutic applications in crucial areas such as cancer therapy, drug delivery, imaging, biosensors, and diagnosis. Nanoparticles have been cited as having great potential in vivo imaging applications (Solomon & D’Souza, 2011). Nanoparticles are also being engineered to be used to enhance drug biodistribution and delivery to target sites in the body. This approach seeks to deliver drug agents to affected sites without damaging the healthy cells.
Nanoparticles have also displayed the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, a major impediment to drug delivery to the brain, thus offering hope of improving the efficacy of some drugs. It has also been reported that nanoparticles conjugated to model antigens have been able to stimulate immunity in mice (Solomon & D’Souza, 2011), suggesting potential for application in improving vaccine therapy.
Nanoparticles have been used to engineer self-assembled tissue capable of repairing damaged tissues in rats though this is yet to be replicated in humans. Another area that has generated much interest is in the production of microscopic and highly sensitive in vitro and in vivo biosensors.
Nanoparticles are increasingly gaining application in cancer therapy, as they are characterized by surface modifications that enable them to interact with receptors of target cells. To counter this adverse effect, neuroprotective compounds are being developed using carbon-60 fullerene (Silva, 2010). In terms of detection of biochemical compounds, carbon nanotubes have been used for detection DNA and proteins in serum samples.
In conclusion, nanotechnology is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to transform various industries and sectors. Understanding its potential effects and setting up necessary control legislations and benchmark standards are crucial for its long-term sustainability and the development of new applications in various fields.
Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, including energy application, food packaging, and computer technology. Nanoremediation is a new waste disposal mechanism that utilizes nanoparticles to detoxify pollutants, such as nZVI, a nanoscale zero-valent iron. This technology has been applied in remediating polluted in situ groundwater, which is cost-effective and faster compared to traditional pump-and-treat methods. Nanocatalysts speed up chemical reactions leading to decomposition of reactive species, which is already being used to detoxify harmful vapor in cars and industrial machinery.
Nanotechnology is also aiding in improving current water purification technologies by decreasing membrane pores to nanoscale levels, leading to greater filtration power. Energy applications involve the development of efficient and long-lasting energy devices, with nanofabricated energy storage compounds being cited as potentially beneficial as they may serve as replacements for traditional environmentally harmful fossil fuels. Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanohorns are proving useful in energy application due to their ability to provide excellent conductivity for charge transport. Some nanomaterials, such as PbTe-based quantum dot superlattice system, have demonstrated improved energy conversion efficiency, which can be replicated to produce more energy-efficient thermoelectric devices used to convert waste heat energy into electricity.
In terms of energy conservation, semiconductor nanostructures are actively being explored for the development of highly luminous and efficient light-emitting diodes (LED), which can have a significant impact on energy conservation as lighting uses about 20% of the total electric power generated. Nonastructured photovoltaic materials have been cited as potentially significant in improving the efficiency of solar energy-based devices. Nanomaterials, such as quantum dots and dye-sensitized semiconductors, are being tested for the possible production of next-generation solar device projects.
Food nanotechnology presents unlimited opportunities for the food industry, with areas such as food packaging and preservation. Attention to this sector has been contributed by projections of enormous economic gains it offers. Sales of nanotechnology products to the food and beverage packaging sector is expected to surpass US $20.4 billion beyond 2010 (Sozer & Kokini, 2008). Bionanocomposites, which are nanostructures with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and porosity properties, are being used in food packaging. Additional benefits of bionanocomposites include being environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and increasing the food shelf life.
Nanomaterials have also been said to have potential application in food preservation. Nanosensors made to fluoresce in different colors when in contact with food spoilage microorganisms have been selected as a possible solution. Examples of nanomaterials with high potential include nanosilica, nanoselenium, nano-iron, nanosalt, nanoemulsion, probiotics, and edible nanocoatings.
In computer technology, nanotechnology is expected to revolutionize computer architecture technologies. Current processors have an unofficial limit of 4 GHz, but this year a synthetic material capable of replacing silicon was unveiled, allowing for even more transistors per a nanometric length than what is possible through current microprocessor development technologies. This development could not have come at a more opportune time as silicon processors are expected to have reached their maximum performance by 2020.
In construction, nanotechnology portends immense benefits for the future of the construction sector. From the amazing self-cleaning window to the “smog-eating” concrete, this technology has the capability of transforming building materials to new levels in terms of energy, light, strength, security, beauty, and intelligence.
Nanotechnology is expected to produce unique bio-products characterized by hyper-performance and superior serviceability. Notable nanoparticles in construction include titanium dioxide (TiO2) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are used in degrading pollutants in buildings and strengthening and monitoring concrete. However, concerns about the environmental, health effects, and other risks surrounding nanomaterials remain unclear.
Concerns have been raised about nanotechnology, such as its potential safety for the biological system (Vishwakarma, Samal, & N.Manoharan, 2010). Nanoparticles can gain entry into the body easily through skin, mucosal membranes of nose, or lungs through inhalation, producing dangerous reactive radicals such as hyper-reactive oxygen with toxic effects. These reactive radicals have been linked to chronic diseases such as cancer. Once inside the body, nanoparticles may reach the brain or liver, but their effects on these organs are yet to be established.
The Royal Society of UK’s National Science Academy has reported that nanotubes can cause lung fibrosis when inhaled in large amounts over long periods. Early research has shown that some types of nanoparticles could cause lung damage in rats (Vishwakarma et al., 2010).
Possible environmental effects of nanoparticles have also been documented, as they are easily airborne and adhesive, potentially entering the food chain with profound undesirable changes on the ecosystem. Currently, there are no standard techniques for assessing nanocompound hazards, and quality control for nanomaterials manufacturing, terminology, and nomenclature standards are lacking.
In conclusion, nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including medicine, computer technology, construction, environmental remediation, food industry, and new energy sources. However, it is still in its infancy, with only a few commercialized projects and many not undergoing full lifecycle assessments. As the world adapts to this new technology wave, concomitant effort should be directed to understanding the possible impacts of nanomaterials to ensure their long-term sustainability.
