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Nanotechnology is part of the new generation of innovation, sometimes called the “new industrial revolution”. The science and technology behind it will help transform various sectors, including aerospace, energy, information technology, medicine, national defence, and transportation.
In this post, we talk with Dr. Mariana Arce, professor in the Degree in Physics, about the types of nanotechnology, the development of nanotechnology and its future.
Nanotechnology is a concept used to define the sciences and techniques that are applied at the nanoscale level (from 1 to 100 nanometers).
The idea of nanoscience was born in the last century by the physicist Richard Feynman, who spoke of nanotechnology as the process of being able to individually manipulate and control atoms and molecules. The term nanotechnology was used for the first time in 1974 by the Japanese Norio Taniguchi.
The improvement of new adequate techniques to work in the appropriate size such as scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) allowed the birth of nanotechnology that went on to develop throughout the rest of the century, leading to a true expansion of nanotechnology.
There are two approaches for the production of nanomaterials, structures, devices and systems: top-down or bottom-up. The first refers to the reduction in size of mechanisms and structures that are miniaturised at the nanometric scale. It is widely used in the field of electronics.
The second refers to the construction of structures from smaller elements. It starts with a nanometric structure, such as a molecule, and through an assembly or self-assembly process, a larger structure or mechanism is created. This process is more often used in the field of biomedicine.
Nanotechnology promises solutions to multiple problems that humanity currently faces, such as environmental, ecological or health.
Nanotechnology is being applied in various fields of medicine and continues to grow day by day. In this particular sector, there is a great development that allows solving problems that until now were insurmountable.
There are many drugs with solubility problems that do not reach the desired site of action. With nanocarriers capable of carrying these poorly soluble drugs, it would be possible to reach the site of action where they should act. In this way, medicines that cannot be used due to their nature are transported to the area where they are most needed. The best-known example in these times are vaccines based on messenger RNA technology, such as those currently available against COVID-19. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is encapsulated in nanoparticles that act as vectors. These nanoparticles protect the RNA and transport it to cells where it is needed.
Another clear example is nanotechnology applied to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A neurodegenerative disease that with the increase in life expectancy has multiplied the number of people who suffer from it. Current drugs only alleviate symptoms once the disease has advanced. The big problem with this disease is that the design of drugs is complicated because they have to cross the blood-brain barrier, which serves to protect the brain from toxins, but also prevents the drugs from accessing the site of action, which in this case is the brain. With nanotechnology, drugs are being developed that manage to cross and reach the site of action.
The future is very promising, from the field of biomedicine, engineering, and others. New materials based on carbon nanostructures make it possible to reduce the size of the devices. These nanostructures have presented similar or better properties than many traditional materials, and can be improved for the use of batteries that store photovoltaic energy or as vectors for drugs.
In addition, in the field of ecology it can be used to prevent pollution and detect contaminants. Filters with nanoparticles that manage to trap toxic particles before they reach the environment.
The development of new methodologies such as CRISPR / Cas9, for which the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna in 2020, allows a protein to target the area chosen by the DNA and cut. With this methodology it will be possible to "repair" genetic diseases that until now were incurable.
There are a wide variety of examples and fields where nanotechnology is currently being applied and its development is exponential. Many call it the “new industrial revolution”. We will remain attentive to what happens to us because it is the future.
Nanotechnology is a concept used to define the sciences and techniques that are applied at the nanoscale level (from 1 to 100 nanometers).
The idea of nanoscience was born in the last century by the physicist Richard Feynman, who spoke of nanotechnology as the process of being able to individually manipulate and control atoms and molecules. The term nanotechnology was used for the first time in 1974 by the Japanese Norio Taniguchi.
The improvement of new adequate techniques to work in the appropriate size such as scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) allowed the birth of nanotechnology that went on to develop throughout the rest of the century, leading to a true expansion of nanotechnology.
There are two approaches for the production of nanomaterials, structures, devices and systems: top-down or bottom-up. The first refers to the reduction in size of mechanisms and structures that are miniaturised at the nanometric scale. It is widely used in the field of electronics.
The second refers to the construction of structures from smaller elements. It starts with a nanometric structure, such as a molecule, and through an assembly or self-assembly process, a larger structure or mechanism is created. This process is more often used in the field of biomedicine.
Nanotechnology promises solutions to multiple problems that humanity currently faces, such as environmental, ecological or health.
Nanotechnology is being applied in various fields of medicine and continues to grow day by day. In this particular sector, there is a great development that allows solving problems that until now were insurmountable.
There are many drugs with solubility problems that do not reach the desired site of action. With nanocarriers capable of carrying these poorly soluble drugs, it would be possible to reach the site of action where they should act. In this way, medicines that cannot be used due to their nature are transported to the area where they are most needed. The best-known example in these times are vaccines based on messenger RNA technology, such as those currently available against COVID-19. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is encapsulated in nanoparticles that act as vectors. These nanoparticles protect the RNA and transport it to cells where it is needed.
Another clear example is nanotechnology applied to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. A neurodegenerative disease that with the increase in life expectancy has multiplied the number of people who suffer from it. Current drugs only alleviate symptoms once the disease has advanced. The big problem with this disease is that the design of drugs is complicated because they have to cross the blood-brain barrier, which serves to protect the brain from toxins, but also prevents the drugs from accessing the site of action, which in this case is the brain. With nanotechnology, drugs are being developed that manage to cross and reach the site of action.
The future is very promising, from the field of biomedicine, engineering, and others. New materials based on carbon nanostructures make it possible to reduce the size of the devices. These nanostructures have presented similar or better properties than many traditional materials, and can be improved for the use of batteries that store photovoltaic energy or as vectors for drugs.
In addition, in the field of ecology it can be used to prevent pollution and detect contaminants. Filters with nanoparticles that manage to trap toxic particles before they reach the environment.
The development of new methodologies such as CRISPR / Cas9, for which the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna in 2020, allows a protein to target the area chosen by the DNA and cut. With this methodology it will be possible to "repair" genetic diseases that until now were incurable.
There are a wide variety of examples and fields where nanotechnology is currently being applied and its development is exponential. Many call it the “new industrial revolution”. We will remain attentive to what happens to us because it is the future.