4/3/2022

Module 3 Section 4

Nanotechnology
WMSU
Karla B. Rivero

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Second Semester, S.Y. 2021-2022

What is nanotechnology?
This section
• branch of technology that deals with the manipulation
• discusses nanotechnology and how the manipulation of and study of matter at the nanoscale
matter on a nanoscale impacts the society.
• covers all types of research and technologies that deal
• focuses on both the advantages and disadvantages of with the special properties of matter on an atomic
nanotechnology. molecular and supramolecular scale

• involves chemistry, biology, physics, material science,

and engineering

• convergent as it brings together various fields of science

through its innovations

example
OBJECTIVES – DNA silicon chips
• converging between semiconductor science and
At the end of this section, the students should be able to biology, with applications in the medical industry
• discuss the antecedents of nanotechnology and its
importance to society, • involves the design, characterization, production, and
application of structures, devices, and systems by
• enumerate the positive and negative impacts of controlling shapes and sizes at the nanometer scale
nanotechnology on the environment and society,
• provides the platform and the tools to produce
innovations
• identify the moral and ethical questions and concerns
surrounding nanotechnology.

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Three dimensions on how nanotechnology works

1. First dimension
– involves tangible objects which include materials,
devices, and systems

2. Second dimension
– deals with the passive and static objects,

passive objects
• nanoparticles that have properties different from
bulk objects even if they have the same
composition

active objects In medicine

• those that can store information, induce energy, or • has numerous applications in the development of more
change their state effective drugs

nanofacture • biological mechanisms can be stimulated to destroy a

cancer cell while it is treated by drug-bearing
• refers to atomically precise manufacturing
nanoparticles
• collection of instruments and procedures
Nanobots or molecular scale workers
3. Third dimension – can employ molecular processes within cells
– direct nanotechnology – can deliver drugs to specific molecular sites or even
• refers to materials structured at nanoscale carry out surgeries
components

• it is now possible to diagnose prevalent contagious

diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis with
– indirect nanotechnology screening devices using nanotechnology
• starts with nanoparticles but can be used in huge
applications
• hugely powerful information processors with
individual nanoscale components

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In chemistry In agriculture
• water purification systems containing nanomaterials and • novel techniques of nanotechnology applications are
utilizing new membrane technologies containing variable applied to breed crops with higher levels of
pore-size filters are now available micronutrients to detect pests and to control food
processing
Nanoparticles
– are used to prepare heat-resistant and self-cleaning • ultra-small probes on earth surfaces for agricultural
surfaces, such as floors and benchtops applications and control of soil, air, and water
contamination are also developed using nanotechnology
– nanoparticles of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide
can also make a surface repel water, thus preventing TiO2 nanoparticles
stains – provides a simple, cheap, and effective way of
removing arsenic in soil and water

– detergent molecules self-assemble into a sphere to In physics

form a micelle that allows the detergent to trap oils • a nanotechnology-inspired detector from Washington
and fats within the cavity of the sphere that aids in can sense the smallest amount of radiation, which was
washing surfaces utilized to locate a nuclear leak faster and more
accurately at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
– Zeolites are silicon oxides and aluminum oxides that
have specific nanoporous cage-like structures that • chlorinated compounds are major environmental
are used as molecular sieves contaminants that can be reduced using nanoscale
metal particles, such as FeO and Fe-Ni conjunction with
iron filings

In agriculture • Bionanotechnology can support cleaner methods and

• novel techniques of nanotechnology applications are provide alternative and renewable energy sources to
applied to breed crops with higher levels of enhance sustainability of factories
micronutrients to detect pests and to control food
processing • Nanotechnology helps in energy consumption like in the
use of graphene into a coating material resulting in the
• ultra-small probes on earth surfaces for agricultural need for only one layer, which does not require a
applications and control of soil, air, and water multifunctional film coating
contamination are also developed using nanotechnology
• Nanoscale chemical reagents or catalysts are smaller
TiO2 nanoparticles yet they increase the rate of chemical reactions, thus
– provides a simple, cheap, and effective way of lessening the input of raw materials
removing arsenic in soil and water

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In the Philippines
• Nanotechnology can be applied in making sources of
renewable energy accessible to many, developing
medicine that would address serious diseases,
improving the state of agriculture, and more

• In 1980s
– a semiconductor plane contaminated the ground
water in Silicon Valley, California

• carbon nanotubes used in the manufacturing of memory

storage, electronics, batteries, etc., were found to have
unknown harmful impacts to the human body by
inhalation into lungs comparable to asbestos fiber 11
– pulmonary toxicology evaluation of single-walled
carbon nanotubes indicated that it is more toxic than
carbon black and quartz

Adverse effects of the rapid developments in • Due to its size, a nanoparticle is not easy to analyze
nanotechnology
• Environmental effect of mineral-based nanoparticles • Lack of information and methods of characterizing
found in cosmetics, paints, clothing, and other products nanomaterials makes it a challenge to detect its
are questioned as they go through sewerage treatment concentration in air or in any matrix of the environment
plants untreated due to their undetectable size
• Predicting toxicity of a nanomaterial relies heavily on
– can be carried down by fine silts or microplastics with information about its chemical structure since minor
both inorganic and organic pollutants changes in its chemical function group could drastically
change its properties

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• Point-to-point risk assessment at all stages of

nanotechnology should then be conducted to ensure the
safety to human health and environment

• Risk assessment should include the exposure risk and

its probability of exposure, toxicological analysis,
transport risk, persistence risk, transformation risk, and
ability to recycle

• With the identified potential hazards that nanoparticles

can bring to human health and the environment, should
people disregard the benefits that nanotechnology
provide them?

• Altering the composition of graphene replacing silicon in

electronic devices, and thermal transferring
nanomaterials can be done to diminish environmental
hazards of nanotechnology

• Studies show that certain microorganisms can

decompose graphene and make it less toxic for the
environment