The novelty of nanotechnology: 5 things you should know

When the very first Universal Serial Bus (USB) came out in 1996, it was later dubbed a thumb drive for its size. True to its name, the port fit every personal computer at that time. During this era, this was the smallest device people can afford to bring around with them. Computers were bulky, portable phones were a handful and televisions were boxy. Fast-forward to today, cellphones and TV are getting thinner and flatter by the day. Old incandescent light bulbs are now replaced by smaller and brighter LEDs that are also more affordable.

Yes, the advancement of science is making our dreams of innovation and invention come true.

In time, the products that we see in the market are the outcomes of nanotechnology. Whether it's a self-cleaning shirt or an auto-transmuting medicine, we don't have to wait too long before these become a reality!

How is nanotechnology useful for our future? This type of science deals with materials that are only seen on an atomic level. How small is that? Coming from the Greek word "dwarf," nano means one-billionth. When looking a nanometres, we're talking about the billionth of a metre. To give an example, a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometres thick. A single strand of DNA is about 2.5 nanometres. A molecule of water (H2O) is 1.5 nanometres. Even our nails grow 1 nanometre each second! These are measurements that are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Learning these things, it comes as no surprise that advancements in nanotechnology are great feats of achievement for humanity. And it is no easy task.

Scientists use two approaches to fabricate and manufacture at the nano-scale: top-down and bottom-up. The top-down approach begins with a large-scale product that can be cut down to a nano-scale. When making graphene, a two-dimensional nano-material, scientists use complex tools to exfoliate or separate graphite.

The other method is bottom-up manufacturing, entailing scientists to build their products one atom at a time. Because this is time-consuming, scientists use a self-assembly method, where atoms and molecules arrange themselves into the final product under precise conditions.

Although nanotechnology may appear to be futuristic technology, it is already used in many common products. Consider the following five common items:

1. Clothes

Silica nanoparticles, when manufactured with textiles, can help repel water and other liquids. To do this, silica can either be woven into the weave of a fabric or sprayed onto the fabric's surface. If you've ever noticed how liquid creates small beads on waterproof clothes - beads that roll off the fabric instead of being absorbed – that's because of nanotechnology.

2. Computers

Many of the devices we use everyday would not exist without nanotechnology. Intel is unquestionably the market leader in small computer processors, with their current Core processor technology being a 10-nanometer device.

3. Tapes & Glues

Adhesives can also benefit from nanotechnology. Surprisingly, conventional glues lose their stickiness when exposed to warm temperatures. However, a strong "nano-glue" not only withstands but strengthens as the surrounding temperature rises.

4. Furniture

Upholstered furniture can be made waterproof and stain-proof using nanotechnology in the same manner as clothing can. Even better, nanotechnology is helping to make furniture less flammable; manufacturers can reduce flammability by up to 35% by coating upholstered furniture foam with carbon nanofibers.

5. Sunscreens

For years, nanoparticles have been used to improve sunscreens. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are two forms of nanoparticles that are often used in sunscreen. These tiny particles are not only excellent in blocking UV rays, but they also feel lighter on the skin, which is why modern sunscreens aren't as thick and gloopy as the ones we used as kids.

Did You Know? Furniture infused with nanotechnology is 35% less likely to be burnt.

In recent years, 625 nanotechnology startups begun doing business all over the globe. Here are some of the companies that we can gain insight from.

Hummink is a French company that is working on a 3D nanoprinting solution. To perform capillary depositions of diverse liquids, the startup combines a nanometric pen and an oscillating macroresonator. It also employs an electronic control unit to compensate for ink or substrate-related faults. High cost, precision, and quality control are key challenges in nanomanufacturing. Hummink solves these problems by employing direct printing technology, which allows producers to create multi-material patterns while also increasing resolution and printing speed.

Carbon Dots is CDotBio's carbon nanoparticles for crop gene editing. This technology delivers genome editing chemicals into plant cells, bypassing cell walls and membranes. The startup's approach, unlike pricey Agrobacterium-mediated and biolistic-mediated transformations, is low-cost, supports a wide range of crop kinds, and is biocompatible. This move is possible thanks to the startup's technology, while still making leeway for profitability.

NanoStruct is a German startup that develops ultra-sensitive sensors for the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is boosted by the startup's ultraprecise gold nanostructures, allowing for high-sensitivity research. Traditional technologies produce difficult-to-replicate nanostructures, whereas the startup produces repeatable nanostructures. Surface contamination may now be identified, verified, and standardized by manufacturers.

BrightComSol is an Austrian business that makes BrightSplash, a quantum dot resin composition. To stabilize perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) and make them compatible with the polymer resin, the startup's patented method builds a molecular coating over them. This inhibits aggregation while mixing QDs and ensures a uniform distribution of PQDs, resulting in better QD performance. In short, the startup's approach enables manufacturers to customize quantum dots for photon-conversion applications.

Nanocan Therapeutics, based in the United States, uses its patented Immunogenic Smart Radiotherapy Biomaterial (iSRB) technology to help in drug delivery. The nanoparticle drones developed by the startup have improved bioavailability, medication delivery, and biodegradation. Furthermore, they enable image-guided distribution and therapy response monitoring using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (MRI). This allows for high-precision tumor cell targeting for radiation, which reduces dose frequency and improves patient convenience.

While there is high anticipation and excitement for the future of nanotechnology, people aren't aware of the current benefits it already provides. While science can be difficult to communicate in simpler terms, there is a way to improve its public perception.