- What is nanotechnology?
- Nanotechnology history
- What is nanotechnology for?
- Nanotechnology Applications
- Nanotechnology Examples
- Nanotechnology in medicine
- Nanotechnology and biotechnology
We explain what nanotechnology is, what it is for and examples. In addition, its applications in medicine, biotechnology and other areas.
What is nanotechnology?
Broadly speaking, nanotechnology is the manipulation and manufacture of materials and artifacts at a scale atomic or molecular, that is, nanometric. It is a very broad field of research and applications still in consolidation.
Nanotechnology involves matter subatomic, as well as the specific knowledge of disciplines scientific like organic chemistry, molecular biology, semiconductors, microfabrication, and science surfaces, among others.
Put very simply, nanotechnology starts from the idea of building microscopic machines with which to produce novel materials of a unique and particular molecular configuration.
However, the nature of many of these "machines" is not similar to those we use in our day to day lives, but may well consist of virus Genetically "reprogrammed" and other biotechnological means. Consequently, this technology it is an infinite source of possibilities and, of course, of dangers.
In addition, through nanotechnology, nanomaterials have been built, which are non-existent elements in the nature and amazing properties. They were created from the modification of the molecules of existing materials.
Thus, a gigantic field of research has been opened with virtually infinite applications, which are still under definition and experimentation. Nanotechnology promises to bring with it a new industrial and scientific-technological revolution.
Nanotechnology history
In 1959, the possibility of nanotechnology and nanoscience was discussed for the first time. The first to refer to them was a Nobel Prize winner in Physics, the American Richard Feynman (1918-1988), during his speech at Caltech (California, USA), in which he theorized about synthesis by direct manipulation of the atoms.
However, the term "nanotechnology" was coined in 1974 by the Japanese Norio Taniguchi (1912-1999). Since then, many have dreamed or theorized about the possibility of these types of advanced machines and materials.
For example, the American engineer Kim Eric Drexler (1955-) participated in the popularization of the term and this type of research, being largely responsible for the formal beginning of the field of study of nanotechnology in the 1980s. , responds to the advances of the time in microscopy and the discovery of fullerenes in 1985.
From the year 2000 nanomaterials began to be used industrially. In response the governments of the world began to invest huge sums in nanotechnology research and development.
Its applications to the field of biochemistry, medicine and genetic engineering they became apparent shortly thereafter. Today it is one of the scientific fields with the greatest validity and demand even in countries of the so-called Third World.
What is nanotechnology for?
In basic terms, nanotechnology is a type of materials engineering at the atomic or molecular scale. That means that it allows you to manipulate matter on an infinitely small scale, between 1 and 100 nanometers, that is, about the size of a molecule of DNA (2 nm) and a bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma (200 nm).
Therefore, the benefits of nanotechnology are virtually infinite: from intervening the chemical composition of the living beings, thus allowing to modify the DNA of microscopic living things and "program" them to carry out certain biochemical tasks, up to the manufacture of novel materials with unique properties, called nanomaterials.
Nanotechnology Applications
Some of the current applications of nanotechnology have to do with:
- Textile industry. The creation of intelligent fabrics, capable of pre-programmed behaviors in chips or other electronic instruments, thus being able to be self-cleaning, stain repellent or being able to change coloration and of temperature.
- Agricultural design. Elaboration of pesticides, pesticides and fertilizers with controlled biochemistry that allow the improvement of soils, as well as nanosensors for detection of groundwater, nutrient concentration, etc.
- Support for livestock. Manufacture through nanoparticles of vaccines and drugs to take care of the Health livestock, or nanosensors capable of alerting to the presence of diseases, parasites, etc.
- Food industry. In this area, food sensors are developed, that is, elements that can verify the viability of food, to nano-packaging for it, specially designed to slow down the natural process of food decomposition.
- Nanopharmaceuticals. It is a first generation of products Pharmacological products designed with nanosystems, capable of efficiently and specifically distributing the active compounds of medicines, obtaining better and faster results and minimizing collateral damage.
On the other hand, the industry envisions as future fields of research the following:
- Nanoinformatics. The design of computerized systems of enormous power and speed through nanosystems.
- Nanothermology. Application of nanomachines to efficiently and quickly regulate the local temperature.
- Nanoenergies. That they could well be efficient, safe and low environmental impact, as a solution to the energy crisis with which the XXI century begins.
- Environmental solutions. As nanotechnological systems for hazardous waste disposal or garbage disposal.
Nanotechnology Examples
A couple of examples of the current nanotechnology application to problems humans are as follows:
- Bactericidal black silicon. Australian and Spanish scientists announced the creation of a material known as "black silicon", whose molecular composition prevents, without the need for added products, the proliferation of numerous species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, in addition to reducing the effectiveness of certain types of endospores.
- Nanosurgery using a robot. The Swiss laboratory ETH Zürich is preparing to test its first magnetically guided micro-robot, known as OctoMag, with which it is hoped to be able to perform microsurgeries without opening the patient, simply by injecting it into the body using a small needle. Similar models of micropumps have also been tested in the US, releasing drugs into the eye when needed.
Nanotechnology in medicine
The promises of nanotechnology for the advancement of medicine are staggering to say the least. Above we gave a couple of examples of this, but there is still much to discover, such as:
- Nanotreatments for incurable diseases. Nanotechnological solutions to cancer, HIV / AIDS or Alzheimer's disease could come from the hand of biochemical robots injected into the human body.
- Nanotechnological slowing down of aging. One day we could, through nanoparticles, combat aging at a molecular level and extend our lifespan even further, delaying senility.
- Nanovaccines. Protection systems against diseases based on the introduction of nanosystems to the body, which would take care of assisting the immune system in the fight against all kinds of new diseases.
- Genetic reprogramming. Using nanorobots, it would be possible to modify our DNA and gradually eliminate genes that carry congenital diseases, deficiencies and other ills. This would improve the quality of life of the species in general. This, of course, also requires rethinking the moral laws of science to some degree.
Nanotechnology and biotechnology
Biotechnology is the application of technological solutions to problems biological in nature. It takes on a whole new level thanks to the introduction of nanosciences.
The possibility of programming or reprogramming living beings through the nanotechnological intervention of DNA could allow us to lead life towards more convenient paths. However, the combination of biotechnology and nanotechnology will involve significant ethical and biological risks.
Humanity knows very well what happens when it tries to play God. For example, the production of more dairy cows and with more meat, crops resistant to pests, etc., should always go hand in hand with reflection on our place in the natural order of the world.