Week no.

11

MODULE 11: The Nano World

1. Define nanotechnology.

2. Discuss the major impacts (both potential and realized) of nanotechnology

on society.

3. Discuss the status of the use of nanotechnology in the Philippines.

Content:

According to the National Nanotechnology Initiative (2017),

nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the
nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. It is the study and application
of extremely small things, which can be employed in chemistry, biology,
physics, materials science, and engineering, among other science subjects.

Physicists Richard Feynman discussed the concepts and

ideas behind nanotechnology and nanoscience during a talk
entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” at an
American Physical Society meeting at California Institute of
Technology (CalTech) on December 29, 1959, long before
the term nanotechnology was used. Feynman suggested a
method by which scientists may alter and control individual
Richard Feynman
Source: [Link]/3t6TFHo atoms and molecules in his talk.

Professor Norio Taniguchi created the term nanotechnology over a

decade later while researching ultraprecision machining. Modern
nanotechnology did not begin until 1981, when the scanning tunneling
microscope, which could "see" individual atoms, was developed.

It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One nanometer
is a billionth of a meter, or 10-9 of a meter. Here are a few illustrative
examples: (NNI, 2017)

• There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch

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 • A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick
• On a comparative scale, if a marble were a nanometer, then one meter
would be the size of the Earth

Nanoscale materials have been utilized for centuries, despite the fact
that current nanoscience and nanotechnology are relatively new. Colors in
medieval stained-glass windows were created hundreds of years ago by
varying-sized gold and silver particles. The artists of the time just didn't realize
that the procedure they employed to make these stunning works of art was
causing changes in the composition of the materials they were using.

IMPACTS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETY

The societal impacts of new technologies are easy to identify but hard
to measure or predict. Nanotechnology will have significant social impacts in
the areas of military applications, intellectual property issues, as well as
having an effect on labor and the balance between citizens and governments
(Moradiya, 2018).

Scientists and engineers are also having great success making materials
at the nanoscale to take advantage of enhanced properties such as higher
strength, lighter weight, increased electrical conductivity, and chemical
reactivity compared to their larger-scale equivalents (Crawford, 2016).

Below is a list of ways on how nanotechnology impacts our lives on a daily

basis:

1. Nano-sized particles, including practically all viruses and bacteria, can

be removed by water filters that are only 15-20 nanometers wide. These
low-cost, portable water treatment systems are great for improving
drinking water quality in developing countries.
2. Computers that are faster, smaller, and more powerful, consume less
power, and have longer-lasting batteries. Carbon nanotube-based
circuits could be critical in ensuring Moore's Law continues to grow
computer power.

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 3. Pharmaceutical drugs with nanoparticles boost absorption and make
delivery easier, which is generally done through a mix of medical
devices. Chemotherapy medications can also be delivered to specific
cells, such as cancer cells, using nanoparticles.
4. Medical diagnostic technology that is faster, more functional, and more
accurate. Lab-on-a-chip technology allows for real-time point-of-care
testing, which speeds up the delivery of medical care. Implant surfaces
made of nanomaterials last longer and resist infection.
5. Vehicle parts made of nanocomposite materials, which are lighter,
stronger, and more chemically resistant than metal, improved vehicle
fuel efficiency and corrosion resistance. Nanofilters filter out nearly all
airborne particles before they reach the combustion chamber, boosting
gas mileage even more.
6. Fabrics containing nanoparticles or nanofibers can improve stain
resistance, water resistance, and flame resistance without adding much
weight, thickness, or stiffness. Pants with "nano-whiskers," for example,
are water and stain resistant.
7. The majority of sunscreens on the market today are constructed of
nanoparticles, which effectively absorb light, including UV radiation.
They also have an easier time spreading throughout the skin. Food
packaging also uses these nanoparticles to decrease UV exposure and
extend shelf life.
8. Many drink bottles are made of plastics with nanoclays, which increase
resistance to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and moisture permeability. This
keeps the carbonation and pressure in the bottle and extends the shelf
life by several months.
9. Commercial applications for carbon nanotubes include making sporting
equipment stronger and lighter. A tennis racket composed of carbon
nanotubes, for example, bends less during impact, increasing the force
and accuracy of delivery. Tennis balls coated with nanoparticles can
bounce twice as long as regular tennis balls.
10. A wide range of chemical sensors can be designed to detect a specific
chemical at incredibly low levels, such as a single molecule among billions.
This capacity is appropriate for labs, industrial sites, and airport

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 surveillance and security systems. Nano sensors can also be utilized in
medicine to accurately identify specific cells or chemicals in the body.

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council

for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development
(DOST-PCASTRD) has also launched its nanotechnology research initiative
as part of an effort to bolster economic development in the country. The
PCASTRD’s nanotechnology strategic roadmap will cover at least six industrial
sectors, including the semiconductor, information technology, energy,
agriculture, medicine and environment protection.

In the field of agriculture, notable products developed through the

University of the Philippines Los Baños' strengthened nanotechnology
programs include: 1) a nano silica-based fertilizer that improves tomato
germination and growth rate; 2) fruitect coating technology that extends the
shelf life of high-value fruits like mango and papaya; and 3) nano
encapsulated plant growth regulators that improve germination and root
development of coffee, banana, and cassava.

Researchers from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila

University, and De La Salle University are working together to develop solar
energy systems that utilize nanostructures. It concentrates on solid-state and
dye-sensitized solar cells.

In the food industry, edible coats for agriculture and food exports, as
well as controlled atmosphere storage for these commodities, biodegradable
food packaging with barrier properties and enhanced strength, food,
beverage, and nutraceutical standards, self-healing food packaging films, and
controlled release formulations for food, food additives, flavors, and
nutraceuticals are among the technologies being considered. The production
of bioactive nanostructures (targeted pharmaceuticals) from ethnobiology, the
deployment of diagnostic kits to other priority areas, and the whole-animal
multimode imaging and clinical phases of produced ethnobiology nanodrugs
will be the focus of top research efforts in the next 10 years.
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 Water purification using nanofilters, environmental remediation, and the
production of green composites using forest products will all be investigated
in the environmental field.

The roadmap also seeks to include nanotechnology in all science and

engineering courses, as well as the possible procurement of basic equipment
to demonstrate nanostructures, laboratory upgrades for nanoparticle
measurements, and a risk assessment of nanotechnology.

Assessment:

1. Conduct research into recent nanotechnology innovations or

advancements in various countries.
2. Create a digital poster about nanotechnology, its innovations, and how
it affects society.

References:

Brown, M.B., Brown, C.B., & Nepomuceno, R.A. (2020). Nanotechnology in

the Philippines: Status and Intellectual Property Right Issues. Intellectual
Property Issues in Nanotechnology. 1st Edition. (pp. 325-332). University of
the Philippines Los Baños.

Crawford, M. (2016) “10 Ways Nanotechnology Impact Our Lives”. The

American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from
[Link]
impacts-lives

Department of Science and Technology. (2009). “DOST Outlines

Nanotechnology Roadmap”. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from
[Link]
[Link].

Moradiya, M.A. (2018) “What is the Societal Impact of Nanotechnology?”

Retrieved May 18, 2022, from
[Link]

National Nanotechnology Initiative. (2017). “What is Nanotechnology?”

Retrieved May 18, 2022, from [Link]
101/what/definition.