International Conference on Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

Friday, May 10, 2024

Functionalized chitosan nanocomposites have garnered significant attention within the realm of wound dressing applications due to their remarkable antibacterial and antifungal properties. The inherent qualities of polysaccharides, including potent antibacterial attributes and controlled drug release capabilities, make them a promising avenue for facilitating wound healing processes.

Motivated by the need to deliver against the UNSDGs, the adoption of eco-friendly principles in the creation of green materials for wound healing is crucial. Nonetheless, accomplishing this goal necessitates a transformative, step-change approach.

To this end, Verma and his team have conducted a comprehensive survey of diverse methodologies for functionalizing chitosan. These methods encompass a spectrum of techniques, such as incorporating photosensitizers, utilizing dendrimers, graft copolymerization, quaternization, acylation, carboxyalkylation, phosphorylation, sulfation, and thiolation.

Moreover, the current survey explores the insights regarding the processing of chitosan nanoparticles for biomedical applications, specifically emphasizing their relevance in the context of wound dressings.

Verma and his team have also explored the strategies employed in chitosan nanoparticle preparation. The main interest is the potential of these nanoparticles for wound dressings, given their capacity for targeted and controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Looking ahead, the survey speculates on the new challenges lying in the landscape of chitosan research. These include the challenge of chronic wounds that take a long time to heal, devising effective wound healing interventions tailored to diabetic wounds and venous leg ulcers, refining current understanding of the intricate wound healing mechanisms facilitated by such materials, and ultimately, offering enhanced treatment alternatives that optimize the wound healing process.

This survey has been published in Environmental Research. It will be of great interest to researchers who are keen to apply an eco-friendly approach to developing wound healing dressing, policymakers who are regulating eco-friendly medical products and professionals working in the medical device technology industry.

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Thursday, May 9, 2024

Who Discovered Nanoparticles?

Historical Applications of Nanoparticles

NPs are materials with nanoscale dimensions ranging between 1 and 100 nm.1 They are classified based on shape, size, and other properties. NPs can be metallic, non-metallic, polymeric, and ceramic. Their high surface-to-volume ratio and small size contribute to their unique properties.

The use of NPs has been traced back to the fourth century AD. In 1990, the Lycurgus cup from the British Museum collection was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This cup is regarded as the oldest and most popular renowned example of dichroic glass, where the display of two colors was caused by nanoparticles measuring 50–100 nm in diameter. X-Ray analysis revealed the glass was crafted using silver and gold in a 7:3 ratio, along with 10 % copper.2

During the late medieval period, church windows displayed luminous red and yellow colors due to the incorporation of gold and silver NPs into the glass. The glittering and glazes found in the ceramics of the 9th–17th centuries were due to the use of silver and copper NPs.3 From the 13th to the 18th centuries, cementite nanowires and carbon nanotubes provided strength and resilience in “Damascus” saber blades.2

Inception and Evolution of Nanotechnology

The concept of nanotechnology was introduced by American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate Richard Feynman in 1959. In his lecture “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” presented at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), he highlighted the possibility of using machines to construct smaller machines at the molecular scale.4

Feynman is recognized as the father of modern nanotechnology. He envisioned significant advancements in science through nanotechnology, especially in medicine and materials science. He hypothesized that tiny machines could be programmed to perform complex tasks like repairing cells.

However, Feynman highlighted the potential risks of nanotechnology, particularly the challenges in controlling the nanosized machines. If NPs are not handled cautiously, they could cause potential harm to people and the environment.2

In 1974, Norio Taniguchi, a Japanese scientist, was the first to define the term nanotechnology, describing it as the processes of “separation, consolidation, and deformation of materials by one atom or one molecule.”5

In 1986, K. Eric Drexler published the pioneering book “Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology,” which discussed general concepts and methods for synthesizing NPs. This book is considered foundational to the concept of molecular engineering.

In 1991, Drexler also co-authored “Unbounding the Future: the Nanotechnology Revolution,” introducing terms like “nanobots” and “nanomedicine” for the first time, highlighting their potential in medical applications.2

Shaping Nanotechnology Discourse

Since its inception, nanotechnology has rapidly spread across various scientific and technological fields. It is considered an ‘enabling technology’ and could start a new industrial revolution. The broad-scale applications of NPs have led to the creation of many new subdisciplines, such as nanotoxicology, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, and nano-ethics.

The categorization of nanomaterials based on dimensions has evolved to include one-dimensional, very thin surface coatings, two-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, and three-dimensional quantum dots and nanoshells.

In addition to technological breakthroughs, governments and policymakers have played a crucial role in shaping the nanotechnology discourse. The National Nanotechnology Initiative, funded by the US government in 2000, was the first and biggest nanotechnology research and development program.

Considering the wide-ranging applications and the volume of ongoing research worldwide, nanoscience could help address many global issues.

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Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic Nanoparticles: An Introduction

In the early 1990s, significant advancements in materials science and nanotechnology allowed scientists to synthesize and characterize nanoparticles with unprecedented precision. Magnetic nanoparticles, specifically, gained importance due to their unique properties and potential applications. Magnetic nanoparticles, generally made from magnetic elements or compounds such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or their alloys, exhibited exceptional magnetism at the nanoscale. Magnetic nanoparticles could be controlled by applying external magnetic fields and exhibited superparamagnetism.2

Physical Properties of Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles exhibit a range of physical properties due to their small size and unique structure. Understanding and harnessing the physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles is essential for utilizing them in diverse fields, including medicine, electronics, environmental remediation, and energy. By manipulating these properties, researchers can design and optimize magnetic nanoparticles for specific applications, leading to advancements in various technological domains.

Magnetism

Magnetic nanoparticles possess magnetic properties, allowing them to respond to external magnetic fields. Magnetic nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetism, retaining their magnetization even after the external field is removed. This property makes magnetic nanoparticles highly useful in various applications, such as magnetic storage, biomedical imaging, and targeted drug delivery.

Size-Dependent Behaviour

The physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles are strongly influenced by their size. As the particle size decreases to the nanoscale, quantum effects become more prominent, leading to distinct phenomena like size-dependent magnetic behavior and enhanced surface-to-volume ratio.

How Are Magnetic Nanoparticles Synthesised?

Magnetic nanoparticles can be synthesized using various methods, each offering unique advantages and control over particle size, shape, and composition. Some commonly used synthesis approaches for magnetic nanoparticles are discussed below.

Chemical Precipitation

Chemical precipitation involves the controlled precipitation of metal salts in the presence of reducing agents and surfactants. The reduction process converts metal ions into nanoparticles. For example, iron oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized by precipitating iron salts in alkaline conditions. This technique allows for precise control over particle size and composition.

Thermal Decomposition

Thermal decomposition is a widely used method for synthesizing magnetic nanoparticles. Metal-organic precursors are heated to high temperatures, causing them to decompose and form magnetic nanoparticles through nucleation. By carefully controlling the reaction conditions, such as temperature and reaction time, researchers can achieve the desired particle size and shape. This approach is particularly suitable for producing magnetic nanoparticles like iron, cobalt, or nickel.

Sol-Gel Method

The sol-gel method involves the hydrolysis and condensation of metal alkoxides to form a colloidal suspension (sol), which is then aged, dried, and calcined to obtain magnetic nanoparticles; making it suitable for synthesizing magnetic oxide nanoparticles like iron oxide, cobalt oxide, and manganese oxide.

Co-Precipitation

Co-precipitation involves simultaneously precipitating two or more metal salts to form mixed-metal nanoparticles. This method allows for incorporating different metal ions into the nanoparticle structure, leading to the synthesis of composite magnetic nanoparticles with tailored magnetic properties.3

Magnetic Nanoparticles: Commercial Landscape

The commercial landscape of magnetic nanoparticles has evolved over the past few decades, with an array of industries adopting their use.

In healthcare applications, magnetic nanoparticles have gained attention for their potential in targeted drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Their unique properties, such as high surface area and magnetic responsiveness, enable precise drug targeting and enhanced imaging capabilities.4

Within the realm of electronics, magnetic nanoparticles have shown particular applicability in data storage, magnetic sensors, and magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) devices. The properties of magnetic nanoparticles, coupled with their nanoscale size, render them indispensable in the pursuit of high-density data storage and magnetic field sensing.1

Furthermore, magnetic nanoparticles find applications in environmental remediation, wastewater treatment, and pollutant removal. Their magnetic nature allows for easy separation and recovery, making these magnetic nanoparticles effective for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from contaminated water sources.5

As the demand for advanced technologies and sustainable solutions continues to rise, the commercial prospects for magnetic nanoparticles are expected to grow further. Ongoing research and development efforts aim to enhance their properties, improve synthesis methods, and explore new applications, paving the way for the widespread adoption of these nanoparticles in various industrial sectors.

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Monday, May 6, 2024

What are Colloidal Nanocrystals?

The controlled synthesis of CNs is the primary step to exploiting its size-specific properties; the hot injection (HI) method is one of the most common methods. CNs are synthesized by degassing, injection, and quenching.

During the synthesis, ligands play a crucial role as their nonpolar property allow colloidal stability, control the addition and removal of atoms, and permit fine crystal growth. Different from single-component nanocrystals, heterostructures nanocrystals are synthesized for their carrier behaviors and optical and electrical properties.

Zinc blended CdSe nanoplatelets and anisotropic quantum rods synthesized from molecular beam epitaxy and HI are examples of shape-controlled CNs.

Understanding CNs' electronic properties can help to design sophisticated devices.

CNs are examined using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, which is also used to identify CNs’ types and modify their energy spectrum.

Field-effect transistor (FET) configurations examine the properties of nanocrystal solids and give insights into the majority carriers’ nature and the carriers’ mobility in the nanocrystal solids.

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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Current Consumer Products Using Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is already widely used to enhance the functionality of numerous consumer products. While many people are unaware of it, they are likely using multiple consumer products that incorporate nanotechnology, or have been created with the help of nanotechnology in their daily lives.

Sunglasses Produced Using Nanotechnology
Sunglasses using protective and antireflective ultrathin polymer coatings have been on the market for several years. Nanotechnology also offers scratch-resistant coatings based on nanocomposites. These coatings are transparent (therefore, optical performance is not influenced), ultra-thin, ideal for everyday use, and need simple care. Furthermore, the price is economical for the durability offered.
In recent years, advancements in nanotechnology have led to further innovations in consumer products in the field of eyewear. Recently, researchers developed a transparent coating with the help of nanotechnology to prevent fogging on lenses. The technology can be applied to a range of consumer products, such as glasses, sunglasses, ski goggles, and camera lenses.
Nanotechnology in Textiles
Nanoparticles are already commonly used to create consumer products in the fashion industry, including waterproof and windproof jackets, fabrics and clothes with stain resistance (thanks to silica coatings), odor-resistance clothing (by leveraging microbe-killing silver nanoparticles), and even garments with sun protection properties.
Currently, consumer products such as clothes with extra electronic functionalities, such as “smart clothes” and “wearable electronics” are under development. Sports brand Under Armour, for example, has a range of consumer products already available that are classed as “smart clothes”, such as their sleepwear that helps muscles repair faster with the use of nanotechnology and infrared light.
Nanotechnology has also been developed to create wrinkle-resistant nanotechnology fabrics. Nano-Tex, for example, is a company that makes stain-repellent and wrinkle-resistant fabrics by attaching molecular structures to cotton fibers. Textiles with a nanotechnology finish must be washed at lower temperatures and less frequently.
High-performance functional clothing is a highly important aspect of the workplace. For instance, Gore-Tex has created a weather-protective, antistatic, outerwear fabric. Nanotechnology has been applied to incorporate minute carbon particles membrane and ensure full-surface protection from electrostatic charges for the wearer.
Sensors to Monitor Body Functions
Nanotechnology has helped forge the huge sector of wearable technology, which boasts a range of consumer products that can help with almost all fields of life. Advanced nanotechnology sensors are already used in consumer products that many of us use daily, such as smartwatches, smartphones.
In addition, many of us use more specialized consumer products to monitor our health. Sensors used in these consumer products use nanotechnology to accurately and precisely measure body functions, such as heart rate, sweat, and even analyze components of blood non-invasively. This application of nanotechnology is being used to monitor general health, as well as to monitor disease progression and recovery.
Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment
Consumer products in the sports vertical have also been impacted by advances in nanotechnology. A high-performance ski wax, which offers a hard and fast-gliding surface, is used today. The ultrathin coating lasts considerably longer compared to conventional waxing systems. Babolat, a French tennis racket manufacturer, launched a racket with carbon nanotubes, delivering better torsion and flex resistance.
The rackets are sturdier than present-day carbon rackets and pack more power. Tennis balls are manufactured by coating the inner core with clay polymer nanocomposites to make them last longer. These tennis balls, manufactured by the company InMat, have twice the lifetime of conventional balls.
Nanotechnology Involvement in Sunscreens
Many consumer products in the sector of sunscreens are now available via the leverage of nanotechnology. The conventional chemical UV protection method is plagued by its poor long-term stability. A sunscreen based on mineral nanoparticles like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide offers numerous advantages.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles possess a comparable UV protection property as the bulk material, but lose the cosmetically unwanted whitening as the particle size is reduced. Zinc oxide provide broad-spectrum UVA, UVB, and UVC protection. It provides more thorough protection against UVA rays than titanium oxide nanoparticles.
L´Oréal has introduced an anti-wrinkle cream in which a polymer capsule (Nanosomes™) is used to transfer active agents such as vitamins and a hair conditioner “Aqua-Oleum”.
The use of nanoparticles in sunscreen and other topical products initially caused concern, as the impact of these new materials on the skin was unknown. So far, studies have found no conclusive evidence that the nanoparticles in sunscreen increase the risk of developing cancer.
Nanotechnology in Electronics
Nanotechnology is used in a vast range of electrical consumer products. Some modern smartphones have incorporated nanoparticle coatings to make them waterproof. Some smart TVs have also leveraged nanotechnology to produce displays with richer colors. Nanotechnology has also been leveraged to produce self-cleaning surfaces, transparent electronics, and flexible screens.
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Saturday, May 4, 2024

Five ways nanotechnology is securing your future

The past 70 years have seen the way we live and work transformed by two tiny inventions. The electronic transistor and the microchip are what make all modern electronics possible, and since their development in the 1940s they've been getting smaller. Today, one chip can contain as many as 5 billion transistors. If cars had followed the same development pathway, we would now be able to drive them at 300,000mph and they would cost just £3 each.

But to keep this progress going we need to be able to create circuits on the extremely small, nanometre scale. A nanometre (nm) is one billionth of a metre and so this kind of engineering involves manipulating individual atoms. We can do this, for example, by firing a beam of electrons at a material, or by vaporising it and depositing the resulting gaseous atoms layer by layer onto a base.

The real challenge is using such techniques reliably to manufacture working nanoscale devices. The physical properties of matter, such as its melting point, electrical conductivity and chemical reactivity, become very different at the nanoscale, so shrinking a device can affect its performance. If we can master this technology, however, then we have the opportunity to improve not just electronics but all sorts of areas of modern life.
1. Doctors inside your body

Wearable fitness technology means we can monitor our health by strapping gadgets to ourselves. There are even prototype electronic tattoos that can sense our vital signs. But by scaling down this technology, we could go further by implanting or injecting tiny sensors inside our bodies. This would capture much more detailed information with less hassle to the patient, enabling doctors to personalise their treatment.
The possibilities are endless, ranging from monitoring inflammation and post-surgery recovery to more exotic applications whereby electronic devices actually interfere with our body's signals for controlling organ function. Although these technologies might sound like a thing of the far future, multi-billion healthcare firms such as GlaxoSmithKline are already working on ways to develop so-called "electroceuticals"

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Thursday, May 2, 2024

The Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology

To protect the environment, industry is currently focusing on implementing methods that can detect pollutants (from chemical spills, fertilizer and pesticide run-off), improve industrial and mining sites, treat contaminants and protect public health.

Nanomaterials present an opportunity to enhance these efforts. In recent years, scientists have developed nanomaterials in applications that can assist with waste management, cleaning the environment and providing efficient, clean energy solutions, such as nanomaterial-based solar cells. In addition, nanomaterials are being increasingly leveraged in consumer products to improve their quality and performance.

As a result, we are being exposed to nanomaterials more frequently. Therefore, it is important to consider the impact of this exposure. While nanomaterials have been proven to be useful in many applications that help address environmental pollution, other evidence suggests that there may be negative impacts, such as health problems, relating to exposure to nanomaterials.

Positive Impacts: Reducing Pollution

There are many positive impacts of implementing nanotechnology in environmental applications. First, nanotechnology is being used to help improve water quality by removing contaminants from water supplies.

Some nanoparticles that can be used for remediation of water are carbon nanotubes (CNTs), zeolites, nanoparticles of zero valent iron (ZVI), silver nanoparticles, etc. Other nanomaterials like zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), tungsten oxide, serve as photocatalyst.

These photocatalysts can oxidize organic pollutants into harmless materials. TiO2 is the most preferred material as it has high photostability, high photoconductivity, is easily available, inexpensive and non-toxic. Silver nanoparticles have high toxicity to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi and have an antimicrobial effect. Also, many polymeric nanoparticles are currently being used for wastewater treatment to produce additional sources of drinking water.

Another technology,known as nanofiltration, can be used in water treatment in homes, offices, and industries. Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) nonporous membrane is used for energy-efficient desalination of water, which filters five times more than the conventional ones.

To clean oil spills in the water bodies, a nanofabric paper towel has been developed, which is woven from tiny wires of potassium manganese oxide that can absorb oil 20 times its weight. Thus, nanotechnology provides a solution to clean contaminated water and prevent new pollution.

Another nanotechnology used in large-scale oil spill cleanup and wastewater management is nano-scale zero valent iron technology (NZVI). In simple terms, it uses activated carbon to trap and remove pollution from the water. This technology has recently been leveraged in filters for water bottles and pitchers to remove contaminants from tap water.

Nanotechnology is also used to protect the environment by cleaning up outdoor air pollution. It allows toxic gases to be removed from the air so that people can be protected from breathing in harmful contaminants. Nanotechnology has been utilized to detect pollutants at the molecular level using precise sensors.

A sensor called a nanocontact sensor has been developed, which can detect heavy metal ions and radioactive elements. These sensors have a small size, are inexpensive and are easy to use on-site. Currently, single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) are being used to detect NO2 and NH3 gases.

Also, SWNTs sensors can accomplish high sensing activity at room temperature compared to conventional sensors, which work at 200 to 600◦C. Cantilever sensors have been developed to sense VOCs, heavy metals and pesticides. A mixture of CNTs with gold particles helps adsorb toxic gases like NOx, SO2 and CO2. Another porous nanomaterial manganese oxide has better adsorption of toxic gases due to its large surface area.

Therefore, by detecting pollutants with specific sensors, we can help protect the sustainability of human health and the environment. Thus, nanotechnology provides us with a new approach to cutting down waste production, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and discharge of hazardous chemicals in water bodies.

Negative Impacts: Environmental Exposure

Ironically, while nanomaterials have been developed in many applications that clean up pollution and contaminants, studies have also shown that exposure to some nanomaterials can have a negative impact on the environment.

Recent research has shown that nanoparticles that have been released into the environment in the form of waste can have a significant negative health impact on marine organisms. Studies have found increased cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in marine microalgae and copepod organisms as a result of this type of nanoparticle exposure.

Other studies have revealed that the accumulation of nanoparticles in the soil, particularly copper oxide, lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, and nickel oxide, can reduce the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration of plants growing in the soil.

More research is needed to fully understand the impact of nanoparticle pollution on the environment. However, it is clear that caution must be taken with the use of nanoparticles and nanotechnology to prevent the unwanted leaching of nanomaterials into the environment. There is also a need for guidelines to be established to protect the environment from this new type of pollution. Once research has been conducted to quantify the negative impact of nanoparticles in this setting, we will be able to establish such guidelines.

Green Technology

Green technology or green manufacturing offers a solution to the problem of nanoparticle pollution. This is an environmentally friendly technology, which is developed and used to conserve natural resources.

Such technology aims at producing nanomaterials with lesser raw materials, minimum energy consumption, and minimum waste production. It is known that any manufacturing process is accompanied by a large amount of waste production. This is minimized by green manufacturing, which uses green chemicals less harmful to the environment and energy-efficient processes. Microemulsions, which are used instead of VOCs in the cleaning industry, are an example of green technology.

The emerging field of “green” synthesis for nanomaterials will likely continue to develop as the world looks to harness the powerful capabilities of nanotechnology while mitigating their potentially harmful effects on the environment.

Thus, scientific authorities are monitoring various nanoparticles produced and used, as well as their subsequent impact. In the future, it should be possible to balance the technology’s benefits and possible unintended consequences.

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