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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