What is Nanotechnology?

 

Nanotechnology is the science that deals with the processes that occur at molecular level and of nano-length scale size.


It has created powerful impact in various fields of medicine including cardiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, oncology, pulmology, immunology etc.


In specialized areas like gene delivery, brain targeting, tumor targeting, and oral vaccine formulations. Nanotechnology provides intelligent systems, devices and materials for better pharmaceutical applications.


Nanotechnology will make solar power more economical by reducing the cost of constructing solar panels and related equipment.


Nanotechnology has the potential to bring major advances in medicine. Nanobots could be sent into a patient's arteries to clear away blockages. Surgeries could become much faster and more accurate.


Nanotechnology in targeted nanoparticles therapeutics and develop nanoparticle contrast agents." These are agents are injected into the human body two or three hours before surgery,” . “A surgeon can then visualize where the tumors are, because they’re glowing. The surgeon can identify where the boundaries are, where to cut, and whether there is any residue tumor left.”


Nanotechnology offers benefits in food safety, storage, packaging and nutrition.


Advantages:

 


1) Energy Advantages

Nanotechnology may transform the ways in which we obtain and use energy. In particular, it's likely that nanotechnology will make solar power more economical by reducing the cost of constructing solar panels and related equipment. Energy storage devices will become more efficient as a result. Nanotechnology will also open up new methods of generating and storing energy.


2 ) Manufacturing Advantages-
Nanotechnology is already making new materials available that could revolutionize many areas of manufacturing. For example, nanotubes and nano particles, which are tubes and particles only a few atoms across, and aerogels, materials composed of very light and strong materials with remarkable insulating properties, could pave the way for new techniques and superior products. In addition, robots that are only a few nanometers in length, called nanobots, and nanofactories could help construct novel materials and objects.

3) Advantages in Electronics and Computing

¡The field of electronics is set to be revolutionized by nanotechnology. Quantum dots, for example, are tiny light-producing cells that could be used for illumination or for purposes such as display screens. Silicon chips can already contain millions of components, but the technology is reaching its limit; at a certain point, circuits become so small that if a molecule is out of place the circuit won't work properly. Nanotechnology will allow circuits to be constructed very accurately on an atomic level.

4) Medical Advantages

Nanotechnology has the potential to bring major advances in medicine. Nanobots could be sent into a patient's arteries to clear away blockages. Surgeries could become much faster and more accurate. Injuries could be repaired cell-by-cell. It may even become possible to heal genetic conditions by fixing the damaged genes. Nanotechnology could also be used to refine drug production, tailoring drugs at a molecular level to make them more effective and reduce side effects.

5) Food and Agriculture Advantages :

¡Nanotechnology could offer benefits in food safety, storage, packaging and nutrition.
It would aid in bacteria elimination and reduction, pesticide reduction as well as improve the foods texture and flavour.
By increasing productivity, reducing postharvest loss, improving product quality, increasing the competitiveness of agricultural producers, and improving market access, advances in nanotechnology may present new opportunities to improve the livelihoods of the poor.


Areas of applications – Energy, Medicines and Drugs, Optical engineering, Defense and Security, Bio-Engineering, Nano-fabrics, Nano-devices, Cancer, Solar Trasplants, Anti-Terrorism etc. Also, computers will compute faster, golf balls will fly straighter, tennis balls will last longer, drug delivery to treat tumour, cancer (without using radiotherapy & chemotherapy), solar energy, batteries, display technologies, opto-electronic devices, semiconductor devices in nanoelectronics, biosensors, CNT's etc., nanocomposites such as Al2O3 oxides, catalysis, luminous paints.

Considering the importance of research and development of this new frontier area, the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, has been encouraging tremendous thrust on Nanomaterials. The Indo-US joint forum on Science and Technology has identified this area of research for intense cooperation. Government of India's Nanomaterials Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI) potentially offered a venue for greater cooperation. NSTI is a scheme in which the Government of India has invested 100 crores for the next 5 years on nanotechnology research & development.

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