Nanosubmarines in The Press

In the year 2000 an image of a tiny robotic submarine travelling through a human artery travelled round the world and was even pictured in the UK tabloid newspaper The Mirror (Thursday, 7 September, 2000) under the title “Fantastic Voyage 2”. This tiny 4mm long craft was said to be able to save lives before the end of the decade, to be able to cruise through blood vessels using sensors to check for signs of illness and cancer and, it was reported, may one day be able to repair arteries and hearts. It was there to demonstrate in a visible way what could already be achieved in the field of micro- or nanotechnology. A similar picture was also exhibited at the Hannover Expo 2000 [see 11].

The year 2000 image of a prototype of a nano-submarine, which circulated widely in the press, appeared a century after a picture of Jules Verne’s Nautilus had graced the visitors’ guide to the Paris Expo in 1900 [20], a sign that the Nautilus had become part of modern mythology (see figure 1 for another example). We seem to have come a long way in a century, but we can’t seem to leave the Nautilus myth quite behind us yet – and, as we shall see, it would soon merge with the nano-myth. (It should be stressed however that the year 2000 image was not the first. An image of a nanosubmarine swimming through a capillary and attacking a fat deposit, such as normally may accompany an arteriosclerotic lesion, was published as early as 1988 in an article for the Scientific American

Micro-submarines in the body, conceptual computer artwork. Microscopic machines such as these may be introduced into the body to augment the body's immune system. The submarines could be programmed to find and destroy tumour cells, for example, or to repair defects in organs and tissues.

Targeting prostate tumors with nanoworms

One way to inhibit a tumor’s growth is to choke off its blood supply. The trick is to create a clot that specifically blocks flow to the tumor without harming other parts of the body. To accomplish this, a research team led by Dr. Erkki Ruoslahti, distinguished professor and founding member of the U.C. Santa Barbara – Sanford-Burnham Center for Nanomedicine, coated nanoparticles with two different homing signals that specifically direct them to proteins on tumor blood vessels. One signal was generated by a string of just five amino acids(the molecular subunits that make up a protein), while the other consisted of six amino acids. These two types of targeted nanoparticles worked cooperatively to induce blood clots, and an elongated version of these particles, called “nanoworms,” did an even better job of it. As the nanoworms induced clotting, more and more binding sites appeared, attracting more nanoworms and further enhancing the blockage.In a studypublished June 29 in the journal Blood, the researchers used the targeted nanoworms to treat a mouse model of human prostate cancer. The nanoworms triggered widespread clotting in the prostate tumor vessels, but left normal tissues alone. As a result, the cancerous cells starved and the tumors shrank.

“The nanoparticle combination we used gives a dramatic reduction in tumor growth, and there is no drug involved,” explained Dr. Ruoslahti. “Next, we’ll add a drug to one or both of the nanoparticles to further boost the efficacy, hopefully to a point where we can cure the mice of their tumors.”

HOW A NANOBOT MOVES

NSW researchers have developed tiny artificial muscles that can twist like those in the trunk of an elephant or the arm of an octopus.

Made from a tough, flexible yarn spun from carbon nanotubes, they could speed up the design of futuristic nanobots that can travel through the body detecting and treating disease.

Geoff Spinks, of the University of Wollongong, said a big hurdle to the development of medical nanobots was how to propel them  in the bloodstream.

His team's twisty artificial muscles would be small and strong enough to achieve this, by turning a long propeller in the same way that bacteria use a long spinning tail to swim.

But building such nanobots was still a distant prospect.

"It would be a challenge," Professor Spinks, of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, said.

So far, the artificial muscles have been used to carry out more mundane tasks, such as mixing liquids in the lab with  a paddle.

A carbon nanotube is a minuscule cylinder of carbon with a diameter about  one   10 thousandth the width of a human hair.

Members of the team at the University of Texas have developed an inexpensive way to spin the stiff nanotubes into a helical bundle of fibres, or yarn, that can be metres  long.

"The yarns are highly conductive and quite strong even though their diameter is tiny," Professor Spinks said.

The Wollongong researchers made an "unexpected observation" when studying the yarn. They found it began to rotate when it was placed in an electrically conducting liquid and  a voltage was applied.

By maximising the conditions, the team has been able to get the yarn to spin a paddle that is 2000 times heavier at a speed of 600 revolutions a minute. The rotation is reversed when the voltage is changed.

The results of the study are published in the journal Science.

Professor Spinks said similar twisting muscles are found in  nature. Elephant trunks  and octopus arms, for example, have helically wound muscle fibres that rotate by contracting against an incompressible core.

"When the muscle fibres contract, it causes the [elephant's] trunk to twist and bend and produce all sorts of elaborate shapes," he said.

The carbon nanotube yarn works slightly differently. Its rotation is caused by the yarn swelling up and shrinking in length as the volume of liquid in it increases.

What is Nanotechnology?

Introduction

Nanotechnology is an exciting area of scientific development which promises ‘more for less’. It offers ways to create smaller, cheaper, lighter and faster devices that can do more and cleverer things, use less raw materials and consume less energy.

Real-World Examples

There are many examples of the application of nanotechnology from the simple to the complex. For example, there are nano coatings which can repel dirt and reduce the need for harmful cleaning agents, or prevent the spread of hospital-borne infections. New-generation hip implants can be made more ‘body friendly’ because they have a nanoscale topography that encourages acceptance by the cells in their vicinity.

Moving on to more complex products, a good example of the application of nanotechnology is a mobile phone, which has changed dramatically in a few years – becoming smaller and smaller, while paradoxically, growing cleverer and faster – and cheaper!

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology originates from the Greek word meaning “dwarf”. A nanometre is one billionth (10^-9) of a metre, which is tiny, only the length of ten hydrogen atoms, or about one hundred thousandth of the width of a hair! Although scientists have manipulated matter at the nanoscale for centuries, calling it physics or chemistry, it was not until a new generation of microscopes were invented in the nineteen eighties in IBM, Switzerland that the world of atoms and molecules could be visualized and managed.

Definition

In simple terms, nanotechnology can be defined as ‘engineering at a very small scale’, and this term can be applied to many areas of research and development – from medicine to manufacturing to computing, and even to textiles and cosmetics. It can be difficult to imagine exactly how this greater understanding of the world of atoms and molecules has and will affect the everyday objects we see around us, but some of the areas where nanotechnologies are set to make a difference are described below.

From Micro to Nano

Nanotechnology, in one sense, is the natural continuation of the miniaturization revolution that we have witnessed over the last decade, where millionth of a metre (10^-6m) tolerances (microengineering) became commonplace, for example, in the automotive and aerospace industries enabling the construction of higher quality and safer vehicles and planes.

It was the computer industry that kept on pushing the limits of miniaturization, and many electronic devices we see today have nano features that owe their origins to the computer industry – such as cameras, CD and DVD players, car airbag pressure sensors and inkjet printers.

New Applications

Nanotechnology offers opportunities in creating new features and functions. It is already providing the solutions to many long-standing medical, social and environmental problems. Because of its potential, nanotechnology is of global interest. It is attracting more public funding than any other area of technology, estimated at €3.8 billion worldwide in 2005. It is also the one area of research that is truly multidisciplinary.

Co-operation

The contribution of nanotechnology to new products and processes cannot be made in isolation and requires a team effort. This may include life scientists – biologists and biochemists - working with physicists, chemists and information technology experts. Consider the development of a new cochlear implant and what that might require - at least a physiologist, an electronic engineer, a mechanical engineer and a biomaterials expert. This kind of teamwork is essential, not only for a cochlear implant, but for any new nano-based product whether it is a scratch-resistant lens or a new soap powder.

Finding Solutions

Nano scientists are now enthusiastically examining how the living world ‘works’ in order to find solutions to problems in the 'non-living' world. The way marine organisms build strength into their shells has lessons in how to engineer new lightweight, tough materials for cars; the way a leaf photosynthesizes can lead to techniques for efficiently generating renewable energy; even how a nettle delivers its sting can suggest better vaccination techniques.

These ideas are all leading to what is termed ‘disruptive’ solutions, when the old ways of making things are completely overtaken and discarded, in much the same way as a DVD has taken over from videotape, or a flat screen display from a cathode ray tube.

NANOBOT IN KILLING SPREE

                                                                     NANOBOTS IN ACTION 

How Nanorobots Are Made

Nanotechnology as a whole is fairly simple to understand, but developing this universal technology into a nanorobot has been slightly more complicated.

To date, scientists have made significant progress but have not officially released a finished product in terms of a nanorobot that functions on an entirely mechanical basis.

Many of the nanobot prototypes function quite well in certain respects but are mostly or partly biological in nature, whereas the ultimate goal and quintessential definition of a nanorobot is to have the microscopic entity made entirely out of electromechanical components.

In fact, researchers anticipate that due to the complicated nature of their construction, nanobots will only fully emerge after several generations of partly-biological nanobot forerunners have been constructed in order to make them.

Nanorobots are essentially an adapted machine version of bacteria. They are designed to function on the same scale as both bacteria and common viruses in order to interact with and repel them from the human system.

Since they are so small that you can’t see them with your naked eye, they will also possibly be used to perform “miracle” functions such as cleaning your kitchen (“the kitchen that cleans itself!”) invisibly weaving fabric, cooking food slowly but steadily, and essentially performing other functions that humans coulddo, but—let’s face it—will probably be too lazy to do ourselves by the time these nanobots become functional.

Since the best way to create a nanobot is to use another nanobot, the problem lies in getting started. Humans are able to perform one nano-function at a time, but the thousands of varied applications required to construct an autonomous robot would be exceedingly tedious for us to execute by hand, no matter how high-tech the laboratory. So it becomes necessary to create a whole set of specialized machine-tools in order to speed the process of nanobot building.

Researchers have been chipping away at this problem for decades. In 1989 they discovered how to manually operate the system; a group of IBM engineers lined individual atoms up one by one until they had spelled out their company’s name.

In doing so they not only created the smallest business logo in history, but also discovered for themselves just how long and grueling the process of hand-building even a single nanobot would be. True, nanobots measure more like six atoms across, but they are far more complicated in design and need to be engineered in such a way that they are autonomous.

The ideal nanobot consists of a transporting mechanism, an internal processor and a fuel unit of some kind that enables it to function. The main difficulty arises around this fuel unit, since most conventional forms of robotic propulsion can’t be shrunk to nanoscale with current technology. Scientists have succeeded in reducing a robot to five or six millimeters, but this size still technically qualifies it as a macro-robot.

One possible solution is to adhere a fine film of radioactive particles to the nanobot’s body. As the particles decay and release energy the nanobot would be able to harness this power source; radioactive film can be enlarged or reduced to any scale without a drop in efficiency occurring.

Another nice side effect of this system is its ability to renew automatically. With the constant circulating nuclear energy it would supply, this fuel cell would never need to be replaced. This puts it several notches above solar cells or conventional battery packs of any size, which were previously the other two options being considered for equipping the nanorobot.

The other problem with constructing a successful nanorobot lies in breaking its materials down small enough. Metal that might be used for the robot’s construction behaves one way in relatively large quantities and a completely different way on the nanoscale—in fact, this is the entire basis for nanotechnology as a discipline.

Experts believe that silicon might make the ideal material, especially since it has been traditionally used for delicate electronics, particularly small computer parts. Microscopic silicon components called transducers have so far been successfully built into nanorobot legs.

Scientists are hard at work on designing a body built out of transducers; they are encountering slight problems in agreeing on what the final shape of the standard nanobot should be.

Very few researchers support the biped-humanoid design, since this has given test robots a strange, clumsy shuffle. The nanobot needs to be fast, aerodynamic and smooth-moving in order to complete its functions. Some people think that a spider-like body would work best, but many nanorobot researchers also think that a smaller version of the centipede might be best.

They hope that by equipping the nanobot with several sets of fast-moving legs and keeping its body low to the ground, they can create a quick, efficient machine that would also be suitably shaped for introduction into human blood vessels to perform functions such as clearing away built-up cholesterol or repairing tissue damage.

These tasks are key to the concept of a nanorobot, since it is anticipated that many of their most useful applications will be in the medical field. Doctors and researchers expect nanobots to be useful for a wide variety of things, since a robot this small can actually interact with materials on their molecular and atomic level. Because of this special capability, the nanobots can build or destroy particle by particle.

They could rebuild tissue molecules in order to close a wound, or rebuild the walls of veins and arteries to stop bleeding and save lives. They could make their way through the bloodstream to the heart and perform heart surgery molecule by molecule without many of the risks and discomfort associated with traditional open-heart operations.  Likewise, researchers hope that nanorobots will have many miraculous effects on brain research, cancer research, and finding cures for difficult diseases like leukemia and AIDS.

Although standardized nanorobot production has not yet been fully realized, scientists are hard at work developing a system for constructing these tiny helpers. Chances are good that sometime in the next 25 years they will make their public debut.

Nanotechnology Cleaning

anotechnology is science on a very tiny level—it examines the atoms and molecules of different substances to see how they affect each other. Recently, this research has been put to impressive use.

Nanotechnologists are now saying that they have produced “self-cleaning” products that, when applied to typical household surfaces, simply make the dirt disappear.

Nanotechnology cleaning has several branches and functions in many different ways, but just a few of them are:

Self-cleaning fabrics. Fashionistas, rejoice! Australian researchers have discovered that a thin layer of titanium dioxide nanoparticles will immediately “eat” any stain. This could revolutionize the clothing industry.

So far they’ve only tried this technique on wool and silk, but don’t worry—eventually they’ll get around to all your favorite fabrics.

Cleansing films. These chemical treatments are applied (usually sprayed) onto smooth surfaces that tend to accumulate a lot of grime.

This makes them perfect for the kitchen or bathroom. After being sprayed, the nanotechnology in the chemical breaks down dirt at a molecular level, so that if left on long enough it will completely dissolve. If left to work only a small amount of time, it will at least make the grime easy to wipe off.

One of these films uses titanium oxide nanoparticles as its main ingredient. Titanium oxide is known as a “photocatalyst” because it has the ability to turn ordinary light into energy, and then uses that energy source to kill harmful bacteria. When you use this nano-spray, it literally eats the dirt right off of anything you spray it onto.

This form of nanotechnology cleaning has also been modified to create a super-effective window cleaner. Nanotechnologists have customized the molecular characteristics of thin polymer layers, making a product that you can quickly and easily apply to glass surfaces from your kitchen window to your car’s windshield.

Many people enjoy using it on their windshield because it has long-lasting water repellant properties. This not only makes the windshield easier to keep clean, but also makes driving in the rain much safer.

Nanoparticle soaps. When nanoparticles—or in other words small amounts of a chemical whose structure is based on nanotechnology, are placed within a regular hand soap, they greatly increase the efficiency of the soap.

This is great news for the environment, since nanoparticles can replace other chemicals with harmful byproducts. It also increases the natural efficiency of hand soap to keep your hands clean, making this a win-win situation from many angles.

Silver nanoparticles. This one is still in question because there is some concern that small particles of silver may damage helpful bacteria if they find their way into the water systems, as they inevitably will if used for cleaning purposes.

On the other hand, their antibacterial properties make them great cleaning agents when it comes to the gunk on your counters and floors. Elemental silver naturally kills off harmful bacteria.

Super washing machines. Companies like Samsung have used nanotechnology cleaning to revolutionize the way we clean clothes.

During the wash and rinse cycles, their machines electrolyze silver particles to produce over 400 billion silver ions. These ions penetrate and permeate the clothing inside the washing machine, giving it a deep-clean at the molecular level.

Not only this, but the nano-silver provides a lasting layer of sterilization that eliminates 99.99% of household bacteria on your clothing for up to 30 days. And perhaps best of all for mothers is that it automatically keeps the washing machine clean.

The silver nanoparticles disinfect every little nook and cranny of the washer’s insides. Samsung is also developing a similar product that will keep your refrigerator clean and free of bacteria.

Below is a list of  other household cleaning products that are currently in development:

Altimate Enviorcare. This spray-on film is packed full of titanium oxide nanoparticles and not only kills bacteria, but also eliminates odors.

EnviroSan Products. This line of cleaning products replaces harmful substances with more environmentally-friendly nanoparticles called “micelles,” which remove grease and dirt with unparalleled efficiency.

Nanofilm. As the name suggests, this one is also a liquid film. It uses polymer molecules that bond to glass surfaces like your windshield, protecting it with a thin, strong shield that repels dirt and water. This means that your windshield will self-clean for weeks before another application is needed.

Nanotec.Similar to Nanofilm, but with a more all-purpose application. It can be sprayed on most smooth surfaces and not only cleans the dirt off them, but leaves behind a hydrophobic layer of nanoparticles that repel water and dirt.

Although these miraculous nanotechnology cleaning products are still in their experimental stages, within as little as five years we may find them becoming a central part of our everyday lives. Already there are a handful of everyday cleaning products being developed.

However, the ramifications of this technology will go beyond your living room, although they are useful around the house. Nanotechnology is keeping everything clean, from cars to windows to historical monuments.

Certain important buildings in Rome and Tokyo have already been given a liberal coat of self-cleaning spray to keep grime and dirt from accumulating.

Nanotechnology also creates a positive solution for pollution. The future of nanotechnology is bright, there are endless possibilities, could we invent a substance that eats garbage, who knows ! ? Scientists are conducting research  products of this nature.

Researchers at the University of South Australia’s Ian Wark Research Institute have found a way to purify drinking water with nanotechnology, something that is increasingly crucial in today’s world. Poor-quality drinking water continues to be a dangerous health issue for the majority of the earth’s population.

However, researchers Peter Majewski and Chiu Ping Chan discovered that by coating silica particles with a thin layer of hydrocarbon-based active material and releasing them into major water systems, they can remove bacteria, viruses, and toxic chemicals from water to make it safe for human consumption.

These Surface Engineered Silica, or SES, were mixed into the water for an hour and then strained out. After its nanotechnology treatment the previously contaminated water was found to be completely free of pathogens.

Use Of Nanotechnology In Air Conditioning

Though nanotechnology has been making waves in the world of science and technology for some time now, its use in consumer products has only recently started making waves.

Nanotechnology and energy have an important co-relation and scientists and engineers have been working tirelessly to develop newer and exciting technologies that have the ability to significantly improve quality of life globally.

Nanotechnology And Consumer Products

Manufacturers of several consumer products have already begun to develop and harness the immense benefits of nanotechnology to develop consumer products for improved efficiency, better performance, and reducing negative impact on the environment.

Benefits like these are motivating more and more manufacturers to investment finances in the research and development of the applications for their products using nanotech.

Old and new, many companies like BetaBatt, Inc., Oxane Materials etc, have already started using ‘nanomaterials’ to develop as well as improve on existing processes that are being used to trap, store, and transfer energy for use in consumer products.

Nanotechnology And Air Conditioning

The current buzz word in the air conditioning world is “NanoAir.” This revolutionary air treatment method uses nanotechnology to eliminate the need for using common refrigerants like CFC/HCFC that are commonly used by HVAC – heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration – industries.

Since NanoAir is based on harnessing energy using nanoparticles, it doesn’t need cooling/agents like fluorocarbon, thereby cutting down on carbon footprint by more than 50%. Moreover, toxic CO2 emissions are reduced as much as 57%. Once this technology becomes a standard, there’ll only be a huge upside to its use. Consumers will be able to save more, get more comfort, breathe in fresher, cleaner air inside and outside, and generally, enjoy a better quality of life.

NanoAir’s mechanism is based on having separate controls for moisture (humidity) and temperature. This ‘separation’ mechanism is the value proposition of the NanoAir system and studies have determined SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings of higher than 30, and EER or Energy Efficiency Ratings of around 25 as a result of this method.

NanoAir Requirements

NanoAir spells simplicity, whether it’s the parts, the system, the operation or the design. So much so that the air conditioning unit will be installed at almost the same or lower cost than the current systems. With Dias nanomaterials (Dias is the company working on this project) for internal components, the system will also use regular HVAC parts and a supply of drinkable water. The NanoAir system will contribute heavily to repair the damage caused to the environment as well as increase efficiency.

Benefits of Using Nanotechnology In Air Conditioning

As of 2007, the global air conditioning industry (medium-and-small size) was estimated at around $190 billion. However, the principles of operation were still a century old or as patented by Willis Carrier in the year 1906!

However, use of nanotechnology in HVAC systems has revolutionized the industry. The biggest sources of the depletion of ozone layer are fluorocarbons like CFC and HCFCs. While reducing the use of these gases has been a challenge, successful use and implementation of NanoAir can reduce these harmful emissions to ZERO!

Furthermore, NanoAir can improve the quality of indoor air significantly, leading to healthier lifestyles and higher energy levels and lower number of respiratory diseases like asthma, which cost the US public health department $3.5 billion in 2007 alone.

NanoAir system also produces 30Btu/h of cooling as compared with the current 13Btu/h per W of energy input. This means that while a traditional 3T air conditioning system in a small-sized home requires 2.77kW of electricity, the nanotechnology based air conditioning system of the same size and at the same location would use only 1.2kW of electricity and produce just 1.64lb/hr of CO2 as compared to 3.77lb/hr of CO2 generated now. The impact of this will be seen promptly in form of lower electricity bills and enhanced savings per year.

While NanoAir system is undergoing the first stage or beta testing at the Dais’s Tampa Bay facility, the day when this technology can be implemented on a large scale is not far and saving the environment will no longer just be a dream, but a reality.

Medical Nanotechnology

Man has gone so far in terms of coming up with ways to preserve human life. Although there are still diseases that remain an enigma to medical science, still, treating illnesses from simple to severe conditions has become a lot easier. Among the most notable medical triumphs of modern-day science is the evolutionary concept and application of medical nanotechnology.

Medical nanotechnology or nanomedicine is the medical aspect or application of nanotechnology using different approaches such as nanoelectronic biosensors, nanomaterials, and a very futuristic but underdeveloped molecular nanotechnology that includes molecular manufacturing. Medical nanotechnology aims to provide cheaper yet quality health and medical equipment, facilities, and treatment strategies through continuous researches and studies. A lot of pharmaceutical and medical companies all over the world have already adhered to medical nanotechnology because of its numerous benefits and practical uses.

What Are the Benefits of Medical Nanotechnology?

Although some are still skeptical about the technology, scientists and researchers over continents have been practicing medicine using nanotechnology due to its numerous benefits. Some of these benefits to the medical field include the following:

• With nanotechnology, tools and equipment for surgery and diagnostic would be a lot cheaper yet remain to be effective and state of the art. Medical research and processes require highly advanced equipment that could be very expensive but once the equipment is fully developed, its manufacturing would be a lot easier and faster with the use of nanotechnology. The creation of complex tools that can diagnose serious diseases with a single laboratory test would minimize diagnostic costs and treatment. Using tiny nano-built sensors inserted to the human body for direct contact with the source of ailment would definitely make medical treatments easier and cheaper.
• With medical nanotechnology, treatment would be more efficient and precise. Instead of opening the whole body area for surgical purposes, a microscopic nanotool would spare the patient from bloody and risky surgical process. With nanotechnology in the medical field, treatment would be precise, eliminating trial-and-error drug prescription. With a single laboratory test and highly technical computers, a detailed image of the body’s system and processes can be automatically spotted including the cause of the disease and its possible treatment. With nanotechnology in the fields of medicine, medical malpractice would be eliminated and the side effects of taking medicines out of sheer guessing from the physicians would be avoided.
• With highly advanced medical equipment, potential diseases can easily be detected and prevented.
• Since diseases can be prevented, the quality of life for mankind would be improved and lifespan would be increased.
• With the application of nanotechnology in medicine, replacement of body organs using machines smaller than body cells can be possible. Because of advanced nanotechnology, candidates for organ replacement and augmentation will receive far better body organs enhanced by tiny machines introduced to the body for better organ performance and functions.
• Medical nanotechnology can largely contribute to genetic therapy and improvement. Diseases can be easily treated if approached at the genetic level. So instead of treating diseases based on the symptoms, nanotechnology will help medical practitioners treat the problem by looking at the root cause.

Nanotechnologies for Medical Applications

In the past, medical treatments have been the result of adopting those techniques that worked and discarding those that didn’t. Today, the improved knowledge of how the body functions at the cellular level is leading to many new and better medical techniques.

Earlier Detection

For example, we know that the earlier a disease can be detected, the easier it is to remedy. To achieve this, research is focusing on introducing into the body specially designed nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are composed of tiny fluorescent 'quantum dots' that are 'bound' to targeting antibodies. In turn, these antibodies bind to diseased cells. When this happens, the quantum dots fluoresce brightly. This fluorescence can be picked up by new, specially developed, advanced imaging systems, enabling the accurate pinpointing of a disease even at a very early stage.

Faster Diagnosis

Nanotechnology is also leading to faster diagnosis. Diagnosis can be a lengthy and stressful business, usually with a test sample having to be sent away for analysis. The results can take several days or even weeks to arrive.

Nanotechnology is enabling much faster and more precise diagnosis, as many tests can be built into a single, often palm-sized device that only requires tiny quantities of sample. This device is sometimes called a 'lab-on-a-chip', and samples can be processed and analysed so rapidly that the results can be read out almost instantaneously.

Targeted Drug Delivery

People often complain that the cure for a disease can feel almost as bad as the disease itself, as prescription drugs may have unpleasant side effects. This is because the body needs to be flooded with very high doses of a drug in order to ensure that a sufficient volume reaches the site of the disease.

Accurate targeting of the drug can now be achieved, using specially designed drug-carrying nanoparticles. This also means that much smaller quantities of a drug are necessary, reducing toxicity to the body. The drug is then activated only at the disease site (such as a tumour) by light or other means, and the progress of the cure can also be monitored using advanced the imaging techniques.

Nanotechnology in the Environment

Nanotechnology offers some really exciting breakthroughs in environmentally friendly technologies. Examples range from extracting renewable energy from the sun to the prevention of pollution. Geoffrey Sacks, the American Economist, in his 2007 BBC Reith lectures entitled 'Bursting at the Seams', commented:

"The fate of the planet is not a spectator sport". We live in an interconnected world, where all parts of the world are affected by what happens in all other parts"

There is no doubt that the pressures we are putting on the planet are leading to potentially catastrophic consequences. In the developed world, we have grown accustomed to using our car to go to the shops, take weekend cruises and even day trips to far-flung places that might have taken three or more months to reach before air travel became commonplace. We like our vegetables and fruit out of season, and increasingly expect to eat meat at least once a day, if not more. We haven’t thought about the effects of these activities on the planet. In the past, the planet could absorb our excesses, but with the ongoing destruction of the rainforest (which is responsible for 25% of carbon emissions) and the population of the world reaching over 6.3 billion, the earth is showing signs of being unable to bounce back from the demands we are placing on it.

Preserving the Planet

So what can we do to limit the damage and ensure a future for our children? Firstly, the bad news. The fossil fuel that oils our everyday lives is responsible for 44% of the carbon dioxide we emit annually. The good news is that energy from sunlight is sufficient to meet our needs ten thousand times over. Today, more efficient and cheaper solar energy collectors are in the process of being developed using nanotechnology. These collectors could be deployed as small units in our homes. They work particularly well in diffuse light, so would suit even less sunny climates. This would have the benefit of not sterilizing precious land (a diminishing resource for food), and quickly improve the quality of many people’s lives, especially in poorer housing or in the less developed world.

Energy Storage

Not only do we need new ways of generating energy, we need better ways of storing it. Nanotechnology is leading to improved, environmentally-friendly batteries and supercapacitors. We also need to reduce damage to the environment. Particularly toxic are those chemicals we use as solvents. Nanotechnology is leading to their eradication through the development new nanocoatings and nano structured surfaces that can effectively repel dirt and other contaminants.

Coating metals which prevent corrosion also seriously affect the environment. Many anti-corrosion coatings involve chromium and cadmium, both deadly substances which the EU is seeking to limit. Of course, vehicle and component producers are keen to find alternatives, as recycling of toxic compounds is costly and unpleasant. New smart nanocoatings are in the process of being developed that are non-toxic and highly effective. Serious contamination of the environment with heavy metals and other pollutants are thrown into the atmosphere from the fumes and smoke being emitted from industrial processes. It is encouraging to note that most of these particles and gases (including carbon dioxide) can be 'scrubbed' out - and even reclaimed and reused, using specially functionalised nanomaterials, placed in the waste gas stream.

Monitoring

Finally, given the old adage, if you can't measure it, you can't control it. Fast, accurate, in-situ and online pollution monitoring is essential. New, cheap nanosensors are being developed from techniques used in medicine, that will enable us to do this quickly, effectively and cost effectively.