Nanotechnology What is Nano material and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology What is Nanotechnology?


Nanotechnology is the study of materials that are small in size. These materials consist of microscopic particles which can be used to construct various items and designs. These materials are utilized for consumer goods. The use of nanometer-scale materials goes back centuries. In the 4th century, Roman artists realized that gold and silver particles can be used to make glass. In this experiment, the metals were suspended in glass solutions. The result was a cup known as the Lycurgus Cup.


Structures


Nanostructures have properties that allow them to be used in various applications. Nanostructures can be smaller than 1 meter in size and can be constructed using several methods. While some processes are simple such as solution processing, others require advanced lithography. Numerous industrial applications are available for nanostructured materials. Nanostructured materials also have value in a variety of other applications, such as sensors, textiles, and biomedical.


Most nanomaterials consist from dispersions made of nanoparticles however some other types of materials utilize nanostructures. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are an example of this, because they contain nano-voids within their crystal structure. The voids permit MOFs to act as hosts for active pharmaceutical ingredients. They are able to be released directly into tissues, which makes them useful for the administration of drugs.


Properties


Nanomaterials are particles of small size that have distinct chemical and physical characteristics. The size of the nanoparticle could influence its toxicity and biological activity. Other characteristics of nanomaterials are their surface and chemical properties of the surface. Nanomaterials are also able to form agglomerates. Knowing these properties is crucial in developing secure applications for nanomaterials.


Nanoparticles have smaller atoms compared to bulk materials. They can react with chemicals. Gold, for instance, is inert on large size, but is used as a catalyst in order to convert carbon monoxide into other chemical compounds on a nanoscale. Another material that is unique in its characteristics is glass. However, it is also brittle and has defects or microcracks which lead to fast fracture.


Applications


Nano-materials have a high strength and light weight and can be utilized for different purposes. For instance, these materials can reduce the weight of commercial jets which can help save fuel by as much as 15 percent. They also aid in reducing the weight of launch vehicles by 64 percent. They can be utilized across many areas of our lives from transport to medical.


Nanomaterials can also be used in biomedical research such as coating vaccines, filters, and even drugs. Nanomaterials are also effective in fighting various diseases and viruses.


Health effects


The scientific community is making progress towards understanding the harmful effects of engineered nanomaterials, it is not fully aware of the spectrum of their effects for the human body. For example, there are still gaps in our knowledge about how nanomaterials are absorbed into the body and the way they travel. More research is needed to fill in these gaps.


Nanoparticles have the potential to be able to cross cell membranes and get into blood vessels and organs. They also have higher surface area ratios than bigger particles, so they can hold larger molecules. Their toxicity, therefore, is dependent on their chemical composition as well as their surface characteristics. Fortunately, it is possible to alter the surface of nanoparticles so that they are less damaging.tongruncms

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