ASSIGNMENT 1 B: TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT

IN NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology is fast growing in the past decade. Due to unique physical and chemical
properties, nano-sized materials have found many applications in many fields, including
electronics, manufacturing medicine, and daily goods. Among various common nano-materials,
titanium dioxide is becoming one of the most commonly deployed due to its photoactive
property. Many applications, such as manufactured semiconductors, solar cell, and
environmental remediation are made of titanium dioxide. Household products, such as self
cleansing surfaces and antifogging mirrors have also been made by coating nano-materials to
improve the super low-particle adhesion on material. It is obvious this technology, has been
around for some time and has been implemented vigorously for further advancement for future
use., especially in medical field.

In terms of Medical field, this technology has been ground breaking for various aspects, such as
the prevention and control of cancer, early detection and proteomics, imaging diagnostics,
multifunctional therapeutics, quality of life enhancement in cancer care and also interdisciplinary
training. Primarily focusing on the level of diagnostics, today cancer-related nanotechnology
research is proceeding on the main fronts: laboratory-based diagnostics and in vivo diagnostics
and therapeutics. Nanoscale devices designed for laboratory use rely on many of the methods
developed to construct computer chips. For example, 1-2 nanometer-wide wires built on a
micron-scale silicon grid can be coated with monoclonal antibodies directed against various
tumor markers. With minimal sample preparation, substrate binding to even a small number of
antibodies produces a measurable change in the devices conductivity, leading to a 100-fold
increase in sensitivity over current diagnostic techniques. Nanoscale devices have the potential to
radically change cancer therapy for the better and to dramatically icrease the number of highly
effective therapeutic agents.

For instance, the Quantom dots, a nanoscale level of crystals of a semiconductor material such
as cadmium selenide, are also another promising tool for laboratory diagnostics. A product of the
quest to develop new methods for harvesting solar energy, these voted nanoscale semiconductors
crystals act as molecular light sources whose color depends solely on particle size. When linked
to an antibody or other molecule capale of binding to a substance of interest, quantum dots act
like a beacon that lights up when binding occurs.
Besides that, in recent years there has been geart progress of nanomtaerials appliction in
biosensors. A biosensor is a device incorporating a biological sensing element either intimately
connected to or integrated within transducer. For example , nanomaterials-based biosensors,
which represent the integration of material science, molecular engineering, chemistry, and
biotechnology, can markedly improve the sensitivity and specificity of biomoelcule detection,
hold the capability of detecting or manipulating atoms and molecules, and have great areas such
as biomolecular recognition, pathogenic diagnosis, and environment monitoring.

As can be seen from the above examples, the nanotechnology is influencing various fields. The
above examples are by no means cover the complete spectrum which this technology is
influencing. Some of the other areas affected by this technology are Defense, Telecom, Optics,
Textile, Agriculture, Household, Aerospace etc. As the field continues to expand and grow, it is
important for it to grow smartly, with an eye toward detrimental effects from research or use of
nanotechnology materials in the environment. A dedicated effort of scientists, research scholars,
legal experts and governments is required to utilize the true potential of this technology. It is
important to study this technology not only as a science and engineering subject but as a social
science and humanities perspective as well.