What is Nanotechnology?

NNanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials and the creation of structures and systems at the scale of atoms and molecules. This can be either through simple physical processes or by specific engineering.

Nano particles are commonly defined as measuring less than 100nm –one hundred millionths of a millimeter. Nano materials include:

• nano particles and nano emulsions

• nano structures including nano capsules, nano tubes, fullerenes (Bucky balls), quantum dots and nano wires.

The properties of nano materials can differ significantly from those at larger scales because quantum effects start to occur at the nano scale. These differences may be in chemical reactivity and biological activity, solubility and mobility, color and transparency, among others.

Nano materials may therefore introduce new or heightened risks of toxicity, which are currently little understood. The possible effects of these nano materials on the environment, human and animal health are currently unknown.

Which industries exercise the developing uses of nanotechnology:

• Food additives, such as for flavoring, enhanced absorption of nutrients or modifying texture

• Health and beauty, such as in transparent mineral sunscreens and make-up products

• Packaging, including quantum dots for traceability, UV light filters, nano clays as gas barriers and carbon nano tubes to alter strength-to weight ratio

• Medicinal, such as drug delivery, DNA vaccines and advanced therapies

• Industrial, such as fuel additives and window coatings

• Environmental, such as soil remediation

• Electronic, such as nano components in electronic circuits

• Pesticides, such as pesticide delivery in nano emulsions, and

• Textiles, such as stain and water resistant coatings.