Enaa Mari
What if, the properties of particles were tweaked to make them more efficient? Yes, this can be possible with the use of nanotechnology. The smallest to largest materials are composed of numerous particles that are acting as per their natural properties or artificially added properties.
The world has progressed significantly with the availability of various technology and gadgets. With these solutions, the manufacturing of advanced devices, machines, and equipment has become simpler. However, the focus is also shifting toward the development and applications of nanotechnology.
The potentials of nanotechnology can be numerous, nonetheless, the development requires to be carried under maximum precautions and regulations, as it also can have a harmful impact on living beings. Fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals, energy, and several other sectors can derive different advantages from nanotechnology solutions.
What is Nanotechnology?
The word Nano means one-billionth part of a meter or 10-9. The nanoparticle can only be seen with the help of a very powerful microscope. Nanotechnology is a branch of science and engineering that focuses on matter manipulation to atomic levels to generate new materials, devices, and structures.
The particles upgraded with nanotechnology have different properties and functionalities than their original state. Properties such as durability, physical mass, porosity, and density among others can be updated with nanotechnology.
How Nanotechnology Can Be Applied to Improve Functionality of Products?
The particle upgradation with nanotechnology can prove to be beneficial for improving products and solutions’ quality, functionality, and durability. Almost every industry can benefit from the use of nanotechnology, which makes it an important technology for tomorrow’s world.
Following are some examples of how nanotechnology aids are upgrading the functionalities of different products
Surface Protection Materials: The development of ultrathin protective layers or nano coatings for surface protection is achieved with the use of nanotechnology. Particles are manipulated to the molecular level in such a way that forms the strongest bond and altered enhanced properties. The material used in these coatings has upgraded characteristics that change the way they interact with liquids, contaminants, or other elements.
The nanocoatings have long durability even on the hard to imagine surfaces. Characteristics such as food safety, non-toxicity, reduced cleaning time, resistance to abrasion, protection from liquid, long-lasting, and maintenance of look by protecting against stains or ultraviolet rays, etc can be achieved with the use of nanotechnology in the manufacturing of coatings.
Functional Bulletproof Materials: These materials have high demand in law enforcement and defense sectors. The functional textiles used in bulletproof clothing disperse the impact of the bullet all over the surface from the point where the bullet has hit.
This prevents bullets from penetrating further into the wearer’s body. Material designed with nanotechnology such as Kevlar (fabric) is being experimented with to enhance traditional bulletproof materials. With different experimentations, the engineers have discovered that the addition of nano-sized carbon tubes to kevlar material can significantly prevent blunt trauma by blades and bullets.
Improving Food Products and Packaging: The food industry is one of the major industries that can derive benefits from the use of nanotechnology. It works on food nanostructured ingredients and food sensing to improve food quality. The nanosciences are working on curating the taste, texture, and nutritional properties of food from particle levels.
The nanotechnology application in the food industry includes food processing, food safety, the development of functional food, increasing product shelf life, and food packaging, among several others. The growing demand for food with enhanced nutritional properties and concerns for food safety are likely to drive the use of nanotechnology integration in various aspects of food production, packaging, and storage in the years ahead.
Medicine: Although healthcare treatments and drugs help in curing diseases, their impact can still be visible and even felt by individuals even after the passing of significant time. Chronic diseases such as cancer, heart-related complications, brain tumors, and other more precise treatment and drugs which do not affect other parts of the body.
Nanotechnology can be utilized to develop precise medicine that targets only the infected cells instead of the whole body. In addition, the applications of nanotechnology are further tested in improving medical devices, wound care, and gene therapy. However, the possibilities of nanotechnology applications in healthcare can be wider with growing advancements.
Sustainable Energy: One of the major sectors is energy where lots of benefits can be achieved. The world’s appetite for energy is increasing every other day. However, generating vast energy to meet the power demand has to be ensured in sustainable ways. Nanotechnology can help in generating energy without harming the environment.
Wrapping Up
Nanotechnology can be used in almost every other sector. Its application is expanding with rising investments and research initiatives. However, along with the benefits, the development requires the implementation of strict regulations to prevent major incidences. The above-mentioned applications are just the tip of the iceberg, and the potential applications can be vast with increased efforts.
