Abstract:
This research article delves into the emerging concept of Nano Science and Technology in the realm of biology and its potential impact on human daily life. The paper presents the work of Dr. Shilpa Choudhary, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences, Parishkar Group of Colleges, Jaipur, who has been extensively involved in studying nanotechnology and its applications.
This article aims to provide readers with insights into nanotechnology’s fundamental ideas, its applications in biology and medicine, recent advancements, and challenges in commercialization.
Additionally, the article explores the role of Nanobiotechnology in mitigating the potential adverse effects of nanoparticles while discussing applications of biosynthesized nanoparticles. It also outlines the everyday products and industries that already incorporate nanotechnology.
About the Author
Dr. Shilpa Choudhary is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences, Parishkar Group of Colleges, Jaipur. She has done her Ph.D. work in the field of Developmental Biology and Teratology at IIS University, Jaipur.
Now she studies Nanotechnology and Nanosciences to make a positive impact on the lives of humans.
She presented related Research papers at many International and National Conferences. She is keen to learn new things. She has a great interest in research, particularly in Reproductive biology and Nano-sciences ahead. She is an expert in Animal Physiology, Animal Behaviour, and Applied Zoology also.
She is always eager to learn and flexible in any circumstance. Read another article by her at https://journals-times.com/2023/04/07/teratogens-find-out-what-is-best-for-mother-and-baby/
What is Nanotechnology?
As nanoproducts can be found in people’s daily life, it is crucial to educate people about the fundamental ideas of nanoscience. It has never been easy for science to keep up with technological advancement. Nanotechnology is the synthesis, manipulation, and use of materials at the 1–100 nanometer scale.
The nanoscale is a billion times smaller than the ordinary world of meters that we are used to measure things in, and it is 1,000 times smaller than the microscopic level. (Nano is short for one billionth.) An example would be human hair, which has a width of about 100,000 nanometers. At the nano level, that is the scale we are working with.
The leading edge of the quickly expanding field of nanotechnology is represented by nanomaterials. These materials are excellent and essential in many facets of human endeavor due to their special size-dependent characteristics.
Purpose of this paper
This article’s three main objectives are to provide readers with historical context for the use of nanomaterials in biology and medicine, attempt to summarise recent advancements in this area and highlight the challenging path to commercialization.
The purpose of this paper is to give a general overview of current trends in biologically-based nanoparticle synthesis and possible applications also. Nanotechnology has uses in many different industries.
This encompasses, among other fields, the IT industry, energy generation, medicine, and biology. Metallic nanoparticles of noble metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, for instance, have been widely used in a variety of products, from cosmetics to drugs and medical equipment.
Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications: Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Non-Noble Metals
In biological applications, separation sciences, disease diagnostics, and medicines, gold nanoparticles have been widely used. It has been shown that silver nanoparticles contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics that help hasten the healing of wounds.
Silver nanoparticles have been used in pharmaceutical preparations, medical implant coatings, and commercially available wound dressings because of these favorable qualities.
In catalysis and electro-catalysis, chemical sensors, optoelectronics, and anti-bacterial applications, platinum nanoparticles have been widely used in biomedical applications, either in their pure form or alloyed with other nanoparticles and palladium nanoparticles.
Iron, copper, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and selenium are examples of non-noble metallic nanoparticles that have been used in antibacterial, cosmetic, and medicinal applications.
Applications of Nanomaterials
Following is a list of some biological and medical uses for Nanomaterials: –
- Biochemical markers that are fluorescent
- Drug and gene delivery
- Bio-pathogen detection
- Protein detection
- Analyzing DNA structure
- Tissue engineering
- Heating to destroy tumors (hyperthermia)
- Separation and cellular and molecular purification
- MRI contrast enhancement
Besides these applications, studies have also shown that many NPs are likely to have toxic effects on many organs, such as the brain, liver, and lungs, which are the most studied target organ. NPs can increase inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis and induce ROS, causing damage at the molecular and genetic levels which results in cytotoxicity.
To address these negative effects of nanoparticles, Nanobiotechnology, a new field that incorporates the use of biological entities such as actinomycetes algae, bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeasts, and plants in a number of biochemical and biophysical processes, was created in recent years.
The production of nanoparticles by microbes is regarded as “green chemistry” because it is safe, non-toxic, and acceptable to the environment. Without the use of harsh, toxic, and expensive chemicals and metals often employed in conventional physical and chemical processes, biological synthesis through Nanobiotechnology processes has a huge potential to increase the production of nanoparticles.
Although the study of Nanotechnology in biology is still in its infancy, interest is expanding quickly. This field of study, sometimes known as Nanobiotechnology, bioNanotechnology, or Nanobiology, encompasses a wide range of technological research and development. (Potential adverse effects of nanoparticles on the reproductive system)
By biology, we refer to a variety of disciplines including botany, agriculture, medicine, food production, and so forth. Due to the potential of nanotechnology to treat or even completely eradicate diseases that were once thought to be incurable, nanomedicine is of great interest.
Applications of these biosynthesized nanoparticles are discussed in a broad range of potential fields, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, DNA analysis, antibacterial agents, and biosensors (Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles by Microorganisms and Their Applications).
Everyday items that include nanotechnology
Although nanotechnology may appear like a technology of the future, many everyday things are being manufactured with it. Consider these some typical products as an example:
- Sunscreen
Nanoparticles have long been used in sunscreens to boost their effectiveness. Two particular types of nanoparticles that are regularly used in sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Because of these tiny particles, modern sunscreens are not only quite effective at blocking UV radiation but also feel lighter on the skin than the sunscreens we were bathed with as children.
- Clothing
Textiles can use silica nanoparticles to create materials that are resistant to liquids like water. Silica can be woven into a fabric’s weave or sprayed onto the fabric’s surface to give it a waterproof or stainproof covering. Therefore, if you’ve ever seen how liquid forms small beads on waterproof clothing—beads that just roll off the fabric rather than being absorbed—you can thank nanotechnology.
- Furniture
Similar to waterproof and stain-resistant clothing, upholstered furniture can also be made waterproof and stain-resistant utilizing nanotechnology. Even better, manufacturers can reduce flammability by up to 35% by adding carbon nanofibers to the foam used in upholstered furniture. Nanotechnology has made it possible for this.
- Adhesives
Adhesives can also benefit from nanotechnology. It’s interesting to note that ordinary glues become less sticky at high temperatures, yet a strong “nano-glue” not only withstands high temperatures but also becomes stronger as the temperature rises around it.
- Computers
We wouldn’t have many of the everyday technologies we use today without nanotechnology. Unquestionably the industry leader in microprocessors, Intel’s Core processor technology features a 10-nanometer chip in its most recent generation. When you consider that a nanometer is one billionth of a meter, this is very amazing!
Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Enhancing Crop Production and Livestock Industry
Nanotechnology can be and is being, used in many ways to improve agricultural production.
- Pesticides and Fertilizers: It has been investigated how nanotechnology might promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Nanoformulation-based pesticides and fertilizers have been shown to have low or no toxicity while also enhancing crop yields. Delivery methods based on nanotechnology have also been found to be useful in decreasing waste.
- Detection of pathogens: The sensitivity of nanodevices can be used for fast, economical, and efficient detection of phytopathogens, thereby reducing the chance of large-scale destruction of crops.
- Livestock industry: Nanotechnology is used for better breeding results, monitoring and improving animal health, as well as for better production.
- Food processing: Better packaging materials that have antimicrobial and other qualities can be developed with the implementation of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology’s potential in biology
The potential of nanotechnology has yet to be completely realized, even though it may hold the key to curing disease and discovering and controlling the mysteries of the genome. In order to apply nanotechnology widely in biology, various obstacles would need to be removed.
One of these factors greatly restricts the application of nanotechnology by making it impossible to produce materials and nanoparticles on a wide scale economically. Another is that significant testing must be done before real-world performance can be applied, just like with any new technology that has an impact on people’s health and quality of life.
Nanotechnologies raise ethical concerns, such as a lack of knowledge about potential toxicity and environmental concerns with nanoparticles. With the development of nanotechnology, there is also the possibility of significant employment losses in the agriculture industry. There are moral dilemmas associated with the potential of nanotechnology for genetic engineering.
The nano revolution is now underway, and there is no halting it. These difficulties take time to overcome.
Conclusion
In conclusion, nanotechnology represents an exciting frontier that holds the key to addressing critical challenges and unlocking tremendous potential in various aspects of human life, from agriculture to medicine.
Continued research and collaboration are vital in realizing the full impact of nanotechnology and leveraging its benefits to support human daily life.
Read another article on “Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Production, Characterisations, Recent Trends and Difficulties” at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7922738/
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