1. Nanotechnology
Olivia Jenkins, msn, RN

2. Nanotechnology
Nano – prefix means “one billionth”
Nanometer – one-billionth of a meter – much too small to see with the naked eye or even with a conventional light microscope
Nanotechnology – involves creating and manipulating materials at the nano scale

3. New area for researchers, but rapidly growing.
Nanobiotechnology is biotechnology at the nano
scale and the use of nanotechnology began in 1974.
Examples of nanobiotechnology: drug delivery systems, diagnostic medical tests and regenerative medicine.
Nanotechnology – new technologies that allow people to manipulate materials at the level of atoms and molecules.

4. Key terms
Physical properties – properties of a material that can be measured without changing the composition of the material. Examples: physical properties are color, density and boiling temperature
Chemical properties – describe how a substance will interact with other substances. Examples: flammable chemicals
Materials characterization – analyzing the structure and properties of a material
Bioaccumulation – the buildup of a chemical in the tissue of organisms because they take it in faster than they can get rid of it

5. Key terms Bi-omagnification - the process in which the
concentration of a contaminant increases as it
passes up the food chain
Photolithography – the process of transfer patterns and make layered materials using photosensitive substances and selective light exposure
Cleanroom - a space designed specifically to keep all airborne particles out

6. Where are researchers at today with nanobiotechnology?
Developing cancer drugs that travel through the body attacking only cancer cells.
Developing bandages that release special particles to stop bleeding and infection.
Safer and cheaper vaccines.
faster, cheaper, more sensitive blood tests
for common diseases.
Hospital bed sheets that prevent bedsores

7. Nanotechnology
Deb newberry and jack uldrich define nanotechnology as “the willful manipulation of matter at the atomic level to create better and entirely new materials, devices and systems” (p. 12).

8. Nanobiotechnology in north Carolina
North Carolina is a global leader in nanbiotechnology .
Currently there are 35
nanobiotechnology companies, 70 nanotechnology companies and 35 university research centers focused on nanbiotechnology

9. Nanomaterials and properties of matter
A red blood cell is between 6,000 and 10,000 nanometers in diameter
The width of a DNA molecule is about 3 nanometers

10. Snowflakes Snowflakes are a familiar example with structure determined
at the nanoscale.
Snowflakes are a type of ice formation and the variety of individual shapes can be categorized as needles, hollow columns, prisms or plates.
The shape is determined by the shape of the dust mite the flake forms on, temperature, the water vapor in the air etc.
Even though each water molecule is the same, the many individual shapes are formed by nanoscale interactions of the water molecules as the snowflake forms

11. Characterizing materials
An important task of nanoscale scientists and technicians is to characterize materials at the nanoscale level.
Characterization involves analyzing the structure and properties of the material to understand how the material will work in various applications.

12. Fabricating materials
Important goal of nanotechnology is to make new materials with special properties
Example: photosensitive substance is painted onto an underlying substance such as a computer chip.

13. Fabricating Materials
Making new materials with special properties.
Top-down method is starting with existing materials and shape them at the nanoscale.
(chiseling rock to a shape)

14. Bottom-up method is use the natural properties of molecules and their tendency to organize themselves according to their charge and other features. This is the most cost effective method. ( building with legos)

15. Tools and techniques One challenge of working at the nanoscale is how
to prevent contamination of the materials
being characterized and fabricated.
Cleanroom - a space designed specifically to keep all airborne particles out .
Even the tiniest particle can present a threat
Air entering and circulating within a cleanroom is constantly filtered to remove particles.
Scientist wear special clothing to keep the particles from getting on their skin and clothes.

16. Tools and techniques
Special instruments are needed for characterizing and manipulating materials at the nanoscale.
Nanoscience depends on new more powerful imaging techniques including scanning probe microscopes and helium ion microscopes.

17. Concerns about nano
Concerns about nanotechnology is the possibility of producing
new kinds of particles that were not previously found in nature with negative biological effects.
Nanoparticles are so small and potentially so reactive that they may be able to enter and react with cells in ways that larger particles of the same substance would not.
If these particles leak out into the environment they will accumulate in the environment and may bio-accumulate in organisms -Bioaccumulation – the buildup of a chemical in the tissue of organisms because they take it in faster than they can get rid of it.

18. Concerns about nano
Nanoparticles enter various food webs, they may bio-magnify and potentially build up to toxic levels as they move up the food chain. Bio-magnification - the process in which the concentration of a contaminant increases as it passes up the food chain
Examples: Silver nanoparticles, these particles are often used to make antibacterial products such as clothing and food containers. The particles are gradually released into the environment as the products are used, washed and eventually discarded Research – finding that silver nanoparticles can cause dangerous changes in soil bacteria populations, reducing the population of bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Without these bacteria, the soil becomes infertile.

19. Concerns about nano
Sunscreen – Titanium dioxide (nanoparticles found in sunscreen), these products gradually wash off swimmers and bathers, these particles accumulate in the water supple, where they may affect aquatic food chains
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been shown to cause nerve cell damage in fish, other research notes lung damage (especially spray on sunscreen!!!)

20. Do not do this!*

21. What is north Carolina doing with these concerns?
Nano technology at duke university (durham, NC) – is currently studying all types of nanomaterials, how they are released and spread in the environment, and their impact on ecosystems
The national institute of environmental health sciences (niehs, research triangle park, nc) – range of programs to support research into the effects of nanoscale materials on human health.
The national institute for occupational safety and health (niosh) – research nanosafety issues, particularly with regard to the workplace and published guidelines

22. What is north Carolina doing with these concerns?
The food drug and administration – regulates the use of nanoparticles in food and medicine.

23. Nanobiotechnology: innovations in medicine *
PRINT (particle replication in non0wetting templates) - developed by dr. joe deSimone’s research group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
PRINT uses lithography to make tiny, precisely, shaped molds, which in turn can be used to make precisely shaped nanoparticles

24. Nanotechnology in medicine
PRINT develops new vaccines that are cheaper, safer and more effective
Example: flu vaccine
Old Flu vaccine has an antigen in it, the antigen stimulates the immune system and protects the recipient if they are exposed to the same disease in the future
NEW Flu vaccine – PRINT technology is working to produce dissolvable nanoparticles to deliver the vaccine antigens in the body. This makes the vaccine more effective with less antigen

25. Nanotechnology in medicine
Liquidia technologies, working on developing a new vaccine to combat one of the bacteria’s that cause pneumonia.
The bacteria has an outer layer that contains polysaccharides.
The new vaccine will use nanoparticles made from these polysaccharides so it can adhere and break through it.

26. Nanotechnology in medicine
Blood brain barrier – separation of blood from central nervous system tissue by tightly packed endothelial cells. Prevents many materials in the blood from entering brain tissue. This helps protect the brain from infections.
Nanoparticles present the possibility of a solution to this problem. This can help treat brain infections and disorders

27. Careers in nano biotechnology
Rapidly emerging multidisciplinary field
As new research leads to new applications, new career paths are opening up with positions ranging from technician to research scientist
Need a strong background in chemistry, physics and biology
Engineering skills are recommended
Small but growing degree programs in nanotechnology

28. North Carolina colleges *
North Carolina nanotechnology degree programs include masters and Ph.D. programs at the joint school of nanoscience and nanoengineering at University of North Carolina in Greensboro, NC.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers a Ph.D. program in nanoscale Science.
Forsyth Technical Community College offers an Associate degree in Nanotechnology as well as certificate and diploma programs
North Carolina State University is developing a masters degree in nano-engineering