Back in my school days, one of the lessons that still remains clear in my memory was on the subject of nanotechnology (the use of material at
an atomic and molecular scale). This is mainly due to my teacher’s prophetic
warnings on tiny self replicating structures covering the world in eternally
multiplying grey goo. Think B-movie style fear and screaming and this would
pretty much sum up the level of scaremongering pitched in class. Luckily scientists have not shared this view
and the potential uses of nanotechnology are almost as numerous as the sum
frequency of the dreaded grey goo.
While most work on the subject is still being held in the
laboratory, nanotechnology is already being applied today. Mesoporous material
(material containing pores with diameters 2 and 50 nanometres in length) have
been used in a composite application with Self-Assembled Monolayers (where molecules
assemble spontaneously on the material surface). They are able to capture
target metals such as copper, lead and mercury from water. The ability to
remove metal ions from waste water without the need for chemicals is a clear
bonus when dealing with heavy metal pollution. It may also be possible to
target radioactive material in the future.
The most interesting potential uses are in the field of
medicine. Future bone reconstruction may be aided by nano-structured calcium
phosphates. This synthetic bone substitute is made by breaking down the natural
composition of bone into molecular components with small structural
adjustments. Experiments on the use of nanoparticles for cancer treatment are
increasing and last month, research was published where the mitochondria of
cancer cells (the power houses of the cell) were targeted by drug delivered nanoparticles.
Nanodiamonds can also be used to retain chemotherapy
drugs in cancer cells for patients suffering from leukaemia, increasing the
chance of treatment success.
Every year the list of potential uses increases and this
small review of some of the more interesting research does not even scratch off
a few skin cells of the surface. Researching this subject makes apparent how
small the barrier between science fact and science fiction has become. If you
compare the two images in this post, the first is an illustrative example of potential
medical treatments related to nanotechnology, while the second is an
illustrative cover from the paperback tie in to the 1966 film, Fantastic Voyage.
Other than a lack of nano-sized humans causing trouble in a nano sized submarine travelling though the body, the differences in style are minimal. This is a clear
example that while there is much to do to make some of the uses of
nanotechnology a reality, we really are not that far off.
References:
Chow, E.K. et al. (2011). ‘Nanodiamond therapeutic delivery
agents mediate enhanced chemo resistant tumor treatment’, Science Translational Medicine, 3 (73), pp. 21-22.
Doss, C.G.P. et al. (2013). ‘Disruption of mitochondrial
complexes in cancer stem cells through nano-based drug delivery: a promising
mitochondrial medicine’, Cell Biochemistry
and Biophysics, 67 (3), pp. 1075-1079.
Fryxell, G.E. et al. (2002). ‘Environmental applications of
self-assembled monolayers on mesoporous supports (SAMMS)’, Studies in Surface Style and Catalysis, 141 (1), pp. 583-590.
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