Applications of Nanotechnology

1. Nanotechnology in Medicine

• Nanotechnology is revolutionizing medicine through several innovative applications that leverage the properties

of materials at the nanoscale. Some key areas include:

Application Examples

- Targeted systems like fullerenes, dendrimers etc that can precisely deliver drugs to diseased cells
Drug Delivery
while avoiding side effects, improving treatment efficacy.

- Advanced imaging agents like iron oxide nanoparticles for enhanced MRI contrast, quantum

Medical Imaging dots for highly sensitive fluorescence imaging, and gold nanoparticles for better CT Scan

visualisation.

Diagnostics - Rapid nano biosensors, and nanoparticle test kits for quick biosensing and pathogen detection.

Antimicrobial - Nanoparticles like nano-silver, and nitric oxide to overcome antibiotic resistance through
Agents alternative bactericidal mechanisms.

Tissue - Nanofibers, and growth factor-loaded nanoparticles to better regulate cell growth for

Engineering regenerative medicine.

- Targeted chemotherapy, photothermal ablation, and magnetic hyperthermia using gold/iron

oxide nanoparticles.

Cancer ➢ Photothermal ablation is a technique where light is used to heat up and destroy targeted cells
Treatment or tissues, such as cancer cells.
➢ Magnetic hyperthermia involves using magnetic fields to heat up tiny magnetic particles that
are introduced into the body. These particles can be directed to specific areas, like a tumour.

Vaccine Delivery - Biodegradable nanoparticle systems, liposomes, micelles for controlled antigen release.

- Nanoparticles for glioma treatment and nanoparticle-mediated surgery.

Neurosurgery ➢ Glioma: A type of brain or spinal cord tumour that starts in glial cells, which support and
protect nerve cells.

Wound Healing - Nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel dressings, antimicrobial silver nanoparticles in bandages.

Nanobots - Nano-sized robots made of biocompatible materials for targeted drug delivery, microsurgeries,
 and diagnostics inside the body.

2. Nanotechnology in Fabrics

• Water-Repellent Clothing: Some fabrics use nano-sized whiskers (hair-like, rod-shaped structures) to repel
water, causing it to bead up and roll off the surface.

• Bulletproof Clothing: Nanotechnology is used to make fabrics for bulletproof jackets.

• Dirt-Resistant and Antimicrobial Fabrics: Nanotechnology creates fabrics that resist spills, dirt, and have
antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

3. Nanotechnology in Electronics

• Morph Concept Device: Nokia and the University of Cambridge developed a device called ‘Morph’ that is

hydrophobic, dirt-repellent, and can charge itself using light thanks to photovoltaic nanowires.
• Flexible Devices: Nanoscale electronics allow mobile phones to stretch, bend, and change shape due to a mesh

of nanoscale fibres.

• Nanolithography: This technology is used to fabricate nanoscale structures, improving chip fabrication.

• Nanorods for Displays: Future display technologies will use nanorods, consuming less electricity and emitting
less heat.

• E-paper: Nanotechnology is used in manufacturing e-paper devices.

• Improved Solar Cells: Nanotechnology can increase solar cell efficiency from 15-20% to up to 40%.

• Nanobatteries: These rechargeable batteries use nanomaterials to improve battery life and disposal.

5. Nanotechnology in Computers

• Carbon Nanotube Transistors: These can replace silicon transistors, making computers more efficient.

• Smaller Microprocessors: Nanotechnology has drastically reduced the size of microprocessors. Intel reduced
chip size to 22 nm using nanotechnology, enhancing performance.
• Nanowire Memory Devices: Nanowires coated with titanium dioxide can be used for memory storage.

1. Agriculture

Nano Fertilizers

• Problem: Conventional fertilizers are inefficient and cause pollution.

• Solution: Nano-encapsulated fertilizers release nutrients slowly and steadily, matching the crop’s needs and
reducing waste. They also protect nutrients from being trapped in the soil.

Nano Pesticides
 • Improvement: Nanoscale pesticides are more effective and use lower doses. They dissolve better and release
slowly, reducing toxicity.

Nano-Sensors

• Monitoring: Tiny sensors monitor soil quality, crop conditions, plant diseases, and moisture levels in real-time,
helping farmers respond quickly and manage crops more precisely.

Smart Delivery Systems

• Efficiency: Nanomaterials like zeolites and carbon nanotubes deliver genes, hormones, and agrochemicals directly
to plants, improving effectiveness.

Anti-Microbial Nano-Coating

• Protection: Silver nanoparticles coat surfaces like greenhouse glass and irrigation pipes to prevent microbial
buildup and extend the lifespan of farming infrastructure.

Water Purification

• Decontamination: Magnetic nanoparticles and nano filters clean water of pesticides, fertilizers, and pathogens,
making it safe to reuse for irrigation.

Plant Disease Diagnostics

• Early Detection: Nano barcodes and nanoprobes quickly and accurately detect plant pathogens, allowing for early
disease prevention.

Food Packaging

• Improved Packaging: Nanocomposite films are stronger, more resistant to heat, and better at keeping out
oxygen and moisture, which delays spoilage.

Crop Protection

• Shielding: Silica nanoparticles protect plants from heat and UV radiation, and nano-coatings on fruits delay
ripening and spoilage.

2. In Food Processing

Encapsulation and Delivery

• Nutrient Delivery: Nano-encapsulation of nutrients like vitamins and minerals improves their stability and
controlled release in food products.

Food Safety

• Contamination Prevention: Nanosilver particles in food containers prevent microbial contamination. Magnetic
nanoparticles quickly detect pathogens like Salmonella in food samples.

Product Development
 • Better Foods: Nanoscale structures mimic food properties, enabling the creation of low-fat or fat-free foods that
taste good.

Nutrient Absorption

• Improved Bioavailability: Nanoforms of nutrients are absorbed better by the body, and nanoencapsulation
enhances flavour.

Packaging

• Shelf Life: Nano packaging absorbs oxygen to prevent food spoilage. Nano sensors in packaging can detect
contamination and show changes through colour or fluorescence.

Food Nano-Sensors

• Spoilage Detection: Nanosensors detect gases from spoiling food, and portable kits identify contaminants and
allergens.

Cleansing Agents

• Sterilization: Silver nanoparticles kill foodborne pathogens and keep processing equipment clean.

3. Environment conservation

o It has the potential to help with the existing pollution problem.

o It can supply clean, inexpensive drinking water by quickly detecting pollutants and purifying the water.

o Nanotechnology has the potential to eliminate industrial water pollutants from groundwater through

chemical reactions at a lower cost than conventional approaches, which need groundwater pumping for
treatment.

o Nanotechnology sensors and solutions have the capability of detecting, identifying, filtering, and neutralizing
dangerous chemical or biological substances in the air and soil.

4. Transport

o Nanotechnology aids in the development of lighter, smarter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly

automobiles, aircraft, and ships.

o It also allows for a variety of ways to improve transportation infrastructure, such as ensuring the highway and
other infrastructure components’ resilience and lifespan.

o Nanoscale sensors and gadgets can also be used to monitor the status and performance of bridges, trains,

tunnels, and other structures at a low cost.

o They can also improve transportation infrastructure to help vehicles avoid incidents and traffic jams.
5. Space

o Carbon nanotube-based materials can help spacecrafts lose weight while maintaining or improving structural

strength.
o They can also be utilized to produce the wires that the space elevator requires. Space elevators can cut the cost

of delivering items to orbit by a large amount.

o The nanosensors can be used to track the chemicals in the spacecraft to see how well the life support system
is working.

Nanotechnology in India

India has been actively developing its capabilities in nanotechnology with initiatives aimed at promoting research and

translating discoveries into practical applications. Key highlights of India's involvement in nanotechnology include:

Govt Initiatives

• Research and Development: The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) was

founded in Bengaluru in 1989, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) initiated the Nano Science

and Technology Initiative (NSTI) in 2001.

• The Nano Mission (Mission on Nanoscience and Technology) was launched in 2007 under the DST, aiming to

position India as a global leader in nanoscience research and facilitate the transition of innovations from the

laboratory to the market. The mission’s salient features include:

o Basic Research Promotion: Encouraging fundamental research in nanotechnology across various

scientific disciplines.

o Infrastructure Development: Building centres of excellence and providing sophisticated equipment to

facilitate nanotech research and development.

o Human Resource Development: Fostering skilled personnel through specialized nanotech courses and
training programs.

o Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Promoting industrial applications of nanotechnology and facilitating

startup growth in this sector.

• Five Nanoscience Centers were established to coordinate activities in the thematic areas of nanomaterials,

nanodevices, and nanosystems.

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research initiated the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership
Initiative Programme to integrate nanotechnology developments with industrial applications.
India’s Achievements in Nanotechnology

India has demonstrated substantial achievements in nanotechnology across various domains, including water, clean

energy, defence, health, medicine, infrastructure, communication, and others. Key developments include:

• Advanced Nanomaterials:
o Nanoelectronic transistors were fabricated using carbon nanotubes as channels by the IISc Bangalore
team as an energy-efficient alternative to silicon-based transistors.
o Logic gates were developed using nanoscale components by the IIT Bombay team that can pave the way

for futuristic quantum computers.

• Healthcare: Scientists at IIT Bombay have developed nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems
like nanoparticles, nanocapsules, lipid structures etc. that can provide targeted drug delivery and controlled

release.
o Bharat Biotech used nanotechnology platforms for accelerated drug discovery to develop India's first

indigenous COVID-19 vaccine - Covaxin.

o Over 30 companies, including TCS, Bharat Biotech, Sun Pharma, and Tata Chemicals, are engaged in

nanotechnology products and applications.

• Defense: Defense applications include lightweight armour, stealth coatings, and explosives detection.

• Water treatment: IIT-Madras researchers fabricated metal nanoparticle-based filters that can

remove microplastics, pesticides and heavy metals from water.

o Tata Chemicals has developed a low-cost nanofiltration device called Tata Swach that can purify

water without electricity.

• Skilled workforce: The government supports skill development and training to enhance the capabilities of the

Indian nanotech ecosystem.

• Collaboration: India has established agreements with countries like the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Israel,

and is participating in multilateral projects of UN agencies. As of 2023, India ranks third globally in terms of

contributions to nanotechnology publications, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to expanding its capacity
in this rapidly evolving field.

Challenges

Besides offering potential benefits, there are high concerns about the potential challenges associated with
nanotechnology in India.
 • Quality Research Gaps: India lacks sufficient risk-related research and material characteristic information in
nanotechnology applications, affecting progress.

• Financial Constraints: High costs nanotechnology infrastructure, coupled with limited financial resources,

impede research and development.

• Low Investment: India's nanotechnology research expenditure is minimal compared to Japan, the US, France,

and China.

• Integration and Skilled Manpower: Poor collaboration between labs and industry, and a shortage of skilled
individuals pose challenges.
• Limited Academic Presence: Few students pursue nanotechnology degrees, and career opportunities are

scarce.

o India awards significantly fewer PhDs in nanoscience and technology than China and the USA.

• Regulatory challenges: In India, nanotechnology lacks comprehensive regulation due to the absence of a single

authority.

• Private sector participation: Despite notable innovations, the Indian private sector's limited involvement in

nanotechnology research impedes its commercialization prospects.

• Toxicology: Nanoparticles can accumulate in various organs and induce toxicity.

o Research has shown that nanoparticles can accumulate in the nasal cavities, lungs, and brains of

animals, raising concerns about their potential impact on human health.

• Health effects: Inhaled nanoparticles can have adverse health effects, such as lung inflammation and heart
problems.

o Understanding how nanoparticles interact with living organisms and their potential long-term health

implications is crucial for addressing health concerns related to nanotechnology

• GREY GOO: A hypothetical situation where self-replicating nano robots go out of control and consume all

matter on the earth.

Measures Needed

Nanotechnology is still in a nascent stage and has significant potential in the future especially concerning the medical
and electronics field. The following measures can be adopted for further improvement of nanotechnology in India.

• Enhanced funding: Increase financial support for nanotechnology R&D to foster innovation and tech
advancement.

• Education and training: Offer specialized degree programs and training for researchers and engineers to
develop a skilled nanotech workforce.

• Regulatory framework: Develop robust guidelines for safe and ethical nanomaterial use, ensuring environmental
and human safety while promoting innovation.
o Establishing standards for nanoparticle toxicity assessment and disposal protocols.
• Public-private partnerships: strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, incentivizing private
sector participation in nanotech R&D and commercialization.

o Joint ventures between research institutions and companies to develop nanotechnology-based

products.
• Infrastructure development: Invest in state-of-the-art research facilities and labs dedicated to nanoscience and

nanotechnology.

• International collaborations: Emphasize partnerships with global institutions to leverage expertise and
accelerate technological advancements.