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2 The Promise of Nanotechnology
Pages 11-22

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From page 11...
... It is said that the future of nanotechnology is potentially boundless if we can avoid the pitfalls. Some of the items that exist today were a topic of science fiction a decade ago and have the potential to transform our society very quickly, said Douglas Mulhall, author of Our Molecular Future; How Nanotechnology, Robotics, Genetics, and Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Our World.
From page 12...
... It could also potentially alter regional environments and convert deserts to forests by removing large amounts of fresh water from the oceans, postulated Mulhall. With the invention of solar paint and principal solar cells based on nano engineered organic plastics, fossil fuel dependence may begin to recede.
From page 13...
... Robert Gawley of the University of Arkansas has developed fluorescent dendrimers displaying spatially resolved microdomains on polymer beads for the detection of different algal toxins. The binding of different toxins results in specific fluorescence wavelengths, depending upon the spatial resolution of the dendrimers on the polymer beads, which correlate to known toxins (Figure 2-1)
From page 14...
... the researchers are following the paths of these nanoparticles, so the fate and -- Barbara Karn transport of these molecules as well as the clean-up efficiency is being studied, added Karn. For example, iron oxide particles encapsulated in a protein shell can be used for the reduction of heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium, a frequent groundwater contaminant.
From page 15...
... Often these processes require Green energy can be produced using less time, sometimes hours instead of nanotechnology to create solar and days, and can potentially significantly fuel cells as potential sources of reduce the cost of making nanoparticles. commercially available alternative Consumption of energy during the clean energy sources.
From page 16...
... Lighter-weight materials lower the amount of fuel needed for transportation, more efficient electronics use less electrical energy, less production energy can be used with increased production efficiency, and fuels themselves can burn cleaner due to better filtration. Research on Nanotechnology Life Cycles Prospects for the use of nanotechnology also extend into the realm of environmental protection and remediation.
From page 17...
... If solar paint has a persistence problem in the environment, but avoids the pollution created by fossil fuels, or if If solar paint has a persistence problem super-strong materials have similar in the environment, but avoids the problems, but help us to avoid the pollu pollution created by fossil fuels, then tion that comes from whole communi researchers must be careful to weigh ties being destroyed by a chemical the implications concurrently with the spill, then researchers must be careful benefits of developing nanotechnology to weigh the implications concurrently applications. with the benefits of developing nanotechnology applications, said Karn.
From page 18...
... The presence and intensity of the fluorescence is directly proportional to the pathway or molecule that the sensor is measuring. FIGURE 2-2 PEBBLEs are fluorescent dyes that are encased in a molecular shell, protecting cells from the dye and protecting the dye from cellular degradation or manipulation.
From page 19...
... Protein movement, oxidation or reduction reactions, and the production of super oxide ions within the cell may be tracked by the use of fluorescent nanoparticles. There are also design prototypes for measuring lead and mercury, and soon, according to Philbert, the ability to measure phosphorylation and other chemical reactions inside the cell will be possible.
From page 20...
... . These MRI images reveal a significant con trast enhancement due to the presence of the nanoparticles within the tumor tissue, that is, nanoparticles allow for very good contrast from normal tissue, where the tumor becomes clearly visible to the observer (Figure 2-3)
From page 21...
... tion Philbert's group demonstrated good cessation of growth or actual reduction in the tumor mass and increased life span of these animals by using these Sol Gel Ru DNPs. Nanoparticles used in tumor killing experiments are larger than 100 nanometers; thus, they do not cross the blood­brain barrier (BBB)
From page 22...
... 22 IMPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY not going to interfere with the normal biology of the organism, yet have a very high therapeutic index. Philbert suggested that many of the products that can be created will ultimately not be deployable because early safety testing will show them to be completely unfeasible from a toxicological standpoint.


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