This week we learned about nanotechnology and art, which was very fascinating. The scale of nanotechnology is so small that it can not be seen by the naked eye alone. It is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, or supramolecular scale. I was very interested in learning about nanotechnology because I knew very little about it. There are so many products today that have nanotechnology, but many people do not know. Sunscreens rely on nano particles as well as cosmetics. L’oreal is known to use much nanotechnology in alot of its products. Their products are seen in a picture below. There is a group against nanotechnology which is called the nano ethics group. Studies show that in some food and drink cases there are also nano particles. We are not quite sure yet if these nano particles are dangerous, however some scientists predict they could be.
The slim shake chocolate milkshake has very low calories, but a lot of nano particles. This is seen here in the picture below. Many groups of people are against nano technology in food, and many individuals want to know whether their food is genetically modified. This product, the slim shake chocolate milkshake, claims to have “nanoclusters” mixed with tiny particles of cocoa that are designed to carry nutrients to the eater’s cells. The benefits that scientists have found out about nanotechnology is that if they are put in the packaging of food, it can possibly make food last longer. In addition, nanotechnology can also reduce fats and salts in processed foods.
Nanotechnology is used in medicine as well. In nanomedicine, there are new forms of therapy and treatment to revolutionize medicine. There are also pharmaceuticals that can target tumors, and drugs that people can take that will reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy. These nano devices help the patient because they are small enough to enter the cells. There can be potential cancer therapy with these nano shells that will be able to target the cell and kill off some tissue. One example of a drug that uses nanomedicine is abraxane, which is used to treat breast cancer. This drug contains the nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel. In regenerative medicine, silica based nanoparticles help deliver molecules to transplanted cells derived from stem cells. Nanotechnology in medicine is making wonderful strides for the health community, and is something that scientist will keep researching even more. This nanotechnology can possibly hep cancer patients, as well as people with other health problems.
Citations
Lawson, Presentation By Sope. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY- LEGAL ISSUES ISSUES, REGULATION AND CHALLENGES CHALLENGES.
"Nanoethics.org - The Ethics and Societal Impact of Nanotechnology." Nanoethics.org - The Ethics and Societal Impact of Nanotechnology. Web. 25 July 2014.
"Nanotech Jim Pt6." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014.
"Nanotech Jim Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 July 2014.
"Nanotechnology Project." PEN News. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2014.
I was really surprised when I read that L'oreal uses nanotechnology in a lot of its product. I use occasionally use L'oreal cosmetics and reading this worries me. I don't think the government should allow L'oreal to use nanotechnology in their products if scientists haven't proved that it is safe yet.
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised about the nanotechnology used in medicine. I wonder if scientists will be able to cure all types of cancer in the future by using nanotechnology. This would save a lot of people!! :)
Hey Dominique! Similar to you, I knew very little about nanotechnology before this section also. It is not something that is emphasized too much in society which is surprising when you consider how relevant it is in many of the products that we use. I like your examples ranging from makeup to medicine: they really covered the broad range of topics that nanotechnology has a place in.
ReplyDelete