• I

i!l

' LESSON

4 THE NANO WORLD

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

• define nanotechnology;
• characterize nanoscale;
• describe the various uses of nanotechnology;
• discuss concerns on the use of nanotechnology; and
• explain the status of the use of nanotechnology in the
Philippines.

Scientific researchers have developed new technological tools that

greatly improve different aspects of our lives. The use of nanoscale is one
important interdisciplinary area generated by advancement in science and
technology. Scientists and engineers were able to build materials with
innovative properties as they manipulate nanomaterials. Indeed, research
and application of knowledge on nanomaterials will continue to bring
widespread implications in various areas of the society, especially health
care., environment, energy, food , water, and agriculture.
Nanotechnology refers to the science, engineering, and technology
conducted at the nanoscale, which is about I to 100 nanometers (NNI,
2017) . N anoscience and nanotechnology employs the study and application
of exceptionally small things in other areas of science including materials
science, engineering, physics, biology, and chemistry (NNI, 2017) .

Science, Technology, and Society

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 The concepts of nanotechnology and nanoscience started in
December 29 , 1959 when Physicist Richard Feynman discussed a method
in Which scientists can direct and control individual atoms and molecules
in his talk "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom " during the American
Physical Society meeting at the California Institute of Technology. The
term "nanotechnology" was coined by Professor Norio Taniguchi a decade
after the dawn of the use ofultraprecision machining (NNI, 2017).

How Small is a Nanoscale?

A nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or I0-9 of a meter. The

illustration below shows how small nanoscale is compared to other particles
or materials.

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Chapter Il l ·· Specific Issues in Science , Technology, and Society

 Manipulc1tion of nanomaterials needs an adept understandin of
rtieir types and di rnensions. The various types of nano materials are class~ed
according to their individual shapes and sizes. They may be particles
tubes,wires, films, flakes, or shells that have one or more nanometer-sized
dimensions. One should be able to view and manipulate them so that we
can take advantage of their exceptional characteristics.

How to View Nanomaterials

Scientists use special types of microscopes to view minute
nanomaterials. During the early 1930s, scientists used electron microscopes
and field microscopes to look at the nanoscale . The scanning tunneling
microscope and atomic force microscope are just among the modem and
remarkable advancements in microscopy.
1. Electron microscope
German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll built
the first electron microscope during the 1930s. This type of
microscope utilizes a particle beam of electrons to light up
a specimen and develop a well- magnified image. Electron
microscopes produce higher and better resolution than older
light microscopes because they can magnify objects up to
a million times while conventional light microscopes can
magnify objects up to 1,500 times only. Scanning electron
microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope
(TEM) are the two general types of electron microscope.
2. Atomic force microscope (AFM)
It was first developed by Gerd Binig, Calvin Quate, and
Christoph Gerber in 1986. It makes use of a mechanical
probe that gathers information from the surface of a material.

Science , Technology, and Society

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 3. Scanning tunneling microscope
This special type of microscope enab]es scientists to
view and manipulate nanoscale particles, atoms, and small
molecules. In 1986 , Gerd Binig and Heinrich Rohrer won the
Nobel Prize in Physics because of this invention .

Nanomanufacturing
It refers to scaled-up , reliable , and cost-effective manufacturing
of nanoscale materials, structures, devices, and systems. It also involves
research, in1provement, and incorporation of processes for the construction
of materials. Therefore , nanomanufacturing leads to the development
of new products and improved materials. There are two fundamental
approaches to nanomanufacturing, either botto1n-up or top-down (NNI ,
2017):
l. Bottom-up fabrication
It manufactures products by building them up from
atomic- and molecular-scale components. However, this
method can be time-consuming. Scientists and engineers are
still in search for effective ways of putting up together molecular
components that se1f-assen1ble and from the bottom-up to
organized structures.
2. Top-down fabrication
It trims down large pieces of materials into nanoscale.
This process needs larger amounts of materials and discards
excess raw materials.
There are new approaches to the assembly of nanomaterials based
from the application of principles in top-down and bottom-up fabrication.
These include:

• Dip pen lithography

lt is a method in which the tip of an atomic force
. · "dipped" into a chemical fluid and then utilized
microscope 15 . . .
..
to wnte o
• " n a surface like an old-fashioned ink pen onto
'
paper.
l· Specific Issues in Science, Technology , and Society
Chapter Il
. ·
 • Self-assembly
rt depicts an approach wherein a se~ of components join
organized structure m the absence of an
toget her t o mo Id an
outside direction.

• Chemical vapor deposition

It is a procedure wherein chemicals act in response to
form very pure, high-performance films .

• Nanoimprint lithography
It is a method of generating nanoscale attributes by
"stamping" or "printing" them onto a surface.

• Molecular beam epitaxy

It is one manner for depositing extremely controlled thin

films.

• Roll-to-roll processing

It is a high-volume practice for constructing nanoscale

devices on a roll of ultrathin plastic or metal.

• Atomic layer epitaxy

It is a means for laying down one-atom -thick layers on a

surface.
With the use of these techniques, nanomaterials are made more
durable , stronger, lighter, water-repellent , ultraviolet- or infrared-
resistant, scratch-resistant, electrically conductive, antireflective,
antifog, antimicrobial, self-cleaning, among others. The abovementioned
characteristics lead to the manufacture of the present variety of
nanotechnology-enabled products such as tennis rackets and baseball
bats to .catalysts for purifying crude oil and ultrasensitive recognition and
classification of biological and chemical toxins.
It is not impossible that in the near future , computers that are
better, more efficient, with larger storage of memory, faster, and energy-
saving will be developed. Soon, the entire memory of a computer will be
saved in a single tiny chip. Moreover, nanotechnology has the potential to
construct high-efficiency, low-cost batteries and solar cells.
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 Figure 12. A product of .
1.3 millimete . ct· nanomanufactunng: A 16 gauge wire, approximately
rs In 1ameter made from b
thread and '. car on nanotubes that were spun into
the same wtre on a 150 ply spool. (Source: Nanocomp).

Di 5t inct Features of Nanoscale

. Nanotechnology involves operating at a very small dimension
and ~t allows scientists to make use of the exceptional optical, chemical,
physical, mechanical, and biological qualities of materials of that small
scale (NNI, 2017) . The following are distinct features of nanoscale:
1. Scale at which much biology occurs.

Various activities of the cells take place at the nanoscale.

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) serves as the genetic
material of the cell and is only about 2 nanometers in diameter.
Furthermore, the hemoglobin that transports oxygen to the
tissues throughout the body is 5.5 nanometers in diameter.
A good number of. modem researches focus o~ advancing
procedures, therapies, tools, and treatments that are more
accurate and custom -made than traditional methods and
cause no adverse effects on the body.
An example of this is the bio-barcode assay, which is
a fairly inexpensive approach for identification of spe~ific
•
disease markers in the blood despite their small number m a
particular specimen.

"fie Issues in Science, Technology, and Society

Chapter III: Spec1 I

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t
f

Scale at Wh
materials.
ich quantum effects dominate properties of

Particles with dimensions of 1- 100 nanometers have

properties that are significantly discrete from particles of
bigger dimensions. Quantum effects direct the behavior
and properties of particles in this size scale. The properties
of materials are highly dependent on their size. Among the
essential properties of nanoscale that change as a function
of size include chemical reactivity, fluorescence, magnetic
permeability, melting point, and electrical conductivity.
One example is the nanoscale gold,· which is not only
the yellow-colored element we are used to seeing but it can
also appear red or purple. Gold's electrons ·display restricted
motion in the nanoscale. Practically, nanoscale gold particles
selectively build up in tumors, where they permit both precise
imaging and targeted laser destruction of the tumor while
avoiding damage on healthy cells.
3. Nanoscale materials have far larger surface areas than similar
masses of larger-scale materials.
As we increase the surface area per mass of a particular
material, a greater amount of the material comes in contact
with another material and can affect its reactivity.
If I cubic centimeter is filled with micrometer-sized
cubes-a trillion (1012) of them, each with a surface area of
6 square micrometers-the total surface area amounts to 6
square meters, or about the area of the main bathroom in an
average house. When that single cubic centilneter of volume is
filled with 1-nanometer-sized cubes- I 021 of them, each with
an area of 6 square nanometers-their total surface area comes
to 6,000 square meters.

Science 1
' echnology, and Society
 1cm

Total Surface Area

6cm 2
Total Surface Area
60cm 2
(•111 mm CUNa)

Figure 13 Th Effi
. e ect of the Increased Surface Area Provided
by· Nanostructured Materials

G~vernment Funding for Nanotechnology in

Different Countries {Dayrit, 2005)
1. U .S. National Nanotechnology Initiative
• The best-known and most-funded program is the
National Nanotechnology Initiative of the United States.
The NNI was established in 2001 to coordinate U.S.
federal nanotechnology R&D. The NNI budget in 2008
and 2009 were $1.4 billion and $ 1.5 billion, respectively.
2. European Commission
• In February 2008 , the EC officially launched the
European N anoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council
(ENIAC) .
Japan (Nanotechnology Research Institute, under the National
3.
Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology,
AIST)
Taiwan (Taiwan National Science and Technology Program
4.
for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology)
. N technology Research and Education Foundation)
5. India ( ano
. . Center for Nanoscience and Technology)
6. Chma (N auona1
ational Nanotechnology Initiative)
7. Israel (Israe 1N
•fi [ssues in Science, Technology, and Society
Chapter HI: Spect ic
 8.
Australia (Australian Office of Nanotechnology)

9. Canada .(National Institute for Nanotechnology or NINT)

10. South Korea (Korea National Nanotechnology Initiative)
11 . Thailand (National Nanotechnology Center or NANOTEC)
12. Malaysia (National [Malaysia] Nanotechnology Initiatives or
NNI)

Possible Applications of Nanotechnology in the Philippines

(Dayrit, 2005)
]. l CT and semiconductors
2. Health and medicine
3. Energy
4. Food and agriculture
5. Environment

Nanotech Roadmap for the Philippines (funded by PCAS-

TRD-DOST)
I. ICT and semiconductors
2. Health and biomedical
3. Energy
4. Environment
5. Agriculture and food
6. Health and environmental risk
7, Nano-metro logy
8. Education and public awareness

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T eenefits and Concerns of Using
Nanotechnology

Nanotec_
nd h nology has various applications in different sectors of the
society a environment. Salamanca-Buentello et al. (2005) proposed an
initiative called "Addressing Global Challenges Using Nanotechnology"
to accelerate the use of nanotechnology to address critical sustainable
development challenges. They suggested a model that could help figure
out the possible contributions of the community in overcoming global
challenges that pose risk on health and other aspects of peoples' lives.
However, there are concerns that need to be addressed before using and
promoting materials derived from nanotechnology (Dayrit, 2005) .

I. Nanotechnology is not a single technology; it may become

pervasive .

2. Nanotechnology seeks to develop new materials with specific

properties.

Nanotechnology may introduce new efficiencies and paradi~s

3. which may make some natural resources and current practices
uncompetitive or obsolete .

4. It may be comp1·icated to detect its presence unless one has

h logy
. 1·st
the spec1a 1 tools of nanotec no .

. 1 nd Concerns o f the Application of Nanotechnology in

fit
Table 2. Bene s a Different Areas

Example of Areas
Possible Benefits Concerns
Affected by
Nanotechnology
Environment • Imp roved detection • High reactivity and
toxicity .
and removal of • Pervasive distribution m
contaminants the environment
• Development ~f • No nano-specific EPA
. n industnal
bemg
regulation
processes and
materials

. ce Technology, an d Society
III: Specific Issues t·n Sc1en ,
Chapter
 HcHlth • Improved medicine • Ability to cross cell ---
membranes and
translocate in the body
• No FDA approval
needed for cosmetics or
supplements
Economy • Better products • Redistribution of wealth
• N ew jobs • Potential cost of
cleanups
and healthcare
• Accessibility to all
income levels
(Source : University of-Washington , n.d.)

Social and Ethical Considerations in Conducting Research on

Nanotechnology
1. Who will benefit from it? On the other hand , who won't?
2. For whom and what are your objectives for developing your
product?
3. How will it affect social, economic , and political relationships?
4. What problem is your "product" trying to solve?
5. Who will have access to it? Who wiH be excluded?
6. Are there dangers involved with its development (e .g., safety,
health, pollution) ? How can you minimize them?
7. Who will own it? How can you assure access to it?
(Source: University of Washington, n.d.)

Nanotechnology is an advanced interdisciplinary field th at

encompasses science and technology that manufactures materials of great
help to the improvement
· .
of vanous .
areas of society especia· lly health
care, environment, energy, food, water, and agriculture. It is a field that
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"li Science ' T ec h no 1ogy, and Society
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 •
actical LESSON
,hould

at the
.nano.
5 THE ASPECTS OF GENE THERAPY

1ology
).gov/

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'www. At the end of this lesso n, the students should be able to:
• describe gene therapy and its various forms ; and
about • assess the issue 's potential benefits and detriments to global
rwww . health .

-Term
riment : Medical science has detected many human diseases related to
J III, defective genes. These types of diseases are not curable by traditional
methods like taking readily available medicines. Gene therapy is a potential
method to either treat or cure genetic-related human illnesses.
j the
ry 25, In 2015 , a team of researchers at the Harvard Medical School
and the Boston Children's Hospital stated that they were able to restore
basic hearing in genetically deaf mice using gene therapy. The Boston
ins of Children's Hospital research team also reported that they have restored a
depts. higher level of hearing-down to 25 decibels which is actually equivalent
to a whisper. They used an improved gene therapy vector _developed at the
Massachusetts Eye and Ear that was identified as "Anc80" which enables
the transfer of genes to the inaccessible outer hair cells when introduced
into the cochlea (Fliesler, 2017) .
Human gene therapy was actually first realized in 1971 when
the first recombinant DNA experiments were planned. It can be simply
viewed as insertion foreign DNA into a patient's tissue that hope to

Chapter 111: Specific Issues in Science , Technology , and Society