Lecture Notes on Nanotechnology and Its Impacts

Introduction to Nanotechnology

• Definition: Nanotechnology refers to the manipulation of matter on an atomic or molecular scale.
• Prevalence: It's become a buzzword in the last 15 years and is present in everyday life.

Everyday Applications of Nanotechnology

• Integration into Daily Life:
  • Alarm clocks, smartphones, and tablets (iPhones, iPads).
  • Appliances like TVs and coffee machines.
• Historical Context: Shift from vacuum tubes in TVs to solid-state electronics revolutionized technology.
  • Silicon-based electronics: Key development in the third industrial revolution.

Nanotechnology in Materials

• Control at Nanoscale:
  • Ability to manipulate material properties at an atomic level.
  • Example: Braille code and its tactile recognition.

Global Impact

• Universal Presence:
  • Cell phones, bike frames, and even cosmetics contain nanoparticles.
  • In developing countries, like Bangladesh, technology is prevalent in all economic segments.

Healthcare Applications of Nanotechnology

• Interface with Living Systems:
  • Focus on diseases originating from genetic mutations, like cancer.
  • Development of tools and devices (nanopores, cantilevers, nanowires, quantum dots, and nanoparticles).
• Challenges in Cancer Mortality:
  • Despite advancements, cancer mortality rates have not decreased significantly.
  • Importance of addressing diseases at a molecular scale.

Technologies and Techniques

• Cell Separation Technologies:
  • Techniques such as dielectrophoresis and magnetic nanoparticles.
  • Capture tumor cells using coated surfaces and analyze bodily fluids.
• Interrogation of Tumor Cells:
  • Example of distinguishing metastatic from non-metastatic cells.
  • Individual cell interrogation using micropore membranes to measure ionic current.

Personalized Medicine and Nanomedicine

• Importance of Custom Treatments:
  • One-size-fits-all approach is ineffective; treatments should be tailored.
  • Micrometastasis and Tumor Subpopulations: Understanding different cell types within a tumor.
• Future Potential:
  • Nanotechnology can lead to advances in personalized and precision medicine by analyzing genomic and proteomic data of cancer cells.

Conclusion

• Understanding the Enemy: Knowledge of cancer cell behavior is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
• Call to Action: Need for further research and development of nanotechnology in medical applications.