Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

This week we covered the topic of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology works on an extremely small scale, defined to be at the 10 to the negative ninth power of a meter (Gimzewski).  These lectures were presented by James Gimzewski, who is a professor at UCLA, but originally worked at IBM. Nanotechnology is a new field that is still being researched, and the health effects of this field are not clearly known (Nanotechnology). Just like the previous weeks, we will explore this topic with caution.

Pistilli, Melissa. 6 Top Nanotechnology Uses, Investing News Network, 8 July 2021, https://investingnews.com/media-library/what-is-nanotechnology-used-for.jpg?id=27737634&width=2500&height=1670.

Nanotechnology can be used to improve the lives of people through medicine. An example of this is the use of nanocages, which can be used to deliver drugs to cells at the molecular level (Jagadish). When thinking about how this novel drug delivery mechanism would work, we can think of ways to target cells instead of risk a person’s healthy cells being targeted as well. An area of research being studied is the use of nanotechnology on nerve cells, to stimulate growth (Quelle). Imagine being able to repair the nervous system and be able to give someone back their feeling of touch and motor function.

Self-Assembling Icosahedral Protein Nanocage Designed, University of Washington Health Sciences, 21 June 2016, https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=43745.php

Although the field looks optimistic, the articles I cited within this article have always noted to caution that these technologies are still being researched. As of now, the main products that have been developed seem to be related towards optimizing surfaces (Nanotechnology Engineering Products & Developments). This includes stronger body armor for police and military use, along with more pacifist uses like special coating for stronger glass.

Soutter, Will. Nanotechnology in the Military, AZoNano, 20 June 2012, https://d1otjdv2bf0507.cloudfront.net/images/Article_Images/ImageForArticle_3028(1).jpg. 

In my opinion, the field of nanotechnology is too new to be excited about just yet. Once we get evidence that this technology is safe and effective, then there may be more of a reason to invest our time and effort into this growing area of interest.


Works Cited

Gimzewski, James K, director. Nanotech Jim pt1. UC Online, Youtube, 21 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE. 

Jagadish, Chennupati. “Nanoscience: Thinking Big, Working Small.” Curious, Australian Academy of Science, 19 Sept. 2019, https://www.science.org.au/curious/nanoscience. 

“Nanotechnology Engineering Products & Developments.” What Is Nanotechnology Engineering?, Ohio University, 22 July 2020, https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/nanotechnology-engineering/. 

“Nanotechnology.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 27 Mar. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/default.html#:~:text=Nanotechnology%20is%20the%20manipulation%20of,%2C%20energy%2C%20materials%20and%20manufacturing. 

Quelle, De Vincentiis  S. “Nerve Growth through Nanotechnology.” Wings for Life - Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Spinal Cord Research Foundation Inc., 20 July 2020, https://www.wingsforlife.com/us/latest/nerve-growth-through-nanotechnology-4429/.

Comments

  1. Diana AvalosMay 22, 2022 at 3:01 PM

    Hello! This was a fabulous and insightful blog. I agree with you on many of the statements made. Specifically on how incorporating nanotechnology in medicine can benefit the lives of many individuals. An example would be using nanotechnology to attack cancerous cells rather than all cells.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ariana MaganaMay 22, 2022 at 5:53 PM

    Hello, this was an awesome post to read as you have very insightful information to share. Many of the topics you mentioned are also ones that grew my understanding of this week topic. Nanotechnology and art are a new concept that I have heard little of especially as a combination of both. The ways that nanotechnology is being used such as the nerve cell stimulation growth and deliver drugs to cells, is all very interesting and great field to explore through the next 100 years. Of course, while although all this work is enticing, there is still precautious measures we must consider. Many of these ideas though can be better for our human world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BigBlogGuyMay 22, 2022 at 9:37 PM

    Hello,

    I really enjoyed this information, it reminded me a lot of what I am currently doing for work now. I enjoyed the ways you talked about the nerve cell growth, this has been a common question for me for awhile now. I always was wondering about all the different ways such as stem cell growth and why it is illegal in some places but not in others, obviously because of the stem cell things but maybe there is a way to use nanotechnology to fix this human issue.

    ReplyDelete

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