Uses of Nanotechnology in Medicine and Electronics - Article Example

Introduction Nanotechnology refers to the construction and use of structures that function. The molecular or atomic scale designs these structures. The measurement of one characteristic dimension is in nanometers. Nanotechnology is a technique that has evolved from the era in which it was a mere imagination and has slowly progressed towards becoming a reality. This article entails a discussion about nanotechnology and the ways in which it is applicable in both medicine and electronics. It focuses on the integration of nanotechnology with both medicine and electronics. Uses of Nanotechnology in Medicine and Electronics Websites Nanotechnology in Medicine - Nanomedicine. (2007, August 6). Retrieved February 27, 2012, from Understandingnano.com: http://www.understandingnano.com/medicine.html “Understanding Nano” is a website that talks about nanotechnology and its’ several applications. The website has several applications and one of it’s’ applications is on the medicine field. The webpage on medicine talks about the use of nanotechnology in the medical field has revolutionized the methods of detecting the disease, treating damages to the human body and treating several diseases. One of the applications of nanotechnology in medicine involves the employment of nanoparticles in the delivery of heat, light drugs and several other substances. This includes delivery of the substances to cancer cells. Quoting from the website ‘Nanotechnology enables the engineering of particles in order to attract them to the disease cells in the body’ (Nanotechnology in Medicine - Nanomedicine, 2007). This allows direct treatment of the affected cells. Nanotechnology allows early detection of diseases and reduction of damage to the cells. Oral administration of drugs applies nanotechnology. The encapsulated drug in a nanoparticle enables it to pass through the stomach to deliver the drug into the blood flow. Nanoparticles stimulate an immune response to fight respiratory diseases. This happens after the inhalation of nanoparticles. Nanotechnology is also applicable in the treatment of tumors using nanoparticles. Nanotechnology Applications for Electronics. Part 1-Introduction. (2012, January 14). Retrieved February 27, 2012, from BRIGHT HUB: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/electrical/articles/7761.aspx The website “Bright Hub” focuses on general information about science and technology. Under this site information about nanotechnology and its’ application on electronics is available. The webpage talks about the intertwining of nanotechnology and electronics and the use of nanotechnology in electronics. Many current electronics have incorporated several applications developed by nanotechnology science. New computer microprocessors contain less than 100 nanometer features. These microprocessors are very small. Quoting from the Website, ‘Smaller chip microprocessors experience significant increase in speed and higher processing capability’ (Nanotechnology Applications for Electronics, 2012). Currently, etching, also called lithography, is the chip manufacturing method. At some point in the future, the current electronic technology will no longer be able to handle the demand for chip microprocessors. The application of nanotechnology enables the production of efficient chip microprocessors mainly by using 60-70nm size features. The application of Nanotechnology in electronics, often referred to as nanoelectronics, has led to the manufacture of circuit materials and new processors in the field of electronics. However, researchers are still looking into other nanoelectronic fields such as the use of electrodes made from nanowires to enable the display of flat panels to be visible and thinner than the present level panel displays. Nanotechnology in general provides solutions on the how to increase electronic capabilities and reducing their power consumption and weight issues. Journals Marchant, G. E. (2009,). Current Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Medicine;. Small is Beautiful: What Can Nanotechnology Do for Personalized Medicine? , p231-237. The Academic Journal ‘What Can Nanotechnology Do for Personalized Medicine?’ talks about the integration of nanotechnology and medicine. Nanotechnology can be utilized in diagnosis through in vitro diagnostic strategies in which one is able to test for diseases by the use of microfluidic systems and microarray DNA chips. Diagnosis is made possible by using nanochips enabled by nanotechnology. In the journal, it is further quoted that ‘Nanochips provide unparalleled sensitivity with the eventual goal of identifying as petite as a single unit of the target molecule’ (Marchant, 2009). Nanotechnology has also enabled the development of multifunctional products in medicine. These nano-sized multifunctional products on the same structure but with different functions mainly target therapy, imaging and treating diseases. External scanning technologies with sensors would then be able to detect the presence of diseases or tumor cells. Nanotechnology has also been applied in several products including surgical tools, bandages, imaging agents and biomaterials. Nanocoatings that are anti-microbial employ nano-particles that are germ-killing and used in several products including catheters, implantable devices and wound dressings. Nanotechnology also enables more specific and sensitive targeting of specific tissues or cells. This is more efficient than the technology being used in some hospitals in which an heterogenous cells mixture that is typical for a diseased tissue is targeted. Dempsey, P. (2011). Engineering & Technology . 2020 vision [electronics nanotechnology]. , p84-85. In the journal ‘2020 Vison, Electronics Nanotechnology’, the author focuses on nanotechnology and electronics. This journal talks about the uses of nanotechnology in electronics and how electronics will in the future encompass nanotechnology technique. The authors quotes that ‘Several electronics have been made by the use of nanotechnology and they have proven to be efficient therefore there is need for the future electronic world to apply nanotechnology in electronics (Dempsey, 2011). Memory chips and the improvement of the displaying screens of some electronic devices have been made possible by the use of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology also allows the use of nanowires in creating memory devices that are dense and this is made possible by the application of current magnetization along the wire length. Although there is movement of the magnetized sections along the wire, a stationary sensor reads the data. This is another use of nanotechnology in electronics. Nanoelectronics company directory has come up with several projects and electronics that reveal how nanotechnology is used in electronics and these include self-assembled nanostructures, nano-photonics, molecular-sized switches that contain nano-sized features and conductive film that is nanotube, transparent and is mainly used in e-paper and applications such as LCD. All these examples show the use of nanotechnology in the creation of these electronic devices. Conclusion In conclusion, Nanotechnology is a technique that is applicable in both electronics and medicine. Nanomedicine entails using nanotechnology to detect diseases, direct drugs and heat the cells in a human’s body, such as cancer cells. Nanotechnology is also applicable in creating immuninty against respiratory diseases. Nanotechnology is also used in electronics through the creation of chip microprocessers that require this technique to provide efficient chips to be used. It is also used in the production of circuits, switches, and several devices. Nanotechnology has generally become a part of the daily medical activities and developmet in electronics. Researchers claim that nanotechnology will always be part of medicine and electronic development. Reference list Journal 1 Dempsey, P. (2011). Engineering & Technology . 2020 vision [electronics nanotechnology]. p84-85. Journal 2 Marchant, G. E. (2009,). Current Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Medicine;. Small is Beautiful: What Can Nanotechnology Do for Personalized Medicine?, p231-237. Website 1 Nanotechnology in Medicine – Nanomedicine (Online) (2007, August 6). Retrieved February 27, 2012, from Understandingnano.com: http://www.understandingnano.com/medicine.html Website 2 Nanotechnology Applications for Electronics. Part 1-Introduction. (2012, January 14). Retrieved February 27, 2012, from BRIGHT HUB: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/electrical/articles/7761.aspx Read More