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1.INTRODUCTION:..............................................................................................................................1
1.1 History of Nanoparticles:..............................................................................................................1
1.2 Structure and Properties of Nanoparticles:...................................................................................2
1.3 Usage of Nanoparticles:................................................................................................................4
1.3.1 Usage of Nanoparticles in Water Treatment and Purification:...............................................5
1.3.2 Usage of Nanoparticles in Medicine and Biology:.................................................................5
1.3.4 Usage of Nanoparticles in Other Branches:...........................................................................6
1.4 Future of Nanoparticles:...............................................................................................................7
1.5 Economic, Social and Enviromental Issues of Usage of Nanoparticles:.......................................8
2.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:................................................................................................9
3. REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................11
1.INTRODUCTION:
There is no accepted international definition for nanoparticles; however it can be said that ;
nanoparticles are particles which have one or more dimensions of the order of 100nm or less.
One definition given from a document says:"Novel properties that differentiate nanoparticles
from the bulk material typically develop at a critical length scale of under 100nm". (one given
in the new PAS71 document developed in the UK)[1]. However, there are still some
discussions about the size of nanoparticles. It has been told the actual size of nanoparticles
should be less than 100nm, on the other hand it has also been saıd that the size must be less
than 10nm. Moreover, some sources classify the size difference as first and second generation
nanoparticles. It is accepted first generation nanoparticle size is less than 100 nm, second
generation size is less than 10 nm, the lower limit for the size of nanoparticles has been told
approximately 1nm. [2]
This glitter method proved that the ancient craftsmen had a wise experimental
knowledge about these materials. The origin of this technique is islamic art. Muslim people
were forbidden to use gold in artistic works, therefore they had tried to create a similar look to
golden for their works and the solution was glitter method. This is also used on a Roman cup,
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which is called as Lycurgus cup . This cup had gold clusters on it to create different colors on
it.[3]
It has been also discussed from different sources that, the first usage of nanoparticles
foundin early dynasty Chinese porcelain. [4]
However, Michael Faraday was the one who made the first scientific description about
nanoparticles. He pointed out the optical properties of nanometer-scale metals in his classic
1857 paper. The author of the subsequent paper (Turner) points out that : “ It is well known
that when thin leaves of gold or silver are mounted upon glass and heated to a temperature
which is well below a red heat (~500 °C), a remarkable change of properties takes place,
whereby the continuity of the metallic film is destroyed. The result is that white light is now
freely transmitted, reflection is correspondingly diminished, while the electrical resistivity is
enormously increased.” [3]
It should be seen that nanoparticles have such a wide variety, if they are wanted to be
defined in one categorie. Their structure and properties shows differences between each of
components of them. Some examples to this situation can be seen below:
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excitons in all three spatial directions.
The most known examples for quantum dots are semi-conducter nanocrystals and
coreshell nanocrystals. They have been used in biotechnology for cell labelling and
imaging, especially in cancer imaging studies.
6. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles: They are attracted to a magnetic field but they do
not save the remaining magnetism after the field is removed. One of the nanoparticles
in this group, iron oxide, has diameter in the 5-100 nm range, have been used in
bioseparations as selective magnetic. They are especially being used in as coating in
biological tissues.
7. Nanorods: Nanorods are 1-100 nm lenght, mostly thet are made from semiconducting
materials and used in nanomedicine to imaging and contrasting agents. They can be
made by generating small cylinders of silican, gold or inorganic phosphate, among
other materials.[6]
One of the useful properties of nanoparticles is, the low dimension, which is below than
critical wavelenght of light renders. So they become really useful for packaging, cosmetics,
coatings applications. Usually, nanoparticles are in two or three dimensions, ın addition, by a
well known natural process which is called as crystallization, nanoparticles can be upgraded
to three dimensional organizations of atoms, ions or molecules [7]. The similar particles,
which have different dimensions (one is two the other is three) show definitely different
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properties. Which also proves the size difference creates a big difference in properties of the
same nanomaterial.
On the contrary, nanoparticles can be really hard. For example being produced
superconducting wires by using ceramic nanoparticles despite the brittle property of ceramic
bulk material.
At very high temperatures they have great driving force for diffusion, the reason is that the
ratio of surface area to volume is really high for nanoparticles. A raise in this ratio, as the
particle gets smaller, the surface atoms starts to be more dominant in their behaviours than the
ones interiour. Which situation causes a decrease in the incipient melting temperature of that
nanoparticle. Despite this, high ratio creates a critical factor in the catalysis and structures
performances such as electrodes, especially for usage in fuel cells and batteries. Moreover, by
the increase of the ratio, nanoparticles become stronger and more resistant against chemicals
and heat. [8],[9]
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1.3.2 Usage of Nanoparticles in Medicine and Biology:
In medicine and biology, nanoparticles are one of the basic things for applications.The
main reason is their size and high ratio of surface area to mass. The most known applications
are;
Because of nanoparticles exist in the same size of proteins, nanoparticles are so suitable
for biological processes like labelling and tagging. Nanoparticles should be attached to
bioinorganic interfaces which is acting as biological or molecular coating or layer, to interact
with biological targets. For example, sometimes biological coatings include antibodies,
biopolymers like collagen or monolayers of small molecules of small molecules that make the
nanoparticles biocompatible.
For optical detections, it can be made nanoparticles fluoresce or change their optical
properties. This can be made by constructing nano-bio materials again.
In tissue engineering, nanoparticles are used to recover damages or making hip or knee
prosthesis. [11]
However, especially in the medical and biology applications, while studying with
nanoparticles, their toxicity factor shouldnt been forgotten. Because, on the contrary of the
normal sized materials, the toxicity of nanoparticles depends on the surface area of them, not
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the mass. So this situation creates a high toxicity factor, shows different affects on human
being and animals depending on the type of nanoparticles.It has been proved that (Ostiguy et
al., 2006) ultrafine particles which have granulometric properties similar to nanoparticles,
show toxic effects on various natures in many organs of animals and on different clinical and
epidemiological applications which are made on humans.
IRSST studied with different nanoparticles synthesized for industrial usage like,
fullerenes, single-walled and multi walled carbon tubes, organic and inorganic nanoparticles,
quantum dots, nanoshells, nanocapsules and nanospheres, to see the health effects by taking
the effects of ultrafine particles as referance. When nanoparticles applied to lungs, they have
seen that lungs got affected depending on the size properties of nanoparticles. Because of the
high surface to mass ratio, they have shown the degree of toxicity is linked to the surface
rather than mass.[12]
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They can be used as more effective catalysts in chemical applications. Some
nanoparticles, which are also called as intelligent nanocoatins, used for windows, reflect the
solar heat in summer and conduct it in winter.
In 60% of automobiles, it is used carbon nanotube fuel lines to inhibit static electricity and it
reduces the risk of explosions.( The observed results of tests for carbon tubes fuel lines can be
seen in the graph, Fig.1.3.4.1) [2], [13]
Especially, nanoparticles have a big future in waste water treatment processes. While
the world gets dirtier, the need for treatment increases, therefore treatment has to be done. To
do this perfectly, it should be studied in small scales, now nanoparticles come to mind. Metal
containing nanoparticles are the perfect choice for the water purification processes and also
carbon nanotubes also show positive result. As it has been mentıoned before, because of the
high surface volume ratio nanoparticles reveal good result than the other techniques used in
water treatment. Therefore it is expected and suggested that these maybe used in future at
large scale water purification.
One of the expectations for water treatment with nanoparticles is, maybe in future
nanoparticles can be used to kill harmful organisms in the waste, improve the quality of the
water. Moreover, it has being tought that, wheater if nanoparticles can be improved enough to
put in drinking water and repair the body tissue or cure the disease. [10]
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Applications in biology and medicine shows that the expectations solutions by using
nanotechnology are increasing. To develop the cure for cancer, there are studies continuing
about to make magnetic nanoparticle, drive and direct it to the tumour then make them either
to release the drug load or heat them to destroy the surrounding tissue of it. The main idea is
to make nanoparticals multifunctional in the applications in medicine, therefore so many
things can be cured by using one method, that is the reason of studying with nano-devices.
[11]
For the other applications, scientists think more about the “making life easier” idea,
therefore they are focused on practical applications more. For example, there will be produced
a contact lens which will let people to check their blood sugar level by just looking at the
mirror. [13]
Because of their small size, they may create some dangerous factors that can not be
seen obviously. That’s why, especially the reaction of the public for usage of nanoparticles
(especially in medicine and biology), is mostly fear and opposings about more usage of them.
In fact, some of them right, because scientists also accept that taking the responsibility of the
dangers of nanoparticles is not possible enough, because nanoparticles can be everywhere and
manufacturers are not required to disclose the presence of nanomaterials in their labeling.
Then the questions come up to mind of people “How can we clean up particles 1/100000 th the
size of a human hair?” For example, some extremely small nanoparticles combustible and
they may easily (spontaneously) burst into a flame.
Because of their applications in medicine, it the affect of sıze should be thought about
too. Because nanoparticles can easily move into vital organs. Actually this situation can
happen not just health applications, because nanoparticles can also enter human body from the
skin and nassal passages. The danger areas include the brain which is much more easy to
reach for nanoparticles than other materials.
The nano-scale size materials also cannot be lingered. According to this, it cannot be
predicted that the purity of the application area of the nanoparticles. To be sure, it should be
some analysis done, if it will be thinken for large scales, it can not be possible.[13],[15]
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The economic face of the usage and manufacture of nanoparticles is also not that
fixed. In 2006, the federal USA government has spent more than $1 billion on
nanotechnological researches”. Therefore, it can be seen that the money spent on the
researches shouldnt be underrated. Despite that, there is still need for some financial support
for researches made in nanotechnology, which are mostly needed for tests on nanoparticles
instead of the manufacture of it. [13],[16]
Moreover the economic crisis affected the money saved for researches. For the
industrial programs of US, the saved money to save the economy, do not let extra financial
support for research programs especially for solar energy, genetic engineering and
biotechnology, and nanotechnology. This creates a pause in researches or slow progressions.
These decelarations in the researches may cause the changes in the chemical or physical
properties of used materials or may cause more money spent to keep the properties of
materials.[16]
For cosmetic applications of nanoparticles, some part of the public has worries, they
are aware of using them on their skin. Scientists say that “…the fear that nanoparticles can
penetrate the skin, get access to the lymphatic system and circulate around the organism is
’simplistic and physiologically improbable.”[17]
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and it can not be limited the places can be affected. Technology is all the things that human
being do to be superior, better than the nature does.
Nanoparticles really made and keep making life easier. If it would be possible to limit
the dangers of nanotechnology and usage of nanoparticles by using some methods like it is
discussed above, it can be said that it is one of the clean technology applications. There are
still some studies to prove that usage of nanoparticles is an example of clean technology
applications.[19]
Usage of nanoparticles shows that, they are good at cleaning the wastes as product of
the processes. They clean up waste in the water, arsenic etc.
Cpnsequently, the things taken from nature will be given when the time comes.
Therefore in every technologic development, the damage risk to environment should be
decreased. Otherwise, it can not be talked about clean technology.
3. REFERENCES
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3. Background of Nanoparticles, (2009), Wikipedia, from the World Wide Web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanoparticle
4. Paul Holister, Jan-Willem Weener, Cristina Roman Vas, Tim Harper, (October 2003),
Nanoparticles, Technology White Papers Nr.3,Pg.6
5. Theresa Phillips, Nanoparticles Used in Biotechnology (2009), About.com, from the
World Wide Web: http://biotech.about.com/od/nanotechnology/a/typesnanopart.htm
6. Opportunities of Nanotechnology, (13 November 2007) , ETH Zürich,
http://www.micronano.ethz.ch/opportunities_and_risks/opportunities
7. Edited by Günter Schmid, (Wiley- VCH 2004), Nanoparticles from Theory to
Application, Verlag GmbH & Co.kGaA, Weinheim, Pg. 2
8. The appropriateness of existing methodologies to assess the potential risks associated
with engineered and adventitious products of nanotechnologies, (2006), SCENIHR,
Pg. 13
9. Properties of Nanoparticles, (2009), Wikipedia, from the World Wide Web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanoparticle
10. Dhermendra K. Tiwari, J. Behari and Prasenjit Sen, (2008), Applications of
Nanoparticles in Waste Water Treatment, World Applied Sciences Journal 3 (3), Pg.
417-429
11. O.V. Salata, (2004), Applications of Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine, Journal
of Nanobiotechnology 2:3, Pg. 1-4
12. Claude Ostiguy, Gilles Lapointe, Mylene Trottier, Luc Ménard, Yves Cloutier, Michel
Boutin, Monty Antoun, Christian Normand,(2006), Health Effects of Nanoparticles,
Studies and Research Projects Report, Pg. 1-4,41-47
13. Nanotechnology an Overview, (August 2007), Author Stream, from the World Wide
Web: http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Clown-11803-nano-technology-
presentation-NANOTECHNOLOGY-Product-Training-Manuals-ppt-powerpoint/
14. Electrostatic dissipation for materials, (2009),Graphi Strength ,from the World Wide
Web,
http://www.graphistrength.fr/sites/group/en/products/detailed_sheets/multi_wall_carb
on_nanotubes_graphistrength/applications/electrostatic_dissipation_materials.page
15. Are you Ready for Nanoparticles?, (13 Dec 2009), Nanovip, from World Wide Web:
http://www.nanovip.com/are-you-ready-for-nanoparticles.html
16. How to Fix the Broken US economy- permanently?, (December 28, 2009),
Nanotechnology Now, from the World Wide Web: http://www.nanotech-
now.com/news.cgi?story_id=36005
17. Nicki Z.,Nanoparticles: The Future of Skin Care – or Just Bad for You? , (03
November 2009),Well Sphere, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.wellsphere.com/skin-health-article/nanoparticles-the-future-of-skin-care-
or-just-bad-for-you/856563
18. How to Clean Up Nanoparticles?, (Sep 13, 2007), Machine Design. Com, from the
World Wide Web: http://machinedesign.com/article/how-to-clean-up-nanoparticles-
0913
19. Suela Kellici, Jawwad Darr, Ihtesham Rehman, Nanoparticles Using in Clean
Technology, Queen Mary, University of London (date does not exist)
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