How to synthesize nanoparticles?

In nanotechnology, the most important is how to fabricate nanomaterials which have the suitable properties for applications. There are many methods to produce nanoparticles such as solvothermal process, laser ablation, precipitation method, pyrolysis and so on. Some methods are simple reaction and easy to do. The key to make nanoparticles is how to control and stop the reaction to make nano-size products because the properties of nanoparticles depend on their size and morphology.

For example: Microemulsion method

Microemulsions are isotropic, thermodynamically stable dispersion of oil, water, surfactant and often cosurfactant. Microemulsion can be characterized as oil-in-water (O/W), water-in-oil (W/O) and bicontinuous system. Water-in-oil microemulsions are composed of nanometer-sized water droplets that are dispersed in a continuous oil medium and stabilized by surfactant molecules. These droplets can serve as nanoreactors for producing nanoparticles

The Lotus Effect

Nanotechnology in natures

Natures template

Discovered by Botanists Wilhelm Barthlott and Christoph Neinhuis from the University of Bonn in Germany, the ‘Lotus Effect’ is the name given to the self-cleaning phenomenon of the Lotus.
The leaves of Lotus plants have the unique ability to avoid getting dirty. They are coated with wax crystals around 1 nanometers in diameter that repel water. Droplets falling onto the leaves bead-up and if the surface slopes slightly will roll off taking dirt with them, so that the leaves are self-cleaning.
At the nanoscale rough surfaces are effective in repelling water than smooth ones as there is less contact between water and solid. This rough surface structure is also essential to the self-cleaning effect on a smooth surface such as glass. Scientists are finding they can use nature as a template.

more information http://www.nanotec.com.au

Will Nanotechnology Help Treat Cancer? by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Cancer nanotechnology, the use of molecular tools designed to combat the disease, is a growing field. Recently, the National Cancer Institute announced two waves of funding for nanotech training and research, and it sees nanotechnology as vital to its goal of "eliminating suffering and death from cancer by 2015." In recent years, much has been learned about how cancer works at the cellular level, meaning that molecules that detect and destroy cancer cells could eventually make painful and ineffective treatments a thing of the past. Cancer DetectionThe first generation of cancer nanotech applications will most likely concern detection. Nanoparticles could recognize a cancer's molecular signatures, or adhere to hidden cancerous cells, making them visible to an MRI or fluorescent light. Cancer DestructionEventually, nanoparticles could be made which not only find those cells, but also destroy them.

Such applications could include:

- Metallic molecules that adhere to cancer cells, and can then be heated with microwaves, a magnetic field, or infrared light, destroying the tumor without harm to surrounding tissue
- Molecular envelopes for chemical compounds that would otherwise be toxic to ingest
- Nanoparticles that carry other therapeutic chemicals on their surface to targeted areas

It is difficult to guess how soon cancer nanotechnologies will be commercially available. The research is still in early stages, and safety testing is difficult.Wired News November 7, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:I am a major proponent of technology and have previously run articlesabout nanotechnology.Without any doubt, this technology will change your life in the future, for better or worse. I suspect you'll hearing much more about nanotech in the coming years being used as a weapon by conventional medicine to eliminate cancer.In fact, the National Cancer Institute is so keen on nanotech, they've developed a Cancer Nanotechnology Plan that calls for clinical trials in as soon as three years.I remain cautiously optimistic though. Well I welcome this radical breakthrough in technology I have some concerns and reservations about it being another form of pollution that could ultimately backfire and create more harm than good.However, I do believe if properly harnessed this technology, along with genetic expression manipulation has the potential to extend our lifespan into the 150 year old range.However,you don't have to wait for technology to catch up to natural treatments to enhance and protect your health. And even if nanotech were here today they would work synergistically with natural therapies and would in no way be a substitute or replacement for them.If you want to virtually eliminate your cancer risk today, I urge you to review my comprehensive list of 11 recommendations I posted earlier this year.

About the Author
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!

Nowaday, nanotechnology has been named as one of the most important areas of impending technology. because of their unique characteristics that can hardly be found in conventional macroscopic materials. With these properties, nanomaterials will have their excellent values in many industries such as electronics, chemicals, cosmetics, environmentals and so on.

What is Nanotechnology ?

The word “Nano” means dwarf in Greek language. Use it as a prefix for any unit and it mean billionth of that unit (10-9). So nanotechnology is the term used to cover the design, construction and utilization of functional structures with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometers. These materials can be created to exhibit significantly improved chemical, physical and biological properties and phenomena because of the size of the particles. The size in a range of nanometer (about 10-9 m to 10-7 m or 1 nm to 100 nm), the objects may display physical attributes different from bulk materials, this can lead to new technological opportunities as well as new challenges.

How small is "nano"

From the picture, It clearly see that how small is "nano". Hair is about 60000-120000 nm. Nano almost as wide as a DNA molecule .The smallest lithographic feature on a Pentium computer chip is about 100 nanometers.

Some present and future applications of nanomaterials

Electronics and optoelectronics
- Inorganic nanomaterials for high definition television and panel displays
- Three-dimensional optical memories
- The next-generation computer chips
- Semiconductor devices
- Electrically conducting nanoceramics

Manetic Application
- magnetic memories
- magnetorestrictive materials
- resisters and varistors
- high temperature superconductors

Energy storage
- high energy density batteries
- better thermal or electrical insulation materials
- solar cells
- hydrogen storage materials

In gas sensing devices
- gas sensors for NOx, SOx, CO2, CO, CH4 and aromatic hydrocarbon
- UV sensors

Protection coating
- cost-effective corrosion protection materials

Medical application
- bio-compatible coating for medical applications
- controlled drug release and drug delivery

Catalysis
- photocatalyst for air or water purifying
- better activity and selectivity in chemical reactions and fuel cells