Science - Institute of Physics: Nanotechnology

Perfect lenses,smart textiles,biomedical sensors a documentary on nanotechnology. Each day we are able to see visible light defraction through various objects. For example, when we see rainbows or sunlight shining through a swimming pool the light bends in a different direction. Yet, there are objects too small for us to see with the naked eye that are able to defract different forms of light. Butterflies wings are made up of tiny structures, which on the nanoscale are able to defract microwaves. Microwaves are another form of light on the electromagnetic spectrum that humans are unable to see. But on the nanoscale, tiny structures like the ones that make up butterflies wings can defract this form of light. When these nanostructures are metalized, they have very interesting properties of interference and defraction. They will scatter microwaves in opposite directions and will be very useful in the field of RFID tagging. RFID or Radio Frequency Identification tagging is the process of using radio waves for tracking purposes, record keeping and stock checking etc. The current use of RFID tagging yields only a 70% success rate , whereas with the use of nanotechnology and metamaterials in creating structure metal surfaces in RFID tagging, we can achieve a success rate of 99.9%.When you look through a prism, light bends a certain way, but the theory of the perfect lens proposes that you can get light to bend the other way if you so wanted, this is referred to as a negative refractive index.All objects in nature, like water, have a positive refractive index, and bends the light at an angle. But if an object were to have a negative refractive index, then the light would bend in the opposite direction. The uses for the perfect lens would be to be able to view objects that you normally would not be able to see, objects on the nanoscale. With this technology, we may be able to easily view nanoparticles within a cell.Nanotechnology is also being studied and experimented in the field of textiles and clothes design. Scientists are working on manipulating tiny fibers on the nanoscale. For example, they are able to create cotton to kill bacteria or the conduct electricity, or to serve as an electrochemical transistor. The ability to create unique interactivity in clothing is the future of nanotechnology in smart textiles. Researchers are working on clothing that would never get dirty, or clothing that acts as a wireless electronic sensor, garments as a second skin, and other unique functionalities in clothing.Nanotechnology based chemotherapy, and molecular cancer therapy will play a huge role in the future of anti cancer treatment. When traditional cancer treatments fail, doctors begin to look for alternatives to these treatments, and the field of nanotechnology appears to be one of the most promising options.Sensors for biomedical applications are another advantageous prospect to have emerged from nanotechnology. A practical and user friendly biosensing system should be small, use little power, utilize minimal chemical resources, provide quick analysis, prevent false alarms, able to detect multiple objectives, continuously reliable, low cost, and be able to be produced on a large scale. These and other examples of nanotechnology and metamaterials, are proving the enormous potential for advances in science and medicine for our future.