Unit 8: NanoTech + Art

Before this lecture, I was unaware of the complexity of nanotechnology and the vast potential it has to change our world. I have quickly learned that “Nanotechnology is what is going to push us over into the 21st century” because every aspect of our world is somehow impacted by nanostructures and nanoparticles (Vesna).  Nanotechnology already has huge hand in agriculture, food processing and packaging (Gimzewski). However, the exciting up-and-coming technologies in this field are those of nano medicine.

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/how-nanotechnology-is-revolutionising-medical-diagnostics/1002893.article

Jim Gimzewski of UCLA’s CNSI discussed how nanoparticles are currently being used to create new medicines and drugs to cure diseases, form new therapies and make existing therapies more effective (Gimzewski). For example, the UCLA CNSI is currently developing stronger and more effective methods to treat pancreatic cancer, where a “specially-designed mesoporous silica nanoparticle” causes the pancreatic tumor to shrink (UCLA Newsroom). By this, a patient can receive a smaller dosage, reducing costs and side effects (UCLA Newsroom).

https://pancreas.b.uib.no/pancreatic-cancer/

Other research centers and universities are actively researching nanotechnology to improve human life. Over the last few years, nanoshells were invented at Rice University by Naomi Halas and Jennifer West (Rice News). The new technology was picked up by the Cancer Center Treatment of America for a trial with lung cancer (Rice News). As explained by Professor Gimzewski, nanoshells are injected into the bloodstream to target a specific cell in the body; a light treatment heats up the cell and can kill off the diseased tissue (Gimzewski). The scientists of Rice University claim that nanoshells are a breakthrough discovery because of their ability to “destroy tumors with minimal damage to healthy tissues” (Rice News).

The following video shows the gold nanoshells destroying a tumor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz77srVZhcI

http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/07_03/nanoshells.shtml

Nanotechnology, specifically that of nanomedicine, is considered art because the transforming technology is enhancing our quality of life. Nanomedicine allows a faster diagnosis, more precise treatments, intense tissue repair, and only targets the diseased organs while leaving healthy ones unaffected (The Future of Medicine).

Citations:

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web.

"Gold Nanoshells Fabrication." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web.

"Nanomedicine: The Future of Medicine." Associates Degree in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Nanoshell Therapy to Be Tested in Lung Cancer Clinical Trial." Rice University News. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Nanotechnology Platform Shows Promise for Treating Pancreatic Cancer." Nanotechnology Platform Shows Promise for Treating Pancreatic Cancer. N.p., n.d. Web

Vesna, Victoria. "Nanotech Intro." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web.