Nanotech Blog

Intellectual Property and Nanotechnology

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:15:00 +0000

Though nanotechnology is casting a positive effect on the whole world but at the same time is stretching the limits of intellectual property law. Nanotechnology is already witnessing shifts in the manner in which intellectual property is being administered. Mark Lemley, Professor, Stanford Law School said: Universities and companies seem to think there is something quite significant going on here, because they are rushing to the patent office in record numbers to patent nanotechnology inventions. There are a number of questions which are popping up such as legal classification of new technologies, benefits from fundamental innovation and a host of other questions. There is more to it than just an intellectual legal exercise and in case a right path is not found it could affect the developments in the field of nanotechnology related to cancer and other diseases.

Nanotechnology Based Fuel Cells to Meet Our Energy Requirements

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:12:00 +0000

We cannot live without energy and it is one of the most important things for the survival of human beings on planet earth. Do you know that our planet earth gets more than ten thousand times energy which we require but unfortunately we all are not able to capture it for our welfare? In the future expect full nanotechnology based assembly of macro objects at the nano scale level which would be controlled by parallel information processes. Within the next twenty years our energy needs are expected to triple but by then we will be able to capture .0003 of the sunlight required for our energy needs in an inexpensive and efficient manner using nano engineered solar panels. Our requirements for energy are growing everyday and this is serving as a motivation to meet our energy needs and save the precious money that we spend every year to meet them.

Nanotechnology to aid in dividing HVAC energy Use

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:10:00 +0000

The recent development by a company that specializes in nanotechnology claims that it could make HVACR equipment up to 50% more efficient. The company is all set to set up their headquarters in Cambridge. The investment by the Danish companies NIL Technology and the US Bridgehead Group in UK that owns the Airnacon company has set up Airnatech. The concept of the nano copper technology has been developed by Dr J H Lee. He is an ex-NASA scientist and has developed the powerless cooling technology for the US space shuttle. Dr. Lee has spearheaded the development of the copper that is used in the heat exchangers, while the nano structures that go inside the copper will be provided by NIL technology. As per the company the copper is up to 40 times more effective in transmitting heat than the conventional copper that is used. This will help in reducing the amount of power needed and will therefore help in reducing the energy that is consumed by the air conditioners across the globe.

Nano Coaxial Cable to Transmit Visible Light

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:09:00 +0000

Coaxial cables are usually found in some parts of Asia to transmit signals from a cable TV provider to your home. But this one is much thinner than that. A team of researchers have developed a wire only 300-nanometers wide that we can say is much thinner than the width of human hair to transmit visible portion of light. The cable has an inner copper wire that is surrounded by an insulator and then an outer wire of aluminum. The setup allows visible light to pass through it. The wire can be used in high efficiency solar energy cells. But the main use of the wires is in the field of medical science as the wires are so thin that they can easily be used for retinal implants. The availability is not yet decided by the researchers but if we see the size and the possibilities of applications we can say that the wires will find a very good market on their release.

Nanotechnology making soldiers’ life easier

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:09:00 +0000

One of the areas where nanotechnology is creating ripples is the defence sector where it has made the lives of soldiers quite easy. Their equipments have been miniaturized, are light, consume less energy and can be easily be concealed. Also nanotechnology is developing new materials for military purposes. One of the institutions is Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at MIT which has long term plans for using nanotechnology for the benefits of the soldiers. They want to come up with a modern battle suit which would be a combination of high tech capabilities and comfort. These battle suits will be able to provide protection against bullets, toxins, monitor vital signs and administer first aid if required. These suits will enable silent communication among soldiers and the polymer molecular muscle ribbons would magnify the strength of a soldier up till ten times. It seems the modern soldier would not be less than James Bond of today.

Nanotechnology holds the key to destroy brain tumor

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:08:00 +0000

Up till now it was quite a difficult job to treat brain tumor and surgery was also not possible due to the location of the tumor in critical regions. At times even the detection of brain tumor becomes a headache due to their size but now all this will be a thing of the past as researchers in the field of nanotechnology are working to develop a smart drug which will destroy the tumors. Nanoparticles would be able to locate the cancer dells and destroy them with just a single cell precision but one of the challenging aspects in this whole process would be the blood brain barrier and crossing it might pose some risks. It is expected that the novel targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery systems will easily cross the barrier and hence make treatment of brain cancer a reality. Researchers from around the world have described novel nanoparticles which would transport drugs to the brain and penetrate the blood brain barrier and this is being viewed as a critical step in detection of diseases related to the brain.

NanoMission makes you learn nanotechnology while gaming

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:08:00 +0000

Wanna play games with nanotechnology? PlayGen and Cientifica have made available playable demo of NanoMission. With NanoMission players get to learn about the basic concepts in nanoscience with the aid of real world practical applications ranging from microelectronics to drug delivery. The game is in a demo version in which the first module, nanomedicine asks the players to select a suitable vehicle for delivering anti cancer compound and then navigating through the bloodstream to the site of the tumor and in the process avoids the natural defense mechanism of the body. Nanomission demonstrates how nano scientists are gaining from nature for production of viable drug delivery mechanism for the market of today. With the interest of students declining in general science subjects, PlayGen has made an effort towards familiarizing students with nanotechnology and inspiring them to adopt nanotechnology as a career. With the game specifically targeted at teenagers it would certainly help in creating an interest in this new technology.

Wrinkled skin can be controlled with nanotechnology

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:07:00 +0000

Age is catching up and you just can’t stand the wrinkles on your face? Don’t worry as you are one among the millions of people around the world who are worried about getting old. For all you people nanotechnology could be a blessing in disguise because researchers who had created a method using which thin polymer films could be prevented from buckling have now stated that the same method could be deployed for preventing the human skin to wrinkle. The founder of Wrinkle-Free Nanomechanical Film, Ilsoon Lee states that sufficient concentration of nanoparticles might be beneficial in controlling wrinkles on the face. He says that the same principal behind the wrinkle free polymer film can be applied to human skin. Though skin is more complicated when compared with polymer films but the same principle could be implemented in cosmetics or an implantable device for preventing wrinkles on the face but before all this happens nanoparticles would have to get a clearance for toxicity so that people stay younger for a longer time.

Nanodiamonds not toxic, claim researchers

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000

Diamond nanoparticles attractive properties will now be put to a better use. Recent research studies have indicated that nanodiamonds could act as drug carriers, nanorobots, implant coatings and a host of other medical applications. With advanced researches you can now get a range of next generation diamonds. Its a know fact that diamonds in their bulk form are biocompatible and inert and at times nano materials tend to behave in a different manner when compared with their bulk counterparts and this created a fear that diamond nanoparticles might create a toxic effects on cells. Researchers were able to assess the cytotoxicity of nanodiamonds and found out that nanodiamonds were not toxic to a range of different cell types and this made them come to a conclusion that nanodiamonds could be used for a number of biological applications in a variety of cell types. It seems that after this research nanodiamonds would be used to their full potential.

Nano Tag prevents subsidized diesel from reaching commercial establishments in Malaysia

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000

Don’t even think of using subsidized diesel for commercial purposes as the Malaysian government is using nanotechnology for preventing abuse of subsidized diesel. The government is mixing a liquid called Nano Tag with subsidized diesel and it can be easily detected with the help of special devices. Subsidized diesel is meant for public transport operators and fishermen and commercial establishments are prohibited from using this diesel. In case a commercial establishment is found in possession of subsidized diesel legal action can be taken against them. The government was fed up with subsidized diesel reaching wrong hands and hence in September last year the government started tagging subsidized diesel and now it has become quite easy for it to detect subsidized diesel at commercial establishments in a matter of time and hence prevent this illegal practice. With nanotechnology Malaysian government has succeeded in putting this practice to an end.