Atomic force microscopy (AFM): used for imaging, visualizing, taking measures and manipulating objects in nanometer scale. The device has a mechanical probe that senses the material placed on its surface (John 1).
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM): the STM is used to perform atomic level imaging of surfaces. Its lateral resolution is about 0.1 nanometers while its depth resolution is around 0.01 nanometers. This measure suffices in manipulating an image that is good enough (John 1).
Nanoimpellers: Tubes made from light-sensitive silica. They are used to carry cancer-killing medication and target only cancer cells. These nanoimpellers are injected in vitro into human cancer cells. When light hits the silica, tiny tails located inside the tubes swing back and forth. This generates a micro-current that initiates the release of the drugs from the tube.
Nanobots: These are microscopic robots (size 10-9). They are 1.5 nanometers in width and are capable of counting particular molecules in a given chemical sample. Nanorobots are designed to work in large numbers due to their microscopic size. Nanorobots can replicate using resources in their immediate environment. Their applications include: detection of the toxic substances in the environment; biomedical instrumentation; and drug delivery (Kumar 24).
Carbon nanotubes: These are carbon allotropes which have a cylindrical structure. They have a length-to-diameter ration of 132 x106: 1. Nanotubes belong to the structural family known as fullerene. The properties of nanotubes include: high strength; membrane penetration ability which makes them applicable for cancer treatment; electrical resistance (Heinzelmann 3).
Nanorods: they are a variety of nanoscale objects whose dimensions are between 1-100nm. They may be developed from semiconductor materials and metallic metals.
There are different approaches in nanotechnology. First the bottoms up approach is where different devices and materials are made up from molecular elements of their own. They assemble themselves by identifying molecules of their own version. Examples include nano-lithography and Watson Crick base type of pairing. Secondly, the top-down approach is the process where nano materials and objects are developed by larger entities without causing the atomic reactions to bounce. Solid state techniques may be used to create devices which are known as nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). These are closely linked to Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) (Heinzelmann 3). These became practical after engineers were able to create them using semiconductor device fabrication methods which were modified. Materials used for this include silver ion for its healing property; zinc oxide for its ability to repel dirt; aluminum silicate for its scratch resistance and gold ion for its drug delivery capabilities.
Nano technology is used in different areas. These include energy production, nano devices, nonbio-technology, drugs and medicine, defense and security, cosmetics and nano-fabrics. Nano-technology is used in cancer medication (Sridharan 2). It is used to deliver drugs and for drug therapies. These therapies enable medication to be delivered with precision to the required location. The drug is then attached to the nanosized carrier. The carrier is localized at the site of cancer cells i.e tumor. The carrier releases the medicine at the required rate to kill the cancer tumor. In addition, nanobots help to clear out arteries which are blocked. In fabricssome manufacturers have added nano-components to improve the performance of conventional materials (Seolatur 1; Nanowerk.com 1). Clothes can be made stain resistance through use of nano-whiskers which cause fluids to form beads on the surface. Bullet proof jackets may also be manufactured. In mobile telephony, nanotechnology promises a great deal of potential in developing special mobile devices with features such as stretching or bending.
Work Cited
Heinzelmann, Harry . "Nanotechnology Tools for Life Sciences." Nanotechnology and Life Sciences 2.3 (2010): 1-10. Print.
John. "Electronic Circuits and Diagram-Electronics Projects and Design." Electronic Circuits and Diagram Electronics Projects and Design RSS. Version 1. circuitstoday.com, 3 Feb. 2012. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. <http://www.circuitstoday.com/nanotechnology-tools-and-instruments>.
Kumar, Challa S.s.r.. "Nanotechnology tools in pharmaceutical R&D." Materials Today 12.2 (2010): 24-30. Print.
Seolatur . "Nanotechnology." Tools and techniques. Version 1. Tools and techniques, 4 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. <http://info-nanotechnology.blogspot.com/2008/09/tools-and-techniques.html>.
Sridharan, G, R Kannangai, Am Abraham, and S Sankar. "Nanotechnology tools for single-virus particle detection." Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 28.2 (2010): 95. Print.
Nanowerk.com. "New tools for nanotechnology - characterizing nanoparticle interactions." New tools for nanotechnology - characterizing nanoparticle interactions. Version 1. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology_news/newsid=33815.php>.
