Author: Vincent Guo
Editors: Elizabeth Li, Yueshan Yu, and Justin Tai
Artist: Esther Chen
Nanomaterials are all around us and have many benefits in our lives. They are composed of many nanoparticles–tiny particles–ranging in size from one nanometer to a hundred nanometers. It would take one billion nanometers to equal one meter. Nanoparticles are naturally found in nature. Natural nanoparticles can be found in aerosols of salt emitted from the sea or the smoke of volcanoes; however, some particles emitted from volcanoes can be harmful to human health. These particles can also be artificially created by humans. Some ways nanoparticles are created include various industries such as water waste management and healthcare, as well as some vehicle emissions. However, the amount of nanoparticles emitted naturally is greater than those created artificially. These nanoparticles can have positive and negative effects on the environment. Both naturally and artificially emitted nanoparticles can spread chemical pollution into lakes and negatively impact microbial colonies. These microbial colonies are important for ecosystem diversity. On the positive side, nanoparticles can also help prevent the spread of chemical pollution. They can be used to create nanomaterials that can turn solid waste and pollutants in the air into beneficial products.
In the food industry, nanoparticles are used to control the atmosphere of the packaged food, ensuring that the food stays fresh and safe from microbial contamination. Nanoparticles are used in food because, when burned, they do not release as many harmful fumes as additives. Additives are substances used to preserve food, making it last longer and stay fresh.
Materials created from nanoparticles are important in creating batteries. Nanoparticles' high surface area can store electrical charge, such as ions and electrons. Nanoparticles are also used in ceramics to improve resilience against breaking, as ceramic is prone to breaking easily.
Additionally, nanoparticles have a huge effect on the medical field. Their small size allows them to circulate throughout the body easily and enter cells, making them useful for delivering drugs efficiently. They can also be used to enhance pictures, changing the contrast of the pictures and making tumors easier to detect. Apart from locating tumors, nanoparticles can also be utilized to destroy them. Furthermore, nanoparticles are also being used in ultrasounds. These particles can slowly release the drugs and deliver them directly to the brain. When fully developed, this technology could be used to treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nanoparticles are also being used to repair bones and tissues, with biocompatibility being an important characteristic to ensure that the materials added into the body won't negatively affect it.
Nanoparticles are also used in health-related items like sunscreen, which can block harmful UV rays. Traditional sunscreen contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which, when in contact with water, can create radicals that damage skin cells and even DNA. There are concerns about the use of nanoparticles, and further research is needed to determine any potential negative effect of nanoparticles inside the human body. There are also concerns about the creation of sterile nanoparticles for use in the medical field.
Nanoparticles can be produced through many methods including comminution (crushing or pulverizing the material), sol-gel synthesis (creating inorganic material), and incineration (by industrial milling or natural weathering). Among these methods, comminution is the most common way to create nanoparticles. However, it is inefficient while creating titania comminution. One example of the method is the creation of titania nanoparticles, which are commonly used in sunscreen.
Finding nanoparticles can be challenging since due to their small size; the naked human eye cannot see them without special equipment. Microscopes are used to observe nanoparticles in solutions and under certain conditions. Specialized high-tech microscopes, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), are used to visualize the shape and size of nanoparticles.
Additional research is needed on nanomaterials, as our current knowledge is limited. Nanomaterials have great potential in medical fields, such as advancing biological devices that could help monitor patients in hospitals more effectively. Overall, nanomaterials have the potential to significantly impact human lives.
Citations:
Maha M. El-Kady a, et al. “Nanomaterials: A Comprehensive Review of Applications,
Toxicity, Impact, and Fate to Environment.” Journal of Molecular Liquids, Elsevier, 12
“Nanoparticle Applications in Medicine.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia
Britannica, inc., 10 Aug. 2024, www.britannica.com/science/nanoparticle/Nanoparticle-
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