Abstract
Nanotechnology in general and as it relates to drug delivery in humans has been reviewed in a two-part article, the first part of which is this paper. In this paper, nanotechnology in nature, history of nanotechnology and methods of synthesis are discussed, while also outlining its applications, benefits and risks. Nanotechnology is an industrial revolution, based on integration of disciplines that could change every facet of human life. Some examples ofchanges brought about by reduction in particle sizes to the physical, chemical and biological properties of substances, compounds and drug products have been cited. The benefits of nanotechnology are enormous and so these benefits should be maximized while efforts are made to reduce the risks.
Highlights
DefinitionNanotechnology can be defined as the technology at the scale of one-billionth of a metre
Nanotechnology is employed to describe materials, devices and systems with structures and components exhibiting new and significantly improved physical, chemical and biological properties as well as the phenomena and processes enabled by the ability to control properties at nanoscale[4]
The changes in properties are due to increase in surface area and dominance of quantum effects which is associated with very small sizes and large surface area to volume ratio[5]
Summary
Nanotechnology can be defined as the technology at the scale of one-billionth of a metre. Research presently seeks systematic approaches to fabricate man-made objects at nanoscale and to incorporate nanostructures into macrostructures as nature does[3,19,23] Such approaches and concept - which may differ from the living systems in aqueous medium - as self-assembly, templating of atomic and molecular structures on other nanostructures, interaction on surfaces of various shapes, self repair and integration on multiple length scales may be utilized as models[3,19]. Feynman is stated to have noted that the capabilities of atom-byatom assembly and nanoengineering could lead to new materials and pathways similar to the biological system[27] He presented a technological vision of miniaturization of materials, manipulating and controlling things on a small scale called “Nanotechnology”. In 1991, Saumio Iijima discovered carbon nanotubes and by 2000, the United States government launched the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI – a Federal visionary research and development programme for nanotechnology-based investments through the coordination of 16 various US departments and independent agencies) and these paved way for the progress in research and development in the field of nanotechnology[4,27,36]
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