Commercialization Of Nanotechnology Research Articles

Advancing risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials using deep learning approach

Nanotechnology is a novel technology that develops material at a size of 100 nm or less which has become beneficial in various human endeavors because of its unique characteristic features. Nano-materials are utilized in medicine, Engineering, and agricultural industries. The unique properties of these materials are applied for beneficial purposes and at the same time may also have negative toxicological and environmental impacts. Considering the impacts on the environment and human health, nanomaterials could be harmful because they are easily distributed through the environment, aquatic, and human systems. Particularly in human body system, the unique properties have made its transportation and distribution through the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract very easy. However, several toxicological studies have shown considerable inherent toxicity of some nano-particles to living organisms, and their negative and harmful effects on the environment and aquatic systems for which both quantitative structure activity relationship and relatively tedious animal testing procedures are available in various literatures for their characterization. Because of the large number of nanoparticles manufactured with the different intrinsic properties especially sizes and coatings, there is therefore need to explore an alternative approach that will not necessitate conducting test on every nano-particle produced. It is the apprehensions of these potentially harmful effects of nanomaterials that constitute serious setback to nanotechnology commercialization. The objective of the study is to develop intelligent models to assess, evaluate, and manage the inherent risks. In view of these side effects, there is therefore the need to design and develop classification and nanomaterials toxicity predictive models using deep learning intelligent systems. This paper, therefore, focuses on the capability of deep learning techniques to model physicochemical properties and toxic effects of nanomaterials. Hence, the main motivation of this research work is to assist the users of nanomaterials in classifying, assessing and determining the risk of nanomaterials toxicity.

PRIORITY DIRECTIONS OF TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT NANO EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

According to the analysis of literature sources [1-17], the general and textile types of nanoeducation described in them are characterized by considerable diversity in Ukraine. Therefore, in order to identify the priority of development of the most promising types of nanoeducation, we consider it appropriate to give a brief annotation of our selected literature sources. The main producers of nanotechnologies in Ukraine are the institutions of the academic sector of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as they currently perform the bulk of research on the range, properties, quality and safety of nanoproducts in Ukraine. The interuniversity nanotechnology network could unite organizations of different forms of ownership that provide and carry out coordinated activities for the development and commercialization of nanotechnology and training for the needs of real production in each region. The development of nanoeducation in the country should begin with the financial support of the state and existing industries of each region of the relevant free economic zones and their units, as well as with the adaptation of world experience of countries that already produce competitive new generation products. The primary task of nanoeducation is the creation and appropriate equipment of scientific and educational nanotechnological centers of free economic education, which provide training, retraining and advanced training of specialists. This paper presents the classification of the main directions of nanoeducation development in Ukraine and substantiates the expediency of determining their priority and strategic directions. The possibility of expanding the directions of development of textile nanoeducation in Ukraine by: optimizing the structure of the range and properties of certain types of nanotextiles and clothing, improving methods for assessing their quality and safety, expanding the scope. The expediency of unification of requirements to the directions of development of nanotechnologies, nanosciences and nanosciences is substantiated. The directions of staffing the development of nanoeducation in Ukraine by studying the relevant training of specialists in the relevant universities of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine have been studied and substantiated. The need to develop in Ukraine theoretical and methodological foundations for the formation of textile nanoeducation has been studied and substantiated. The expediency of creating specialized laboratories for the study of textile nanomaterials for interactive purposes is substantiated.

Aquatic Toxicity Effects and Risk Assessment of 'Form Specific' Product-Released Engineered Nanomaterials.

The study investigated the toxicity effects of ‘form specific’ engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and ions released from nano-enabled products (NEPs), namely sunscreens, sanitisers, body creams and socks on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Spirodela polyrhiza, and Daphnia magna. Additionally, risk estimation emanating from the exposures was undertaken. The ENMs and the ions released from the products both contributed to the effects to varying extents, with neither being a uniform principal toxicity agent across the exposures; however, the effects were either synergistic or antagonistic. D. magna and S. polyrhiza were the most sensitive and least sensitive test organisms, respectively. The most toxic effects were from ENMs and ions released from sanitisers and sunscreens, whereas body creams and sock counterparts caused negligible effects. The internalisation of the ENMs from the sunscreens could not be established; only adsorption on the biota was evident. It was established that ENMs and ions released from products pose no imminent risk to ecosystems; instead, small to significant adverse effects are expected in the worst-case exposure scenario. The study demonstrates that while ENMs from products may not be considered to pose an imminent risk, increasing nanotechnology commercialization may increase their environmental exposure and risk potential; therefore, priority exposure cases need to be examined.

Ecotoxicological read-across models for predicting acute toxicity of freshly dispersed versus medium-aged NMs to Daphnia magna

Nanoinformatics models to predict the toxicity/ecotoxicity of nanomaterials (NMs) are urgently needed to support commercialization of nanotechnologies and allow grouping of NMs based on their physico-chemical and/or (eco)toxicological properties, to facilitate read-across of knowledge from data-rich NMs to data-poor ones. Here we present the first ecotoxicological read-across models for predicting NMs ecotoxicity, which were developed in accordance with ECHA's recommended strategy for grouping of NMs as a means to explore in silico the effects of a panel of freshly dispersed versus environmentally aged (in various media) Ag and TiO2 NMs on the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna, a keystone species used in regulatory testing. The dataset used to develop the models consisted of dose-response data from 11 NMs (5 TiO2 NMs of identical cores with different coatings, and 6 Ag NMs with different capping agents/coatings) each dispersed in three different media (a high hardness medium (HH Combo) and two representative river waters containing different amounts of natural organic matter (NOM) and having different ionic strengths), generated in accordance with the OECD 202 immobilization test. The experimental hypotheses being tested were (1) that the presence of NOM in the medium would reduce the toxicity of the NMs by forming an ecological corona, and (2) that environmental ageing of NMs reduces their toxicity compared to the freshly dispersed NMs irrespective of the medium composition (salt only or NOM-containing). As per the ECHA guidance, the NMs were grouped into two categories - freshly dispersed and 2-year-aged and explored in silico to identify the most important features driving the toxicity in each group. The final predictive models have been validated according to the OECD criteria and a QSAR model report form (QMRF) report included in the supplementary information to support adoption of the models for regulatory purposes.

Nanotechnology and Protection of Intellectual Property: Emerging Trends.

Technology experts foresee that nanotechnology is the next industrial revolution and it has great potential to bring solutions to many challenges of global relevance in terms of a diverse range of applications. Efficiency-driven economies are transforming into innovation-driven economies where Intellectual Property (IP) plays a pivotal role in achieving a competitive advantage. Whereas industry analysts assert that IP roadblocks will be a severe detriment to the development of nanotechnology due to infringements and high-profile patent battles. Various authors have made a significant effort to analyse the implications of IP on nanotechnology but most of the published literature covers only the years 2000- 2010. Data and insights pertaining to recent developments are lagging behind. Therefore, the objective of this review was to explore cutting-edge empirical evidence towards emerging trends of Intellectual Property protection in nanotechnology, thereby to provide insights aimed at unleashing the full potential of nanotechnology innovation for socio-economic advantage. Patent information over the period 2000 to 2018 was collated and analysed to determine the latest trends. To gain a global perspective, nanotechnology patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and nanotechnology patents published in the 'PatentScope' of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) were surveyed along with literature in relation to nanotechnology commercialization and litigation. Our study revealed that worldwide protection of Intellectual Property in nanotechnology has steadily been increasing year-on-year accounting 3.3 million patent applications filed in 2018 in which China and U.S. are dominating. The other main contributors are Japan, Germany Republic of Korea, France and U.K. Asia has emerged as the single region to file more than half of total filings for the first time thus shifting global IP landscape from Europe to Asia. Another notable finding is that there is a significant growth in trademark registration in many of the leading economies. Top five technology fields with high international patenting activity are computer technology, medical technology, digital communication, electrical machinery and pharmaceuticals where computer technology is dominating. More than 90% of the total patents are granted on materials, devices and processes developed as basic building blocks of nanotechnology at laboratory level which sound as more downstream innovations in the short-term. Amid the upward trends in nanotechnology patenting, newly emerging obstacles pose risks to innovation. A key finding of the present study is that the increasing trend of patent litigation almost follows the same path of patent grants indicating a positive correlation. A global prominence of middle-income and low-income countries in patent filing is yet to emerge which foreshadows an IP divide. A secondary market for patent assets is pronounced with many new types of players leading to a high cost of patenting nanotechnology. These trends foreshadow a surge of patent filings in the years to come and.the patent offices will be confronted with that 'surge' of patent applications of increased complexity and multidisciplinary nature..Patent offices with inadequate efficacy will ultimately produce lowquality patents along with a difficulty to enter into markets and will facilitate exploiting of the IP legal systems to extract rewards for infringement without contributing to innovation or social prosperity of nations. Insights and recommendations given in this paper will enable nanotechnology researchers, inventors, technopreneurs and investors to understand recent trends and global perspectives on implications of IP in nanotechnology and intensifying IP battle thereby to contemplate and succeed in their roadmaps towards leveraging on nanotechnology.

Prospects for the development of innovative nano- and biotechnologies

Nano- and biotechnologies are the key elements of the complex of NBIC-technologies, developed within the concept of continuous growth of innovations in the context of the transition to the sixth technological mode. The purpose of the article is to study the prospects for the development of nano- and biotechnologies in various sectors of the economy, as well as explore opportunities for accelerating the commercialization of research results in these areas. The article’s relevance is confirmed by the strengthening of the role of nano- and biotechnologies in the sphere of innovation development of countries worldwide. The results of the study have shown that the nanotechnology market has a divergent structure, and the basic characteristic of nanoproducts is their interdisciplinary nature. The world leaders in the production and commercialization of nanotechnologies are the United States, China, Japan, Germany and South Korea. Biotechnologies are developing rapidly as well. Worldwide, the largest number of biotechnologies is created in areas such as health care (biomedicine and biopharmaceuticals), industry and agriculture. The leading countries in the field of development and commercialization of biotechnologies are the United States, France, Germany and South Korea.

From lab to market: Strategies to nanotechnology commercialization in Africa

From lab to market: Strategies to nanotechnology commercialization in Africa

Electrochemical nanoimprinting of silicon

Scalable nanomanufacturing enables the commercialization of nanotechnology, particularly in applications such as nanophotonics, silicon photonics, photovoltaics, and biosensing. Nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) was the first scalable process to introduce 3D nanopatterning of polymeric films. Despite efforts to extend NIL's library of patternable media, imprinting of inorganic semiconductors has been plagued by concomitant generation of crystallography defects during imprinting. Here, we use an electrochemical nanoimprinting process-called Mac-Imprint-for directly patterning electronic-grade silicon with 3D microscale features. It is shown that stamps made of mesoporous metal catalysts allow for imprinting electronic-grade silicon without the concomitant generation of porous silicon damage while introducing mesoscale roughness. Unlike most NIL processes, Mac-Imprint does not rely on plastic deformation, and thus, it allows for replicating hard and brittle materials, such as silicon, from a reusable polymeric mold, which can be manufactured by almost any existing microfabrication technique.

Improved Chemical and Colloidal Stability of Gold Nanoparticles through Dendron Capping

Nanoparticle (NP) stability is imperative for commercialization of nanotechnology. In this study, we compare the stability of Au NPs with surfaces functionalized with oleylamine, dodecanethiol, and two dendritic ligands of different generations. Dendrimer ligands provide a significant increase in the chemical stability of Au NPs when analyzed by cyanide-induced NP decomposition as well as an investigation into their colloidal stability at ambient conditions. These results were supported by absorption measurements, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and small-angle transmission X-ray scattering and show that dendrimers play a key role in improving the chemical and colloidal stability of NPs.

Nanotechnology Commercialization: Manufacturing Processes and Products

Nanotechnology Commercialization: Manufacturing Processes and Products

Exploring public values implications of the I-Corps program

This paper examines how the concept of public values can be operationalized in an ongoing public initiative to stimulate innovation in an emerging technology. Our study focuses on Innovation Corps (I-Corps)—a program initiated in 2011 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to accelerate the process of commercializing science-driven discoveries. The I-Corps method has since spread rapidly across multiple US agencies. Separately, there has also been heightened attention to the early anticipation and mitigation of the implications of emerging science and technology. Drawing on the case of nanotechnology, the paper considers how public values related to nanotechnology commercialization can be integrated alongside the fast start-up procedures embedded in I-Corps. We use a public values framework to pose societal impact questions that can be probed in parallel with the current I-Corps process, highlighting values such as identification of societal problems that the technology might potentially address; types of potential customers likely to be overlooked; groups who might oppose the application as well as those who might support it; and potential environmental, health, and safety risks. The paper discusses the challenges of adding specifications related to equity as well as safety in efforts to foster rapid commercialization and considers how these can be integrated within the I-Corps approach.

Nanotechnology Innovations and Commercialization – Opportunities, Challenges & Reasons for Delay

Innovations in nanotechnology are making a revolution in manufacturing and production, creating new materials and products through novel processes for commercial applications. New products based on nanotechnology with novel characteristics are continued to grow and benefit the society. Being general purpose technology, nanotechnology is expected to support all fields of the society, but some fields like medicine, energy, environmental remediation, robotics, manufacturing, commerce, and space exploration are expected to undergo explosive developments. In this paper, we made a detailed analysis of advantages, benefits, constraints, and disadvantages of progress in nanotechnology for the society and discussed the reason for the failure of estimated timeline for realizing various generations of progress and proposed a modified timeframe for anticipated nanotechnology innovations. Based on the business perspective, we have developed a nanotechnology products/services commercialization model and discussed the opportunities for nanotechnology commercialization. The paper also contains a detailed analysis of common commercialization challenges faced by nanotechnology firms including time lag, the valley of death, lack of infrastructure, lack of a standard for evaluation, bureaucratic delays, the dearth of funding, and lack of trained professionals, brand image, and public support. Finally, we have mentioned how the various corporate business strategies can be used in the successful business of nanotechnology products and services.

Nanotechnology Innovations and Commercialization-Opportunities, Challenges & Reasons for Delay

Innovations in nanotechnology are making a revolution in manufacturing and production, creating new materials and products through novel processes for commercial applications. New products based on nanotechnology with novel characteristics are continued to grow and benefit the society. Being general purpose technology, nanotechnology is expected to support all fields of the society, but some fields like medicine, energy, environmental remediation, robotics, manufacturing, commerce, and space exploration are expected to undergo explosive developments. In this paper, we made a detailed analysis of advantages, benefits, constraints, and disadvantages of progress in nanotechnology for the society and discussed the reason for the failure of estimated timeline for realizing various generations of progress and proposed a modified timeframe for anticipated nanotechnology innovations. Based on the business perspective, we have developed a nanotechnology products/services commercialization model and discussed the opportunities for nanotechnology commercialization. The paper also contains a detailed analysis of common commercialization challenges faced by nanotechnology firms including time lag, valley of death, lack of infrastructure, lack of standard for evaluation, bureaucratic delays, dearth of funding, and lack of trained professionals, brand image, and public support. Finally, we have mentioned how the various corporate business strategies can be used in the successful business of nanotechnology products and services.

Superseding the Hourglass Effect Toward the Successful Commercialization of Nanotechnology in the Medical Sciences - We Require a Change in Perspective.

Nanotechnology and, specifically, nanomedicine has been touted as the next breakthrough technology for medical sciences. Although there are large advances being seen in the preclinical phases of development, there is still a paucity of viable and effective nanomedicine technologies in the clinical setting. We attempt to provide some suggestions as to the stumbling blocks of meaningful translation of this technology from the bench to the bedside. We give due consideration to the role of evidence-based medicine, regulatory pathways, and the commercialization efforts of nanomedicine at various stages in playing key roles in moving this technology into clinical use.

Nanotechnology documentary standards

This paper adds to the nascent economics literature about nanotechnology by estimating industry’s benefits and costs for the early investments in documentary standards that support the commercialization of nanotechnology, by identifying barriers to the successful development and use of the nanotechnology documentary standards, and by providing public policy recommendations to overcome the barriers.

Toward the Responsible Development and Commercialization of Sensor Nanotechnologies.

Nanotechnology-enabled sensors (or nanosensors) will play an important role in enabling the progression toward ubiquitous information systems as the Internet of Things (IoT) emerges. Nanosensors offer new, miniaturized solutions in physiochemical and biological sensing that enable increased sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing capability, all with the compelling economic drivers of low cost and high-energy efficiency. In the United States, Federal agencies participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) "Nanotechnology for Sensors and Sensors for Nanotechnology: Improving and Protecting Health, Safety, and the Environment" Nanotechnology Signature Initiative (the Sensors NSI), address both the opportunity of using nanotechnology to advance sensor development and the challenges of developing sensors to keep pace with the increasingly widespread use of engineered nanomaterials. This perspective article will introduce and provide background on the NNI signature initiative on sensors. Recent efforts by the Sensors NSI aimed at promoting the successful development and commercialization of nanosensors will be reviewed and examples of sensor nanotechnologies will be highlighted. Future directions and critical challenges for sensor development will also be discussed.

Environmentally Relevant Aspects of Nanomaterials in Products at the End-of-life Phase

This section is meant to give readers an insight into the emerging field of nanotechnologies and risk regulation. It informs and updates readers on the latest European and international developments in nanotechnologies and risk regulation across different sectors (e.g., chemicals, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals) and policy areas (e.g., environmental protection, occupational health and consumer product, food and drug safety). The section analyzes how existing regulatory systems deal with new kinds of risks and reviews recent regulatory developments with a focus on how best to combine scientific freedom and technological progress with a responsible development and commercialization of nanotechnologies.

Hyaluronan drug delivery systems are promising for cancer therapy because of their selective attachment, enhanced uptake, and superior efficacy

The emergence of nanomedicine and nanotechnology has started to change the clinical approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Innovations include drug targeting and enhanced efficacy. A drug carrier that has many desired properties for nanomedicine is hyaluronan. It has high affinity for water, does not induce an immunological response for high molecular weight hyaluronan, and possesses functional groups for drug conjugation. Furthermore, many carcinomas naturally overexpress hyaluronan receptors. Therefore, hyaluronan is an attractive biopolymer for formulating drug delivery devices and has been chemically modified to make liposomes, nanoparticles, and pendant-chain systems. Hyaluronan is even being developed as an excipient to enhance the effectiveness of drugs. These results merit the commercialization of hyaluronan-based nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology Commercialization: Prospects in India

Introduction Nanotechnology manipulates and creates matter to formulate nanometer scale materials and objects. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines, and has societal implications. The past few decades have produced nanotechnology innovations and applications for agriculture, healthcare and medicine, biotechnology, energy and environment, materials science, electronics, information technology, telecommunication and manufacturing. Governments and private investors, including venture capitalists, have made considerable investments in emerging nanotechnologies. Both large organizations and new startup companies are exploring options to commercialize nanotechnology-based products. This review examines the commercialization of nanotechnology by considering the strategies of large corporations and start-up firms, and the major challenges facing the adoption and diffusion of nanotechnology. Its primary focus is the development of nanotechnology research and industry in India, which, as a test case, helps identify the challenges and strategies for nanotechnology commercialization in emerging economies. Much of nanotechnology R&D in India remains conceptual. Fundamental research is not robustly linked to viable commercial production and large-scale manufacturing, but this could be improved by enhancing IP protection, regulations and ethical guidelines. Enhancing nanotechnology R&D, and commerce, will require a policy focus on infrastructure, education, standards and workforce preparation. ISSN: 2348-9812 Nanotechnology uses the principles of science and engineering to design and manufacture products from atoms, molecules and nanoparticles. According to the US National Nanotechnology Institute (NNI), nanotechnology is defined as “Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1-100 nanometer range, to provide a fundamental understanding of phenomena and materials at the nanoscale and to create and use structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. Nanotechnology research and development includes manipulation under control of the nanoscale structures and their integration into larger material components, systems and architectures.”[1]. In June 2014 the FDA released guidelines that expanded the existing definition to include materials in the usual nanoscale range (approximately 1 nm to 100 nm), as well as any larger products up to 1000 nm that are engineered to have properties that are caused by their dimensions. By “engineered”, they referred to products that have certain dimensions or exhibit certain properties by virtue of deliberate and purposeful manipulation. According to FDA, “Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that can be used in a broad array of FDA-regulated products, including medical products (e.g. to increase bioavailability of a drug), foods (e.g., to improve food packaging) and cosmetics (e.g. to affect the look and feel of cosmetics). Materials in the nanoscale range (i.e., with at least one dimension in the size range of approximately 1 nanometer (nm) to 100 (nm) can exhibit different chemical or physical properties, or biological effects compared to larger-scale counterparts. For example, dimension-dependent properties or phenomena may be used for functional effects such as increased bioavailability, decreased dosage, or increased potency of a drug product, decreased toxicity of a drug product, better detection of pathogens, more protective food packaging materials, or improved delivery of a functional ingredient or a nutrient in food. These effects may derive from altered chemical, biological, or magnetic properties, altered electrical or optical activity, increased structural integrity, or other unique characteristics of materials in the nanoscale range not normally observed or expected in larger-scale materials with the same chemical composition. Materials or end products may also exhibit similar properties or phenomena attributable to a dimension(s) outside the nanoscale range of approximately 1 nm to 100 nm.” Since Richard Feynman’s well known statement made in 1959, “There is a plenty of room at the bottom,” nanotechnology has transformed how products are fabricated. Like other disruptive technologies, it is catalyzing economic growth [2-4]. Early nanotechnology milestones included the first molecular device in 1974 [5] and the scanning tunnelling microscope in 1981[6], the understanding of the carbon nanotube [7], and the DNA nanomechanical device [8]. Received Date: November 14, 2014 Accepted Date: December 03, 2014 Published Date: December 10, 2014

Current Scenario of Nanotechnology in Brazil

AbstractThe Brazilian government, like many other countries, promotes the development of nanotechnology as a strategic area to encourage competitiveness. This paper analyzes the current scenario of nanotechnology in Brazil and the initial intention to legislate to regulate the development and/or certain aspects of commercialization of nanotechnology.