BY IZZUL AIZAD AZMI & DR THOMAS ONG POH SHING
NANOTECHNOLOGY was first mentioned in 1959 during a lecture by Richard Feynman themed: “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”.
With technology limitation back then, it was nothing more than just a vision. However, over the wheels of time, nanotechnology grew in popularity as many industries adopted the technology, and now in the new millenial era – nanotechnology is revolutionising every industrial sector in the world.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
Nanomaterials enhance other properties by offering greater and better control over chemical reactivity, amongst many others, thus widening the spectrum for applications in daily life and industrial usage.
Nanotechnology in Malaysia gained traction when Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib Razak introduced the importance of the technology to the country’s “new economic model” in October 2009.
Since then, the initiatives and development of nanotechnology in the country grew in tandem with the growing global revenues of nano-enabled sectors worldwide.
Trillions of dollars were invested globally for the application of nanotechnology in various sectors including medical and health, energy and environment, electric and electronics as well as food and agriculture. This is according to a market analysis by Lux Research.
Countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Asian countries like Japan, China, and Taiwan, have invested tremendously in nanotechnology.
As an initiative to develop and commercialise nanotechnology products in Malaysia, the prime minister suggested the establishment of a government agency called NanoMalaysia Berhad (NanoMalaysia) in February 2011. Eventually this agency incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in August 2011.
Due to the robust potential of this technology many industrial and commercial sectors adopted it for various applications.
One industry, for example is biotechnology, where nanotechnology is being aggressively used to enhance biological processes in industrial, medical industries.
With nanotechnology applications, scientists, were able to come up with novel solutions to drive modern industries.
One of the breakthrough applications of nanotechnology is in cancer treatment.
With nanotechnology applications, scientists are able to use molecules to specifically target cancer cells and illuminate these molecules under fluorescent light for better imaging especially during early stages of cancer treatment.
These target-specific molecules can also be engineered in such a way that they are able to transport drugs to kill cancer cells in specific sites of the lesion.
Cancer treatment remains one of the largest therapeutic areas that nanotechnology has contributed to.
Nanotechnology also offers advancement in tissue engineering. Skin damaged from inflammation or diseases can be regrown by controlling the growth environment of stem cells from patients via nanotechnology applications.
Skin regenerated in this specific way increases the bio-compatibility and mitigates the risk of rejection from the patient.
The technology also greatly enhances bio-compatibility of implants and dressings by synthesising and exploiting nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties like nanocrystalline silver.
A rising concern in Malaysia is the shortage of medical specialists where currently there are only 7,000 specialists including the 4,000 in the public sector.
As the number of specialists are inadequate, researchers have devised nanotechnology biosensors that are capable of monitoring real-time medical data from patients – and then dispatch the data to medical officers stationed in hospitals.
Medical diagnostic tools using nanotechnology are also available in the market. One product, for example, is the ELISA device for tuberculosis detection.
In the agricultural sector, the technology helps to increase increase the absorption of fertilisers with devices like nano-capsules.
In a similar way, plant protection products can be made more effectively with nanotechnology application.
Besides nutrient and protection management, wastes by-products such as rice paddy husks and fruit peelings from agriculture can be converted into commercial products like cosmetics and other valuable nano-materials.
These applications are just a few from among many others where nanotechnology serves mankind. With the advent of time, nanotechnology has great potential to be a major component to drive industries in a progressively global world.
NOTE: The authors, Izzul Aizad Azmi and Dr Thomas Ong Poh Shing are from NanoMalaysia Berhad.
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