Nanotechnology - Benefits & Risks

Nanotechnology is an exciting new technology that offers tremendous opportunities in terms of improving quality of life. Nanotechnology involves the study, creation and controlling of materials , structures and systems that exist at the scale of atoms and molecules.

Such emerging technology offers great commercial rewards in areas of biological, electronics, electrical, chemical, mechanical and consumer goods such as cosmetics, textile, household and agricultural products. In the not too distant future, the adoption of nanotechnology will affect all aspect of our life.

Nanofilters capable of filtering particles the size of virus or even smaller could be cheaply produced and sold at affordable cost to be deployed in third world countries which are struggling to combat contaminated and polluted source of drinking water.

A vast range of applications many of which we envisioned only in the realm of science fiction can now be truly realized and implemented successfully with the help of nanotechnology. For instance, although still in experimental stages, scientist and nanotechnologist are now able to design and build tiny robots the size of pinhole to seek out and destroy specific cancer cells.

Cancer treatment breakthrough via nanotechnology could pave the way for medical scientist to not only improve treatment but also to develop long term effective vaccines agains AIDS and other such diseases.

Micro sensors build with nanotechnology better known as ‘nanosensors‘ or ‘dot sensors’ are capable of monitoring and detecting miniscule changes in temperature, pressure, displayment, flow, chemical response and other microscopic changes right at atomic and sub molecure level.

Nanocapsules containing drugs could be delivered to specific cells in the body with pinpoint accurarcy ,all without affecting other surrounding tissues and cells. Nanosensors can be programmed to determine the exact condition, the time and the necessary dosage to be released by the nanocapsules.
Its amazing how nanotechnology could someday make it possible for doctors and scientist to treat illness in a very radical different way.


On the other hand, the indiscriminate use of nanotechnology without any due consideration for social and ethical issues can have huge implications to humankind. Human may try to play God and strive to create new species through the manipulation of gene and biological engineering. Nanotechnology could become the catalyst for the development of new generation of weapons.

The increase presence of nanoparticles in cosmetic products may be detrimental to health. Nanoparticles are so tiny that it may cross the blood brain barrier or penetrate deeply beyond the external surface of the skin right through into organs and blood stream.

Nanotechnology – Skin Deeper Cosmetics.