Nanotechnology: Weaving the Future One Nanometer at a Time

Back in 2015, I spent some time in one of my favorite places, Provence, in southern France. One evening, while walking along the narrow stone-paved streets of Roussillon–a picturesque small town with ochre-colored houses, vineyards, and lavender fields–I noticed something running across the road. As I got closer I found this cute little Moorish gecko right there in the middle of the road!

She was motionless, hoping to camouflage herself amidst the stones in the pavement. After taking the photo, I picked her up and placed her in the bushes by the side of the road. Geckos are remarkable little creatures. Her foot's adhesive system allows the gecko to stick to just about any ceiling and walk with its feet over its head. A masterful example of nanotechnology in nature.    

That is precisely what this article is about. No, it's not about geckos, but nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the realm of engineered atoms and super materials. It is a part of science and technology concerned with the control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale. We are talking about small circuits and devices built in the size range of 1 to 100 nanometers. How small is a nanometer? Just to give you an idea: there are 24.5 million nanometers in one inch.

Today, we are just scratching the surface by using nanotechnology for nanotech clothing, drug-delivery nanorods, and special running shoes. As a business and technology strategist, why should you care about nanotechnology? You should care because nanotechnology is transforming many forms of media and materials that have had no information processing and delivery capabilities to become new portals of commerce and communication.

Let's briefly examine three industries where nanotechnology is delivering amazing value: sports science, health care, and the environment.

Sports Science

Sports science is using nanotechnology to create an entire industry of technical fabrics and apparel that help professional athletes enhance their performance. For example, Under Armour, Inc. recently introduced “recovery” sleepwear that incorporates bioceramic nanotechnology into a patterned lining for clothing.

The bioceramic particles absorb infrared wavelengths emitted by the body and reflect back far infrared energy. Scientific research claims that far infrared is a completely safe type of radiation which promotes cell regrowth, and helps the body recover faster (less soreness after intense physical activity) while promoting better sleep.  You can read more about far infrared energy here.

Another company commercializing nanotechnology is Adidas, leveraging materials which were previously used in automotive and aerospace industries. For example, Adidas’ Lone Star spike, the world's first asymmetrical 400m spike, features the first ever full-length carbon nanotube- reinforced plate with a progressive-compression spike.

Running shoes are designed to absorb energy and protect the feet of the athletes. With time however, soft materials within the shoe flatten out.  Adidas’ carbon nanotube-reinforced plate prevents the shape from compressing too far, allows it to rebound after each step, and prevents the soft material that makes the shoe comfortable from flattening out.

Health Care

In health care, nanoparticles are being developed to ferry drugs, heat, light, and other substances to human cells. Researchers at Harvard Medical School recently made an “origami nanorobot” out of DNA to transport a molecular payload to cancer cells.  The nanorobot is able to sense the cell surface to identify specific conditions, trigger activation, and reconfigure its own nanotech structure depending on the payload being delivered.

The approach of using nanotechnology for seeking and destroying specific individual cells is not just valuable for cancer treatment. Gold, which is highly malleable and ductile, can be transformed into star-shaped particles used for carrying pharmaceuticals. Gold nanorods, shaped like stars with special coatings, can deliver drugs or biosensors to a cell's interior without damaging it.  The delivery can be so precise that, in some cases, drugs can be administered directly into the nucleus of a cell.  Companies like Nanopartz and Sonanano are commercializing gold nanorods for precise delivery of drug medication at the cellular level.

The Environment

In the realm of the environment, nanotechnology is both learning from nature and helping to preserve it. Using nanostructures derived from nature, scientists have developed products such as Kevlar, inspired by silk produced by silkworms, lacewings, and spiders. Still, scientists are working on replicating spider silk using nanotechnology. 

Spider silk is lighter than cotton but stronger than steel. What is even more fascinating is that spiders actually produce two types of silk: rigid and flexible. Rigid spider silk has a toughness factor more than three times higher than Kevlar.

Remember that little French gecko I mentioned at the beginning of my article? The Georgia Institute of Technology is researching ways that gecko adhesion could be used in a high-precision industrial setting, such as in robot arms used in manufacturing computer chips.

Another wonder of nature is the mussels ability to stick to surfaces underwater. They produce a glue-like secretion that takes the shape of silk-like fibers strong enough to attach mussels to wave-washed rocks and other mussels. 

Using nanotechnology, scientists have reproduced the molecular structure of the glue produced by mussels which resulted in synthetic wet adhesives and coatings. Want to learn more about mussels and other nature-inspired adhesives and coatings? The Institut Catala de Nanociencia i Nanotecnologia (ICN2) is offering special workshops on this fascinating topic. 

Another example of nature’s source of inspiration for nanotechnology are lotus leaves and a natural phenomenon called Lotus Effect.  This is a process of self-cleaning that results from ultra-hydrophobicity (ultra-water-repellant property) on living things.  The leaves of the "Lotus Flower" are so water repellant that any dirt particles on the surface are rapidly picked up and removed by water droplets.

At the cellular level, these leaves have a nanocoating that limits the surface area available for water droplets to adhere to the surface of the leaves. Using nanotechnology, scientists have recreated that water-repellent coating and several companies have commercialized it. An example is Nasiol, a registered trademark of Artekya Technology. Naisol is a pioneering protective nanocoating producer in Turkey and Europe.

There are many more examples of commercial applications of nanotechnology. I believe that, regardless of the field you are in–e.g., finance, banking, insurance, manufacturing, and energy–I bet nanotechnology is already affecting your ecosystem from different perspectives. I encourage you to be inquisitive and curious about nanotechnology. The current space of nanotechnology might be quite small, but the implication for the future is immensely large!

I encourage you to watch my video on this topic. 

Until next time, cheers!

Josué Batista is a business technology and strategist, solutions architect, international speaker, and writer with concentration on emerging technologies in the space of Distributed Ledger Technologies (Blockchain), Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet-of-Things.

Follow Josué's vlog on LinkedIn #WhatAndWhyFirst and on Twitter @JosueRBatista