Nano-tech promises smarter particles

Revolution: Medical application of nano materials discussed in symposium

Engineering materials, devices and structures at a scale equivalent to one billionth of a meter (0.000000001 m) is the new revolution in the field of technology.

Robert Pelton, the inventor of temperature sensitive microgels, which remarkably improve the strength and function of paper-based materials, briefed on the recent developments and research fields in nano science and technology at National Institute of Engineering here on Wednesday.

Pelton is the scientific director of ‘Sentinel’ — Bioactive Paper Network — which is involved in producing ‘inexpensive paper products which detect and repel or deactivate water borne or airborne pathogens’. Bio-paper can also be used to detect pesticides in water sources apart from various other applications.

Distinguishing nano-materials as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, Pelton discussed the medical applications of nano materials. Microgels can be employed in affective drug delivery to treat various ailments as these gels can be employed for sustained release of drugs for a desired period of time in the human body.

“Regenerative medicine, the field of medicine involved in growing skins, bladders and other organs employ nano-devices, as they have diverse applications in bio-sciences,” he said.

Electronic devices will also be transformed due to the revolution in nano-technology (NT).
Organic solar cells can be developed using NT, which can be a solution to the problem of sustainable energy. Several new applications are being developed regularly, he said.

Scientists and researchers participating in the seminar will discuss the applications of nano-structures and nano-materials, applications of soft nano-particles in health care, use of nano-particles in diagnostics, use of nano-devices in conservation efforts and other physical and biological applications in the field of NT.