Applications of nanotechnology

The 2000s have seen the beginnings of the applications of nanotechnology in commercial products, although most applications are limited to the bulk use of passive nano-materials. Examples include titanium dioxide and in sunscreen, cosmetics and some food products; silver nano-particles in food packaging, clothing, disinfectants and household appliances such as Silver Nano; carbon nano-tubes for stain-resistant textiles; and cerium oxide as a fuel catalyst.[1] As of March 10, 2011, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies estimated that over 1300 manufacturer-identified nano-tech products are publicly available, with new ones hitting the market at a pace of 3–4 per week.[2]

Nanotechnology is being used in developing countries to help treat disease and prevent health issues. The umbrella term for this kind of nanotechnology is Nano-medicine.

Nanotechnology is also being applied to or developed for application to a variety of industrial and purification processes. Purification and environmental cleanup applications include the desalination of water, water filtration, wastewater treatment, groundwater treatment, and other nano-remediation. In industry, applications may include construction materials, military goods, and nano-machining of nano-wires, nano-rods, few layers of graphene,[3] etc. Also, recently a new field arisen from the root of Nanotechnology is called Nano-biotechnology. Nano-biotechnology is the biology-based, application-oriented frontier area of research in the hybrid discipline of Nano-science and biotechnology with an equivalent contribution.[4] Moreover, Nanotechnology can be considered as an interesting low-cost technique in asphalt pavement engineering providing novel perspectives in making asphalt materials more durable.[5]