Intro to Nanotechnology

Question 1

Define Nanotechnology

Answer 1

Nanotechnology: Understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)

Question 2

If given that the surface area is 54cm^2 and volume is 27 cm^3, what is the surface area:volume ratio?

Answer 2

2:1

Question 3

What is the relationship between surface area and volume?

Answer 3

• There is an INVERSE relationship
• As the object gets larger, the ratio of surface area to volume decreases

Question 4

How does Gecko Climb on the ceiling/wall without falling?

Answer 4

Many hypotheses disproved such as:
- Suction?
- Electrostatic?
- Friction?
- Micri-interlocking?
- Capillary wet adhesion?

ANSWER: Van der Waals forces

Question 5

What is Van der Waals forces

Answer 5

• An attractive force between atoms or molecules.
• Not the result of chemical bond formation, much weaker
• Responsible for some material properties: crystal structure, melting points, boiling points, surface tension, and densities

Question 6

An early example of a manmade nanoprocess is what

Answer 6

STAINED GLASS

Question 7

Who coined the word “Grey Goo” which was the potential problem of self-replicating and autonomous artificial intelligence machines

Answer 7

Eric Drexler

Question 8

What is Buckminsterfullerene?

Answer 8

one of the largest objects to have been shown to exhibit wave–particle duality (similar to photons), leading to the graphene & carbon nanotube technologies

Question 9

How to create nanomaterials: Explain the Top-Down Approach. Provide examples

Answer 9

• Two approaches used in producing nanotechnology systems. Top-down method is used by computer chip manufacturers.
• Moore’s Law and Photolithography

Question 10

How to create nanomaterials: Explain the Bottom-Up Approach. Provide examples

Answer 10

• Bottom-up approach to manufacturing is analogous to the
  way biological systems are made
• Self assembly through hydrogen bonds

Question 11

Provide examples of Combinations between Top-down and bottom-up methods

Answer 11

• Supramolecular assembly
• nanoparticle formation
• monolayer self-assembly

Question 12

What occurs during a Catalyst-assisted fabrication

Answer 12

Deposition of a catalyst layer, e.g. thermal evaporation of a 10 nm thick metal film or injection of a precursor which decomposes into particles

Question 13

Explain Nanomedicine

Answer 13

• It is nanotechnology used for the treatment, diagnosis, monitoring and control of biological systems
  – It includes the delivery and targeting of pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic agents using nanoparticles to cancer and other cells
  – It includes nanomaterial for bone, cartilage, vascular, bladder and neural applications

Question 14

What are some challenges to Nanotech?

Answer 14

• Materials are hard to handle and
  difficult to keep stable
• Understanding nano material
  characteristics
  - A single particle silicon will no longer act like bulk silicon
  - Depends on size, shape, and environment of the particle

Question 15

What is the goal of BioMEMS for Diagnostics?

Answer 15

Goal is to develop handheld
diagnostic devices for personalized
medical testing and treatment

Question 16

Gold nanoparticles can be functionalized with what? What is bound to these things?

Answer 16

• Thiolated Oligonucleatides
• Bound to them are fluorophores

Question 17

When the targeted RNA (H2N2, HIV or a cancer) binds to the oligonucleotide, what happens?

Answer 17

The fluorophore is released and becomes fluorescence

Question 18

Harmless virus can used as a building block to produce contrast agents that can be used in what?

Answer 18

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Question 19

How can Nanoparticles be used in Cancer Treatments

Answer 19

• Because of their small size, nanoparticles can pass through interstitial spaces between necrotic and quiescent cells.
• Tumor cells typically have larger interstitial spaces than healthy cells
• Particles collect in center bringing
  therapeutics to kill the tumor from inside out.

Question 20

Both cationic and anionic particles penetrate and accumulate in tumors. HOWEVER, which one diffuse throughout the tumor?

Answer 20

only cationic particles diffuse fully throughout the tumor

Question 21

Live Vaccine

Safety level?
Efficacy?

Answer 21

Safety level? LOW
Efficacy? LOW

Question 22

Subunit Vaccine

Safety level?
Efficacy?

Answer 22

Safety level? HIGH
Efficacy? LOW

Question 23

Nano Vaccine

Safety level?
Efficacy?

Answer 23

Safety level? HIGH
Efficacy? HIGH and LASTING

Question 24

In 2005, Abraxane (nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel) was approved by FDA to treat
_______ _______.

Answer 24

pancreatic cancer

Question 25

Explain Joint Lubricants as Cartilage Replacement

Answer 25

Simple and effective at short-term pain relief but do not address cause of the problem or repair any damage.

Question 26

Explain Debridement / lavage / microfracture as Cartilage Replacement

Answer 26

- Small lesions are repaired by shaving or shaping contour of cartilage. - Microfracture penetrates subchondral plate (bone) and actually causes growth of fibrocartilage – a lesser form, not desirable

Question 27

Explain Total Joint Replacement as Cartilage Replacement

Answer 27

- Addresses problem and generally allows full repair, but - Very invasive procedure, native tissue removed - Prostheses do not last a lifetime in active patients

Question 28

A popular tissue engineering approach has been to introduce new cells, via what? Hint: (ACT/ACI).

Answer 28

autologous chondrocyte transplantation/implantation

Question 29

Important to tissue engineering: Cells will differentiate purely based on what?

Answer 29

Mechanical stimulus

Question 30

Hydrogels have applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. Their system is biocompatible with what?

Answer 30

Systems are biocompatible with a hydrophobic ends (PLA) and a hydrophilic center (PEO) which self assembles in water and can form a gel under the right conditions

Question 31

Silver is an excellent ______ agent

Answer 31

Anti-microbial

Question 32

Explain Rapid Reproduction: Bacterial Infections

Answer 32

Bacteria can double their population as quickly as every 10 minutes

Question 33

What are Immune resistance: Bacterial Infections examples?

Answer 33

- Molecular mimicry - Releasing antigen - Hiding inside cells - Inhibiting phagocytosis - Killing phagocytes

Question 34

Explain Antibiotic Resistance: Bacterial Infections

Answer 34

- Creating physical barrier - Damaging the antibiotic - Genetic mutation

Question 35

What is the Acne pathology

Answer 35

- Hormones (androgens) rise --> Sebum overproduction by sebaceous gland --> Follicle blockage ---> Anaerobic bacteria (P. acnes) overgrowth --> Sebum escape into the dermis --> Local inflammation

Question 36

Explain the Lotus effect: Self cleaning

Answer 36

Waterproof and self-cleaning via hydrophobic layer on the lotus leaf surface

Question 37

Quantum Dots for targeting can be utilized to do what?

Answer 37

Label live cells without toxicity

Question 38

Nanotubes are small enough that they cannot be seen, so they can be _____ _____ to be used as transparent contacts

Answer 38

Great Conductors

Question 39

What is the primary problem with current solar energy systems is what?

Answer 39

Their relative inefficiency

Question 40

What 3 things is great about Nanocrystals

Answer 40

- More electrons: 3 to 1 - More energy produced - More efficient battery

Question 41

What are 2 main potential problems with nanotechnology?

Answer 41

1. Disruption of economic structure 2. Security issues

Question 42

Explain Disruption of economic structure as a problem with nanotechnology

Answer 42

- Products at the nano level may be cheap to create and may require very little human labor - Devaluing material and human resources

Question 43

Explain Security Issues as a problem with nanotechnology

Answer 43

- Extremely small fully functional devices may become a security concern for the war on terrorism - Possible nanotech arms race