NANO WORLD
WHAT IS NANOTECHNOLOGY?
•
• Nano, as a unit of measurement of
length, is an analogous entity like
meter. How small is Nano? Just divide a
meter into one billion to visualize how
small Nano is. The prefix Nano means a
factor of billionth () in the metric system
and can be applied in time
(nanosecond), volume (Nano liter), etc.
• The first definition of
“nanotechnology” came from Norio
Taniguchi, a professor of Tokyo
Science University. He coined the
term at the international
conference on industrial production
in 1974 to describe work on
semiconductor processes such as
• Nanotechnology is the study and
manipulation of a matter at a scale
of about 1 to 100 nanometers. It
involves characterization, design,
and production of structures,
devices, and systems with unique
properties by fine-tuning the
physical, chemical, mechanical, and
optical properties of materials at the
NANOTECHNOLOGY
OF THE PAST
•It has been discovered by
advanced technology
today that even long
before the beginning of
“nanoera” people were
engaged in different
•Ancient Egyptians
Fermentation process on
nanolevel (making bread,
wine, beer, cheese, and
other food stuffs).
Nanoparticles of galenite
(lead sulfide) were formed in
•Ancient Rome
Lycurgus cup; 4th Century AD (British
heritage) possess unusual optical
properties (bowl is green in natural light
and red if illuminated from within).
Recent techniques discovered particles
of gold and silver from 50-100 nm in
size (responsible for unusual coloring of
the bowl).
•Middle Ages
Stained-glass windows have
been admired in Europe
because of close to
perfection. As the latest study
shows, the windows
contained additives of gold
NANOTECHNOLOGY
IN THE PHILIPPINES
•What is the Philippines doing to
welcome this new technology? The
Philippines, through the effort of
Department of Science and
Technology-Industrial Technology
Development Institute (DOST-ITDI)
provides opportunities and technical
services to local industries by Nano
Lab.
NANOTECH FACILITIES AND
EQUIPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
• Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
• Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy
• X-Ray Diffraction
• Raman, FTIR, Optical emission characterization
• Nanoparticle size analyzer
• Surface area analyzer
•The following are the lists of
nanotechnology projects that are
being worked out in the
Philippines under the supervision
of DOST-ITDI, encouraging local
community to rely on what are
abundant, unexploited, and
natural organic or inorganic
1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and
semiconductors
• e.g., use of nanowires to ultrafast (ICT) with small power
consumption
2. Solar cells
• e.g., dye sensitized-based solar cells (DSSC) is low-cost solar
cell belonging to the group of thin film solar cells
3. Agriculture
• e.g., facilitate gene transformation and expression of animal
and plant cells
4. Food
• e.g., biodegradable food packaging
5. Environment
MAJOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
APPLICATION OF
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nanotechnology Application Examples
• Nanomembranes for water purification,
1. Water desalination and detoxification
• Nanosensors for the detection of
treatment and contaminants and pathogens
• Nanoporous zeolites, nanoporous polymers
and attapulgite clays for water purification
purification • Magnetic nanoparticles for water treatment
and remediation
•• ,Zero-Valent
nanoparticlesIronfor the catalyticfor
degradation
2. Environmental of
Abatement
Nanoparticles
pollutantsof(Source: Salamanca-Buentello
Environmental Pollutants (Li,
et.al 2005)
remediation Elliott, and Zhang, 2006)
2. Environmental • Zero-Valent
Nanoscalw ironIronparticles
Nanoparticles for2003)
(Zhang,
Abatement of Environmental Pollutants (Li,
3. Green Nano
remediation • Starch
Elliott, and based-nano
Zhang, 2006)
• Nanoscalw iron particles (Zhang, 2003)
composites
Composites
3. Green Nano
materials having ecofriendly attributes
•• Starch based-nano
Cellulose based nano-
composites
composites
Composites
that are technically and economically
feasible while minimizing the
materials having ecofriendly attributes •• Cellulose based
Protein-based nano-
nano
generation of pollution (Khalil, Bhat and
GENE
THERAPY
GENES AND THE HUMAN GENOME
• Genome is a complete set of the genes in a cell
or organism. Human genome resides in 46
chromosomes that basically come in pair in which
23 are from the father and another 23 from the
mother. These pairs of chromosomes dictate the
characteristics of an organism and can be
determined as dominant or recessive.
• A chromosome is made up of two chromatids and
each chromatid contains sequence of DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid).
• DNA is commonly found in the nucleus of every
cell. The DNA strand, when divided into
portions, constitutes many genes. Genes are
made up of hundreds of thousands of chemical
bases. This specific portion of the DNA
performs specific function specifically in the
production of hormone or enzymes.
• Not all the genes in the strand of DNA are
working at the same time. For example, the
genes that are “switched on” in the heart are
different from those genes that are “switched
•
GENETIC DISORDERS
Genetic disorders are diseases caused by
abnormalities in the DNA sequence of an
individual. These irregularities can happen in just
one gene or there is an addition or subtraction of
chromosomes.
• There are more than 4000 identified medical
disorders that are caused by defective genes.
Although genes are responsible for predisposition
of these diseases, the environment, diet, and
lifestyle are also factors that trigger these
SINGLE-GENE DISORDER
• Single gene disorders are caused by
mutations in specific genes. In humans,
there are 50, 000 to 100, 000 estimated
genes that are responsible for coding
proteins which are needed by cells and
tissues to perform its specific function.
Single-gene disorders are classified into
autosomal single-gene disorder and X-linked
disorders.
•The question is: How can we
determine if the disorder is
autosomal or X-linked?
•Remember that the human
chromosomes always come in 23
pairs, i.e., 22 pairs of non-sex
chromosomes while X-linked disorder
originated from the genes of sex
chromosomes.
CHROMOSOMAL DISORDERS
• Chromosomal may happen under certain
conditions. it might be an excess or deficiency of
the whole chromosome, chromosomal
rearrangement, and contiguous-gene syndrome.
There are any structural abnormalities in the
chromosomes and some of it are related to
cardiovascular diseases that lead to congenital
heart disease.
• Chromosomal rearrangement happens if there is
breakage and reconstruction but in abnormal form.
Structural rearrangement, however, may lead to
MULTIFACTORIAL INHERITANCE
• Multifactorial inheritance is not
caused by some changes or
abnormalities in a single gene or
chromosome. It is basically caused
by the combination of genetic
changes that produces the disease.
Multifactorial inheritance might
happen 5-10% in the first degree
GENE THERAPY
• Gene therapy is a method of treating or
preventing diseases by replacing,
repairing, or turning on or off genes of a
patient’s cells. The process in gene
therapy includes the use of vector and
non-viral method to move a DNA or
genes to one cell or another.
• Some of the vectors in gene therapy are
•Non-viral method, the other hand, has
certain advantages over vectors or
viral methods since it can be produced
in large scale. Injection of naked DNA
is the simplest method under non-viral
method. Cells, tissue and even
organisms that undergone gene
therapy are somatic gene therapy and
reproductive gene therapy.
• Somatic gene therapy are those which
are not related to reproductive gene
therapy. It is basically the introduction of
genes to cells in a target organ to
produce enzymes which are needed by
the body to function well. It means that,
somatic gene therapy helps the organ to
function well but it doesn’t alter the
genetic make up of an organism. The
changes in organisms caused by
• Reproductive gene therapy or germ-
line cell therapy is basically the
introduction of corrective genes to
sperm cells, egg cells, or even
zygotes (4-day old). The main goal
or objective is to eliminate the
abnormalities that can possibly be
transmitted to the offspring. It is the
alteration of genetic make up of the
• However, gene therapy requires the
identification of the correct genes responsible
in the progression of diseases. The most
crucial part of gene therapy is the delivery of
the modified gene to the cell or target organ
and this should be done in accurate,
controlled and effective way. It can also be
noted that modified genes are not always
accepted by cells for the reason that our cells
have its natural defense mechanism and kills
foreign bodies. Most failures in gene therapy
BENEFITS AND
DISADVANTAGES
OF GENE THERAPY
BENEFITS
1.It offers cure to several diseases
like cancer, Parkinson’s disease,
AIDS, asthma, diabetes, heart
diseases as well as hereditary
diseases.
2.It can replace defective cells.
3.It has a promising potential not
DISADVANTAGES
1.Modifying organisms means modifying its
capabilities.
2.Viral vectors could recover its ability to
cause disease.
3.It can damage the gene pool resulting to
multigene disorder.
4.High cost.
5.Ethical issues,
