As we all know, a nanoparticle is a small particle that ranges between 1 to 100 nanometers in size.
Undetectable by the human eye, it plays a huge role in altering properties of other materials.
It is small but mighty.
From making the materials more durable to giving them the ability to kill bacteria, nanoparticles are here to save the day.
Nanomaterials can be created naturally, or be produced by engineers in order to perform a specialized function.
Therefore nanoparticles play a big role in many different fields.
Here are three applications of nanoparticles you probably didn’t know about.
1. Protecting your screen, phone and food
The products you use every day, do what they do because of nanoparticles.
But you probably didn’t know that, did you?
In 2021, the number of smartphone users in the world is 3.8 Billion, which means that 48.41% of the world’s population owns a smartphone.
Chances are, you have a phone with the good old OLED display.
That’s where nanoparticles come in.
In order for you to have the best experience nanoparticles protect your screens through OLED displays.
Nanoparticle coatings are used for packing the OLEDs to protect them from completely crashing when it falls, and also from water damaging your battery.
When it comes to prevention from damage and bacterias, nanoparticles work really well.
That’s why they’re used in the clothing industry too!
Did you ever wonder what makes your clothes smell good all the time?
Silver nanoparticles are added to clothing to kill bacteria and fungi and prevent the nasty odors (helping your clothes smell fresh and clean all the time).
In sportswear and equipment, they are added to towels and mats to prevent diseases caused by bacterias and dirt.
In the cosmetics industry, mineral nanoparticles – such as titanium oxide – are used in sunscreen, due to the poor stability that conventional chemical UV protection offers in the long-term.
Nanoparticles are incorporated in food packaging, keeping it fresh and safe from microbial contamination.
With the help of these nanomaterials we are able to use everyday products.
Researchers are always looking for new applications for nanoparticles.
Today, they’re killing bacteria. Tomorrow – they may cure cancer.
Who knows?
2. Faster drug delivery helps save lives
The small size of nanoparticles is quite advantageous in medicine.
Aside from being able to enter the body, they can enter the cells too, or can bind to specific cells.
Those properties create new ways of getting images from organs, as well as tumors, and other diseased tissues in the body.
We are able to have new ways of drug delivery, targeted to a specific location in the body.
Since it’s crucial to deliver cancer treatment as fast as possible, nanoparticles help us detect (and cure) cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for about 10 million deaths per year.
About 26.000 people die of cancer each day.
Most people have a combination of two cancer treatments.
Common therapies include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Nanoparticles are a promising treatment option for cancers that are resistant to common therapies.
Different from other nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles that are used in cancer therapy don’t damage DNA cells.
To make sure they can target cancer cells, the particles can be equipped with an antibody that recognizes a receptor expressed only on cancer cells.
This treatment is so close to becoming a standard treatment.
Researchers need to determine appropriate dosage of the nanoparticles.
This treatment saves time.
And lives.
3. Nanoparticles bring clean water to the world
Nanoparticles play a major role in providing clean water.
Unsafe water is responsible for 1.2 million deaths each year.
29% of the world don’t have access to safe drinking water.
Around 790 million people are without access to any water supply.
Tap water pollution is very spread out, making it unusable.
Where do nanoparticles come in?
Nanoparticles extract chemicals from water.
Carbon nanoparticles modified with amino groups can remove heavy metal ions from water.
Using iron nanoparticles cleans up carbon tetrachloride pollution in groundwater.
They are released into the water, where they decompose organic solvent.
This solution is not expensive, leading to numerous economic and health advantages.
With the help of nanoparticles we are solving the water pollution problem.
Is this all? – There is more!
If you didn’t think you needed nanoparticles, you were wrong.
They shield you from sunburn.
They protect your phone.
They remove odor from your clothes.
Humanity has a chance to beat cancer.
Nanoparticles save lives.
There are ways nanoparticles are going to be used that we don’t know about yet.
People will have a new, improved way of living.
Nanoparticles are not only an upgrade.
They are a need for a change.
We’re here to experience that change.
Follow Nanom for more.
