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0 views“There is little doubt that nanotechnology will have an extraordinarily important role to play in shaping our future,” said Department of Science and Technology Minister, Naledi Pandor at a conference in Harare. The conference was held in 2010 and the subject was the role of nanotechnology in the future of Sub-Saharan Africa.
To those of us uninitiated in the subtleties of nanotechnology – that is to say, almost everybody – this technology seems like something dreamed up in Hollywood. While the truth of nanotechnology is nowhere near as dramatic as presented in the movies, it is still a remarkable technology.
The late Professor Norio Taniguchi, formerly of the Tokyo University of Science, coined the term “nanotechnology” in 1974. He described it as the “processing of separation, consolidation and deformation of materials by one atom or molecule.” Simply put, small things changing the nature of bigger things. A sort of David versus Goliath situation at a molecular level.
Nanotechnology is defined as any technology under 100 nanometres wide. To get a sense of just how tiny this is, in the metric system, a nanometre is one billionth of a metre. That’s pretty small. So small are these devices in fact, that without incredibly powerful microscopes, they would all but be invisible.
Nanotechnology is often referred to as a general-purpose technology. This means that as the technology advances, its effects on industry and society will become more widespread. In South Africa, the principle uses of nanotechnology are water purification and, increasingly, healthcare. Approximately 5.7 million South Africans do not have access to basic water services, and 17-18 million people are in need of basic sanitation services – hardly a healthy environment.
Encouragingly, nanotechnology is increasingly being utilized in water treatment. Firstly, it allows for more effective filtration by making the pores in filtration membranes smaller and more uniform. This means that less pollutants and more nutrients are let through in the filtration process. Secondly, (and if I may so, more awesomely), nanocatalysts and magnetic nanoparticles are being used to chemically break down pollutants inside water sources. Imagine tiny policemen tracking down and taking out tiny water-borne criminals. This image should give you the general gist of this process.
Thirdly, miniature sensing devices are used to detect chemical and biological contaminants in low concentrations. This allows scientists to identify potential pollutants before they become a major problem. Lastly, nanotechnology benefits water treatment in that it reduces the number of materials, the energy required and as a result, the expense of water purification.
On 28 March 2011, Pandor congratulated scientists using nanotechnology in medical research, specifically, the use of nanotechnology in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Drug-resistant forms of TB have become increasingly prevalent in South Africa. This is because many sufferers are not completing their prescription. Recent developments in nanotechnology include the development of a process which will inject the drugs needed to treat TB into nanoparticles. These nanoparticles will then be injected into the patient’s bloodstream. The nanoparticles will gradually release the drugs into the patient’s bloodstream. This means that, rather than daily pill taking, TB sufferers need only take one dose per week. A similar process can be used to treat cancer. Nanoparticles are injected into the body, where they break down cancerous cells.
This is a constantly evolving science. As the technology progresses, the improvements in all fields will increase exponentially. Hopefully, the South African Nanotechnology Initiative will keep up the good work.
For more information see: //www.sani.org.za/