nanoparticles

• Nanoparticles:


  Really tiny particles with the size of 1nm - 100nm.

  
• Nanoparticles are used as catalysts to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction:


  As they have more surface area for their given volume:

  • only the exposed surface area that’s important
  • so much less of a material made of narrow particles is needed than a material made of bigger particles.

  Nanoparticles have a very high surface area to volume ratio. 

  
• Nanoscience:


  The field of research that focuses on the properties & applications of nanoparticles.

  
• As things get smaller, volume decreases more rapidly than their surface area does & so their surface area to volume ratio actually gets bigger.

  
• Nanomedicine:


  Nanoparticles in medicine like:

  • using fullerenes to deliver drugs around the body
  • as they’re tiny that they could deliver drugs directly to the inside of our cells.

  
• Nanoparticles in tiny electrical circuits:


  Some of them can conduct electricity, so we could make tiny computer chips.

  
• Nanoparticles containing the element silver:


  Known to have antibacterial properties.

  • So we can insert them into surgical masks or wound dressings like plasters to kill bacteria, to reduce the risk of infections.

  
• The POTENTIAL harmful effects of sun creams that contain nanoparticles:


  • They may enter cells & cause damage to our DNA
  • They may cause harm to oceanic environments

  
• Nanoscience is a relatively new field:

  Many of the benefits & risks of nanoparticles are not yet known to us.

  • So some products may not be released into the world until enough research has been carried out to ensure they are safe.