A nanoparticle is defined as a particle between 0 and 100 nm in size. Nanoparticles are relatively larger than atoms. A typical nanometer may contain approximately 375 atoms in diameter, which although larger than an atom, is still much too small to visualize.
Nanotechnology could have massive implications in society, especially within medicine. The use of nanoparticles allow materials to be altered to fit certain characteristics, for example, copper is virtually as hard as a diamond when shrunk to less than 50 nm. As such, minuscule robotics can allow the precise delivery of drugs on a cellular level, which theoretically could eradicate cancer. Whilst treatments such as chemotherapy, attack all cells, cancerous or not, nanoparticles could deliver these drugs into specific cancerous cells. Currently, tests are in process to test this technology on humans.
Not only can drugs be administered this way, but by using carbon nanotubes, a laser or sound waves may also be administered with extreme focus and precision to eradicate tumours and cancerous cells within the human body. “Researchers have developed "nanosponges" that absorb toxins and remove them from the bloodstream. The nanosponges are polymer nanoparticles coated with a red blood cell membrane. The red blood cell membrane allows the nanosponges to travel freely in the bloodstream and attract the toxins.”
Though this technology can revolutionize and allow for gene editing (a rather controversial topic), nanotechnology has the potential to not only damage society, but the environment as well. Since nanobots are incredibly small, they can be lost within air incredibly quickly, and since they are founded on technology, they could theoretically be reprogrammed as a biological weapon to eradicate cells. If these nanoparticles are released into the environment, it may contaminate thousands of ecosystems, and lead to the rot and destruction of plants and life. “If silver nanoparticles are released into the environment, these types of concentrated silver ion releases could devastate local bacterial populations, with drastic consequences for the affected ecosystems.” (Sam Lohse, 2014)
Many nanoparticles are strong catalysts for certain chemical reactions that could be detrimental to ecosystems. Some of these (like titanium dioxide), can cause reactions when in contact with sunlight that may form products such as hydroxide in water, causing basic solutions in water, which are very harmful to animals such as plankton, as it is toxic in small amounts.
Currently, this is of small concern as only minimal amounts of nanoparticles are expected to be produced. However, the amount of nanoparticles in use is expected to rise to 58,000 tons by 2020, making the release of these particles during production a large concern.
http://sustainable-nano.com/2014/05/13/nano-contaminants-how-nanoparticles-get-into-the-environment/
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