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Nanotechnology:
An Unknown Promise?
Imagine a world where cancer no longer exists, cars are made of materials lighter than air but harder than steel, and any object on earth, even diamonds, can be replicated in a matter of minutes. Sound unreal? Nanotechnologists say these scenarios are a definite future possibility. Nanotechnology is the science dealing with anything measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers, with a nanometer being a billionth of a meter or a millionth of a millimeter. (Bailey 2) Nano level substances may not only make it possible for immense leaps ahead in the medical and technology fields, but is also a cause of concern for many scientists.
Nanotechnology begins with a basic understanding of atoms. Atoms structure every known substance. Theoretically, a carbon atom could be separated from a diamond and used to make a human organ. Manipulating atoms could only be done by an extremely small “machine” or Nanodevice. This principal concept is the brainchild of K. Eric Drexler. He coined the term nanotechnology and published the first known works in the area in 1981.
Nanotechnology spans many fields, including Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering; but none are as exciting as biological medicine, more specifically, the area of cancer research. Nanodevices would be small enough to enter cells and their organelles, interacting with DNA. A Nanoshell, a miniscule gold-coated bead, would be one such device. It would be designed to absorb specific light wavelengths, recognize and seek out cancer cells, latch onto them, and apply lethal near-infrared light exclusively to the tumor cells while leaving all other cells intact. (Michalowski 19)
Early detection of cancer is critical for treatment. Nanotechnology could detect molecular changes in a small percentage of cells, make running tests without altering the tissues and cells possible, as well as make screening faster and more cost-efficient because of the...