Blog @ NanoVic - Nanotechnology Blog

At NanoVic we use safety labels to indicate the presence of ultrafine nanoparticles. The purpose of labelling these materials is to ensure that appropriate personal safety measures can be undertaken. This is based on the NIOSH report which indicated that ultrafine particles <100 nm may pose greater health risks than bigger particles of a similar material.

Current toxicity regulations seem to rely on the composition or properties of bulk materials rather than size. So for the layperson, it is difficult to know whether ultrafine particles of otherwise safe materials may pose a health risk. And are they dangerous only if in particle form or also within other materials? And nanoparticles also exist in nature, so is it only synthetically manufactured nanoparticles that are toxic?

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council released a report in July 2006 titled “A Review of the Potential Occupational Health and Safety Implications of Nanotechnology”. The report examines the potential toxicology of nanoparticles and outlines the uncertainties associated with toxicology, measurement and safe practices.

The ETC Group certainly seem to think that all nanoparticles are a hazard and are currently running a competition to develop a new hazard symbol for nanomaterials. I don’t think the current entries on display are entirely successful in terms of communicating the issue to the public. For me, what is missing is an appropriate way to deal with nanoparticles once they have been labeled as a hazard.

The Foresight Institute has responded in their NanoDot Blog by criticising the nano hazard symbol for two reasons - first because using precautionary symbols without basis leads to overuse and a less effective message and secondly because we already have a toxic hazard symbol that could be more generally applied.

What is certain is that things are uncertain. And this is justification for NanoVic using labelling and safe work practices for our activities.

Last Thursday (12^th October 2006) I was filmed for the children’s TV program SCOPE, for an episode on nanotechnology (for more info, read our article). This program is an excellent initiative, as it explores science in an easy-to-understand format for kids. I helped write the script with the producers, and found it quite challenging to explain nanotechnology to a young audience (ages 8 – 12) without using technical terms. The filming itself was great fun, and an excellent opportunity to practice communicating the excitement of the technology. Check out the episode on Monday, 4^th December, 2006, on Network Ten, at 4 pm.

At the end of September, the Foresight Institute announced the Richard Feynman Prizes for Nanotechnology. The Feynman Communications Prize was awared to J. Storrs Hall for his book “Nanofuture: What’s Next For Nanotechnology” which explains the impact of molecular nanotechnology in a clear and reader-friendly way. Storrs Hall is also recognised as the inventor of utility fog.

I have been using the concept of utility fog to investigate the impacts of molecular manufacturing technologies on society in workshops conducted for school and government groups. I will be summarising the workshop at the AusForesight Conference during the public session called ‘Futures Spotting’ on Sunday 22 October at Swinburne University. ‘Futures Spotting’ aims to showcase the foresight profession to the public and provide some insight into the myriad of applications for futures work in education and business. Attendance is free, but you do need to register.

Last night I travelled to Canberra to attend the awards ceremony for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science with Mrs Francesca Calati of St Helena Secondary College.  For me there were two themes that shone through.

Firstly, several of the prize winners praised science as a team activity, one that could not be done in isolation.  Ms Majorie Colvill, winner of the primary teaching award, stressed the importance of meeting with other science professionals.

Secondly, both Prof Mandyam Srinivassan, winner of the Prime Minisiter’s Prize for Science and Dr Naomi McClure-Griffiths, winner of the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year emphasised the importance of curiosity-driven science.  In their opinions, asking the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions were of primary importance.  With freedom to do this, it is then possible to use this understanding to examine potential practical applications.

These observations resonate with the work we are doing to provide support to St Helena Secondary College with the introduction of their nanotechnology curriculum.  The nanotechnology elective aims to spark curiousity and the development of the curriculum has necessitated a cooperative appraoch with industry and academia.

A remarkable compound has been developed by researchers from MIT and Hong Kong University – a simple, clear, biodegradable gel that stops bleeding in less than 15 seconds. It doesn’t require a dry surface to work, is non-toxic and promotes tissue repair. When applied to a wound the gel spontaneously self-assembles into a scaffold-like, three dimensional network of nanofibres. This may help form a physical barrier that seals over the wound, though at this time the exact mechanism behind the compound’s properties is still unclear.

The same researchers also used a similar liquid to partially restore sight in blind hamsters with severed optical nerve tracts. The liquid enabled brain nerves to regrow, using the self-assembled nanofibres as a scaffold. Normally, scar tissue prevents such regeneration.

Although the gel has only been tested on rodents and it isn’t certain that it will work in humans, its potential applications in emergency rooms, surgeries and even on the battlefield are significant.

Today I was a panelist at the State of Design: Design for Business and Business for Design conference held in Melbourne.

My panel was considering opportunities and future directions for design and business. I think design is instrumental in the commercialisation and innovation of nanotechnologies as many of these technologies completely change the base or model for products and processes.

One of the examples I used was transdermal delivery using micro-array patches (MAPs). These is a great example of good design as MAPs can replace needles for administering drugs, vaccines and hormones. Customer comfort is enhanced by replacing syringes and other good design aspects are seen in distribution efficiencies such as transport, storage and reduced requirement for specialised staff.

For non-scientists and beginners in the field of nanotechnology, the Science Museum in London have an interesting page about nanotechnology that explains all the different areas where nanotechnology can or has been used.

Anything that helps a golfer stay on the straight and narrow must be a bonus. How about a golf ball which incorporates nanotechnology that will help you do just that?  Thanks to NanoDynamics Inc. there is such a ball. There is nothing more frustrating than spending time wandering in the scrub looking for wayward golf balls that have either been sliced or hooked. Perhaps this is one of many solutions?

Dr Jackie Fairley of Starpharma features on the recent nanotechnology podcast launched by NanoVic and AZoNano. 

Dr Fairley describes the formation of dendrimers and focuses particularly on VivaGel^TM, a new product Starpharma have under trial.  VivaGel^TM uses dendrimer technology and is designed to block the attachment of the HIV / AIDS virus to T-cells.  I found this explanatory animation from Starpharma helpful after hearing Dr Fairley on the podcast.