NanoTechnology

Nanotechnology is a field of applied science focused on the design, synthesis, characterization and application of materials and devices on the nanoscale. Nanotechnology is a subclassification of technology in colloidal science, biology, physics, chemistry and other scientific fields and involves the study of phenomena and manipulation of material at the nanoscale, in essence an extension of existing sciences into the nanoscale.

There are two main approaches in nano technology, "top-down" and "bottom-up". "Top-down", is when new objects are created out of previous objects from which existing content is removed. "Bottum-up", is when nano objects are built atom by atom.


 * Note to group*, I put in an introduction. Go ahead and fill a paragraph per person. *end of Note*

By using the "top down" approach an engineer is able to construct nano structures and devices by starting with a bulk material and removing small portions of it. The "bottom up" approach starts out with small stuctures such as atoms and molecules and combines them to make larger structures. Bottom up is the latest in nanotechnology engineering. It uses a tool called electroplating to put a charge on the components of the nanostructure to attract the pieces and bond them to the larger structure. **Avi Nuke at ringsurf.com**. Article that describes that with nanotechnology we can detect harmful biological chemicals by using nanowire sensors: [|article] How can we use nanotechnology to fix problems in the brain? [|article] molecular machines: Upclose image of a molecular gear taken from:http://www.nanoengineer-1.com/mambo/ Within a few decades, we will use these nanomachines to manufacture consumer goods at the molecular level, piecing together one atom or molecule at a time to make baseballs, telephones and cars. This is the goal of **nanotechnology**. As televisions, airplanes and computers revolutionized the world in the last century, scientists claim that nanotechnology will have an even more profound effect on the next century.
 * Future Of NanoTechnology**

__Potential Risks__

 * Nano technology can be airborne and is a potential risk for necrosis of the lungs.
 * It is not their size that is dangerous but the function and reaction based on things such as environment.

Nano structures can be compounded into two main sections. >
 * 1) Nanocomposites;
 * 1) "Free" Nano particles.

Because of their small scale these nano particles can become a health risk. As their scale allows for easy insertion into any human body. In some instances these nanometer based technologies may even pass the the blood-brain barrier, allowing them to enter regions of the brain, possibly causing damage depending on both the technologies reaction and/or the neurological region of the brain.



__Potential Applications__
-Improved drug delivery systems -Literally billions of times faster and more cost efficient.
 * Medicine / Biological Applications
 * Implementation into computers

Nano technology is already making progress in the medical field. The first nanoparticulate drug delivery product, Abraxane for the treatment of breast cancer was launched by Abraxis Oncology, a division of American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (2) At the scale of 10^-9 meters, nanoparticulate drug delivery systems bind a therapeutic compound to a nanoparticle, or encasing it within a nanoshell.

Web Sources used for this Site: [|http://www.wikipedia.com], :http://www.nanoengineer-1.com/mambo/,http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v1/n1/full/nnano.2006.74a.html [|About.com - Nano Technology]