European
Nanoforum Reports
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Nanotechnology in Consumer Products More and more consumer products are branded with the buzzword “nano” or nanotechnology. Are we witnessing the onset of an emerging technology or is it just a sophisticated advertisement strategy? If the technology is true, what is the added value to certain products and does the consumer really benefit? In general the products claiming to contain nanotechnology do indeed exploit nanoscale effects, primarily interface effects but also a few quantum effects. Interestingly, the products that proudly use the “nano” brand are only a small percentage of the number of consumer products that actually contain nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Nanotechnology is predicted to transform the entire food industry, changing the way food is produced, processed, packaged, transported, and consumed. Nanotechnology and Construction The construction business will inevitably be a beneficiary of this nanotechnology; in fact it already is in the fields of concrete, steel and glass. Concrete is stronger, more durable and more easily placed, steel tougher and glass self-cleaning. Nanotechnology and Health Nanotechnology is having a direct impact and includes diagnostics, drug discovery and delivery, surgery, tissue engineering and implants. Nanotechnologies for Environmental Remediation Which are the most effective nanotechnologies for prevention or cleanup of pollution? Nanotechnology and Civil Security Applications in imaging, sensors and sensor networks for the detection of pathogens and chemicals; decontamination equipment and filters, and personal protection; identification, including anti-counterfeiting and authentication, forensics, quantum cryptography and the market for counterfeit and grey goods; societal impacts, including current regulatory and ethical frameworks, potential impacts on ethics and human rights, and public perception. |
