“Nano technology is changing our lives at an incredible speed,” C.N.R. Rao, scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee, said in Bidar on Saturday. He was speaking to pre-university students about “Glimpses of the Nano world” in the Rang Mandir.
Advanced developments in Nano technology are providing solutions to long-pending problems in the field of medicine. The development of Nano nose to detect cancer by analysing breathing is a milestone. It helps experts pick up the one in a million molecules that are exhaled by patients to see if they are suffering from the disease. This is a non-invasive method and does not need complicated diagnostic measures, he said.
Another important tool is the artificial skin made through Nano technology that leads to regeneration of natural skin. It has been developed by MIT, USA. In fact, a bandage made of silver Nano particles that cures burns is already in the market in India, he said. Delivery of specific drugs to cancer-affected in the brain and other parts using Nano technology has been perfected. Placing gold particles in cancerous tissue has led to burning of carcinogenic parts in many animals with terminal stages of cancer. MRI scanning results are being improved with Nano technology, according to him.
Another major field where Nano science is widely used is electronics. They can be used to make transistors, and several types of sensors.
Nano technology also has many uses in cosmetics, textiles, lithography, DNA sensing and photovoltaic studies. He said Nano technology was used even in ancient times in the making of Lycurgus cup of Dichroic glass and the steel sword of Damascus.
However, it was Michael Faraday who first made Nano particles of gold in 1857 in modern times. “Faraday was the greatest scientist ever and no one can repeat what he did. He made Nano particles but he did not know their size,” Mr. Rao added.
He said the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research had conducted pioneering research in non graphene Nano particles and creating strong materials by fusing graphene and polymers.
We are now working on producing energy by artificial photosynthesis. The product would be hydrogen, a harmless energy source that does not pollute. Our aim is to create hydrogen using sunlight, he said.
Karnataka Rajya Vigyan Parishat had organised the event. Pandit Balure, KRVP coordinator, Channabasappa Halahalli, district development forum president and others were present.
