Comment: The massive potential of tiny particles

Dec 18 2008 by Stewart Watkins for The Journal

NANOTECHNOLOGY is widely seen as having the potential to change our lives – but in what ways? In the latest of our quarterly NETPark expert panel debates, we looked at what nanotechnology is, how it’s actually been in use for decades and how it could be developed further.

The first thing to get clear is that it’s not a single technology, but has an incredibly broad range of applications, and though widely talked about is very often not deeply understood.

Nanotechnology deals with the incredibly small – usually below the size of 100 nanometres, with a nanometre being one billionth of a metre. To create a mental picture of that 100nm size limit, imagine something only one five hundredth of a hairsbreadth.

During the debate, Professor John Anstee, NETPark Scientific Director, highlighted some of the exciting possibilities that might be delivered. He said that nanoparticles that bind onto tumours and can then be activated in such a way that they heat up and ‘cook’ the tumour is the kind of development that will become increasingly important.

Harry Swan, managing director of Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd, explained that nanomaterials have been around for a long time – an observation with which Professor Ken Snowdon, managing director of INEX at Newcastle University, agreed, citing the use of nanotechnology in car tyres.

Chair of the panel, Dr David Robbins, director of Atomic Layer Deposition at the Centre for Process Innovation, drew attention to the fact that the silicon chip has features below the 100 namometre scale, and has had for many years.

There was general agreement that it’s not possible to put a definitive value on the potential global market for nanotechnology.

It was also acknowledged that people may have concerns. Professor Zulfiqur Ali, assistant dean in the University of Teesside’s School of Science and Technology, recognised that there were ethical issues in certain areas and said it was vital when engaging with the public not to sensationalise.

Stewart Watkins is managing director of County Durham Development Company, which is driving the development of NETPark and NETPark Net.