NanochemistryNanochemistry

PhD Halina Falfushynska

ObjectivesObjectives

Recall the structures of carbonRecall the structures of carbon Describe the physical properties of Describe the physical properties of

buckminster fullerenebuckminster fullerene Learn that carbon can be used to Learn that carbon can be used to

make nanotubesmake nanotubes Describe some uses of nanotubes Describe some uses of nanotubes

and fullerene derivativesand fullerene derivatives

Carbon structuresCarbon structures Graphite:Graphite: black, opaque, lusterous, black, opaque, lusterous,

slippery, slippery,

conductsconducts electricity electricity

Diamond:Diamond: colourless, clear, lusterous, high colourless, clear, lusterous, high

m.p., does m.p., does notnot conduct conduct electricityelectricity

Buckminster Buckminster fullerene:fullerene:

Black solid, deep red solution in Black solid, deep red solution in

petrol petrol

FullerenesFullerenes

One example is the Buckminsterfullerene One example is the Buckminsterfullerene (Buckyball)(Buckyball)

It has a formula CIt has a formula C6060

It is a black solidIt is a black solid Dissolves in petrol to make aDissolves in petrol to make a

red solutionred solution Free moving electrons so conducts electricityFree moving electrons so conducts electricity

They are spheres of only carbon atoms and are also allotropes of carbon

Fullerenes: UsesFullerenes: Uses

They can cage other moleculesThey can cage other molecules

In the future this may be used to In the future this may be used to deliver drugs in small amounts deliver drugs in small amounts for slow release.for slow release. E.g. Cancer treatmentE.g. Cancer treatment

Nanotubes – How big?Nanotubes – How big?

Nanotubes are being Nanotubes are being

developed for use in developed for use in

computer computer technology.technology.

These tubes are:These tubes are:

1-2nm diameter1-2nm diameter

100mm long100mm long

Nanotubes & Fullerene derivativesNanotubes & Fullerene derivatives

Nanotubes UsesNanotubes Uses

Biological:Biological: drug delivery, trap dangerous drug delivery, trap dangerous substances, immobilization of enzymes, DNA substances, immobilization of enzymes, DNA transfectiontransfection

Paints:Paints: improving strength & conductivity improving strength & conductivity

Actuators:Actuators: changing electrical energy into changing electrical energy into mechanical energy e.g. roboticsmechanical energy e.g. robotics

Electronics:Electronics: semiconductors, diodes. semiconductors, diodes.

Chemical industry:Chemical industry: catalysts e.g. zeolites in catalysts e.g. zeolites in hydrocarbon crackinghydrocarbon cracking

Excellent website: Excellent website: http://nanotechinkorea.free.fr/english/nanoco.php

A range of applications intended to improve life quality and to provide novel approaches to diagnostic and therapy, based on suitably designed nanostructures, nanoparticles or smart molecular systems.

Currently, a number of research groups is studying such topics, as witnessed also by specifically devoted scientific journals.

Types of nanotubesTypes of nanotubes

Semiconductor:Semiconductor:It is a chiral nanotube - “twists” along its length.It is a chiral nanotube - “twists” along its length.

Conductor (metallic):Conductor (metallic):Straight nanotubesStraight nanotubes [Only conducts electricity under specific conditions][Only conducts electricity under specific conditions]

Application of nanochemistryApplication of nanochemistry

This discipline involves both new materials and new principles, as powerful tools for an extremely effective action against a range of diseases.For example a physicochemical phenomenon called Surface Plasmon Resonance is used to develope a technology for drug discovery, antibody screening, ligand fishing and therapeutics.

Application of nanochemistryApplication of nanochemistry

Futuristic kinds of nanorobots have been even imagined, able not only to take care of our health from inside our body, but also to replicate themselves or to modify themselves according to the specific problem to be solved.Increasing funding initiatives are supporting this fascinating and promising research field.

Nanomedicine

Nanotechnology provides a wide range of new technologies for developing customized solutions that optimize the delivery of pharmaceutical products. Today, harmful side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy are commonly a result of drug delivery methods that don't pinpoint their intended target cells accurately. Researchers at Harvard and MIT, however, have been able to attach special RNA strands, measuring nearly 10 nm in diameter, to nano-particles, filling them with a chemotherapy drug. These RNA strands are attracted to cancer cells. When the nanoparticle encounters a cancer cell, it adheres to it, and releases the drug into the cancer cell. This directed method of drug delivery has great potential for treating cancer patients while avoiding negative effects (commonly associated with improper drug delivery)

NanoroboticsNanorobotics

Nanorobotics is the emerging technology field creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the scale of a nanometer (10−9 meters).  More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building nanorobots, with devices ranging in size from 0.1–10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components.[ The names nanobots, nanoids, nanites, nanomachines or nanomites have also been used to describe these devices currently under research and development.

DiodeDiode::The nanotube is used here to connect two The nanotube is used here to connect two

electrodes (yellow) on a silicon dioxide base electrodes (yellow) on a silicon dioxide base (green)(green)

[Diodes allow a current to travel in one direction only][Diodes allow a current to travel in one direction only]

Superconductors or Insulators:Superconductors or Insulators:

NANOTUBESNANOTUBES

PropertiesProperties Hexagons curled into a Hexagons curled into a

tube shapetube shape

Very strongVery strong

Conducts electricityConducts electricity

Small with a large Small with a large surface areasurface area

Can be separated from Can be separated from liquid products for re-liquid products for re-useuse

UsesUses Reinforce Graphite in Reinforce Graphite in

tennis racquetstennis racquets

Semi conductors in Semi conductors in electric circuits in electric circuits in modern computers and modern computers and electric circuitselectric circuits

Industrial catalystsIndustrial catalysts

Nanotubes are made by joining fullerenes together

Drug Delivery – ‘Buckydrugs’Drug Delivery – ‘Buckydrugs’

‘‘Cages’ made of Buckminster fullerene Cages’ made of Buckminster fullerene

structures can be used to carry drugsstructures can be used to carry drugs

Bacteria can be used to carry drugs, DNA or sensors attached to nanoparticles into cells for

treatment, gene therapy or diagnosis.

Replacing AntibioticsReplacing Antibiotics