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The limited understanding, however, and therefore, the lack of policies to regulate this kind of technology pose a huge impact on the economy and potential risks to health and the environment, said Pat Roy Mooney, executive director of Canada-based Action Group on Erosion, Technology, and Concentration (ETC Group).
At a briefing last week, Mooney, who authored and co-authored several books on the politics of biotechnology and biodiversity, warned that some of the food and cosmetic products that Filipinos consume may contain nano-scale particles that could be harmful to human health.
According to ETC Group, over 800 products in the country have been processed under nanotechnology.
“These products are in the marketplace now and they are not regulated by the Philippine government or anybody else’s government,” Mooney said. But the lack of regulation is unlike the case of the melamine scandal.
“The basic reality (in nanotechnology) is that governments have never recognized this question of size,” he added.
‘Tiny’ technology
If biotechnology deals with the manipulation of life (bios), nanotechnology speaks solely of scale. A nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter. One human hair is about 80,000 nanometers thick. Everything at the nano-scale is invisible to the unaided eye and even to all but the most powerful microscopes.
Below 100 nanometers, a material’s properties can change dramatically. “You go out of the area of classical chemistry and come into the field of quantum effects,” Mooney explained. “All of the characteristics of a chemical change below 100 nanometers, as you drop down in size — 100, 75, 50, 25 nanometers, and so on — keep on changing.”
With only a reduction in size and no change in substance, materials can exhibit new properties such as electrical conductivity, elasticity, different color, greater strength, and greater reactivity — characteristics that the very same materials do not exhibit at the micro or macro scales.
For example, aluminum oxide, the material used by dentists in teeth, is perfectly benign, but at the nano-scale — once ‘quantum effects’ kick in — the same substance is explosive and is used by the United States Air Force to set off bombs.
Nanomaterials, which are far lighter and stronger than anything currently used, could revolutionize the way things are made. Mooney said: “(Nanotechnology) cuts across the entire economy. It’s in cars, soap, food, pesticide, drugs, computers, because everything is made up of atoms.”
Potential health risks
Specific risks to human health of nanoproducts have yet to be identified. ETC Group’s Mooney, however, noted that out of 26 peer review studies conducted, none of these suggest that nanoparticles are entirely safe. “All of them say that further studies are needed.”
He explained that at around 70 nanometers in size, a nanoparticle can get into the lungs, skin, and cells. Then at 50 nanometers, it can go deeply into the body’s organs. At 30 nanometers, the immune system will not be able to detect a nanoparticle at all. “It’s too small for the immune system, which means that a nanoparticle can pass through the placenta.”
In the Philippines as in other countries, products containing nano-scale ingredients cannot be identified because these are not labelled and require no regulatory oversight.
Products suspected to contain nano-scale ingredients range from canola oil, health supplements, weight loss pills, cosmetic and anti-ageing products to textile, electronic products, and computer and automotive parts.
Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE) executive director Wilhelmina Pelegrina urged the government to impose a moratorium on nanotech research and the commercial distribution of products until laboratory protocols and regulatory regimes are in place to protect workers and consumers, and until these materials are shown to be safe.
The problem, however, said Mooney, is that the technology is so advanced that governments have yet to figure out and understand it.
Meantime, he suggested consumers to check out the website of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, which has an inventory of nanotechnology-based consumer products currently on the market. While not comprehensive, the inventory provides a look at over 800 manufacturer-identified nanotechnology-based consumer products currently available.
Economic impact
The concept of commodity or raw materials is also changing with nanotechnology.
Mooney explained that an economy like the Philippines, which exports gold, nickel, and food products, could be affected if the role of raw materials changes in the future. “We don’t know if we will need gold or nickel the same way we had in the past.”
As an example, Mooney said that chalk, a very simple compound, once brought down to the nano-scale, can be 100 times stronger than steel and six times lighter. “In the end, there will be no need to make steel. You can actually use chalk, incredibly cheap at the nano-scale.”
The same thing may also apply in food products wherein requirements for commodities like coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar can be reduced. In nanotechnology, the same taste can be maintained but using much less of the raw material. This could entail the demand for fresh production to drop considerably.
Nanotechnology, ETC Group said, has the potential to topple commodity markets, disrupt trade and the livelihood of the poorest and most vulnerable workers who do not have the economic flexibility to respond to sudden demands for new skills or different raw materials.
“We are not against technology advancement, but the developing economies are ill-prepared,” said Peregrina.
ETC Group and SEARICE, along with other international civil society groups, proposed the creation of a new United Nations body to track, evaluate, and accept or reject new technologies and their products though the International Convention on the Evaluation of New Technologies (ICENT). ICENT is designed to provide an early warning or early listening system capable of monitoring any significant new technology.

PHILADELPHIA – A research team, led by investigators at the Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, has achieved a substantial "kill" of pancreatic cancer cells by using nanoparticles to successfully deliver a deadly diphtheria toxin gene. The findings – set to be published in the October issue of Cancer Biology & Therapy – reflect the first time this unique strategy has been tested in pancreatic cancer cells, and the success seen offers promise for future pre-clinical animal studies, and possibly, a new clinical approach.
The researchers found that delivery of a diphtheria toxin gene inhibited a basic function of pancreatic tumor cells by over 95 percent, resulting in significant cell death of pancreatic cancer cells six days after a single treatment. They also demonstrated that the treatment targets only pancreatic cancer cells and leaves normal cells alone, thus providing a potential 'therapeutic window.' Further, they are targeting a molecule that is found in over three-quarters of pancreatic cancer patients.
"For the pancreatic cancer world, this is very exciting," says the study's lead author, molecular biologist Jonathan Brody, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, who works closely with the Samuel D. Gross Professor and Surgeon, Charles J. Yeo, M.D. "There are no effective targeted treatments for pancreatic cancer, aside from surgery for which only a minority of patients qualify. We are in great need of translating the plethora of molecular information we know about this disease to novel therapeutic ideas."
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the U.S., reflecting the generally short survival time of patients - often less than a year from diagnosis.
This approach was originally developed in ovarian cancer cells by study co-author Janet Sawicki, Ph.D., a member of the Kimmel Cancer Center, and professor at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. She and her group had recent success in reducing the size of ovarian tumors following treatment with diphtheria toxin nanoparticles.
The strategy is based on the fact that both ovarian and pancreatic cancer cells significantly over-express a protein found on the cell membrane, called mesothelin. The function of that molecule is unknown, but it is found in the majority of pancreatic tumors and ovarian cancer tumors. Other solid tumors also express mesothelin, but not at such a high rate.
"We don't know completely why cancer cells repeatedly turn on mesothelin genes to produce these membrane proteins, but it gives us a way to fool the cell and hijack its machinery, to trick it into making other more potent genes that will be detrimental to the cancer cells," Brody says.
To do that, the researchers devised an agent that consists of a bit of mesothelin DNA connected to the gene that produces the toxin from diphtheria, a highly contagious and potentially deadly bacteria, which is now controlled through childhood DPT vaccination. "Naked" DNA is then coated in a polymer to form nanoparticles that are taken up by the cancer cells.
Inside the cells, the agent performs its trickery. The nanoparticles biodegrade and the cell machinery senses genetic material from mesothelin. It activates the diphtheria toxin gene, which then turns on production of the toxin which allows the toxin to then do its work on the cancer cells, Brody says. Within 24 hours of delivery, the toxin disrupted production of protein machinery by over 95 percent, and within six days, a number of cancer cells die or are arrested.
"The cancer thinks it is turning on mesothelin and once it gets started reading that genetic code, it can't stop," he says. "So it will read the bacteria's DNA and produce the toxin which shuts down protein production in the cancer cells."
"It worked well in our cell culture models and now we are moving into pre-clinical experiments," Brody says.
The agent will not attack normal cells because the molecular machinery needed to turn on mesothelin is not found in normal cells, Brody says. Additionally, Sawicki has modified the diphtheria DNA to ensure that toxin that might be released from dying cancer cells is not taken up by healthy, normal cells.
But the researchers are now perfecting even more stringent measures to ensure safety, he says. "We can't help being hopeful," he says. "Our findings suggest that such a strategy will work in the clinical setting against the majority of pancreatic tumors."

The Molecular Engineering Translational Research Centre (METRC), funded by the N8 Research Partnership, will combine the research strength of the N8 group of universities to explore molecular engineering and nanotechnology to develop new products. The investment comes from a grant awarded to N8 from the Northern Way Growth Fund.
By combining world-class research expertise from the Universities of Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York, the new Centre will help move technology past the concept phase to highly functional products for use in everyday life.
The world-leading centre, which is led by Professor Tony Ryan OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Pure Science at the University of Sheffield, will collaborate with businesses in the North and internationally, to share knowledge to develop new products, processes and services to help them innovate faster and take a larger share of rapidly-changing global markets.
Researchers at the centre will focus on a number of market sectors, including home and personal care, medicine and healthcare, and energy. Developments could include sensors and implants providing healthcare through human-device interfaces, easier interaction between humans and IT, and smart homes and fabrics.
Professor Tony Ryan said: "The fundamental objective of METRC is to stimulate economic growth. The old corporate research labs have gone and we´d like to create space where industrial and academic scientists can work alongside each other to turn cutting edge University research into exciting new products and processes for UK and global companies. Molecular engineering underpins a wealth of existing and new products - from soap to solar cells. Our business is in the science of everyday things."
Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and Chair of the Board of N8, added: "The N8 universities undertake more than £720m of research and employ over 8,200 academic staff. N8 is the largest `research pooling´ partnership ever undertaken in the UK and represents a unique combination of complementary research strengths and capacity which is of proven world-leading quality. Our aim is to maximise the impact of our research capabilities on the reputational and economic standing of the North and the UK, and the development of this Research Centre with financial assistance from the Northern Way is a significant step towards achieving this."
Notes for Editors: The N8 Research Partnership (N8) was launched by the North's eight research-intensive universities (Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York) to enable business and industry to access world-class knowledge and gain a significant competitive advantage. The intellectual critical mass offered by N8 will drive up business performance in global growth markets and add extra cylinders to the UK economic engine.
For further information please contact: Lindsey Bird, Media Relations Manager, on 0114 2225338 or email l.bird@sheffield.ac.uk

While nanotechnology has made a positive impact on many industries, the oil and gas industry has yet to fully investigate its potential. For this reason, Royal Dutch Shell hosted an International Nanotechnology Forum last week in Houston, Texas. The three-day, invitation-only event began a serious dialogue between nanotechnology experts and Shell scientists with the goal of understanding the realistic benefits nanomaterials might provide in future production scenarios.
Nanotechnology refers to the understanding and control of materials at the molecular level, in the size range of roughly 1 to 100 nm. To put this in perspective, the size ratio of a football to the diameter of the earth is roughly the same as that between 1 nm and 1 meter.
At these dimensions, materials exhibit unique physical phenomena that ideally give way to novel applications. For example, nanomaterials can be much stronger than conventional materials, and may offer superior flexibility and corrosion resistance as well. These properties would be well suited for construction materials that are stronger, and yet lighter, than steel for offshore production operations.
“Nanotechnology has made significant progress, and offered several benefits, to other industries in the past few years, but the oil and gas industry is only starting to look at this class of materials seriously,” said Sergio Kapusta, Shell’s Chief Scientist for Materials and one of the forum attendees. He mentioned that while industries such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications have invested billions of dollars in nanotechnology over the past few years, the oil and gas industry as a whole has only invested approximately USD 100 million in nanotechnology R&D over the same time frame.
Shell began seriously investigating nanotechnology for energy applications about three years ago, with the goals of producing more hydrocarbon from existing wells, producing more hydrocarbon from difficult sources (i.e., oil sands, shales), and helping to protect the environment through improvements to water clarification and carbon sequestration.
Shell has made inroads into research collaboration by pioneering the Texas-based Advanced Energy Consortium, which facilitates precompetitive research in micro- and nanotechnology materials, and by sponsoring SPE’s first Applied Technology Workshop on nanotechnology, held earlier this year in Dubai. However, in order for Shell to obtain step change improvements rather than incremental advances, more detailed collaborative work is needed.
The forum brought together 30 of the world’s leading nanotechnology experts and 30 Shell scientists to open the lines of communication and set the framework for future collaboration. “The first part of the forum was designed to get everyone on the same page,” said Kapusta, “essentially to educate the nanotechnology community about the oil field and the challenges we face, and then for us to learn more about the unique characteristics of nanomaterials and how they have been applied elsewhere. With this framework, we could then begin the detailed dialogue.”
A few presentations were given on specific oilfield topics, and then breakout groups were set up on each topic. People with interest in a given topic were encouraged to join that group, discuss specifics of the production challenges in that topic, and think about how collaborative efforts might solve these challenges.
“These breakout groups returned with very specific areas for research,” Kapusta said. Some of the areas included:
* Newer materials. More advanced nano-based materials would ideally be of higher strength and durability, lower weight, lower cost, and have shorter delivery times. There is also a need for new coatings with greater corrosion and erosion resistance. * Improved separations. Specific research interests include developing nano-based materials for improved fluid separation and lower-cost means of separating CO2 at high pressure for more efficient carbon sequestration. * Improved catalysts. In particular, there is interest for nano-based catalysts that can convert shales and tar sands into higher quality fuels. * Improved EOR operations. Nanotechnology could provide improved emulsions for more efficient reservoir sweeps, or nanoparticles that could be injected into the reservoir and transmit data to the surface for improved mapping and identification of the oil/water interface. * Greener fuels. A combination of nano- and bio-based solutions could yield more efficient catalysts for the conversion of cellulose into ethanol.
Another major research focus has to be on the fate of these nanomaterials in the environments to which they are introduced, and on the potential health consequences, since there are currently no clear regulations on the use of nanomaterials. “Wine and water are both liquids, but they are not the same. Nor is one nanoparticle the same as another, of course – ‘nano’ refers only to their size. But this technology is still so new that there is uncertainty as to the potential environmental, health, and safety risks that some nanoparticles may pose,” Kapusta said.
Ted Moon is the Technology Editor of JPT Online. He brings information on emerging technologies, R&D successes, new field applications, updates from SPE papers about recent innovations, and more. If you have a question or suggestion for future article topics, email Ted at teched@spe.org.

The Technology Fast 50 comprises the 50 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in the San Diego area. Companies ranked in the list will also be highlighted in Deloitte’s North American Technology Fast 500 composite list. Nanogen came in as San Diego’s 17th fastest growing technology company on the list with a 468% CAGR over the past five years.
“We are proud to be named for a second year as one of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50” said David Ludvigson, President and Chief Operating Officer for Nanogen. “We have made great strides focusing on our core diagnostic products and developing new partnerships that have resulted in continuing rapid growth.”
Nanogen has introduced industry-leading diagnostic tools for two of the fastest growing in vitro diagnostic (IVD) markets—molecular diagnostics and point-of-care rapid testing. The company’s products include rapid diagnostic tests for cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure, and DNA or RNA tests for specific infectious diseases. The company has a strong intellectual proprietary portfolio, including their minor groove binder (MGB) technology which has been widely licensed in molecular biology fields and has proven to provide better results than traditional PCR probe technology.
In August, Nanogen announced its intention to merge with The Elitech Group, a private diagnostics company based in France. The combination will create a global IVD provider of products spanning the molecular, point-of-care, clinical chemistry and microbiology diagnostics markets with expected first year revenues of more than $150 million. This year’s ranking is based on 2003 – 2007 numbers and does not reflect the company’s 2008 performance or the prospective merger.
“To rank on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50, companies must have phenomenal revenue growth over five years,” said Theresa Drew, managing partner, San Diego Practice, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “Nanogen has proven to be one of the fast-growth success stories in San Diego and we applaud their dedication to making their vision a reality.”
About Nanogen, Inc. Nanogen provides innovative, high-quality diagnostic products to clinicians, physicians and researchers worldwide, making it easier to predict, diagnose and, ultimately, help treat disease in a timely fashion. The company's products include molecular diagnostic kits and reagents and kits for rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests. Nanogen has pioneered research in areas involving nanotechnology, biomarkers, and molecular biology to bring better results to diagnostics and healthcare. For additional information please visit Nanogen’s website at nanogen.com.

The State Nanotechnology Corporation, engine builder Saturn and Gazprombank signed a contract Wednesday to create a joint venture that will build equipment for the aviation and engineering industries.
The agreement, worth an estimated 1 billion rubles ($38.3 million), is the first deal for the nanotechnology corporation since President Dmitry Medvedev asked former UES chief Anatoly Chubais to head the company, also known as Rosnano, last month.
"This project will be highly effective financially," Rosnano managing director Sergei Polikarpov said in a statement. "The creation of a metal-cutting tool with a nanostructure covering marks a significant contribution to the competitiveness of Russian engine building."
The special coating will allow the tools to be used up to a dozen times, while going through more than double the amount of metal they are normally able to cut, the statement said.
Chubais was on hand to sign the agreement with Saturn CEO Yury Lastochkin and Gazprombank vice president Anatoly Milyukov.
Both Saturn and Gazprombank will have 25 percent stakes, while Rosnano will invest half the total sum.
The company, which will manufacture hard-alloy tools to detail parts for airplane engines, will base its production at a Saturn facility in Rybinsk, in the Yaroslavl region.
Saturn is expected to consume up to 30 percent of annual production, while the rest will be sold to domestic manufacturers. Lastochkin said the venture would consider the possibility of eventually entering the international market.
Asked how the ongoing financial crisis would affect Rosnano, Chubais said he expected it would spur an increased appetite for innovation.
"I'd say this crisis is the worst since the Great Depression. We shouldn't dismiss it as if we don't care or aren't worried. We do care."

In partnership with Virginia State University, Chesterfield County Public Schools will host a visiting science author. Nanotechnology specialist Richard A.L. Jones will work with Chesterfield students for two days and lead a panel discussion that is open to the public.
Nanotechnology involves working with matter at the atomic or molecular level to develop devices no larger than 100 nanometers. Jones is a professor of physics at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, a Fellow of the Royal Society (England's highest scientific honor), a prominent adviser on public policy and the author of "Soft Machines: Nanotechnology and Life," a book that explains to the average person the science and potential of nanotechnology.
Students at several high schools have read "Soft Machines" to prepare for Jones' visit. On Oct. 20, he will work with Monacan High students, then will spend the afternoon with teachers at the MathScience Innovation Center. On Oct. 21, Jones will work with Lloyd C. Bird High students and teachers.
His visit to the county will conclude with a panel discussion from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 21 in the auditorium of Lloyd C. Bird High School, 10301 Courthouse Road. The community is invited to attend this event, along with county students, teachers and parents. Jones will discuss his book, panel members will comment and audience members may ask questions. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
"Interacting with Dr. Jones is a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Dr. Jeremy Lloyd, the school system's instructional specialist for science. "This is the first time since 2003 that we have collaborated with Virginia State University to bring in a prominent science author, and we are delighted to renew this partnership with such a high-caliber scientist."

Europe is ready to accelerate development of these technologies, as delegates heard at a recent conference, Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy, organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF) in partnership with Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich (FWF) and the Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck (LFUI).
The conference focused on solar rather than other sustainable energy sources such as wind, because that is where nanotechnology is most applicable and also because solar energy conversion holds the greatest promise as a long-term replacement of fossil fuels. Solar energy can be harvested directly to generate electricity or to yield fuels such as hydrogen for use in engines. Such fuels can also in turn be used indirectly to generate electricity in conventional power stations.
"The potential of solar power is much, much larger in absolute numbers than that of wind," said Professor Bengt Kasemo from Chalmers University of Technology and the chair of the ESF conference. However, like wind, the potential of solar power generation varies greatly across time and geography, being confined to the daytime and less suitable for regions in higher latitudes, such as Scandinavia and Siberia. For this reason there is growing interest in the idea of a global electricity grid according to Kasemo.
"If solar energy is harvested where it is most abundant, and distributed on a global net (easy to say - and a hard but not impossible task to do) it will be enough to replace a large fraction of today's fossil-based electricity generation," said Kasemo. "It also would solve the day/night problem and therefore reduce storage needs because the sun always shines somewhere."
In the immediate future, solid state technologies based on silicon are likely to predominate the production (manufacture) of solar cells, but DSC and other "runners ups" are likely to lower costs in the long term, using cheaper semiconductor materials to produce robust flexible sheets strong enough to resist buffeting from hail for example. Although less efficient than the very best silicon or thin film cells using current technology, their better price/performance has led the European Union to predict that DSCs will be a significant contributor to renewable energy production in Europe by 2020. The DSC was invented by Michael Grätzel, one of the speakers and vice chair at the ESF conference.
The key point to emerge from the ESF conference, though, is that there will be growing choice and competition between emerging nanotechnology-based solar conversion technologies. "I think the important fact is that there is strong competition and that installed solar power is growing very rapidly, albeit from a small base," said Kasemo."This will push prices down and make solar electricity more and more competitive."
Some of the most exciting of these alternatives lie in the field of biomimetics, which involves mimicking processes that have been perfected in biological organisms through eons of evolution. Plants and a class of bacteria, cyanobacteria, have evolved photosynthesis, involving the harvesting of light and the splitting of water into electrons and protons to provide a stream of energy that in turn produces the key molecules of life. Photosynthesis can potentially be harnessed either in genetically-engineered organisms, or completely artificial human-made systems that mimic the processes, to produce carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen. Alternatively, photosynthesis could be tweaked to produce fuels such as alcohol or even hydrocarbons that do contain carbon molecules but recycle them from the atmosphere and therefore make no net contribution to carbon dioxide levels above ground.
Biomimetics could also solve the longstanding problem of how to store large amounts of electricity efficiently. This could finally open the floodgates for electrically-powered vehicles by enabling them at last to match the performance and range of their petrol or diesel-based counterparts. One highlight of the ESF conference was a presentation by Angela Belcher, who played a major role in pioneering nanowires made from viruses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
However, commercial realisation of biomimetic and other emerging technologies lies far in the future. But meantime, as delegates heard from several speakers at the ESF conference, nanotechnology has an important contribution to make, improving the efficiency of existing energy-generating systems during the transition from fossil fuels. For example, Robert Schlögl outlined how nano-scale catalysts can be used to improve the efficiency of engines or systems consuming fossil fuels.
Inspired by such presentations, delegates at the conference were unanimous in calling for a follow up. "The conference was regarded as a real success and a new proposal for a conference in 2010 (chaired by Grätzel) will soon be submitted," said Kasemo. "In particular the conference inspired and educated young people, such as doctors, students, postdocs, young researchers, who will be the ones to realise the potential of nanotechnology for sustainable energy."
The ESF-FWF conference in Partnership with LFUI on NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY was held at the Universitätszentrum Obergurgl, near Innsbruck in Austria during June 2008.

“It is safe to say this is the best microscope at any university in the world,” said Gianluigi Botton, director of the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy at McMaster. The new machine offers scientists a vastly improved view of the structure of matter, comparable to looking at groups of atoms through a finely polished lens instead of through a beer bottle, Dr. Botton said.
“The difference is quite dramatic.”
The $15-million microscope also offers researchers new ways to explore the mysterious inner world of familiar materials like gold or aluminum.
Small groups of atoms often have different properties than when they are in bulk. For example, a small particle made up of a few atoms of gold would look like red-stained glass, Dr. Botton said. But gold metal is opaque and has a very different colour.
As well, gold atoms have different biological properties than gold bars; they are anti-microbial and more reactive, said John Preston, director of the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research at McMaster. The new microscope will help researchers figure out why.
The Titan 80-300 Cubed microscope was built in the Netherlands and arrived at the university in June, where it joins a stable of seven other high-powered electron microscopes, each one designed to probe material in slightly different ways.
McMaster's vice-president of research, Mo Elbestawi, said the latest acquisition gives Canada, and Ontario, an edge in nanotechnology, a hot field that one day could lead to faster computers, smarter robots and tiny probes that navigate their way through our bodies.
It will be used to study how hundreds of everyday products – from beer cans to automotive materials to sunscreen – work at the nano level.
A nanometre is one-millionth of a millimetre, or about 50,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.
There are already more than 6,000 nanotechnology-based consumer products on the market, including sunscreens and stain-resistant fabrics.
But little is known about how nanoparticles affect living organisms. The new microscope can help scientists understand why materials have different properties in bulk and at the nano scale, which is key to predicting what various nanoparticles might do in the human body.
“There is concern these materials might be dangerous to health and we can provide answers for why this may be the case,” Dr. Botton said.
Researchers from across the country will have access to the microscope, and already have plans to use it on a variety of projects, including the development of more efficient batteries and fuel cells. Others will study viruses and proteins, or look at how particles in air pollution damage our lungs. Others are hoping to create lighter and stronger automotive materials or higher-density memory storage for faster electronic devices.
It is not the most powerful microscope in the world, Dr. Botton said. The Department of Energy in the United States has a slightly improved version. But it is the most powerful one that is commercially available, he said, and he and his colleagues are already planning an upgrade.
The new acquisition is housed in a special facility designed to withstand even ultra-low vibrations and minute temperature shifts.
Funding for it came from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Ministry of Research and Innovation of Ontario, and a number of other sources.

But according to Mark Underwood, co-founder and president of the biotech company Quincy Bioscience, the contributions to science and medicine made by the three prize-winning researchers, (Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Y. Tsien), may be much greater than first realized.
“We believe their work has unearthed a possible key for halting the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases,” says Underwood.
In 1962, researcher Osamu Shimomura discovered a protein within the jellyfish which glowed in the presence of calcium. This glowing protein, which Shimomura named aequorin, has since become one of the most important tools in biochemistry because of its ability to attach itself to other biochemical components.
This glowing protein can be used as a tag to illuminate previously invisible biochemical processes deep within cells. Combined with the enhancements made by researchers Chalfie and Tsien, the protein has become an invaluable tool in the laboratory.
But Underwood says that the glowing protein’s ability to bind itself to calcium may prove to be a far greater asset for scientists than its use as a colorful tagging mechanism.
“Too much calcium within a brain cell impairs its function,” says Underwood. “Unfortunately, we lose our ability to regulate brain cell calcium as we age because at about forty, our brains produce less calcium-binding proteins allowing calcium levels to rise throughout the nervous system. Neurons are flooded with dangerous levels of calcium and our brains slow down.”
Aequorin, with its ability to bind to and lower calcium levels, can be used as a replacement for our own missing calcium-binding proteins and thereby slow age-related loss of cognitive function, memory, and alertness.
The jellyfish protein is very similar to the calcium binding proteins found in the human nervous system which become depleted in age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. Data demonstrating the neuroprotective ability of aequorin was first presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in 2006. Additionally, the jellyfish protein has no known level of toxicity to humans.
“We are truly blessed by the work of these Nobel-winning scientists for their vision and dedication. Their ground-breaking work has provided the opportunities to pursue the new application of this protein and to offer hope to the many that are afflicted with age-related disorders,” says Underwood.
Quincy Bioscience (quincybioscience.com) is a biotechnology company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Quincy Bioscience is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel compounds to fight the aging process. The company's products focus on restoring calcium balance related to neurodegenerative disorders and other destructive age-related mechanisms. Quincy Bioscience is developing health applications of the jellyfish protein apoaequorin for dietary supplement and pharmaceutical products. The company’s first product, Prevagen (prevagen.com), was launched in the fall of 2007 and is intended to supplement the loss of critical calcium-binding proteins depleted in the normal course of healthy aging.

The Nanotechnology Research Foundation (NRF) was recently established as the first non-profit organization specifically focused on supporting the acceleration of nanotechnology awareness, education, recognition, funding, research and innovation.
Serving as a catalyst for nanotechnologies, the foundation will be funded by a diverse group of stakeholders from the private sector, foundations, government agencies, high net worth individuals and those individuals that want to support an effort that can dramatically improve American output from energy to medical diagnosis and treatment. Between China and India alone, graduating engineers are out pacing America by more than 10 to 1 and there are billions of dollars spent on government funded research programs coming from other countries including the European Union and Japan.
“Not only does this have an economic impact on America, but we might lose the intellectual race as well,” said Michael Terlaak, the Executive Director and Founder of the NRF. “If we lose that, our last stronghold as a global leader, we will be dependent on other counties to create the new technological breakthroughs that will give us the next generation of innovative products and medical advancements. True, America still leads in innovation, the same way we once did in manufacturing, electronics and automobiles years ago. Without taking bold steps today, we are in jeopardy of letting our global leadership gradually erode like it has in other industries.”
The Nanotechnology Research Foundation mission is to attract capital and talent from across the country to stimulate creativity and advance the adoption of nanotechnologies with sustainable industry practices for economic, environmental and social benefits.
This mission is accomplished through a series of programs including, an educational tour, scholarship programs, foundation sponsorships and government relations. Partnerships to promote education with higher learning institutions will kick off with a University of California at San Diego (UCSD) partnership. Along with the initiation of the newly formed UCSD Nanoengineering Department, the NRF is supporting the institutions efforts to build and fund a research lab dedicated to the advancement of nanotechnology. Other such programs will include a collaborative library for published documents and newsletters on breakthroughs and funding programs.
The Nano Plan focus is on education programs and scholarships to help attract students into the field of nano engineering and other scientific studies using nanotechnology to create the next generation of products and solutions. The Nano Plan includes broad education initiatives and public service programs to create awareness about the opportunities using nanoscale science.
About Nanotechnology Research Foundation Headquartered in San Diego, CA, the Nanotechnology Research Foundation mission is to create a national synergy of scientific minds and projects to better collaborate while developing a more effective means of achieving real solutions that will have significant impact with the use of nanotechnology.
The NRF stakeholders includes a diverse group from the private sector as business and financial leaders, academic and research institutes, in addition to the government and other non-profit organizations with a common agenda.
The NRF is advocating for increased private and government funding for advanced education and research to preserve American jobs in the ever increasing global competition for high-tech dominance.

Research leaders Dr Rachel McKendry and Professor Gabriel Aeppli have revealed that they have developed ultra-sensitive probes that can help increase the understanding of how antibiotics work.
They say that the new technology can pave the way for the development of more effective new drugs.
Making use of cantilever arrays, tiny levers no wider than a human hair, the researchers analysed the process, which ordinarily takes place in the body when vancomycin binds itself to the surface of the bacteria.
After coating the cantilever array with mucopeptides from bacterial cell walls, the researchers found that on attaching, the antibiotic triggers a surface stress on the bacteria.
The resultant surface stress can easily be detected by a tiny bending of the levers.
According to the researchers, the stress is what contributes to the disruption of the cell walls and the breakdown of the bacteria.
The team further compared how the interaction of vancomycin with both non-resistant and resistant strains of bacteria.
The 'superbugs' are resistant to antibiotics because of a simple mutation, which deletes a single hydrogen bond from the structure of their cell walls.
With this small change, it becomes approximately 1,000 times harder for the antibiotic to attach itself to the bug, leaving it much less able to disrupt the cells' structure, and thus rendering it therapeutically ineffective.
"There has been an alarming growth in antibiotic-resistant hospital 'superbugs' such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). This is a major global health problem and is driving the development of new technologies to investigate antibiotics and how they work," Nature magazine quoted McKendry as saying.
She added, "The cell wall of these bugs is weakened by the antibiotic, ultimately eliminating the bacteria. Our research on cantilever sensors suggests that the cell wall is disrupted by a combination of local antibiotic-mucopeptide binding and the spatial mechanical connectivity of these events. Investigating both these binding and mechanical influences on the cells' structure could lead to the development of more powerful and effective antibiotics in future."
"This work at the LCN demonstrates the effectiveness of silicon-based cantilevers for drug screening applications," added Professor Gabriel Aeppli, Director of the LCN.
The study is published in the latest edition of Nature Nanotechnology journal.
Source-ANI RAS

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh. By bringing small things together, bigger and better things can be created. That fact is being proven by the implementation of a new technology in the manufacturing environment − nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is an advanced manufacturing technology which offers revolutionary properties and benefits. These include: the ability to repel water, dirt and oil; resistance against many organic solvents and chemicals; and reliability of usage in alternating temperature cycle services.
Nanotechnology and Enclosure Climate Control One field where nanotechnology is being implemented and sparking great enthusiasm is enclosure climate control. The use of this technology has been shown to not only protect equipment, but also to improve the energy efficiency of climate control products.
Rittal, the first enclosure climate control product manufacturer to use nanotechnology, is applying RiNano, a standard coating developed through nanotechnology, to all of the condensers of its TopTherm Plus cooling units. The company is seeing outstanding performance results in its air conditioners both in terms of how long the units run at the highest possible levels and the cooling output generated during that time.
RiNano protects air conditioner coils from harsh environmental conditions such as oil, dirt and dust found in disparate industries like automotive, manufacturing, processing plants, metal-cutting or food and beverage. Because the RiNano coating repels substances that can hamper performance, the air conditioners are free to perform their duties without abatement.
Layers of dust on the outer air circuit surfaces of air conditioners, especially on the condenser, can diminish effectiveness by 30 to 50 percent due to the dust’s insulating effect. RiNano coatings can prevent dust and dirt build-up because of the water, dirt and oil repelling properties created through the nanotechnology process. RiNano is resistant to filiform (underfilm) corrosion, which can develop under some coatings. Air conditioning units with RiNano-coated condenser coils are helping provide long-lasting, consistent-cooling performance as shown by the following examples from the automotive industry.
Audi, maker of automotive brake disks, was looking for a more efficient way of cooling its electrical components in enclosures. Extreme conditions in the plant have consistently included: aluminum cast dust, high ambient temperatures, oil-laden air and resultantly a high power loss in enclosures. At the Audi plant dozens of 5,100 BTU air conditioners are used to cool down a larger number of industrial cabinets containing power supply components and process controls. The use of air conditioners with RiNano-coated condenser coils has helped Audi to improve the efficiency of its air conditioners and has reduced maintenance tremendously. The cooling units operate nonstop, around the clock and never go on standby. Prior to the installation of cooling units with the protective coatings, condensers of air conditioner units were routinely covered with dirt and oily residue after only five days of operation and the use and replacement of filter mats was necessary on a weekly basis.
By utilizing RiNano protective coatings created through the process of nanotechnology, the condensers in the Audi plant are remaining cleaner longer, eliminating the need for weekly replacements of filter mats. As the application in the Audi plant shows, heat exchangers of the coated units displayed no signs of dirt after five months of operation in contrast to a standard unit with a three-day old filter. The cumulative results of using nanotechnology in these climate-control units has been guaranteed operational performance, increased energy efficiency, significantly reduced maintenance costs and increased equipment availability.
“Given the dusty environment here, changing filters used to be a weekly chore for the production workers, while the RiNano units did not require any service during the entire test period,” says Dietmar Vielwerth, maintenance manager at the Audi plant. By virtually eliminating cooler failures due to maintenance issues, Audi also avoided another problem. “Among the most dangerous consequences of cooler failures is the necessity to open up an overheated enclosure and expose the electronics to the ambient air,” states Audi/Ingolstadt process engineer Konrad Mayer. “The subsequent penetration of dust particles can compromise the system’s reliability and create unpredictability and the threat of further failures in the near future.”
Another facility that has tested RiNano protective coatings on enclosure climate control units is Volkswagen gear box plant, which operates in harsh environmental conditions, also is showing outstanding success with the use of RiNano-coated condenser coils on the air conditioners that are cooling electrical components in enclosures.
The benefits of utilizing nanotechnology with air conditioners is that the coils exposed to ambient air stay cleaner longer with less maintenance and higher energy efficiency due to clean heat exchangers. While Rittal has already made the nanocoating a standard for their TopTherm air conditioner and chiller line, it is expected that nanotechnology will be used as a standard in this industry in the future because of its numerous benefits. In its ongoing efforts to improve products and better the environment, Rittal is continuing to invest in nanotechnology research and development activities in cooperation with universities and scientific institutes both in the United States and abroad.
Nanotechnology Process Nanotechnology is often perceived as a process primarily concerned with making things smaller. While micro-technologies have been concentrating on making macro-scale devices smaller, nanotechnology is more focused on improving current products of scale or creating new and improved products from the bottom up.
Climate control units in industrial settings are just one example in this evolving technology. To protect air conditioners with a RiNano coating, the condenser coils are first cleaned so they are free from dirt, dust and grease. After they are cleaned, they are dipped into the RiNano coating, which is then burned into the coil. RiNano coatings are designed to reliably adhere to various substrates such as metals, minerals and glass. On the basis of a thin dry film thickness, protection of components such as the air conditioner condenser coils is assured. This process makes the surface plainer and harder with no cracks, thus no underfilm contamination. Dirt cannot stick to it and it is more resistant against condensation.
Nanoparticles arrange themselves intelligently during application. The bonding components gather at the surface to be coated, while the anti-adhesive components migrate to the air. This produces an ultra thin, glass-like layer which bonds homogeneously to the original surface and guarantees extreme durability. The surface formed is a landscape of peaks and valleys of nanoscale dimensions. The properties of this surface are comparable to the surface of a lotus plant, where water simply forms beads and runs off.
Other Applications In addition to the enclosure climate-control industry, nanotechnology is being utilized for other industry applications as well. Companies are working with the knowledge of nanoscale technology to improve existing products and are developing new products and systems, too.
Examples of progress in various industries where nanotechnology has been used include the production of nanoclay particles in the plastics industry, improved delivery mechanisms for pharmaceuticals, nanocarbon particles for improved steels and improved petrochemical industry catalysts.
Additional examples of improved products are anti-fingerprint and anti-microbial finishes for all types of stainless steel enclosures, including wallmount, freestanding and HMI cabinets, and an anti-graffiti finish for outdoor enclosures. The anti-fingerprint coating will make fingerprints less visible and they can easily be wiped off with a dry cloth. The ultra-fine nano composite material that is used will not visibly change the appearance of the surface. The same applies to the anti-graffiti finish, which is ideal for traffic control and telecommunications enclosures.
The anti-microbial finish prevents the development of microbes such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. By using this nanotechnology process, microbes can be removed from a surface with simple cleaning. Such a microbial finish would be ideal for markets such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical and healthcare.
Nanotechnology is proving to be much like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which was developed by DuPont in the early 1950s under the trade name Teflon®. PTFE is typically thought of as a coating for kitchen skillets in the food industry. Its usage, however, has expanded over the years to include application to various other industries and products, including bearings, bushings and major components of industrial, aeronautical and electronic equipment.
The Future of Nanotechnology Much like nature’s creations, products that are designed and developed through nanotechnology promote high-energy efficiency, high-performance operation without waste and the ability to compensate for most obstacles.
Nanotechnology allows us to produce improved designs of existing products, as well as new and better products. Rittal is continuing to explore new ways to improve existing products for its customers. This technology is being used in a variety of markets, including petrochemical, aerospace, automotive and in industries where high hygienic standards are needed such as food and beverage, healthcare and pharmaceutical. The technology is being driven by government and professional associations such as the IEEE Nanotechnology Council. It will almost certainly be a standard in many industrial fields in the near future.
Judith Koetzsch is Product Manager for Climate Control Products for Rittal Corp., Springfield, Ohio. Koetzsch has been with Rittal for seven years, working in international product management climate control for Rittal GmbH & KG in Germany until her move to the U.S. in September 2006. Her experience includes new product development, product application training, product marketing and project management.

Solar Botanic will introduce artificial trees that make use of renewable energy from the sun and wind, they are an efficient clean and environmentally sound means of collecting solar radiation and wind energy.
Here at Solar Botanic, we've amassed a wealth of information relating to Solar Botanic Trees and Nanoleaves and the field of photovoltaic thermovoltaic and piezovoltaic technology. You will be amazed how efficient our Trees are, how they make use of light, heat and wind and turn it into useable electricity for your home or car.
If you are looking for future green power, you've found it. This is the ultimate renewable energy system, don't look any further, we are the most attractive solution and the most productive. Check out our triple converting Solar trees section to learn more about how this triple conversion will solve your energy problems, Solar Botanic trees and shrubs are so much more.
Our growth is based on a vision of creating unique world-class products by adopting the best aspects for light, thermal and wind energy conversions from around the globe, which is why Solar Botanic will expand through every corner of the globe introducing an efficient and aesthetic solution for every culture, climate and ecosystem.
Our products come with a guaranteed international quality control and assurance specification.
------ Sun, wind, water, earth and life touch our living senses immediately always, everywhere and without any intervention of reason. They simply are there in their unmatched variety, moving us, our moods, memories, imaginations, intensions and plans.
To capitalize on the wealth of designs and processes found in nature, engineering and technology gave us the ingredients, creative thinking, and unique solutions made it possible to bring all this together into a natural looking leaf - the Nanoleaf.
To complete the tree for multi energy exploitation, the petiole twigs and branches are incorporated with Nano piezo-electric elements. A Nanoleaf is thin like a natural leaf, when outside forces, like the wind pushes the Nanoleaf back and forth, mechanical stresses appear in the petiole, twig and branches. When thousands of Nanoleaves flap back and forth due to wind, millions and millions of Pico watts are generated, the stronger the wind, the more energy is generated.
Our Nanoleaves only reflect a small part of the sunlight that strikes them, mostly the green light, and the rest of the spectrum is efficiently converted into electricity. http://www.solarbotanic.com/images/p4_2.jpg
Besides converting the visible spectrum of light, our Nanoleaves also convert the invisible light, known as infrared light or radiation, we can't see it, but we can feel it - it's warm - that's why we call it radiation. Due to the unique combination of photovoltaic and thermovoltaic in our Nanoleaves it converts this thermal radiation into electricity, even hours after the sun has set.
The more wind there is,the more Nanoleaves are moved. Wind that is moving thousands of Nanoleaves in a tree canopy are causing mechanical strain in the petiole, twigs and branches. Nano piezo-electric elements incorporated in the petiole twigs and branches are the tiny Nano piezo-electric elements that will generate millions and millions of Pico watts as these thousands of Nanoleaves flap back and forth due to wind. The stronger the wind, the higher the "flap" frequency, and therefore the larger the watts generated in the petiole, twigs and branches. http://www.solarbotanic.com/images/p4_1.jpg
With the progress in nano technology, the photovoltaic, thermovoltaic and piezo electric materials are becoming more efficient and combined in one system it will give our products more efficiency and we believe that soon, Solar Botanic will be a mainstream green energy provider, more reliable/cheaper and above all better looking. http://www.solarbotanic.com/images/radiation.jpg

Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. today announced the U.S. market release of their FortrOss bone graft substitute. The novel biologic will make its public debut at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society (NASS) in Toronto, Canada. The FortrOss bone void filler, utilizing the power of nanotechnology for orthopaedic applications, is a scaffold for the in-growth of new bone when superior bone regeneration is required.
Pioneer's CEO and Chairman of the Board, Matthew N. Songer, MD, MBA says, "The Pioneer Orthobiologics team has reached a huge milestone with the release of the FortrOss. This is the culmination of over 10 years work by each of the two companies, Encelle(TM) Inc. and Angstrom(TM) Medica, Inc. that were acquired by Pioneer in 2007." The FortrOss bone void filler combines the nanotechnology of nanOss(TM) hydroxyapatite with the bone growth promotion of E-Matrix(TM) scaffold. The FortrOss bone void filler is the most advanced on the market. The FortrOss osteoconductive matrix utilizes Pioneer's nanOss(TM) technology and is designed to mimic the nanostructures inherent in bone tissue.
According to Dr. Edward Ahn, Vice President of Biomaterials at Pioneer states, "Because the nanOss hydroxyapatite in FortrOss resembles the size, shape, and chemistry of native bone, bone tissue has a great affinity for nanOss and recognizes it as native tissue. This mimicry of native bone makes nanOss superior to other calcium phosphates on the market." The combined nanotechnology-based osteoconduction and osteopromotive E- Matrix scaffold of FortrOss bone void filler positions Pioneer to impact significantly the dynamic field of bone repair.
About Pioneer Surgical Technology Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc., headquartered in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic medical device firm with a full line of cutting-edge motion preservation devices, either available commercially in Europe or under clinical evaluation in the U.S. Pioneer's signature articulating P3(TM) Technology - Pioneer PEEK-on-PEEK, in its NuBac(TM) disc arthroplasty system, BacJac(TM) interspinous decompression system, and NuNec(TM) artificial cervical disc, is the most technologically advanced in the industry. Currently, Pioneer offers a diverse portfolio of next generation spinal fusion devices. Pioneer's focus on innovation has resulted in over 100 U.S. and Foreign patents with numerous patents pending. The company established a Biologics Division following two acquisitions in 2007. Pioneer Orthobiologics is developing a rich pipeline of products indicated for a variety of spinal and orthopaedic applications. Pioneer focuses on developing products which are easier and faster for the surgeon, cost effective for the health care system, and provide better patient outcomes.
SOURCE Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
pioneersurgical.com

"The purpose of development of nano is to create wealth and elevate the quality of life," said the vice-secretary of the special headquarters of nanotechnology.
"Iran should be able to rank the 15th in this field of technology in the world by the next 10 years and should make a direct income of $10 billion through this technology," added Saaber Mirzaaei.
"Creating electron-based microscopes which are of the complicated measuring systems are of the most successful achievements made through nanotechnology," he continued.
"A special fund has been devoted to support all those running activity in this field," he affirmed.
"In the year 2000, Iran ranked the 60th in the world and the 6th among Islamic countries while in 2008 it ranked 20th in the world and first among the Islamic countries," stated Mirzaaei.
A three-day festival for exhibiting abilities of nanotechnology opened on Monday in the Center for Mental Culture of Children and Youth, located in "Hejaab" street of Tehran.

You know, nanotechnology, the science of manipulating the atomic structure of materials on a scale of a nanometer (one billionth of a meter)? The emerging science that captured the media’s imagination about a decade ago with visions of supercomputers mounted in wristwatches and X-ray machines that hang from your doctor’s neck like a stethoscope ... and then scuttled back into the laboratory for a prolonged reality check?
Well there’s finally something that nanotechnology can do for you — or, better, help you do for yourself, at your own home, with your own hands, at a price you can afford. While many of nanotech’s flashy gadgets and futuristic technologies remain in the research and development phase, a more mundane but — in this era of global climate change and energy shortages — perhaps more important product has emerged from the labs.
That product is called “Nansulate,” a paint-on insulation with an extremely low thermal conductivity value. Patented and manufactured by Industrial Nanotech Inc., Nansulate suspends specially engineered microscopic particles with nano-scale internal architecture in an acrylic resin, which is in turn suspended in water (similar to thick, acrylic-based paint). Nansulate is designed to be nontoxic and environmentally friendly, and because the microparticles are water-repellant, it is also an effective mold and rust inhibitor.
Developed initially for industrial applications such as insulating steam pipes and boilers, Nansulate found its way into the residential market by popular demand. According to Francesca Crolley, Industrial Nanotech’s vice president of operations and marketing, many people who learned about Nansulate through their jobs at industrial facilities inquired about the possibility of using it at home.
In response, the company developed a residential version of Nansulate that can be applied with a brush, paint roller or sprayer and cleans up with water. The product is designed for use on walls (usually interior), hot water pipes, water heaters and even skylights and glass block. (The clear product leaves a slightly cloudy film on windows.) Nansulate can be applied over existing paint, and it can be painted over once it has cured (a 30-day curing time is recommended).
Paint-on insulation can address the pervasive problem of uninsulated walls in older homes. While it is easy, in most cases, to put conventional insulation above ceilings and under floors, sealed walls must be opened and resealed or have insulation pumped through holes, which must then be patched. The cost/benefit ratio of insulating existing walls is therefore marginal, and homeowners often skip doing it.
At its current price of $66 per gallon (covering about 150 sq. ft.), Nansulate offers a highly economical solution to insulating existing walls. But while you’re at it, why not paint your ceiling, too, and conserve more energy — even if your attic is insulated.
How much energy can you save with Nansulate? Unfortunately, there is no data that directly compares the performance of Nansulate with that of conventional insulations. That’s because conventional insulations inhibit heat conduction as a function of their thickness (R-value per inch), whereas Nansulate is a non-conductor (insulator) that blocks both conductive and radiant heat flow even when it’s paper thin.
There is, however, a great deal of information about Nansulate’s performance based on real-life tests in industrial and residential settings. Factory owners have reported savings of 20 percent or more on their overall energy costs. Home energy savings of 20 to 40 percent are reported in testimonials on the Industrial Nanotech Web site.
I contacted the author of one of those testimonials, Kevin Lagario, who has used Nansulate at his home and in his green technology business in California (he has no financial ties to Industrial Nanotech). He had applied three coats of Nansulate to each side of a plywood shed housing hot water tanks, added some thin foil-and-bubble-wrap insulation and measured an inside temperature of 120 degrees when it was 60 degrees outside.
Although there are other paint-on insulations on the market, they are mostly ceramic-based and used on roofs and exterior walls.
Testing Nansulate in one or two rooms could show you if it is the appropriate nanotechnology for your ecological house.
Philip S. (Skip) Wenz is a freelance writer and former contractor, residential designer and teacher specializing in ecological design issues.

This optimistic scenario is coming closer to reality as new technologies such as biomimetics and Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSCs) emerge with great promise for capturing or storing solar energy, and as nanocatalysis develops efficient catalysts for energy-saving industrial processes Europe is ready to accelerate development of these technologies, as delegates heard at a recent conference, Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy, organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF)
The conference focused on solar rather than other sustainable energy sources such as wind, because that is where nanotechnology is most applicable and also because solar energy conversion holds the greatest promise as a long-term replacement of fossil fuels.
Solar energy can be harvested directly to generate electricity or to yield fuels such as hydrogen for use in engines.
Such fuels can also in turn be used indirectly to generate electricity in conventional power stations.
'The potential of solar power is much, much larger in absolute numbers than that of wind,' said Professor Bengt Kasemo from Chalmers University of Technology and the chair of the ESF conference.
However, like wind, the potential of solar power generation varies greatly across time and geography, being confined to the daytime and less suitable for regions in higher latitudes, such as Scandinavia and Siberia.
For this reason there is growing interest in the idea of a global electricity grid according to Kasemo.
'If solar energy is harvested where it is most abundant, and distributed on a global net (easy to say - and a hard but not impossible task to do) it will be enough to replace a large fraction of today's fossil-based electricity generation,' said Kasemo.
'It would also solve the day/night problem and therefore reduce storage needs because the sun always shines somewhere.' In the immediate future, solid state technologies based on silicon are likely to predominate the production (manufacture) of solar cells, but DSC and other 'runner ups' are likely to lower costs in the long term, using cheaper semiconductor materials to produce robust flexible sheets strong enough to resist buffeting from hail for example.
Although less efficient than the very best silicon or thin film cells using current technology, their better price/performance has led the European Union to predict that DSCs will be a significant contributor to renewable energy production in Europe by 2020.
The DSC was invented by Michael Gratzel, one of the speakers and vice chair at the ESF conference.
The key point to emerge from the ESF conference, though, is that there will be growing choice and competition between emerging nanotechnology-based solar conversion technologies.
'I think the important fact is that there is strong competition and that installed solar power is growing very rapidly, albeit from a small base,' said Kasemo.
'This will push prices down and make solar electricity more and more competitive.' Some of the most exciting of these alternatives lie in the field of biomimetics, which involves mimicking processes that have been perfected in biological organisms through eons of evolution.
Plants and a class of bacteria, cyanobacteria, have evolved photosynthesis, involving the harvesting of light and the splitting of water into electrons and protons to provide a stream of energy that in turn produces the key molecules of life.
Photosynthesis can potentially be harnessed either in genetically-engineered organisms, or completely artificial human-made systems that mimic the processes, to produce carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen.
Alternatively, photosynthesis could be tweaked to produce fuels such as alcohol or even hydrocarbons that do contain carbon molecules but recycle them from the atmosphere and therefore make no net contribution to carbon dioxide levels above ground.
Biomimetics could also solve the longstanding problem of how to store large amounts of electricity efficiently.
This could finally open the floodgates for electrically-powered vehicles by enabling them at last to match the performance and range of their petrol or diesel-based counterparts.
One highlight of the ESF conference was a presentation by Angela Belcher, who played a major role in pioneering nanowires made from viruses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.
Bizarre as it sounds, there is a type of virus that infects E.coli bacteria (a bacteriophage) capable of coating itself in electrically-conducting materials such as gold.
This can be used to build compact high capacity batteries, with the added advantage that it can potentially assemble itself, exploiting the natural replicating ability of the virus.
The key to the high capacity in small space lies in the microscopic size of the nanowires constructed by the viruses - this means that a greater surface area of charge carrying capacity can be packed into a given volume.
However, commercial realisation of biomimetic and other emerging technologies lies far in the future.
Meanwhile, as delegates heard from several speakers at the ESF conference, nanotechnology has an important contribution to make, improving the efficiency of existing energy-generating systems during the transition from fossil fuels.
For example, Robert Schlogl outlined how nanoscale catalysts can be used to improve the efficiency of engines or systems consuming fossil fuels.
Inspired by such presentations, delegates at the conference were unanimous in calling for a follow up.
'The conference was regarded as a real success and a new proposal for a conference in 2010 (chaired by Gratzel) will soon be submitted,' said Kasemo.