Sustainable Nanotechnology

Strategies, Products, and Applications

Yashwant V. Pathak, Govindan Parayil, Jayvadan K. Patel, Yashwant V. Pathak, Govindan Parayil, Jayvadan K. Patel

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781119649977
• eBook ISBN:
  9781119650317
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Environmental Science

Sustainable Nanotechnology

A robust examination of the use of nanotechnology in the manufacture of sustainable products

In Sustainable Nanotechnology: Strategies, Products, and Applications, a team of distinguished researchers delivers a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of nanotechnology applications in environmental, pharmaceutical, and engineering products in the context of global sustainability. The book offers balanced coverage of the benefits and risks of nanotechnology.

Divided into three parts, the editors have included contributions from leading scholars discussing sustainability, toxicological impacts, and nanomaterial-based adsorbents. This edited volume helps readers understand how nanotechnology and nanomaterials apply in different global sustainability challenges. It also discusses models for understanding the lifecycle and risk assessments of manufactured nanomaterials.

Case studies are included to explore such topics as design, remediation, and technology assessment. The book also provides:

• Thorough introductions to nanotechnology-based research priorities for global sustainability and the challenges and opportunities of modern, sustainable nanotechnology
• Comprehensive explorations of improving the sustainability of bio-based products with nanotechnology and the improvement of the environmental sustainability of biopolymers using nanotechnology
• Practical discussions of nanotechnology-based polymers for drug delivery applications
• In-depth examinations of green nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems

Perfect for nanotechnology-focused professionals, sustainability experts, biomedical experts, and pharmaceutical industry practitioners, Sustainable Nanotechnology: Strategies, Products, and Applications will also earn a place in the libraries of neuroscientists, bioengineering professionals, and those involved in neuroprosthetic engineering.

1
Nanotechnology‐Based Research Priorities for Global Sustainability

Twishi Puri¹, Yashwant Pathak^2,3, and Govindan Parayil⁴

¹ Department of Biology, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA, USA

² Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

³ Faculty of Pharmacy, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia

⁴ Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

1.1 Introduction

Sustainable development is not a newly constructed idea. Since the 1970s, conversations about this particular field have been fueled by the fear that the world cannot sustain an immense growth in human population and economic activities without damaging the environment and our social fabric. Concerns that at some point in the not too distant future, we will reach a “limit to growth” prompted policy‐makers to urgently seek solutions for global sustainability, a concept that is so vast that it is subject to various interpretations. The vastness of the topic, however, still generates three aspects that global sustainability can affect. There is a global consensus that is agreed upon by the general public and the business community at large that environmental responsibility, economic efficiency, and social equity are necessary conditions for attaining global sustainability. Environmental responsibility, as the name suggests, is concerned with the conservation of resources – i.e. food, water, energy, etc. and safe methods of disposal of waste products of all forms. Likewise, economic efficiency focuses on resource production and meeting the demands of the market place. It is concerned with open trade and no inhibition in terms of the allocation of resources for production. Social equity, on the other hand, is concerned with the distribution of resources based on the productivity of an individual or an organization. In other words, social equity allows people to make decisions and ensures that the rewards that they get are based upon their efforts [1]. So, why address sustainability? Today, concerns for maintaining sustainability have increased, especially among the younger generation. Concerns about the availability of natural resources and the safe and efficient disposal of the by‐products of our production and consumption practices have added urgency to transitioning to a sustainable future. Consequently, finding solutions to these concerns have focused on using innovative science and technology applications. Therefore, applying nanotechnological research to maintain global sustainability has become a priority [2].

Nanotechnology refers to understanding and control of the material at the nanoscale. For reference, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. The field was introduced almost half a century ago and, over time, it has established itself as an active research area [3]. It incorporates nanoscale science, engineering, and technology – three very useful fields with various applications. At the nanoscale, materials show unusual biological, physical, and chemical properties. In fact, according to quantum theory, nanomaterials, with size being within the range of 1 and 250 nm, lie between the quantum effects of atoms, molecules, and the bulk properties of materials. This nanoscale is known as the “no‐man’s‐land” where their properties are controlled by the phenomenon that has its own critical dimensions. The structure of nanoparticles can be manipulated to produce materials with desired properties. Using nanomaterials with these unusual properties gives us an opportunity to enhance existing technology with profound features that have technical, economic, and societal implications [4]. Advocates of nanotechnology claim that the combinations of nanotechnology with various fields such as information technology, biotechnology, and cognitive sciences produce far‐reaching advances. In terms of global sustainability, nanotechnology’s influence in various areas can change the future of our efforts for sustainability [5].

There are many fields in which incorporating nanotechnology can lead us to global sustainability. The three focus areas are the environment, the economy, and society. There are various fields in which nanotechnological research has already affected the growth. This chapter focuses on the fields of medicine, food, environment, health, and industry. These fields fall perfectly under the three focus areas of global sustainability. The nanotechnology‐based research done under these fields has not only enhanced them but also made them safe and sustainable.

1.2 Medicine

Medicine and nanotechnology, for the most part, go hand in hand. Whether it is the field of surgery or drug delivery, nanotechnological research has been very much involved in revolutionizing medicine. The growing interest in medical applications of nanotechnology has resulted in the emergence of the field popularly known as nanomedicine. Nanomedicine refers to applying nanoscale biotechnology to medicine. It allows us to use nanotechnology to improve the human biological system as well as create powerful tools for treating human diseases. In terms of sustainability, nanomedicine’s aim is to improve the overall quality of life by working at a molecular level to target diseases and formulate treatments [6].

1.2.1 Nano Oncology

Cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell division and has the tendency to spread to other regions of the body. Healthy cells can be converted to tumor cells with the right combination, or in this case, the wrong combination of genes and environmental factors. According to the statistics published by the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), in 2018, there were 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths, the leading cause being lung, bowel, prostate, and female breast cancer [7].

Over the past several decades, nanotechnology has made magnificent contributions to oncology, not just in terms of diagnosis but also regarding drug delivery for treatment. Specifically, in cancer therapy, the use of nanomaterials has allowed the development of targeted drug delivery, enhanced the properties of therapeutic molecules, and developed a sustainable or stimulus‐triggered drug delivery [8]. There are a lot of factors involved in the effective management of cancer treatment, one of which is early detection. In order to detect uncontrolled growth, pathologists use cancer biomarkers. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), biomarkers are “any measurable diagnostic indicator that is used to assess the risk or presence of disease” [9]. Every cell type in the body has un...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Foreword
• 1 Nanotechnology‐Based Research Priorities for Global Sustainability
• 2 The Road to Sustainable Nanotechnology: Challenges, Progress, and Opportunities
• 3 Opportunities and Challenges for Green and Eco‐Friendly Nanotechnology in Twenty‐First Century
• 4 Improving the Sustainability of Biobased Products Using Nanotechnology
• 5 Improving Sustainable Environment of Biopolymers Using Nanotechnology
• 6 Toward Eco‐friendly Nanotechnology‐based Polymers for Drug Delivery Applications
• 7 Green‐Nanotechnology‐Driven Drug Delivery Systems
• 8 Green Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Their Applications
• 9 Sustainable and Eco‐safe Nanocellulose‐based Materials for Water Nano ‐treatment
• 10 Nanotechnology Applications in Natural Nanoclays Production and Application for Better Sustainability
• 11 Eco‐friendly, Biodegradable, and Biocompatible Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes and Applications
• 12 Plants for Nanomaterial: Improving the Environmental Sustainability
• 13 Sustainable Nanobiocomposites
• 14 Role of Eco‐friendly Nanotechnology for Green and Clean Technology
• 15 Risk Assessment and Management of Occupational Exposure to Nanopesticides in Agriculture
• 16 Eco‐friendly Natural Polymers‐based Nanotechnology
• 17 Cobalt Oxide‐engineered Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation
• 18 Eco‐friendly Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Opportunities, Toxicological Implications, and Occupational Risks
• 19 Novel Approaches to Design Eco‐Friendly Materials Based on Natural Nanomaterials
• 20 Biomedical Applications of Nanofibers
• 21 Environmentally Sustainable and Safe Production of Nanomedicines
• Index
• End User License Agreement