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Introduction to Nanotechnology
10/30/2018
nanometers (nm; 1 nm = 10−9 meter). Nanoparticles are submicroscopic in size and exist in the
Gold is an element used in jewelry, coins, dentistry, and even some medicines. Bulk
gold is considered an inert material in that it doesn’t corrode or tarnish. Gold’s capability to
resist corrosion as well as its high electrical and thermal conductivity make it useful for
Gold has been used in various medical treatments over the centuries without harmful
affects. It was therefore natural for researchers to look to gold nanoparticles for medical
applications rather than using elements such as platinum, which can be toxic. Forming gold
into nanoparticles allows scientists to use gold in areas that are too small for bulk gold to reach
and creates exciting new capabilities for scientific research and applications.
The formation of colloidal gold or “nanogold” has been known to man since ancient
times, although the process was not fully understood until 1990.
Zeeya Merali, the author of an article entitled “This 1,600-Year-Old Goblet Shows
That the Romans Were Nanotechnology Pioneers” in the September 2013 issue of the
Smithsonian Magazine described the process. Her article featured a jade green colored glass
chalice called the Lycurgus Cup that could (with a little manipulation) also be perceived as a
blood-red color. Ms. Merali described the process as follows; “The ancient nanotech works
something like this: When hit with light, electrons belonging to the metal flecks vibrate in
ways that alter the color depending on the observer’s position.” Armed with this knowledge,
this ancient procedure has lead to a precise technology that helps diagnose human disease.
In 1857, one of the most influential scientists in history, Michael Faraday, created the
first gold nanoparticles in his famous experiment of colloidal “ruby gold.” These early
experiments in colloidal gold launched what would eventually become the fields of
Unique Properties
Gold is a noble metal, similar to silver and platinum, that exhibits plasmonic
properties. When the surface of a noble metal is hit with incident light, electrons which are
situated on the surface begin to oscillate. This is known as the Surface Plasmonic Resonance
(SPR). It is because of these plasmonic properties that noble metals such as gold, silver and
platinum absorb and reflect light and are therefore widely used in jewelry. Plasmonic
properties arise due to noble metals having delocalized electrons on the surface with the
benefit of enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity. The atom’s nucleus is made up of
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protons and neutrons and the electrons flow freely and spin around the nucleus in different
orbitals. There are many orbitals and delocalized electrons in bulk form noble metals which
Reflection does not occur in particles which are smaller than the wavelength of the
incident light. However, there are still interactions between nanoparticles such as light
absorbsion and light scattering. Light absorbsion occurs when electrons oscillate at the same
frequency as the absorbed light which causes a dipole moment around the gold nanoparticles.
The oscillating dipole is known as a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and
Gold nanoparticles have the capability to convert certain wavelengths of light into heat.
As with all metals, gold contains electrons that are not tied to a particular atom but free to
move throughout the metal. These electrons help to conduct a current when a voltage is
applied across the conductor. Depending on the size and shape of the nanoparticles, these free
electrons will absorb the energy from a particular wavelength of light, at the right wavelength
to make the cloud of free electrons on the surface of the gold nanoparticle resonate.
It turns out that two types of gold nanoparticle shapes are more efficient in converting
light into heat. First are gold nanorods. These solid gold cylinders have a diameter as small as
10 nm. By using nanorods with different combinations of diameter and length, researchers can
change the wavelength of light that the nanorod absorbs. Second are nanospheres which
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consist of a gold coating over a silicon core. Utilizing nanospheres with variations in the
thickness of the gold coating and the diameter of the silica core, researchers can change the
Researchers are using both nanorods and nanospheres to develop methods for localized
heat treatment of diseased regions of the body. This method is called hyperthermia therapy.
Gold nanoparticles can be functionalized with a wide range of materials using self
suspended in an isotropic state come together to form an ordered aggregate. These can be used
for a couple of purposes; first, as a protection and resistance to corrosion and second, to give
functionality to nanomaterials.
Gold is used because it is known for being unreactive and isn’t sensitive to air or light.
But gold does like to form bonds with itself. To ensure that the particles don’t clump together,
their surfaces have to be covered with a layer of protective molecules. Sulphur is one of a few
elements that gold happily bonds with, so Sulphur-containing groups are often used for this
protective coating.
Alkanethiols are molecules with three main features. The thiol is the Sulphur group
that attaches the molecule to the surface of the gold. A carbon chain is the body that is
connected after the sulfur group. The carbon chain helps the molecules to self assemble using
London Dispersion Forces. This is a temporary attractive force that results when the electrons
in two adjacent atoms occupy positions that make the atoms form temporary dipoles. The last
section after the carbon chain is the head or the functional group which is a collection of atoms
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What about cancer and how do Gold nanoparticles help combat it?
Cancer is a complex disease that involves many molecular and cellular processes that
result in a gradual accumulation of genetic changes on specific cells. Over time, damage may
occur from environmental factors or defective genes. When damage occurs in the vital area of
tumor suppressing gene. In a normal healthy APC gene, proteins are produced that inhibits cell
growth. However, in a cell that has mutated, uncontrolled cell growth can multiply. These cells
eventually form a small tumor and are able to attack the immune system by veiling
themselves. They grow undetected by the white blood cells. As the tumor continues to grow,
even more mutations can occur and can coax blood vessels to supply the tumor with nutrients
so it can spread or become metastatic and affect other areas of the body.
For the past one hundred years the way that we combated cancer has been through
radiation destroy cancer cells, the problem that arises with these methods is because they also
destroy normal cells in its wake. These cells can include the protective lining of the mouth and
the gastrointestinal tract, can cause painful sores, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea even permanent
complications like sterility. Treatments to battle against cancer have come with a plethora of
side effects in these traditional methods causing medical researchers to search other alternative
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“Immunology” is defined in the Encarta Dictionary as “the scientific study of the way
the immune system works in the body, including allergies, resistance to disease, and
Lev A. Dykman and Nikolai Khlebtsov, wrote an extremely comprehensive treatise about
recent advances in gold nanoparticles. Even though their introduction is filled with medical
molecular probes and their remarkable optical and immunological properties. Recently
targeted delivery of drugs or other substances, and optical imaging and monitoring of
biological cells and tissues. In particular, they serve as carriers for the delivery of drugs,
These biological advancements to improve patients’ ability to fight their own diseases
Improved Vaccinations
In the Molecules Open Access Journals dated May 22, 2017, Sonia Alexandra Correia
Advances in Vaccines.” Due to their extremely small size, gold nanoparticles can penetrate
human and blood cells and can target specific cells. This has allowed medical professionals
to improve the development process for better vaccines for a myriad of illnesses including
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cancer, HIV, encephalitis, respiratory issues and hepatitis and even animal conditions such
hoof-and-mouth disease.
volume ratio, are biocompatible and inert, and can be easily functionalized with several
molecules; thus, they can also play an important role in the vaccine field as adjuvants,
storage, and have great potential as carriers for the development of a great diversity of fully
synthetic vaccines.”
Conclusion
The Romans’ Lycurgus Cup shows that man’s interest in nanotechnology goes back
more than 1,600 years. Two examples of the progress scientists have made have been featured
in this paper. First, in halting the development of cancer. In recent years, scientists discovered
that cancer cells grow more quickly than healthy cells and have created procedures that kill
cancer by shining light on gold nanoparticles into the nucleus of the cancer cells. This precise
technology works with the cell’s DNA and causes the cells to stop dividing and the cancer
dies. Second, is in developing more effective vaccines using gold nanoparticles which stops
The future progress towards reducing and then alleviating these deadly diseases that
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Works Cited
Helen Jarvie, Peter Dobson and Stephen King. “Nanoparticle” Britannica (Updated 10-25-18)
Essays, UK. “Gold: History, Properties and Nanoscale Analysis” (November 2013)
4165.php?vref=1
Zeeya Merali. “This 1600-Year-Old Goblet Shows that the Romans Were Nanotechnology
romans-were-nanotechnology-pioneers-787224/#rwQMpTQ16l0kr1lZ.99
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David Terraso. “Using Gold Nanoparticles to Hit Cancer Where It Hurts” ScienceDaily. (2-18-
2010)