| MadSci Network: Engineering |
Nanotechnology finds immense use in the field of medicine. Carbon nanotubes can be use to treat broken bones by simply injecting a solution of nanotubes into a fracture to promote healing. At present, artificial bone scaffolds are made from a wide variety of materials, such as polymers or peptide fibres, but they have a number of draw backs, including low strength and the potential for rejection in the body. Compared with these scaffolds, the high mechanical strength, excellent flexibility and low density of carbon nanotubes make them ideal for the production of light weight, high strength materials such as bone.
Nanotechnology has been used for modifying conductive polymers into a type of plastic that conducts and stores electricity, and expands or contracts in response to charge. If it is configured properly, one can make artificial muscles.
Nanotechnology can be used to make artificial blood cells or respirocytes which can enhance human performance.
Nanobots could act as drug carriers and supply medicine to the required part of a body. They could also fight against invading foreign particles in the body. Diseases which are tough to cure can be analysed further through nanobots. Damaged body parts can be repaired by nanobots, and if not possible, can be replaced.
Besides all these uses, if not properly monitered, nanobots can cause environmental pollution and other hazardous effects.
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