Nano Technology means optimizing performance and providing smart solutions for the future. It means configuring molecules to change in size and properties for enhancement as in the case of smart fabrics. Smart fabrics can help manufacturers and designers with the increased emphasis on lifestyle, aesthetic appeal and form demanded for technological products. Nanosize particles can exhibit unexpected properties different from those of the bulk material. The basic premise is that properties can dramatically change when a substance’s size is reduced to the nanometer range. Nanotechnology has versatile applications in Textile Chemicals industry in manufacturing garments with stain resistance, flame retardant finishes, wrinkle resistance finishes, moisture management, antimicrobial qualities, UV protection, and soil release properties. Incorporating nanomaterials into a textile can affect a host of properties, including shrinkage, strength, electrical conductivity and flammability. Nanotechnology has also made a tremendous impact on functionality and performance. Nano-treated textiles may lead to many inventions as the science develops in future.

Purpose: The focus of this work is to develop a unique drug delivery vehicle which can be taken up by cancer cells and can release the loaded drug. Methods: Core-shell composite nanoparticles have been prepared by one-step Pickering emulsion polymerization with a nonionic initiator, using silica as the sole stabilizer. More importantly, the Pickering emulsion polymerization is applied to synthesize polystyrene/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-silica core-shell nanoparticles with N-isopropylacrylamide incorporated into the core as a co-monomer. Results: The composite nanoparticles are temperature sensitive and can be taken up by human prostate cancer (PC3 and PC3-PSMA) cells. An anticancer agent 17-(Allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) has been loaded into the polymeric cores during formation of the nanoparticles and drug release has been successfully observed at elevated temperatures. The ability of the various nanoparticles for inducing death in human prostate cancer cells has been evaluated. Conclusion: The work has demonstrated the temperature sensitivity, controlled drug release properties of the synthesized core-shell nanoparticles, and their effectiveness for inducing death of human prostate cancer cells.

Silica coated iron oxide (SiO2/Fe3O4 + γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (SIO-NPs; 75±10 nm in diameter) were prepared by encapsulation of iron oxide NPs with silica using sol-gel method and characterized through spectroscopy methods. The SIO NPs were chemically activated by cyanogens bromide and then functionalized with Escherichia coli (E. coli) antibodies. These immuno-magnetic (IM NPs) were used to capture and concentrate E. coli from ~ 180 cfu/ mL suspension. The identification of bacteria was performed by plating on nutrient agar, fluorescent microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to identify different biomolecules of bacterial cell upon the interaction of colloidal silver nanoparticle (Ag NPs 6±4 nm) at different period of time. In our previous report we demonstrated the antibacterial property of colloidal Ag NPs. Therefore, current approach, using IM, and Ag NPs and SERS, provide detailed molecular identification of E. coli as Ag NPs interact over the time. This method would be applicable for food safety, environment protection, biological threat material, antibacterial and other routine E. coli identification projects.

The nanotechnology industry is rapidly growing with promises of substantial benefits that will have significant global economic and scientific impacts applicable to a whole host of areas from engineering and electronics to environmental remediation and medical healthcare. However, at present there is growing concern over the safety of nanomaterials with respect to occupational, consumer and environmental exposures and associated health effect. Particularly, information on nanomaterial exposure, dosimetry, risk assessment and health effect is negligible. In this paper we discussed the problems of the Exposure and Dose in the studies of the health effect related to nanoaerosols. As a general plan for the assessment of the Dose – the main cause of the effect - Nanoparticles Dosimetric Road Map is presented. The new ideas for measurement of the surface area of nanoparticle, local nanoparticle lung deposition, and nanoparticles respirators true effectiveness are proposed.

Infertility, a global human issue, is primarily governed by the quality of human spermatozoa or sperms, such as concentration, motility, and morphology. Most males are reluctant to have their sperm tested in hospitals due to cost and discomfort. It is highly desirable to develop a handy sperm testing device to be used in the comfort of one’s home. Our motivation is to realize a sperm testing device based on the droplet manipulation on a switchable surface. Conventionally, switchable surfaces utilize changes in molecular conformation of a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) under external stimuli. However, a fluidic drop usually refuses to move toward more hydrophilic regions on the SAM-based switchable surfaces because the weak chemical gradient cannot overcome the hysteresis of the surface. Moreover, the fabrication of SAM is complicated and costly, especially for large areas. Recently, we have developed a switchable-nanostructured surface based on the orientations of liquid crystal (LC) molecules anchored among the polymer grains on the liquid crystal and polymer composite film (LCPCF) which is a result of photo-induced phase separation between the LC and the polymer. The wettability of LCPCF is electrically tunable because of different wetting properties between the phenyl rings and the terminal group (cyano) of LC molecules whose orientations could be switchable by applied electric fields. The droplet is manipulated on LCPCF with a wettability gradient and can be designed for the applications of polarizer-free electro-optical switches. Up to now, no report has been found concerning the development of sperm tester using switchable surfaces. In this paper, we demonstrate a sperm testing device based on the semen droplet manipulation on LCPCF. By either a back-and-forth stretch or a collapse of a semen droplet on LCPCF within periodically switched LC molecular reorientation, LCPCF can sense the semen through the motion of a semen droplet which in turn depends on the information of spermatozoa in the semen. The potential application of sperm testing devices is in Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Natural biopolymers such as starch, chitosan and gelatin have found use in industries as diverse as food, textiles, cosmetics, plastics, adhesives, paper, and pharmaceuticals. The food industry uses these polymers as a thickening agent in snacks, meat products, fruit juices. They are also used in the manufacture of disposable items like fast food utensils and containers. From a pharmaceutical standpoint, these polymers have been extensively used in solidoral dosage forms, where they have been used as binders, diluents, disintegrant and matrixing agents. In recent times, nanotechnology has started to make significant advances in biomedical applications, including newer drug delivery techniques. There has therefore been considerable research into developing biocompatible, biodegradable submicron devices as drug delivery systems using natural polymers, this is because, they occur widely in nature, generally biocompatible, biodegradable, safe and non-immunogenic. There are reports of these polymers been made into colloidal particles that act as carriers for both large and small drug molecules, conferring on the drug molecules properties which enhance delivery actively or passively, thereby tuning them for use as controlled, ocular, transdermal or intranasal delivery systems. In more advanced areas of drug delivery, these polymers have also been tested for gene therapy and tissue engineering. This review examines the properties and recent applications of three (3) natural polymers; starch, chitosan and gelatin in nano-drug delivery.

The nanotechnology industry is rapidly growing with promises of substantial benefits that will have significant global economic and scientific impacts applicable to a whole host of areas from engineering and electronics to environmental remediation and medical healthcare. However, at present there is growing concern over the safety of nanomaterials with respect to occupational, consumer and environmental exposures and associated health effect. Particularly, information on nanomaterial exposure, dosimetry, risk assessment and health effect is negligible.