NANOTECHNOLOGY 101A Primer

Kantha Shelke, Ph.D.Natural Product Expo WestMarch 5-8, 2009

OUTLINE

• What is nanotechnology?

• Applications in the market

• Future applications

• Safety matters

• Educational Resources

Properties of materials change drastically at the nanoscale.

What is Nanotechnology?

““The art and science of building stuff that The art and science of building stuff that does stuff at the nanometer scale”does stuff at the nanometer scale”

• Mother Nature has dealt adeptly with nutrition at nanoscale.

• Intentional modification of matter at the nanoscale level is very recent.

MACROMACRO NANONANO< 100 nanometer

1 nanometer = one billionth of one meter

Putting things in perspective

The uniqueness of nano

• Properties of matter change at the nano scale

• Zinc, white and opaque in macro form, is transparent in the nano form

• New applications for old materials

580 products worldwide and counting!580 products worldwide and counting!

On-line inventory at http://www.nanotechproject.org/44

Applications in the market

Food enterprises

• Kraft• Nestle• Unilever• Pepsi Co.• Cargill• Mars• BASF• Syngenta• DuPont• Bayer• ~ 60 govts world-wide

More bang for the buck!More bang for the buck!84 products – that we know of84 products – that we know of

Applications

• Dietary supplements

• Nutritional additives

• Color additives

• Food processing aids

• Long-life packaging

• Antibacterial kitchenware

• Fertilizers and pesticides

Source: Aquanova

Light as plastic, strong as steelLight as plastic, strong as steel

New materials

Potential Nutritional Benefits

• Enhanced nutritional value

• Protection of vulnerable nutrients

• Improved efficacy of fortification

• Enhanced bioavailability – better nutrition

• Targeted delivery – targeted nutrition

• Safer drinking water

Emerging applications

• Interactive, personalized foods

• Edible wrappers and packaging

• Chemical release packaging

• Interactive agrochemicals

• Nano manipulation of seeds

• Synthetic biology

Transforming junk foods

• Reduce sugars and sweeteners

• Reduce fat

• Enhance fiber

• Enhance nutrient content

CLEAN & SAFE WATERCLEAN & SAFE WATERAnytime, anywhereAnytime, anywhere

Making a difference in the world

SAFETY MATTERSIs nano safe?

• Inhalation and ingestion risks

• Penetrate skin barriers

• Access to tissues and cells

• Cross the blood-brain barrier

Toxicity – examples

• Nano silver – toxic to rodent liver, brain and stem cells; may harm beneficial bacteria

• Nano zinc oxide – toxic to rat and human cells

• Nano silicon dioxide – can cause onset of pathology similar to neurodegenerative disorders

• Nano titanium dioxide – can damage DNA in human cells, harm alga and water fleas, especially with UV light exposure

• Distorts immune system response

Are WE safe?

• Inadequate oversight system

• Generic deficiencies of regulations

• Gaps in regulatory authority

• Lack of resources (financial and human) and expertise at regulatory agencies

Public awareness

Nanotechnology will have a profound Nanotechnology will have a profound impact on raw material sourcing for food impact on raw material sourcing for food processing and will radically change how processing and will radically change how foods will affect our physiology and well-foods will affect our physiology and well-

being.being.

Agriculture and Food

Want to know more?

kantha@corvusblue.net

Other resources

• ETC Group http://www.etcgroup.org

• Madison's Nano Cafés http://www.nanocafes.org

• Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/health/science/nano/contents.asp

• Dr Gregor Wolbring’s website http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/nanotechnology.html http://www.innovationwatch.com/commentary_choiceisyours.htm

• Center for Responsible Nanotechnology http://www.crnano.org/

• Workers Health International News, Hazards Magazine http://www.hazards.org/

• UK Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering http://www.nanotec.org.uk/

QUESTIONS?