Applications of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology current applications used to treat the pandemic

As we have discussed later, nanotechnology multiple products are available commercially including healthcare, medicine and cosmetics. A number of physical and chemical properties of the nanoparticles provide ample opportunities to deal with the current pandemic and control its further spread. When we impregnated nanoparticles in any material surface of fixed support, the surface area of the material increased. That activity may lead to the enhanced stability and durability of the material. Nanoparticles are highly used in polymer and textile industry for the development of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as for packaging and medical textiles. Nanoparticles in solution form can be used for sanitization purposes, for coating the contaminated surfaces and in the therapeutic applications. In this way multiples nanoparticles are used for diagnosis and detection.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Nanomaterial-impregnated textile has a vast number of applications that have been extensively researched. Nanoparticles used to improve the photochemical properties of the material, such as self-cleaning, antimicrobial, fire retardant and protection from UV lights. Copper and silver nanoparticles are impregnated into the material which displays the antibacterial and antiviral applications. Now days the use of nanoparticles is highly increased for protective clothing. It provides novel traits to the fabric including PPE, facemasks and lab coats. Metallic nanoparticles consumption level raises up to 35 tons and the amount are continuously increase by each passing span. Some researchers also suggest that the wearable and the nanoparticle containing textile is also used for drug delivery.

Surface Coating Material

Nanoparticles are also used for disinfecting contaminated surfaces. For this purpose different products are commercially available containing metallic inorganic elements, like oxides of titanium, silver, copper and gold. They sterilized the surfaces and inhibit the attachment of microorganism to any material surface.

With the help of nanoscale topography, nanoparticle disrupts the structure and morphology of the virus and made it inactive. Nanoparticles are also embedded in paints for coating surfaces of different materials like walls, door knocks, medical equipment and for the sterilization of medical tools. Advance research introduced nano-coatings to eliminate the presence of harmful pathogens.

Procedure of disinfectants and sanitization

Solutions of silver salt are currently used as disinfectants. It is a safe demand for disinfection and sanitization purposes. Health care centers like hospitals sanitize their medical equipment and reduces the long stay chance of virus on any highly touchy surfaces. Prevent the further spread of SARSCoV-2 virus from one place to another. Metallic nanoparticles have high durability and ensure the safety from SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Other types of potential applications of nanoparticles

Beside its medical and sanitization applications nanoparticles can also be used in air filters to improve its functionality in medical centers and in all those types of centers that use recirculated air. In air filters we embedded nanoparticles to reduce the entrance of any microorganism and kill or remove harmful pathogens from drink solutions. In wound dressing nanotechnology has also been thoroughly explored, as it decrease the span for wound healing and kill pathogens from further attack. Future aspects include the development of highly effective detection kits, as it considered one of the major concerns these days to restrict the spread of virus. Researchers also work on food based application that can be used in different medical centers.

Future Perspectives

What are our future aspects? From literature study we revealed that nanoparticles provide an alternative to control the spread of current pandemic, although it is an ongoing research. A nanoparticle proves as effective agents to fight against corona virus. On the basis of previous and current knowledge, nanoparticles can be very useful in the short or long term control of corona virus by using nanoparticle based material like antiviral sanitizers, nanotechnology enhanced textile for contravention of surgical face masks, nanotechnology enhanced material for the development of PPE and for the sterilization of medical instruments. It is clearly seen that nanotechnology based hand sanitizer’s shows highly efficient antiviral and antibacterial activity. Therefore, we use nano-based sanitizers for proper safety in public health care enter and in public spaces. Besides all these applications, nanotechnology is very helpful for producing vaccine, for the development of testing kits and most importantly use in the diagnose and treatment of COVID-19. Nanomaterial expands in vast areas of life because it increases the antimicrobial potency of various medicines, so we use them for the treatment of secondary infectious diseases particular for those having multidrug resistance profile.