ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Nanomaterials are structures with characteristic dimensions between 1 and 100 nm; when engineered appropriately, these materials exhibit a variety of unique and tunable chemical and physical properties such as conductivity and reactivity that enable novel engineering applications. These unique characteristics have made them central components in an array of emerging technologies, and many new companies have emerged to commercialize these products. Presently, more than 807 manufacturer-identified nanotechnology consumer products are being sold in stores (1). They are used in household products, personal care products, cosmetics, drug delivery devices, and as contrast imaging agents (2). By 2015, National Science Foundation (NSF) estimates that nanotechnology will have a $1 trillion impact on the global economy and will employ one million workers in the United States (3).
