Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the state of the art in nanotechnology by exploring the topics of evolution, characteristics, equipment, and processes. It discusses the applications, societal impact and ethical implications, benefits, and risks of nanotechnology. In the medical field, nanotechnology has been used to study cancer cell structure, and nanoparticles have been used for the florescent imaging of tumors. According to Professor Stephen Fonash, nanotechnology is manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular scale, seeing matter at the atomic and molecular scale, and exploiting the unique capabilities and properties of structures fabricated at the atomic and molecular scale. Nanotechnology has enabled manufacturing processes to yield smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic devices. Advances in nanotechnology have enabled food science to improve food safety and quality, ingredient technologies, processing, and packaging. Education and training in nanotechnology require special laboratory facilities that can be quite expensive.