ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is dened as the manipulation of matter on the near-atomic scale to produce novel structures, materials, and devices. Nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly dened as structures having one dimension <100 nm. At the nanoscale, particles exhibit unique physicochemical properties, which may be dramatically different from ne particles of the same composition. Such unique properties are being exploited for a wide range of novel applications and new products. Such applications include medical imaging, targeted drug delivery, bone grafting, antimicrobial products, energy storage devices, conductive fabric, electronics, sensors, structural materials, sporting goods, coatings, paints, cosmetics, and sunscreens. Data indicate that the commercial application of nanotechnology is expanding rapidly and is expected to grow into a trillion dollar industry employing millions of workers worldwide within the next decade (Roco 2004; Lux Research 2007).
