Jan 30th, 2016

Week 2: Nanotechnology

In reading about Nanotechnology for the first time, I stumbled upon the use of nanotechnology used in agriculture: nanopesticides. Knowing nothing about nanotechnology, this usage in particular caught my eyes.  

Bulk spray could be replaced by targeted pesticide use. 

Pesticides are known to be bad for the environment as well as human health. Through research over the years, we found that pesticides used in agriculture eventually finds way into our ecosystems, which then contaminate soils, waterways, and furthermore, endangers wildlife. The technology of nanopesticides is new in recent years. It is a more environmentally-friendly approach to using pesticides.  

engineered nanoparticles 

Nanopesticides increase efficacy and durability of a pesticide but also reduce active ingredients in it. It is amazing at how much size matters in this case. The particles at nanometer scale have a large surface area relative to their overall size, and since greater surface area ratio means more of total volume of pesticide comes into contact with the pests, it also means that it can reduce the amount of pesticide needed. 

These are 3 types of nanopesticides: nano-emulsion, nano-capsule, and metal nanoparticles in a polymer formulation.  

It is still unclear what impact nano pesticides will have on our ecosystem, but it is definitely going to change the way agriculture has been for years. 

After reading about nanopesticides, I would like to propose a similar usage, but with pets. I think nanotechnology can be used to kill fleas and ticks on common house pets such as dogs and cats. I’d imagine a revolutionary “flea comb”, as owners groom their pet, the nanoparticle are being transferred and targeted towards fleas, and proceeds to kill every single one of them. I think this would be a great use in improving pet health conditions. Flea medicines now are dangerous and harmful, can also get messy when applied to the pet’s skin. But with smaller particles, the medicine wouldn’t leak everywhere, would also be able to be applied through everyday action such as grooming the pet. 

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Works Cited: 

TRESSIDER, VIRGINIA. "Nanopesticides: A Promising New Pesticide Solution?" <i>ECOS</i>. CSIRO Blog, 4 Aug. 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Gewin, Virginia. "Everything You Need To Know About Nanopesticides - Modern Farmer." Modern Farmer. N.p., 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Foley, Rider, and Tai Wallace. "Nanomaterial Applications in Agricultural Pesticides." Nanotechnology in City Environments (NICE) Database. Center for Nanotechnology in Society, Arizona State University, 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Kah, Melanie. "Nanopesticides and Nanofertilizers: Emerging Contaminants or Opportunities for Risk Mitigation?" Frontiers in Chemistry. Frontiers Media S.A., 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

"Nano-pesticides: The Future of Agriculture?" Nano-pesticides: The Future of Agriculture? University of Vienna, 3 July 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.