This blog post examines how nanotechnology—the control of materials at the nanometer scale—is transforming medicine, electronics, and the environment, positioning it as the key to next-generation civilizational evolution.
As intelligent beings, humans have evolved from primitive societies reliant solely on spears and flint to modern societies dominated by computers and machinery through billions of years of continuous creation and development since the dawn of humanity. Just as industrial technology led progress in the 18th century, petroleum energy in the 19th, and computers and information technology in the 20th, we naturally wonder what new technology will drive future civilizational evolution at this juncture. If asked to envision our society hundreds of years from now, most people would imagine a society resembling the settings of science fiction films—featuring androids, hovering personal vehicles, or cutting-edge computers. Many of these future inventions we commonly imagine are already in the research phase or undergoing development towards commercialization. From the perspective of science and engineering majors, the core question to consider is what decisive factor will enable such future developments. I believe nanotechnology will play a pivotal role in this process of technological advancement. I aim to describe the importance of nanotechnology in the progress of modern technology and persuade readers to develop greater expectations and interest in nanotechnology through this blog post.
To begin with a basic introduction to nanotechnology, it refers to the manipulation and control of matter at the nanometer scale—that is, at the 10⁻⁹ meter level, or the molecular and supramolecular level. Materials controlled through nanotechnology acquire unique properties that are difficult to replicate using any conventional manufacturing method. When particles are reduced to an extremely small size, the ratio of surface area to volume increases dramatically. This causes the material to be influenced by quantum effects, exhibiting properties different from those governed by classical physical laws applicable to materials of normal size. The applications of nanotechnology are extremely broad, spanning medicine, environmental engineering, textile materials, electronics, the automotive industry, and even everyday consumer goods. Consequently, companies utilizing nanotechnology are rapidly increasing worldwide. Indeed, international research institutions, including the U.S. National Science Foundation, analyze that nanotechnology formed a global market worth hundreds of billions of dollars around 2020 and has continued to grow steadily since then. This indicates that the economic ripple effects of nanotechnology have reached a level that cannot be overlooked.
A prime example of nanotechnology in use is the new material known as carbon nanotubes. Global chemical and materials companies, including Germany’s Bayer Material Science, secured mass production technology for carbon nanotubes around 2010, significantly expanding the potential for developing various new products utilizing them. Carbon nanotubes are a new material formed by carbon atoms bonding together into tube-shaped structures with diameters of just tens of nanometers. They are known to possess thermal conductivity comparable to diamond and strength tens to hundreds of times greater than steel. Due to these properties, carbon nanotubes are being utilized in diverse fields such as semiconductors, displays, batteries, and ultra-high-strength fibers, enabling performance enhancements difficult to achieve with conventional materials. Since the advent of carbon nanotubes, semiconductor technology has also moved beyond gigabyte-level storage capacity. The possibility of realizing terabyte-level and even higher-density semiconductors is now being discussed as a realistic goal. Concurrently, nanotechnology has already deeply penetrated our daily lives, creating noticeable changes. For instance, sunscreens containing nanomaterials like Optisol have become commercially available.
Examining nanotechnology applications currently in development reveals even more concrete possibilities. The American company Innovega is developing iOptik, a lens-based virtual reality experience device that incorporates a micro-display system into contact lenses. This technology is expected to provide superior immersion compared to any existing virtual reality device by projecting images directly onto the user’s retina.
Concurrently, global IT companies, including Google, have already filed numerous patents for wearable medical devices aimed at early cancer diagnosis and prevention. This technology involves injecting nanoparticles designed to bind with cancer cells in the wearer’s bloodstream. The nanoparticles then transmit the collected information to a device, enabling real-time confirmation of the presence and status of cancer cells. Users can then intuitively check their physical condition via the device’s screen. Furthermore, if these nanoparticles are loaded with anticancer drugs, they could also be utilized as therapeutic medical devices to remove cancer cells more precisely and effectively. Research on this technology is currently active, though additional time is expected before actual clinical application. Thus, ideas that were once mere fantasies confined to movies or novels are gradually becoming reality alongside the advancement of nanotechnology.
Looking ahead to the potential contributions of nanotechnology in the future, its possibilities are truly boundless. If societal interest, investment, and academic accumulation in nanotechnology research continue, it is certain that new materials and entirely novel applications will emerge continuously. As nanofabrication technology becomes more sophisticated, the production of more complex three-dimensional molecular structures and nanoscale materials will become possible. This will give rise to new electronic devices, such as next-generation computers equipped with organic electronic devices or ultra-high-density circuits. These machines will possess computational power and storage capacity that far surpass existing products. Furthermore, if advancements in nanotechnology reduce the production cost of nanomaterials, the application fields of nanotechnology are also highly likely to expand explosively. When nanocatalyst technology is fully utilized, it is expected to drive innovative changes across biological and environmental fields, not only in the chemical industry but also in biological renewable energy, agricultural technology, and pollution treatment systems currently facing economic limitations. In the medical field, the development of new artificial organs and implantable devices utilizing nanomaterials is also being discussed as a realistic research goal.
However, just as every light casts a shadow, nanotechnology also carries negative aspects. The most significant issue currently hindering the growth of nanotechnology is safety concerns. While conventional pharmaceuticals undergo extensive clinical trials and quality inspections to assess toxicity, nanomaterials are a relatively new field, and toxicity evaluation standards themselves are not yet fully established. This creates uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of nanomaterials on human health and the environment, fueling public anxiety and skepticism. Indeed, research has reported that silver nanoparticles used for odor prevention can be discharged into sewage during the washing process, potentially causing environmental pollution. Cases have also been presented where genetic damage and cellular tissue changes were observed in laboratory rats exposed to specific nanomaterials over extended periods. These findings strongly suggest the need for more sophisticated regulatory and management systems for nanotechnology. Technological advancement requires substantial capital, and securing capital necessitates public trust above all else. Therefore, resolving safety controversies is an urgent task that must be addressed for nanotechnology to continue progressing.
Thus, comprehensively examining the characteristics of nanotechnology and its achievements to date confirms that it will play a pivotal role in the future advancement of modern technology. Nanotechnology has expanded the horizons of science into realms previously inaccessible, making significant contributions across the entire spectrum of science and engineering through its wide-ranging applications. While it is true that current safety controversies have generated some resistance, the immense power of nanotechnology comes with commensurate responsibility. Ensuring safety is a challenge our society must shoulder alongside wielding this powerful tool. However, no matter how promising a technology’s future potential, its latent capabilities cannot be realized without public interest and support. I believe nanotechnology’s current position is very similar to that of semiconductor technology in the early 20th century. Back then, semiconductor technology also held infinite potential, but without sustained research, application, and social interest, the technological leap we see today would have been impossible. For nanotechnology to achieve steady growth going forward, public interest must come first. Through this blog post, I hope more people will take notice of nanotechnology and recognize that it will play a pivotal role in creating a promising future across the entire STEM field.
