Week 8: NanoTech + Art

I thought this week’s lectures on nanotechnology were particularly interesting. It is fascinating to think how we consider nanotechnology to be a relatively new concept, when in fact it has actually been in existence for a long time.

We see nanotechnology being used by the ancient Romans, as far back as 400BC. The British museum has a Roman chalice from this period and when you look at the cup in the daylight, it appears to be green. However, if the cup is illuminated from the inside, it looks red. This coloration is due to the fact that the Romans had managed to find a way to introduce the dye for nanosized gold particles. These particles do not look golden colored but have very specific coloration properties. In this way we can rightly conclude that the Romans were nanotechnology pioneers.

Similarly, artisans glazing pots in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Umbria (Italy) were practicing an early form of nanotechnology. The coloration was not due to chemical type glazes, but instead due to the use of nanoparticles like copper and silver. In this way we see how during the Renaissance potters were nothing short of skilled nanotechnologists, using nanoparticles to give their finely painted ceramics a rich luster.

Today, silver nanoparticles are incorporated into an increasing number of products for its anti microbial properties. Fabrics containing engineered nanosilver are used in the manufacture of athletic wear, socks, etc. as it prevents the buildup of bacteria and fungi, thus helping to prevent the nasty odor that they cause. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide are incorporated into textiles to protect one’s garments and one’s skin from sun damage. 

However, too much of a good thing can be harmful to the environment. The excessive use of silver nanoparticles in products due to its antimicrobial effect has resulted in silver sulphide nanoparticles now being found in sewage sludge. The risks associated with this are enormous. Silver nanoparticles are toxic to many aquatic as well as soil microorganisms and organisms as well as many plants. It bio accumulates in the food chain, thus leading to a number of harmful ecological consequences.

WORKS CITED

Ball, Philip. “Renaissance Potters were Nanotechnologists.” Nature. 30 June 2003. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.nature.com/news/2003/030630/full/news030623-17.html>

Ferguson, Cat. “Silver Nanoparticles: Useful But Dangerous?” Real Clear Science. 1 April 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. <http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2014/04/01/silver_nanoparticles_useful_but_dangerous_108578.html>

Gimzewski, James. “Nanotech Jim Pt 3.” Online Video. Youtube. UC Online Program. 21 May 2012. Web. 20 May 2015.

Merali, Zeeya. “This 1,600-Year-Old Goblet Shows that the Romans Were Nanotechnology Pioneers.” Smithsonian Magazine. September 2013. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-1600-year-old-goblet-shows-that-the-romans-were-nanotechnology-pioneers-787224/?no-ist>

Russon, Mary-Ann. “Romans Used Nanotechnology to Turn Lycurgus Cup from Green to Red 1,600 Years Ago.” International Business Times. 6 October 2014. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/romans-used-nanotechnology-turn-lycurgus-cup-green-red-1600-years-ago-1468746>

Urquhart, James. “Silver Nanoparticles in Clothing Pose No New Risk.” Scientific American. 15 July 2014. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/silver-nanoparticles-in-clothing-pose-no-new-risk/>