Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
(A)
(B)
(C)
0
180 0
8
nm
ยต
m
FIGURE 1.9
(A) Ultrahigh resolution pattern of mercaptohexadecanoic acid on atomically-flat gold surface.
(B) DPN-generated multi-component nanostructure with two aligned alkanethiol patterns.
(C) Richard Feynmann's historic speech written using the DPN nanoplotter
6
.
ultrahigh resolution features with line widths as small as 10-15 nm with ~5 nm spatial resolution. For
nanotechnological applications, it is not only important to pattern molecules in high resolution, but also
to functionalize surfaces with patterns of two or more components (
Figures 1.9-1.11
).
Figure 1.12
shows the basic concept of nanomanufacturing. Individual atoms, which are given in
the periodic table, form the basis from nanomanufacturing. These can be assembled into molecules and
various structures using various methods including directed self-assembly, templating, etc. and may be
positioned appropriately depending on the final requirements. Further along the devices architecture,
integration, in-situ processing may be employed culminating in nanosystems, molecular devices, etc.
1.4
NANODENTISTRY
Over the years, developments in dentistry have made many dental treatment procedures fast, reli-
able, safe, and much less painful. New technologies such as nanotechnology, dental implantology,
cosmetic surgery, use of lasers, and digital dentistry have had great impact on dental treatment meth-
odologies and recovery time. Although nanotechnology has always existed its discovery is attributed
to Feynman who won the Nobel Prize in 1959 about his theories regarding future nanosized devices.
In the field of medicine, nanotechnology has been applied in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of
diseases. Nanotechnology offers considerable scope in dentistry to improve dental treatment, care,
and prevention of oral diseases. The following chapters in this topic discuss about the recent develop-
ments in this interdisciplinary field bridging nanotechnology and dentistry.
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A. Byrne, Lecture at University of Ulster 2006 Private communications.
