Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
65 nm
290 nm
55 nm
Conducting polymers
Silicon nanostructures
Single nanoparticle lines
Dip-Pen Nanolithography
AFM tip
Writing
direction
Molecular transport
Water
meniscus
Protein nanoarrays
Sol-gel templates
Solid substrate
65 nm
Tunnel Junctions
E (V)
Small organic molecules
Ultrahigh density DNA arrays
Single particle devices
FIGURE 1.10
Some of the potential applications of DPN
7
.
Nanotechnology has been in dentistry for tooth sealants and fillers that use nanosized particles to
improve their strength, luster, and resist wear. The application of nanoparticles in dental materials and
their synthesis has been discussed in Chapter 2. Antimicrobial nanoparticles in restorative composite
materials are being used to prevent dental caries. For example, silver particles as antibacterial agents
when used in fillers and toothpastes can retard bacterial growth and reduce tooth decay (Chapter 3).
It is envisaged that in the longer term biomimetic approaches and nanotechnology will be used to
repair and rebuild damaged enamel. Composite materials are becoming popular due to their aesthetic
appearance and superior wear properties designed to replicate the properties of enamel (Chapter 4).
The properties of these materials such as compressive strength, material flow, tensile strength, flex-
ural strength have been improved using nanotechnology. Microfill composites are made using the
top-down approach to nanotechnology where materials such as ceramics, quartz, and glasses start off
as bulk materials and then they ground into particles sizes below 100 nm. However, nanocomposites
are made using a bottom-up approach where atoms and molecules combine to produce nanoparticles
much smaller than those produced by the first approach.
7
Dr T. Okpalugo, University of Paisley (2007) Private communication.
