MODULE 8: NANOTECHNOLOGY - can display particles as small as

atoms
Nanotechnology - helped scientists to see the
- the study of incredibly small materials they are working with
structures, ranging in size from 0.1 The Scale of Things
to 100 nm
- used in a variety of industries, - produced by the U.S. Department of
including electronics, energy, Energy
environment, and the health and - proceeds from things that can be
medical areas seen with the unaided eye, like an
- the design, characterization, ant, at the top to things that are at
production, and application of least a nanometer in size, like the
materials, devices, and systems by ATP molecule that humans utilize to
controlling shape and size at the store energy from meals
nanoscale
As particles get smaller, there is an increase
8100 nanometers in surface area compared to volume, and
they are also vulnerable to quantum effects,
- number of particles you would need which results in these peculiar physical and
to line up side by side to equal the chemical properties. They can therefore
breadth of a human hair behave differently and are not subject to the
Nanoscale automata same physical principles as larger objects

- one with tiny components Nanotechnology

- referred to as a nanodevice or - intended to offer a fresh and
nanomachine improved method for identifying and
Direct Nanotechnology treating cancer
- with this, catalysts that convert
- a responsive nanoparticle used to vapors escaping from automobiles
transport medications to an internal or industrial plants into safe gasses
target in the human body can function more effectively
- nanosized materials employed - creates new, faster computer types,
directly in an application more effective power sources, and
life-saving medical procedures
Indirect Nanotechnology - the use of innovative techniques for
- a device that includes a controlling and manipulating matter
nanodevice—possibly together with at the near-atomic scale to produce
other micro or macro components engineered materials, structures,
and systems and devices
- however, it also has the capacity to
3 Aspects of Nanotechnology produce new poisons and pollutants
- the study, manipulation, and fusion
(1) A universal fabrication procedure
of matter at the atomic and
(2) A particular way of conceiving,
molecular level
designing, and modeling materials,
devices, and systems, including Potential drawbacks of Nanotechnology
their fabrication
(3) The creation of novelty - Economic disruption and potential
risks to safety, privacy, health, and
Microscope the environment

Nanomaterials
 - can assist with waste management, - has the potential to revolutionize the
cleaning the environment and electronics industry
providing efficient, clean energy - will make it possible to build circuits
solutions, such as nanomaterial- very precisely at the atomic level
based solar cells
Millions of components can already be found
“Gray goo” scenario on silicon chips, but as technology
advances, circuits are so small that if a
- scenario where self-replicating molecule is out of position, the circuit won't
nanobots consume everything in function as intended.
their path in order to create copies of
themselves Quantum dots

Nanoscale - extremely small light-producing cells

that can be utilized for display
- scale used in Nanotechnology screens or illumination
Advantages and Disadvantages of Medical Advantages
Nanomaterials
- will significantly advance medical
Manufacturing Advantages science
- New materials are already becoming - Surgery could become considerably
available more efficient and precise
- May be able to repair the broken
Aerogels genes in order to treat hereditary
diseases
- materials made of extremely light - Drug manufacture could be
and strong materials with improved by increasing
extraordinary insulating qualities, effectiveness and minimizing
and nanotubes and nanoparticles, negative effects
tubes and particles only a few atoms
across Economic Upheaval
- could open the way for new methods
and better goods - Nanotechnology-driven
modifications to the production
Nanobots process could lead to employment
losses
- robots that are only a few - Might be turned into weapons
nanometers long
- may be used to create innovative Smart bullet
materials and products
- A computerized projectile that might
Energy Advantages be directed and aimed very precisely
- military could benefit from these
- methods by which humans produce discoveries, but only if the wrong
and use energy may change people got their hands on them
- can increase the affordability of solar
energy by lowering the cost of Different Types of Nanoparticles
producing solar panels and
accompanying machinery (Nanoparticles can be classified into different
- new ways of producing and storing types according to the size, morphology,
energy will become possible physical and chemical properties)

Advantages in Electronics and Computing 1. Carbon-Based Nanoparticles

 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the detection and imaging of
fullerenes are its two major biomolecules
components
a. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – 4. Semiconductor Nanoparticles
rolled-up graphene sheets; - resemble both metals and non-
utilized for structural metals
reinforcement due to their - can be found in groups II–VI, III–V,
100 times greater strength or IV–VI
than steel; Single-walled - have broad bandgaps that, when
carbon nanotubes tuned, exhibit various features
(SWCNTs) and multi-walled - have uses in photocatalysis,
carbon nanotubes electronics, photo-optics, and water
(MWCNTs) are its two splitting
different types
b. Fullerene – “carbon 5. Polymeric Nanoparticles
allotrope”; has a hollow - Organic-based polymeric
cage structure made up of nanoparticles have a small size
at least sixty (60) carbon - have nanocapsular (core-shell
atoms shape) or nanosphere (matrix-like
structure), depending on the method
The Buckminsterfullerene structure of C-60 of preparation
resembles a hollow football. These - some of its advantages are
formations contain pentagonal and controlled release, drug molecule
hexagonal-shaped carbon units. Due of its protection, the possibility to combine
electrical conductivity, structure, high therapy with imaging, precise
strength, and electron affinity, they have targeting
commercial applications. - used in diagnostics and medicine
delivery
2. Ceramic Nanoparticles - Polymeric nanoparticle-based
- Inorganic solids made comprised of medication delivery systems are
oxides, carbides, carbonates, and very biocompatible and
phosphates biodegradable
- High thermal resistance and
chemical inertness 6. Lipid-Base Nanoparticles
- can be used for imaging, medication - typically have a spherical shape with
administration, photocatalysis, and a diameter between 10 and 100 nm
dye degradation - consists of a matrix made up of
- drug delivery agent; deliver soluble lipophilic molecules and a
medications for a variety of solid lipid core (the exterior core is
illnesses, including cancer, stabilized by emulsifiers and
glaucoma, and bacterial infections surfactant)
- are used in the biomedical industry
3. Metal Nanoparticles as medication carriers, delivery
- To create this, they use metal systems, and RNA release agents in
precursors by chemical, the treatment of cancer.
electrochemical, or photochemical
processes As a result, the field of nanotechnology is far
- have a high surface energy and can from being fully developed and is, as the
absorb tiny molecules statistic claims, poised to experience
- have uses in bioanalytical and exponential expansion. It is roughly where
environmental testing, as well as in
information technology was in the 1960s and - cost of the catalysts used in fuel cells
where biotechnology was in the 1980s to create hydrogen ions from fuel,
such as methanol, is being reduced,
Nanotechnology Tools and Instruments while the effectiveness of the
membranes used in fuel cells to
- hardware, software, and supplies separate hydrogen ions from other
needed to measure and manipulate gases, such as oxygen, is being
nanoscale structures increased
- consist of instruments such as - alleviating the lack of fossil fuels like
microscopes, probes, lithography diesel and gasoline
systems, fabrication and
manipulation tools, software Solar Cells

Chemical Sensors - developing nanotech solar cells that

can be manufactured at significantly
- can enable sensors to detect very lower cost than conventional solar
small amounts of chemical vapors cells
- various types of detecting elements,
such as carbon nanotubes, zinc Batteries
oxide nanowires or palladium
nanoparticles can be used in - battery with nanomaterials will be as
nanotechnology-based sensors good as new after sitting on the shelf
for decades, another battery can be
Nanotechnology Applications recharged significantly faster than
conventional batteries
Medicine
Space
- administering medications to your
body's sick cells directly (can lessen - nanotechnology will be the key to
the harm that chemotherapy and feasible space travel
other treatments do to a patient's - cutting the cost of entering orbit and
healthy cells) moving through space by drastically
lowering the amount of rocket fuel
Electronics required

- increase the capabilities of Better Air Quality

electronics devices while reducing
their weight and power consumption - turning vapors leaving from vehicles
or industrial facilities into safe
Food gasses

- how food is grown to how it is Better Water Quality

packaged
- developing nanomaterials that will - transforming the contaminated
make a difference not only in the chemical into a safe form
taste of food, but also in food safety, - nanotechnology is far less
and the health benefits that food expensive than approaches that call
deliver for pumping the water out of the
ground for treatment can be used to
Fuel Cells successfully reach contaminants
scattered in subsurface ponds
Chemical Sensors Nanoparticles and structures have been
used by humans in fourth century AD, by the
- detecting extremely minute Roman, which demonstrated one of the most
quantities of chemical vapors interesting examples of nanotechnology in
- detecting chemical vapors at very the ancient world.
low concentrations
Lycurgus cup
Sporting Goods
- it is from the British Museum
- athletic products collection
- Tennis racquet strength can - one of the most outstanding
currently be increased achievements in ancient glass
- Making composite fabric with nano- industry
sized fibers or particles enables - oldest famous example of dichroic
fabric qualities to be improved glass
without significantly increasing
weight, thickness, or stiffness Dichroic glass

Other Application of Nanotechnology - describes two different types of

glass, which change color in certain
Healthcare lighting conditions
- the cup have two different colors: the
- used in medication delivery glass appears green in direct light,
systems, medical imaging, and and red-purple when light shines
tumor targeting through the glass
- can detect cancers and transport
drugs to treat them Richard Feynman

According to experts: - Father of Nanotechnology

- an American physicist who
- nanotechnology is crucial to the presented the concept of
development of the technological nanotechnology in 1959
revolution of the twenty-first century - “There’s Plenty of Room at the
Bottom”
$10 billion USD
CRISPR-Cas9
- was invested globally in
nanotechnology research and - Clustered Regularly Interspaced
development in 2008 Short Palindromic Repeats
- CRISPR associated protein 9
Department of Science and Technology-
Philippine Council for Advanced Science MODULE 9: GENETICALLY MODIFIED
and Technology Research and ORGANISM
Development (DOST-PCASTRD) Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
- has prioritized the following - an organism whose genetic makeup
industries: semiconductor, has undergone a deliberate change
information technology, energy, - creatures whose DNA has been
agriculture, medicine, and altered to change certain traits
environmental protection
Microorganisms (bacteria and yeast), Agricultural plants
insects, plants, fish, and humans
- Most commonly used examples of
- some of the organisms that have GMOs
undergone genetic modification
2. Aquaculture
With the aid of in vitro genetic engineering - Benefits: production of fish with
techniques, desired DNA (foreign DNA) is greater disease resistance,
introduced and incorporated into transgenic increased temperature tolerance,
organisms to create GMOs. and faster growth rates

We can alter an organism's traits by altering Commercial GM Crops

its genome, which is its genetic makeup and
is contained within the chromosomes' - were first made available in the
nucleic acids. world in 1996, and since then, crop
production has increased
Genome Editing significantly

- a technique for making precise Fish

alterations to an organism's or cell's
DNA - have been altered to grow six times
- a specific region of DNA is cut by an more quickly than they would
enzyme, and when the cell repairs naturally, endure colder climates,
the damage, the sequence is altered and carry natural diseases
or "edited."
3. Food Industry
2 Categories into which transgenic fall: - The industrial food business is
constantly expanding its use of food
Auto-transgenic (donor and recipient of the enzymes (FE)
same species)
Food Enzymes (FE)
Allo-transgenic (donor and recipient of
different species) - are primarily produced by microbial
fermentation, which employs strains
Genetic Alteration that are both wild-type (WT) and
genetically modified (GM)
- used to accelerate genetic gain
through techniques including 4. Biomedical Research
precise gene stocking and expedited - The use of GMOs marks a
product development significant advancement in
biological sciences and medical
Uses, Application, and Benefits of GMO research, with GMOs becoming
more and more crucial in the search
1. Agriculture for and creation of novel
- Benefits: increased crop yields, therapeutics
lower costs for food or drug - With GMOs, they can better
production, less need for pesticides, understand how human and animal
improved nutrient composition and genes function as well as the
food quality, pest and disease function of genes in particular
resistance, greater food security, diseases
and medical benefits for the world's
expanding population Possible future applications
 a. Raising marine fish in fresh water 3. Human health risks
b. Manipulating the length of - Whether or whether GMOs are safe
reproductive cycles for human consumption is one of the
c. Increasing the tolerance of main worries held by the public
aquaculture species to wider ranges - There may be issues for one of 2
of environmental conditions reasons: (a) if the DNA is derived
d. Enhancing nutritional qualities and from an allergenic protein; or (b) if
taste the transgenic results in the
e. Controlling sexual maturation to expression of an inactive toxin gene
prevent carcass deterioration as fish
age According to reports, eating GM fish is just
f. Using transgenic fish as pollution as safe as eating fish raised traditionally.
monitors
g. Creating fish that act as pollution 4. Economic Impacts
monitors - Reduced production costs (less
h. Enabling fish to use plants as a money spent on insecticides) have
source of protein also benefited many farmers,
i. Using fish to produce particularly in industrialized nations
pharmaceutical products
j. Improving host resistance to a 8 Processes of Genetic Modification
variety of pathogens, such as
Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis 1. Gene of interest is identified
Virus (IHNV), Bacterial Kidney 2. Gene is isolated
Disease (BKD) and furunculosis 3. The gene is amplified to produce many
copies
Impacts of GMO 4. The gene is then associated with an
appropriate promoter and poly A
1. Environmental Impacts sequence and inserted into plasmids
- overfishing, the spread of disease 5. The plasmid is multiplied in bacteria and
and parasites, the introduction and the cloned construct for injection is
spread of exotic species, chemical recovered
pollution, habitat destruction for the 6. The construct is transferred into the
establishment of the farm or as a recipient tissue, usually fertilized eggs
result of farm activities, and the 7. Gene is integrated into recipient genome
eradication of predators that feed on 8. Gene is expressed in recipient genome;
the farmed species inheritance of gene through further
- these are dictated by 3 main factors generations.
a. Species in production
b. Location of production Why are GMOs produced?
c. System of production
a) Enhancing growth and/or efficiency
of food conversion
b) Enhancing muscle characteristics
2. Social Impacts for commercial purposes
- Traditional livelihood, community c) Controlling reproductive activity
displacement, and exploitative labor and/or sexual phenotype
practices d) Increasing resistance of species to
- businesses aim to maximize profits disease causing microorganisms
by taking advantage of e) Increasing tolerance to/of
underdeveloped nations with lax environmental variables such as
rules temperature
 f) Modifying behaviour, e.g. vector at one year of age, as well as
aggression significantly increased growth rates
g) Controlling fertility and/or viability
Flower production
Examples of Currently Used GMOs
- Several traits of ornamental plants
Herbicide Tolerance have already been modified
including flower color, fragrance,
- Soybean flower shape, plant architecture,
flowering time, postharvest life and
Insect Resistance resistance for both biotic and abiotic
stresses
- Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis) Corn - Transgenic ornamentals the most
common techniques being
Altered Fatty Acid Compostition Agrobacterium-mediated
transformation and particle
- High laurate levels achieved by bombardment
inserting the gene for ACP
thioesterase from the California bay Paper production
tree Umbellularia californica
- The resulting trees showed no
Virus Resistance difference in growth and strength,
but their lignin showed improved
- Resistance to plum pox virus digestibility
conferred by insertion of a coat
protein (CP) gene from the virus Bioremediation

Fortification (Vitamin enrichment) - Biomolecular engineering

approaches develops GMOs for the
- Golden rice degradation of persistent organic
- Beta-carotene, a precursor of pollutants (POPs) like polyaromatic
vitamin A, is introduced through hydrocarbons PAHs,
biosynthesis in the endosperm of the polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs,
golden rice. This is a practical way to and pesticides
provide poor farmers subsistence
crop capable of adding much Risks and Controversies Surrounding the
needed Vitamin A to avoid high risk Use of GMOs
of infection, diseases and blindness
1. Unintended Impact on Other Species
Vaccines - seeds harboring recombinant
protein genes may unintentionally
- Hepatitis B virus surface antigen disseminate recombinant genes or
(HBsAg) produced in transgenic expose non-target species to fresh
tobacco induces immune response environmental toxins
when injected into mice 2. Unintended Economic Consequences
- GMO seeds may be pricey
Faster Maturation - Transgenic plants are frequently out
of reach for the farmers who stand to
- A type 1 growth hormone gene benefit from them the most
injected into fertilized fish eggs 3. Ecological Imbalance
results in 6.2% retention of the - competition or interference
4. Mutation in organism
 - may cause more dreadful diseases - prior authorization from them is also
for human beings required when working with GM
5. Produce new pathogen animals
- can harm its hosts in specific
biological or environmental Potential Risks
circumstances. Ethics
6. Potential human risk
- potential for GMO to become a pest - “Playing God” - violation of natural
and a threat if it escapes into the organisms’ intrinsic values
environment - Tampering with nature by mixing
- Toxin and allergen production may genes among species
negatively affect a person's health. - Objections to consuming animal
7. Bioterrorism genes in plants and vice versa
- Reproduction of biological weapons
- Example: USSR's 'invisible anthrax' Labeling
(introduction of an alien gene into - Not mandatory in some countries
Bacillus anthracis that altered its - Mixing GM crops with non-GM
immunological properties) confounds labeling attempts
Biosafety on GMOs MODULE 10: THE ASPECT OF GENE
September 11, 2003 THERAPY

- “the Cartagena Protocol on Cells

Biosafety (CPB)” has been adopted - are the smallest biological unit of life
by 167 parties to recognize the need found in all organisms
of biosafety in GE research and - “building blocks of life”
development activities - smallest structural and functional
- Main objectives: unit of an organism
a. To set up the procedures for
safe trans-boundary Genes
movement of living modified
- a short section of DNA
organisms
- basic unit of heredity in a living
b. Harmonize principles and
organism
methodology for risk
assessment and establish a Every normal cell has 23 pair of
mechanism for information chromosomes.
sharing through the Biosafety
Clearing House (BCH) Gene Therapy

Research involving GE and GMOs requires - has been in existence for almost half
prior clearance from the nation's relevant of century and is already the
regulatory bodies. standard care in certain procedures
such as bone marrow transplants
Institutional Biosafety Committee (BSC) - has been proven to be effective in
treating diseases such as stroke,
- comprised of experts from many
autism, Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal
pertinent disciplines
cord injury and host of other
- the main regulating body at the level
ailments
of research institutes
- experimental technique that uses
Animal Ethics Committee or Animal genes to treat or prevent disease
Welfare Committee - this technique may allow doctors to
treat a disorder by inserting a gene
 into a patient’s cells instead of using Types of Gene Therapy
drugs or surgery
1. Somatic gene therapy
2013 - transfer of a section of DNA to any
cell of the body that doesn’t produce
- La Union Rep. Eufranio Eriguel has sperm or eggs
introduced House Bill No. 212, - Effects of gene therapy will not be
which would put up a “bioethics passed onto the patient’s children
advisory board” that would establish - Most cells in the body are somatic
“ethical standards” governing the cells
practice of stem cell therapy 2. Germline gene therapy
House Bill No. 212 - transfer of a section of DNA to cells
that produce eggs or sperm. Effects
- Its purpose is to make the country a of gene therapy will be passed onto
haven for open technological the patient’s children and
innovation for stem cell, and will subsequent generations
promote investment and generate
jobs Stem cells

Several Approaches to Gene Therapy - are special type of cells in the body
a. Replacing a mutated gene that that have the ability to differentiate
causes disease with a healthy copy into other cell types (allows them to
of the gene. replace cells that have died)
b. Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a
mutated gene that is functioning 3 sources of autologous adult stem cells:
improperly.
c. Introducing a new gene into the 1. Bone marrow
body to help fight - harvested by aspiration
- is used to treat patient undergoing
Vector chemotherapy
2. Blood
- A carrier that is genetically - collected through leukapheresis (a
engineered to deliver the gene process where blood is drawn from
Certain viruses are often used as vectors the patient, passed through a
because they can deliver the new gene by machine that selects only the stem
infecting the cell. cells and returns all other
components of the blood back to the
Retroviruses patient)
- integrate their genetic material Bone marrow transplant and blood stem
(including the new gene) into a transplantation is used to treat leukemia and
chromosome in the human cell lymphoma.
Adenoviruses
3. Adipose Tissue
- introduce their DNA into the nucleus - have a capacity of self-renewal is
of the cell, but the DNA is not harvested by liposuction
integrated into a chromosome - it is used for clinical trials for the
treatment of diabetes mellitus, liver
The Process of Gene Therapy disease, corneal lesions, articular
- In vivo and cutaneous lesions, among
- Ex Vivo others
Samuel Bernal Ashanti De Silva

- doctor-lawyer - successfully treated for ADA

- an expert in the fields of deficiency in 1990
regenerative medicine and
regulatory law Jesse Gelsinger
- said that stem cell therapy is not a
cure - was the first person publicly
- also stated that its goal is not identified as having died in a clinical
longevity-anti-aging program; stem trial for gene therapy
cell therapy is trying to allow the - suffered from ornithine
body to heal itself transcarbamylase deficiency (an X-
linked genetic disease of the liver,
Among the fundamental principles of the symptoms of which included an
bioethics are respect for life in all its forms, inability to metabolize ammonia – a
and to ensure the maintenance of life. byproduct of protein breakdown

The Bioethics of Gene Therapy He Jiankui

The ethical questions surrounding gene - Chinese biophysics researcher who

therapy includes (Genetics Home reference was an associate professor in the
2017): Department of Biology of the
Southern University of Science and
 How can “good” and “bad” uses of Technology (SUSTech) in
gene therapy be distinguished? Shenzhen, China
 Who decides which traits are normal - claimed that he had created the first
and which constitute a disability or human genetically-edited babies,
disorder? Lulu and Nana (without proof)
 Will the high costs of gene therapy
make it available only to the
wealthy?
 Could the widespread use of gene
therapy make society less accepting
of people who are different?
 Should people be allowed to use
gene therapy to enhance hereditary
traits such as height, intelligence, or
athletic ability?
 Should people be allowed to alter
DNA of unborn babies?
 Whose authority or power to decide
which human traits should be altered
on the next generation?

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

- it was stated here that everyone has

the right to life, but there is the
question of to what extent we can
risk this right on behalf of still
unfinished scientific research