By Carmen R. Watkins, Faculty
Chemeketa Community College

For years now, much excitement has surrounded the realm of science called nanotechnology. Predicted to be the next “big wave” of the future, the commercial sector has held its breath for feasible applications of nanotechnology to make the same grand entrance as the integrated circuit did back in the 70’s.

As R&D related to nanotechnology trickles in, however, much of the business community has had to wait patiently for marketable on-the-shelf products and processes developed from these discoveries. Although few as profound as the nanobots seen in science fiction movies (tiny robots that brush your teeth or repair blood vessels), nanotechnology-related products are becoming more prolific, and more profitable, every day.

“Nanotechnology” is a blanket term used to describe devices, structures, and materials whose features are on the scale of a nanometer (one-billionth of a meter), and whose practical functions are enhanced due to such small size. To grasp how small of a scale we’re describing, visualize a hydrogen atom (measuring approximately one nanometer across), or a human hair (averaging 60,000 nanometers in diameter). Applications of nanotechnology span multiple areas, including medicine, biotechnology, electronics, computing and manufacturing.

The U.S. alone invested roughly $3.3 billion in 2004 towards nanotechnology R&D 1, from a combined $8.6 billion worldwide. Through funding mechanisms such as the government’s Small Business Innovation Research grants, and technology transfer efforts of universities and laboratories, much of this technology has been pushed through the doors of R&D institutes to finally arrive in the land of commerce.

The presence of nanotechnology-enabled or enhanced products has steadily grown the last several years, appearing in often-unexpected markets. For example, Nano-Tex, based in California, astounded the textile industry in 2001 with enhanced fabrics treated with engineered coatings that resist stains, wrinkling and static. Such coatings contain particles that are so small that they block the absorption of fluids into the material, while still allowing wearer comfort.

One recent development in the electronics industry, the OLED display, is based on nanotechnology. OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes), constructed from organic polymers that emit light when a charge is applied, can be used in lieu of LCD screens on computers, camera displays and other electronic equipment. The small size (the OLED array itself can measure as thin as 300 nanometers), low power consumption and good resolution are advantages that both Kodak and Philips are perfecting for use in their products. 2,3

In the pharmaceutical and related industries, nanometer-sized structures are being used as receptacles for carriage and release of chemicals. As early as 1998, L’Oreal has used a process in some skin creams to contain compounds such as vitamin A within tiny polymer capsules called “nanosomes”. Over time, the capsules dissolve, releasing the chemical into the skin. Similar technology is now utilized in cosmetics and sunscreens 4. In medicine, structures referred to as dendrimers (tiny chains of polymers) are being explored similarly for distribution of drugs.

Nanotechnology can enhance the functionality of plastics, metals and composites. By incorporating nanometer-sized particles, tubes and wires into materials, higher strength, melting temperature and resistance to the environment may be achieved. Such augmented materials are being used to create high-performance sports equipment such as golf clubs 5 and bicycle components 6.

Largely through military R&D, nanotechnology is one of the latest tools applied to decrease sensor size and cost. Smaller and more efficient sensors and “labs-on a chip” detect substances used in bio or chemical warfare, chemicals and proteins within the human body, and for sampling water quality. Contained on one chip, a series of tiny channels may be used to convey fluids into miniscule chambers, where chemical reactions quickly indicate the contents of the sample.

Some of this technology is being developed locally, through ONAMI (Oregon Nanotechnology and Microtechnologies Institute), a partnership founded between Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Pacific Northwest National Labs. Located at Hewlett Packard’s Corvallis campus, a focus of the institute is not only to allow for the R&D of nanotechnology applications, but also to facilitate technology transfer and commercialization of related products.

What does this all mean to Oregon, and more specifically to businesses in the Mid-Willamette Valley? Opportunities may exist at multiple points along the value chain for nanotechnology-enabled products. Product packaging, assembly and distribution, manufacture of metrology equipment (e.g. scanning electron and atomic force microscopes, both used for inspection of nanometer-size objects) and the slightly riskier entrepreneurial potential from new products are starting to become available.

For further information, contact
Carmen Watkins at 503-399-5072

1 Matthew M. Nordan, Lux Research Inc. “Nanotechnology: Where Does the U.S. Stand? Testimony before the Research Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science”

June 29, 2005

2 Peter Smith “OLED Displays: Better Than Plasma or LCD” Silicon Chip Online August 1 2003 #179 <http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_30650/article.html>

3 Var. of Press Releases, Royal Philips Electronics <http://www.newscenter.philips.com/about/news/>

4 Forbes/Wolfe Inc. “2003 Nanotech Product Guide” Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report July 2003 v2 #7

5 Josh Wolfe “Top 10 Nanotech Products” Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report (Online), Jan. 2005 <http://forbes.com>

6 Easton Sports Online <http://www.eastonbike.com/>