Week 8: Nanotechnology + Art

In this week’s lecture, we talked about the edge-breaking technology - nanotechnology, its influence over society, and its wild applications.

Picture 1: 9 Camels (Wigan)

Nanotechnology, manipulating matter on an atomic scale, has fascinating implications for art. Richard Feynman, in his 1959 Caltech lecture, highlighted the potential at this level. He later on created a 25,000-page encyclopedia inscribed on a pinhead. The 1980s marked the rise of nanotechnology. Eric Drexler proposed precise atomic assembly, and the 1985 discovery of buckminsterfullerene (C60) revealed carbon's third allotrope. This led to nanotubes and the Nobel Prize-winning work on graphene.

Picture 2: Buckminsterfullerene (Kon)

Nanotechnology's artistic lineage traces back centuries. The Lycurgus Cup (circa 400 AD) changes color due to nanosized gold particles. Renaissance pottery from Deruta used nanoparticle glazes, and stained glass windows showcased vibrant hues through similar techniques. Today, nanotechnology is also revolutionary as it innovates the way artists create artworks. For example, in sculpture art, ZnO nanoparticles are now used as a more flexible material with a higher refractive index for laser engraving (Guo et al. 2). 

Picture 3: “The Lycurgus Cup”

Nanomedicine blends art and science. Abraxane, an anticancer drug developed in 2005, uses nanoparticles to enhance solubility and reduce toxicity. An art exhibition spurred a collaboration between art and nanomaterials that finally resulted in a new kind of sensor for cancer (Wilson 104). People have also discovered nanosilver particles could be incorporated into textiles to make them antiviral. As we delve deeper into nanoparticles, scientists incorporated other materials like photonic crystals and plasmonics and developed antiviral and antibacterial textiles that contributed to fighting against COVID-19 during the pandemic (Idumah 2056). 


Surprisingly, before scientists brought up the theoretical concept of the nanoworld, our mother nature provided nanoscale examples. The Blue Morpho butterfly's wings, whose blue color is not a natural pigment, derive their color from nano-structures that manipulate light. Moreover, the nanostructure on lotus allows for the self-cleaning effect and inspires scientists to apply a similar structure on self-cleaning window glasses, paints, fabrics, and low-friction surfaces (Cheng et al.).


One of the applications of nanotechnology in our real life that triggers arguments is the application on foods. The invention of nano-food packaging is more available and is able to add more functions to the food packaging. However, consumers still have concerns about the health risks of the toxicity of nanomaterials and the potential problems of having the nanoparticles remain in human bodies (Bumbudsanpharoke et al.). 


Works Cited:


British Museum. "The Lycurgus Cup". British Museum. Accessed May 24, 2024. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1202-1


Bumbudsanpharoke, Nattinee, and Seonghyuk Ko. “Nano-Food Packaging: An Overview of Market, Migration Research, and Safety Regulations.” Journal of Food Science, vol. 80, no. 5, 2015, pp. R910–23, https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.12861.


Cheng, Y. T., et al. “Effects of Micro- and Nano-Structures on the Self-Cleaning Behaviour of Lotus Leaves.” Nanotechnology, vol. 17, no. 5, 2006, pp. 1359–62, https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/17/5/032.


Guo, Zhilei, et al. “Preparation of High-Refractive-Index Flexible Nanoparticle Laser Engraving Materials and Micro-Nano Sculpture Art.” Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 2022, 2022, pp. 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9986466.


Idumah, Christopher Igwe. “Influence of Nanotechnology in Polymeric Textiles, Applications, and Fight against COVID-19.” Journal of the Textile Institute, vol. 112, no. 12, 2021, pp. 2056–76, https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2020.1858600.


Kon, Kateryna. “Buckminsterfullerene.” AZO Nano. Feb 25, 2019. https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5158


Wigan, Willard. “9 Camels.” Wall Street Journal. Sept 29, 2009. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125426390242150655


Wilson, Lori A. “An Art/Science Collaboration Benefits Nanotechnology, Medicine, and Art.” MRS Bulletin, vol. 46, no. 2, 2021, pp. 104–06, https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-021-00033-3.

Comments

  1. Phoenix CallJune 2, 2024 at 10:57 PM

    Your blog was super informative, organized and easy to read. Loved your images!

    ReplyDelete

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