Recent Patents on Nanotechnology

ISSN: 1872-2105

Recent Patents on Nanotechnology
Volume 2, Number 2, June 2008

Contents


Recent Patents in Bionanotechnologies: Nanolithography, Bionanocomposites, Cell-Based Computing and Entropy Production Pp. 72-83
Bradley Layton
[Abstract]


Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructured Titanate Materials by the Hydrothermal Treatment Method Pp. 84-102
Ruey-an Doong and I-ling Kao
[Abstract]


Synthetic Techniques and Applications of Activated Nanostructurized Metals: Highlights up to 2008 Pp. 103-119
Oxana V. Kharissova and Boris I. Kharisov
[Abstract]


The Use of Nanoporous Adsorbents in Filtering Media for Improving Indoor Air Quality Pp. 120-127
Moisés L. Pinto
[Abstract]


Porous Silicon: A Resourceful Material for Nanotechnolog Pp. 128-136
Chirayath A. Betty
[Abstract]


Pharmaceuticals and Cosmeceuticals Based on Soft Nanotechnology Techniques with Antioxidative, Immunostimulative and other Therapeutic Activities Pp. 137-145
Aurelia Meghea
[Abstract]


Patent Selections Pp. 146-149




Abstracts


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Recent Patents in Bionanotechnologies: Nanolithography, Bionanocomposites, Cell-Based Computing and Entropy Production
Bradley Layton

This article reviews recent disclosures of bio-inspired, bio-mimicked and bionanotechnologies. Among the patents discussed is a nanoscale porous structure for use in nanocomposites and nanoscale processing. Patents disclosing methods for printing biological materials using nanolithography techniques such as dip-pen technology are discussed, as are patents for optimizing drug design. The relevance of these technologies to disease prevention, disease treatment and disease resistance is discussed. The paper closes with a review of cell-based computing and a brief examination of how information technology has enabled the development of these technologies. Finally, a forecast of the how these technologies are likely to accelerate global entropization is discussed as well as a new classification of machine types.


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Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructured Titanate Materials by the Hydrothermal Treatment Method
Ruey-an Doong and I-ling Kao

The synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional (1-D) tubular and fibrous nanostructured materials have recently received highly attention. Various morphologies of 1-D nanostructured titanate materials including nanosheets, nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoribbons have recently been successfully synthesized using the alkaline hydrothermal method. In spite of the controversy of the chemical structures and formation mechanisms, titanate nanostructures have attracted much attention on applications of dye-sensitized solar cell, hydrogen sensing, lithium storage and photocatalysis because of their unique features of high specific surface area, ion-exchange capacity and aspect ratio, and unique optical and electrochemical properties. The morphology and microstructure of titanate nanostructures are highly dependent on the preparation conditions. In this review, we highlight the synthesis of TiO₂ -derived nanomaterials under various hydrothermal conditions. The patents for fabrication of various morphologies of nanostructures are also introduced. Effects of preparation parameters including hydrothermal temperature, duration, alkaline concentration, starting materials, and post-treatment on the morphology and microstructure of titanate nanomaterials are reviewered. In addition, the microwave-assisted method for fabrication of 1-D titanate nanostructures is discussed and compared. The applications of titanate nanomaterials in photocatalysis, ion-exchange, and lithium storages are also introduced.


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Synthetic Techniques and Applications of Activated Nanostructurized Metals: Highlights up to 2008
Oxana V. Kharissova and Boris I. Kharisov

Main methods for current production of metallic nanoparticles in different forms are reviewed. Metal nanoparticles are generally synthesized in form of nanopowders, nanowires, nanoclusters, nanorods, nanobelts, and nanofilms. Bi- and trimetallic clusters and alloys are also of an interest. Examined techniques for obtaining metal nanoparticles include chemical vapor and electrochemical deposition, use of γ-, X-ray, laser and UV-irradiation, ultrasonic and microwave treatment, electron- and ion-beams, arc discharge, decomposition and reduction of metal salts and complexes, and biosynthesis. A special attention is paid to Rieke and supported metals.


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The Use of Nanoporous Adsorbents in Filtering Media for Improving Indoor Air Quality
Moisés L. Pinto

Methods for the production and application of filtering media with nanoporous adsorbents are revised. These materials find application in the purification of air, mainly in air conditioning and ventilation systems, to improve indoor air quality. The main recent developments in this area have been directed to reduce pressure drop, increase adsorption efficiency and improve production methods. Current trends in supporting methods are based in the application of adsorbent layers on adequate porous matrices, using binders or adhesives to immobilise nanoporous materials on the surface of support matrices. Catalytic filters, including photocatalytic and plasma systems, presented recent and important developments. These systems combine the presence of catalysts and nanoporous adsorbents to destroy pollutants by catalytic oxidation. Besides indoor air quality improvement, it is expected that applications of filtering media with nanoporous material will be extended to other important fields of air purification and a brief discussion on this topic is also presented.


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Porous Silicon: A Resourceful Material for Nanotechnolog
Chirayath A. Betty

Nanostructured materials possess better tunability of their properties by varying their crystallite size compared to their bulk counterparts. These properties have opened up new avenues for fabricating highly sensitive, miniaturized and cost effective devices. Some of the drawbacks of these materials can be overcome by band gap engineering and/or making composites or core shell structures. Porous silicon obtained by electrochemical etching of polished silicon is a versatile material for nanotechnology applications due to its tunable pore size, porosity, thermal and mechanical properties, optical and electrical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and most importantly, compatibility with microelectronics. This article gives an overall view of the various applications of porous silicon in nanotechnology.


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Pharmaceuticals and Cosmeceuticals Based on Soft Nanotechnology Techniques with Antioxidative, Immunostimulative and other Therapeutic Activities
Aurelia Meghea

A number of 46 out of a total of more than 200 recent patents in soft nanotechnology referring to applications of nanoemulsions for pharmaceutical and cosmetical formulations has been selected and reviewed. As key factors to maximize the efficiency of bioactive principles embedded within colloidal drug delivery systems are the nature and ratio of hydrophilic/lipophilic components, of surfactants/cosurfactants as emulsifiers, their mutual solubility and biocompatibility, the size and polydispersity of nanoparticles. The antioxidant and immunostimulative actions are discussed in relation to the specific therapeutic effects of galenical compositions used for preventing and/or treating various diseases.