EMERGING BRANCHES IN SCIENCE: NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS

Introduction to nanotechnology and bioinformatics;scope and applications

1. EMERGING BRANCHES OF SCIENCE Nanotechnology $ Bioinformatics

2. NANOTECHNOLOGY NANO is a Greek word meaning EXTREMELY SMALL Nanotechnology deals with sizes from 1-100 nm range 1 nanometre (nm) = 10 -9  m

3. Definition Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. It generally refers to the science, engineering and technology conducted at the nano dimension from 1 to 100 nanometres to develop materials or structures. Richard Feynman - Father of Nanotechnology

4. History of Nanotechnology

5. The physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials can differ significantly from those of the atomic-molecular or the bulk materials of the same composition. Two principal factors cause the properties of nano materials to differ significantly from other materials. (1) Increased relative surface area (2)Quantum confinement effect. These factors can charge or enhance properties such as reactivity, strength and electrical characteristics. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

6. APPROACHES IN NANOTECHNOLOGY Top-Down approach - breaks down large materials into smaller ones using methods like mechanical grinding or etching Bottom-Up approach - builds nanostructures from individual atoms or molecules via self-assembly or chemical synthesis CHARACTERISATION TECHNIQUES SEM, TEM, AFM, STM Spectroscopy [UV-Visible, FT IR, Raman, etc]

7. APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 1. Medicine & Healthcare Targeted drug delivery → nanoparticles deliver medicine directly to diseased cells (e.g., cancer treatment). Nano-sensors → detect diseases at an early stage. Tissue engineering → nano-materials used to make artificial organs and implants. Nano-robots (in future) → could perform surgeries at the cellular level. 2. Electronics & IT Nano-transistors → make computers faster and smaller. High-density memory storage → tiny chips store huge amounts of data. Flexible electronic displays → thinner, lighter, and foldable screens. 3. Energy Solar cells → nanomaterials improve efficiency of sunlight capture. Batteries → longer life, faster charging using nano-anodes/cathodes. Fuel cells & supercapacitors → better energy storage and clean energy production.

8. 4. Environment Water purification → nanofilters remove impurities, bacteria, and even heavy metals. Pollution control → nanocatalysts break down harmful gases. Waste treatment → nanoparticles used for cleaning oil spills and chemical wastes. 5. Textiles & Consumer Products Stain-resistant fabrics → clothes that don’t get dirty easily. Scratch-proof coatings for glasses, mobiles, and cars. Cosmetics & sunscreens → nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide block UV rays without leaving white patches. 6. Defence & Security Lightweight Armor made with carbon nanotubes. Nano-sensors to detect explosives or chemical weapons. Stealth materials to avoid radar detection.

9. BIOINFORMATICS Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field of science that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, especially when the data sets are large and complex. Considers as the field of data science for solving problems in biology and medicine.

10. Frederick Sanger discovered insulin sequence at early 1950s, computer become indispensable in Molecular biology. The term BIOINFORMATICS was first coined by Paulien Hogeweg and Ben Hesper in1970 and defined as the study of informatic processes in biotic system. Explosive growth started in the mid-1990s, driven largely by Human Genome Project. HISTORY OF BIOINFORMATICS Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Known as the father and mother of Bioinformatics

11. COMPROTEIN , the first bioinformatics software SOFTWARE AND TOOLS IN BIOINFORMATICS Databases → Store biological data (GenBank, PDB, UniProt, KEGG). Software/Tools → Analyze data (BLAST, ClustalW , PyMOL , MEGA, AutoDock ). Together, they allow researchers to compare, visualize, and predict biological functions.

12. COMPONENTS OF BIOINFORMATICS Creation of databases involves the organizing, storage and management of the biological data sets. Development of algorithms and statistics comparisons of protein sequence data with the already existing protein sequences Analysis of data interpretation includes RNA, DNA and protein sequences, protein structure, gene expression pro and biochemical pathways .

13. APPLICATIONS OF BIOINFORMATICS Phylogenetics – evolutionary tree constructing by analysing genetic and protein sequences, identifying evolutionary relationships and classifying species Personalised medicine – for more precise healthcare Gene therapy – tools support the complex data management needed for replacing defective genes with functional ones Evolutionary studies Bio-weapon creation Analysis of mutations that cause cancer Analysis of gene expression Forensic science – DNA sequencing and analysis to aid in criminal investigations

14. Thank You Jyotsna Pappachan Physical Science 2025-27