Nanobiotechnology: Carbon nanofibers Presented by Vijay Viswanathan Prasanna Venkatesh

1. Nanobiotechnology: Carbon nanofibersPresented byVijay ViswanathanPrasanna Venkatesh

2. Outline • Introduction • Carbon Nanotubes Types • Carbon Nano Fibers • Equilibrium State • Applications • Bio – Technology Applications • Conclusion

3. Introduction • Carbon Nanotubes • Discovered in 1991 by S. Iijima. • Long thin cylinders of carbon. • Sheets of graphite rolled into a cylinder. • Property depends on diameter, length & chirality.

4. Types • Single walled Nano Tubes • Sheet of carbon atoms rolled into cylinder. • Each carbon has three bonds to nearest neighbors • Diameter just 1 or 2 nm. • Properties still debated.

5. Multi walled Nano Tubes • Concentric tubes of SWNT. • Diameter : 15 ~ 40 nm • Extremely elastic. • Young’s modulus – 1 Terapascal • 5 times elastic than steel.

6. Carbon NanoFibers • Carbon nanofibers are woven from carbon nanotubes • Rolled up sheets of carbon atoms.

7. Equilibrium state • A balance state of an object, so that it remains firm; equipoise; as to preserve the equilibrium of the body • For a CNF to be in equilibrium • Arm chair (  =0) • Zigzag (  =30) • Chiral (  <30) • Carbon Bond length in equilibrium is 1.42 Å

8. Applications • Catalyst support in nanoelectronic devices • Artificial muscles • Energy storage devices • Microelectronics • Rubbers and Tires • Stabilisation against UV Radiation • Electrodes in Rechargeable Batteries • BioTechnology

9. BioTechnology Applications • Orthopedic and Neural Implants • Chips using DNA Templates • Neurotrophic electrode • Rat-ical innovation for remote rescue

10. Cont.. • Artificial eye • Soul Catcher 2025 • Cyber cat

11. Orthopedic and Neural Implants • Nano fibers are compatible with human tissues. • Can create better bone & neural implants. • Compatibility arises from similarity in body tissue and Nano structure. • Nano materials duplicate cell architecture. • Orthopedic Nano implants – Commercially available in 5 – 10 years.

12. Cont… • Establish better electrical connection with the brain than silicon. • Reduces scar tissue formation compared to silicon electrodes. • Neural Nano Implants – Commercially available in 1 – 2 decades.

13. Chips using DNA Templates • Nanofibers are connected to proteins • A segment of DNA is replaced using the concept of RECOMBINATION • DNA is coated with gold on both ends passing electricity through it simulating a transistor

14. Neurotrophic electrode • Carbon Nanofiber in form of a cone • Tissues from body are embedded on the electrode and implanted in the brain allowing the neurons to get attached to the brain cells. • A transmitted signal picked up by receiver on the computer translates into cursor movements commands on the computer

16. Robo-rats • Rat steered by a computer can find buried earthquake victims (or) dispose off bombs • Carbon nanofibers electrodes are implanted to the rats brain • Movements signal transmitted from a computer to rat’s brain.

17. Cont….

18. Artificial eye • An carbon nanofiber Electrode is in the retina of a blind person • The Electrode fires electrical signals directly onto the optic nerves and brain • The image is obtained in the video camera screwed to the eye glasses • As the number of electrodes increases the picture becomes sharper. • Cost $25,000 • Commercially available in 5 – 10 years.

19. Cont….

20. Soul Catcher 2025 • Currently developing a new microchip that will be ready for use by the year 2025 • The microchip’s future-tech design will mean that, when implanted in the skull just behind the eye, it will be able to record a person’s every thought, experience and sensation • Downloading a lifetimes experiences from an older person’s brain and transplanting them into a new-born babies

21. Cyber cat • Computer wired to the nanofiber Electrode implanted cat’s brain. • Recording the electrical activities in the nerve cell in thalamus, researchers were able to record images. • Possible to record what a person sees and play it back on a later date.

23. Conclusion • Nanotechnology is the greatest technological break through in the history of man • Nanotechnology will be the foundation of technology-based firms in ten to fifteen years time • “This technology [nanotechnology] is every bit as explosive as nuclear weapons.” -Brad Sherman, U.S. House of Representative (Democrat - California). • We have got to be thoughtful of the after effects of nano technological researches and move forward in that direction

24. References • http://ipn2.epfl.ch/CHBU/NTapplications9.htm • http://www.nas.nasa.gov/Groups/SciTech/nano/images/images.html • http://www.chem.ufl.edu/~crmartin/index.html • http://www.techmonitor.net/techmon/03nov_dec/bio/bio_invent.htm • http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2003/121703/Body_handles_nanofiber_better_121703.html • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/193946.stm • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/193946.stm • http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/05/0501_020501_roborats.html • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/468857.stm • http://website.lineone.net/~oly/BT.html • http://www.2-sight.com/

25. Questions and/or comments