Nanotechnology is a relatively recent term introduced to
describe the production and handling of extremely small particles –
1,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, and
approaching molecular size.
High magnification microscopy
It is
already finding application in such diverse areas as novel foods,
‘smart’ clothing, solar power, prevention of congenital disease,
implants (retinal, cochlear and neural), artificial bone, tissue
and organs, personal health diagnostics, microsatellites, security
and crime detection, personalised drugs, ‘smart’ paints, pigments
and coatings, games and entertainment, to name but some.
It will be seen that several of the foregoing list relate to
healthcare in one form or another. GRC Mott MacDonald has already
become involved in this field, helping to develop a facility in
Spain for using nanotechnology to produce active materials for new
medical uses such as imaging, vaccines and cancer treatment.
Nanotechnology techniques involve either particle size reduction –
‘top down’, or particle construction at a molecular level – ‘bottom
up’. GRC’s client is using the latter approach to build
self‑assembling gold-glyco-nanoparticles with a diameter of between
0.8nm and 3.0nm.
The work we have carried out on this project is typical of what is
required by nanotechnology processes in the healthcare industries
and we are able to assist clients in developing their production
facilities to take their product to market.
