The Dance of the Molecules: How Nanotechnology Is Changing Our Lives

by Ted Sargent

Book Overview

What if a doctor could stop cancer by targeting a single malignant cell before it multiplied? Imagine a paper-thin "power suit" that could keep you warm on a winter day? What about a computer that connects directly with your thoughts? In this groundbreaking exploration of the future of nanotechnology, Ted Sargent reveals how all disciplines of science, from medicine to microchips, are converging to create materials using the tiniest scale possible...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560258950
• ISBN13: 9781560258957
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent and efficient service

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Neurite cells from DNA scaffolding

"Nanotechnologist have as their goal to design and build matter to order, specified by a functional requirement. Nanotechnology is coordinated movement, a choreographed dance among atoms and molecules to achieve a desired effect." "Labs-on-chips and nanometer probes link the logical and the biological-the computational and the sensational, and the dry and the moist. They open avenues to apply our most powerful human-made engines of analysis to themost intricate, fascinating system ever engineered: the organism." 1. The near future for nanotechnology may see applications, such as, diabetic monitoring of blood sugar levels (bio-pharmacy), filtering cells for dangerous mutation (bio-chip), removing pollutants for the air and water, hardened nanotech polymer bullets, miniscule unmanned drones with aluminum oxide explosives, hydrogen powered muscle suits, digital paint that scan refreshes display scenes from across the world, wireless tracking - recording - and imaging devices the size of dust, DNA grown circuits and nanowires, DNA computing devices, protein inspired materials with increased tensile strength, blends of nano composites and organic scaffolding. 2. In 2005, $30 billion was invested in health research 3. Nanotechnology holds the promise of being able to detect cancer in the early stages when cell count ranges between 10-100 cells rather than 1 billion cell colonies. Shming Nie invented a light emitting beacon; the beacon has selective molecules that work like velco, sticking to the cancer cell; the 5 nanometer Quantum Dot emits a orange-red hue; the beacon is composed of a cancer recognizing polymer and protect against the toxicity of the cadmium selenide. DNA scaffolding extended the duration of light emissions by the beacons. 4. Millions of lab experiments and tests inside the person are done by biochips. 5. Bob Langer work focused on drug delivery in a consistent concentration release level. Drug decay prevention improved effectiveness by trapping the drug in wafers made of polymers, the sponge-like polymers controlled the escape speed of the drug. Langer improved delivery by taking the drug directly to the cell by using 100 nm, Liposomes filled with different drugs; the Liposomes were decoreated with molecules that bind to specific markers on the cancerous cells, the membrane fuses with the cell, and the drug is released into the cell. Liposomes have been used to treat, Kaposi Sarcoma. 6. Pharmacy on a chip is a programmed implant that can release drugs. The pharmacy chip is connected to a group of gold reservoirs containing 1 billionth of a liter of the drug and the thin gold containment membrane dissolves when under electric charge. 7. Russel Giodano discovered 3D structures like apartments for cells; George Whiteside discovered patterns on the apartment that allowed cells to live or die. Sam Stupp's work on neuron lead him to build a regenerative DNA scaffold, self-organized molecules forming a long rod with the ends

Top-notch!

The Dance of Molecules is a great book and extremely interesting. Prof. Sargent's writing is very impressive, with wonderful prose and excellent examples. He has a great talent at telling an engaging and relevant story. Technically, the insights are exceedingly broad AND deep, and yet are very accessible to the lay-person.

An inviting introduction for non-scientist readers

Nanotechnology is talked about quite a bit and is reaching ever more into the daily news; but if you'd really understand its basics, don't miss the most readable THE DANCE OF MOLECULES: HOW NANOTECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING OUR LIVES. Author Ted Sargent is a visiting professor of nanotechnology but you'll be surprised to find his exploration is quite readable, discussing the latest potentials of nonotechnology experiments and research and equating this research to all disciplines of science. Both positives and perils are surveyed with easy examples and just enough in-depth discussion to make it useful for college supplementing reading.

Explore the fascinating world of nanotechnology

Dance of the Molecules is an engaging and informative look at some of the more recent advances in nanotechnology and its real-world applications. The book is divided into three approximately equal sections: medicine, the environment, and communications. In the first section, Sargent examines the use of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For example, scientists have been able to create microscopic beacons which attach themselves specifically to cancer cells, enabling earlier detection of certain kinds of cancer. Similarly, researchers have discovered ways to create a synthetic scaffolding around which tissue cells and eventually organs can grow. At some point in the near future, they may be able to put entire diagnostic and pharmaceutical labs on microchips that, when implanted in humans, could not only diagnose a problem but could also automatically concoct and dispense a drug that targets that specific problem. The section on the environment explores the use of nanotechnology in power generation (specifically solar and hydrogen power) and biohazard detection. Nanotechnology is already being used in petroleum refineries, and may someday play a key role in cleaning up toxic and nuclear waste. Similarly (and perhaps not surprisingly) the U.S. military is investing heavily in nanotechnology whereby soldiers may one day wear suits that can automatically neutralize whatever biological and chemical weapons might be deployed against them. The section on communication includes, among other things, a discussion of electronic sensory prostheses (e.g. artificial retinas that may someday enable blind people to see) and computing; specifically on ways of using improving transmission speed and efficiency using photons instead of electrons-think fiber optics applied to all of computing. In many ways, the book is well-written. Sargent has taken a complex and technical literature and has made its insights available to most non-specialists. It is neither overly simplified nor prohibitively detailed. However, as one reviewer notes, at times he does try a bit too hard to be witty or amusing. For example, in describing synthetic scaffolds used to grow new tissue, he writes, "Since our organs vary widely...the scaffolds that tissue engineers create to promote growth of replacement organs also vary tremendously. These scaffolds do, however, share a common purpose: creating appealing spaces for cells to inhabit. Nice big lofts with high ceilings and attractive furnishings, yet comfy and cozy at the same time. Roomy without causing agoraphobia. They create a welcoming environment tailored to the cells of interest: chintz and a cat for pancreatic cells, glass and brushed steel for liver cells." (65) Done occasionally, this can be amusing. Done every few pages or so, it gets tedious. Finally, I appreciate Sargent's occasional glances at the importance of viewing nanotechnology in its larger (e.g., ethical and social) context