products using Nanotechnology
joni | 12.07.2006 08:09 | Technology | Nottinghamshire | World L'Oreal and Boots use nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics, the Gap and Next are putting nanoparticles in clothes to make them stain and wrinkle resistant, Smith and Nephew are putting them in bandages while chemical company BASF are putting nanoparticles in food additives into drinks. Meanwhile Unilever and Nestle are working on nanoparticle ice cream. Unfortunately products that contain nanomaterials do not have to be labeled Hi, Which products use nanotech? Nanotech particles are already being used quietly in a wide range of consumer products. L'Oreal and Boots use nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics, the Gap and Next are putting nanoparticles in clothes to make them stain and wrinkle resistant, Smith and Nephew are putting them in bandages while chemical company BASF are putting nanoparticles in food additives into drinks. Meanwhile Unilever and Nestle are working on nanoparticle ice cream. Unfortunately products that contain nanomaterials do not have to be labeled and the nanomaterials are far too small for the consumer to detect. The companies who are developing nanotech hope to incorporate nanotechnology across all consumer products in the next ten years Nanotechnology is a new set of technologies and safety studies have only just begun. However there are already a lot of warning signs that nanoparticles in particular are more toxic than larger particles and show the same health problems as particles that come out of car exhausts. For example: *Metal oxide nanoparticles (such as Zinc oxide) used in sunscreens have been show to produce toxic effects in skin cells and studies are now ongoing to see how deeply they can penetrate the skin. * A class of nanoparticles known as fullerenes have been shown to cause toxic effects in the lungs of mice, brain damage in fish and kill soil bacteria. * The Royal Society (the leading organisation of scientists in the UK) has warned that new nanomaterials should be tested as new materials, that environmental uses of nanoparticles should be prohibited and that any nanoparticles escaping from factories should be treated as hazardous. The Royal Society also recommended that any products containing nanomaterials be labeled for consumers. * In April 2006 a nano cleaning product called 'magic nano' was recalled in Germany after 76 people were admitted to hospital with breathing problems. It’s not clear what caused this but the German Authorities suspect that the nanoparticles in the product may be to blame. What can you do about it? Tell DEFRA that their voluntary scheme is unacceptable – tell them that they should act in a precautionary way and heed the warnings on nanotech. Tell them that their voluntary scheme onot good enough, that they should stop giving a green light to
nanotech. We need a moratorium on nanotech now! http://biotech.indymedia.org/or/2006/05/5103.shtml http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2159 http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/ng.asp?n=61511-the-evidence-on
Maker of Advanced Skin Care Products Cite Nanotechnology As Key to Success
Nov 04, 2005 By: Jennifer Rocha: NWN Interview Brief with Paul C. Ferron of Beyond Skin Science Eternalis Anti Aging Regimen Beyond Skin Science’s product line Eternalis was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show as being the preferred choice for healthy skin care. The company’s skin care products use NanoChem, a proprietary technology which delivers active ingredients that penetrate the skin deeper with small particle size ingredients into nano-emulsions. Paul C. Ferron, President of Beyond Skin Science, tells NWN, “Beyond Skin Science was created by veterans of the beauty industry….So many exciting advances have been made in terms of active ingredients and non-invasive, anti-aging treatments, but often the way these products were formulated and manufactured decreased their potential effectiveness. Beyond Skin Science understood that science was the way to take these advancements one step further. In particular, we believed that nanotechnology would provide the method for delivering active ingredients into the skin. We knew, from our knowledge of skincare, that smaller molecules would be more effective in delivering potent ingredients to where the skin needed them the most.” Nanotechnology has allowed the company to create a line of skin care products that can be rapidly absorbed into skin versus only being a topical agent. “By leveraging the breakthroughs of nanotechnology, our products have entered into the next generation of skincare,” notes Mr. Ferron to NWN. Using FDA approved ingredients, Beyond Skin Science has spent more than seven years developing its nanotechnology-based skin-care line.
Current Consumer Products Using Nanotechnology Including Sunglasses, Textiles, Sensors, Sports Equipment and Sunscreens Topics Covered Background Sunglasses Produced Using Nanotechnology Nanotechnology in Textiles Sensors To Monitor Body Functions Wrinkle Resistant Nanotechnology Fabrics Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment Nanotechnology Involvement In Sunscreens
Background
Already nanotechnology is being used to improve the functionability of many consumer products. Nanotechnology improved products rely on a change in the physical properties when the feature sizes are shrunk.
Sunglasses Produced Using Nanotechnology
The first sunglasses using protective and antireflective ultra thin polymer coatings are on the market. For optics, nanotechnology also offers scratch resistant coatings based on nano-composites. These coatings are transparent (hence optical performance is not affected) ultra-thin, simple care, well-suited for daily use and the price is reasonable for the durability.
Nanotechnology in Textiles
One trend in the textile industry is that more and more clothes are manufactured in low-cost countries. High-cost countries like western Europe can only compete in this industry if they produce high-tech clothes with additional benefits for users. This includes windproof and waterproof jackets, where nanotechnology already plays a role. For the future, clothes with additional electronic functionalities are discussed by the buzzwords “smart clothes”,”wearable electronics”, etc.
Sensors To Monitor Body Functions
Modern technology, including nanotechnology, could provide features like sensors (which could monitor body functions or release drugs in the required amounts), selfrepairing mechanisms or access to the internet. Simpler realisations are readily available, which make clothes water-repellent or wrinkle-free. A ski jacket based on nanotechnology is produced by Franz Ziener GmbH&Co. The windproof and waterproof properties are not obtained by a surface coating of the jacket but by the use of nanofibres.
Wrinkle Resistant Nanotechnology Fabrics
The company Nano-Tex produce wrinkle-resistant and stain-repellent fabrics by attaching molecular structures to cotton fibres. Textiles with a nanotechnological finish can be washed less frequently and at lower temperatures. High-performance functional clothing is an increasingly important feature of the workplace. For example Gore-Tex has developed an antistatic, weather-protective, outerwear fabric. Nanotechnology has been used to integrate tiny carbon particles membrane and guarantee full-surface protection from electrostatic charges for the wearer.
Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment
A high-performance ski wax, which produces a hard and fast-gliding surface, is already in use. The ultra thin coating lasts much longer than conventional waxing
systems. The French tennis racket manufacturer Babolat introduced a racket with carbon nanotubes, which lead to an increased torsion and flex resistance. The rackets are more rigid than current carbon rackets and pack more power. Long-lasting tennisballs are made by coating the inner core with clay polymer nanocomposites. These tennis-balls, made by the company InMat have twice the lifetime of conventional balls.
Nanotechnology Involvement In Sunscreens
One field of application is in sunscreens. The traditional chemical UV protection approach suffers from its poor long-term stability. A sunscreen based on mineral nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide offer several advantages. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have a comparable UV protection property as the bulk material, but lose the cosmetically undesirable whitening as the particle size is decreased. L´Oréal offers an anti wrinkle cream, where a polymer capsule (NanosomesTM) is used to transport active agents like vitamins and a hair conditioner “Aqua-Oleum” where nanotechnology leads to improved care power.
Applications/Products
While nanotechnology is in the “pre-competitive” stage (meaning its applied use is limited), nanoparticles are being used in a number of industries. Nanoscale materials are used in electronic, magnetic and optoelectronic, biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, energy, catalytic and materials applications. Areas producing the greatest revenue for nanoparticles reportedly are chemicalmechanical polishing, magnetic recording tapes, sunscreens, automotive catalyst supports, biolabeling, electroconductive coatings and optical fibers. Today most computer hard drives contain giant magnetoresistance (GMR) heads that, through nano-thin layers of magnetic materials, allow for an order of magnitude increase in storage capacity. Other electronic applications include non-volatile magnetic memory, automotive sensors, landmine detectors and solid-state compasses.
Nanomaterials, which can be purchased in dry powder form or in liquid dispersions, often are combined with other materials today to improve product functionality. Additional products, available today, that benefit from the unique properties of nanoscale materials, include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • Step assists on vans Bumpers on cars Paints and coatings to protect against corrosion, scratches and radiation Protective and glare-reducing coatings for eyeglasses and cars Metal-cutting tools Sunscreens and cosmetics Longer-lasting tennis balls Light-weight, stronger tennis racquets Stain-free clothing and mattresses Dental-bonding agent Burn and wound dressings Ink Automobile catalytic converters.
Public Awareness of Nanotechnology Grows, but Majority Unaware Poll Reveals Education & Government Oversight Key to Unlocking Nanotech Potential Embargoed 12:01 am, September 19, 2006 WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Research findings released today from the first major national poll on nanotechnology in more than two years indicate that while more Americans are now aware of the emerging science, the majority of the public still has heard little to nothing about it. The poll also finds that the public looks to the federal government and independent parties to oversee nanotechnology research and development. These results, according to experts, necessitate increased education and stronger oversight as a means to increase public confidence in nanotechnology. The poll, a telephone survey of 1,014 U.S. adults, was commissioned by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and conducted by independent research firm Peter D. Hart Research Associates in August 2006. Findings reveal that one in 10 Americans have heard a lot about
nanotechnology and 20% say they have heard some -- nearly double the number of Americans aware of the technology in 2004. But, 42% of Americans have no awareness of it at all. Older Americans and women, the groups most likely to use consumer products containing nanotechnology materials such as skin-care products and cosmetics, are the least informed about nanotechnology. Importantly, those individuals with an awareness of nanotechnology are more likely to believe the benefits of this emerging technology outweigh the potential risks -- supporting experts' assertions that open discourse and information about nanotechnology is crucial in establishing positive sentiment among the American public. "Nanotechnology is increasingly being incorporated into Americans' daily lives, from the sunscreens that they wear to the golf clubs they swing and the computers they operate. With this increased use, specifically in those products that are ingested or used topically on the skin, it is essential that the public be aware of what nanotechnology is and the benefits and potential risks it presents," said David Rejeski, director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. "Our purpose in conducting this poll is rooted in the very heart of the Project's mission: to spark discussion about nanotechnology's promise and about potential health and environmental risks. The findings indicate the time is ripe for government and industry to do more to educate and engage Americans about nanotechnology's tremendous potential and to conduct strategic research into possible risks." Findings from the survey also indicate that majorities of Americans feel that the federal government (55%), universities and independent researchers (54%) have a role in overseeing scientific and technological advancements such as nanotechnology rather than relying on selfregulation by private companies and industry, especially for non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) cosmetics and skin care products. In fact, only 12% of consumers believe the companies that manufacture these products should be exclusively responsible for regulating their safety. Other findings from the Public Poll on Nano Awareness and Trust include:
* Men aged 18 to 49, adults with at least a college education, and adults with higher incomes are more likely to have heard about nanotechnology. * Fifty-nine percent of adults age 65 and over have not heard about nanotechnology. * More than one third (35%) of the public believes that the risks will outweigh benefits, 15% think the benefits will outweigh risks and 7% say that the risks and benefits will be about equal. Forty-three percent are not sure. * More than half (52%) of women are not sure about the benefit/risks trade-off, compared with 34% of men. Fifty-eight percent of older women (age 50 and above) are not clear about the trade-off. * Americans who have heard a lot about nanotechnology and men aged 18 to 49 are most likely to believe that the benefits of nano outweigh the risks. Almost half (46%) of those who have heard a lot, and 25% of men aged 18 to 19 think benefits will outweigh risks. * Political party affiliation is not a factor affecting opinions on oversight responsibility. The poll results come just prior to the Food and Drug Administration's first major public meeting on FDA-regulated products containing nanotechnology materials on October 10. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science will hold a hearing on September 21 on "Research on Environmental and Safety Impacts of Nanotechnology: What are the Federal Agencies Doing?" Dr. Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies will testify. The Project will formally release the findings from the Hart Research survey at a briefing September 19 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. EDT at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 5th floor conference room.
The briefing will be webcast live at http://www.wilsoncenter.org. For a copy of the report in its entirety, log on to http://www.nanotechproject.org. About Nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, manipulate and manufacture things usually between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter; a human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers wide. More than $32 billion in products containing nano-materials were sold globally last year. By 2014, Lux Research projects that $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology. The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative launched by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2005. It is dedicated to helping business, government and the public anticipate and manage possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology. For more information about the project, log on to http://www.nanotechproject.org. Jenny Zawila Phone: (202) 336-7962 jenny.zawila@edelman.com
Nanotechnology for Consumer Products
Research Report # GB319 Publication Date: June 2005 Principal Analyst: Andrew McWilliams , BCC
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Report Highlights:
The value of the nanotechnology inputs used to produce consumer products worldwide is estimated at $6.7 billion in 2005, and projected to reach $10.5 billion in 2010, at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 9.1%.
The total market for end products that rely on nanotechnologies for their production, functioning and/or distribution was worth more than $800 billion in 2004 and is expected to reach $958 billion in 2010. Nanoparticles (chiefly used in the production of automobile catalytic converters and tires) account for more than 90% of inputs. By 2010, nanostructured materials are projected to increase their share of the total market from 7.5% to 19%, and nanotubes from 0.002% to 8.3%. Nanocomposites and nanosensors, while expected to grow, should remain small in percentage terms.
Much of nanotechnology's promise remains in the future, but the era of nanotechnology-based consumer products already is here. Indeed, it has been here for quite some time. Nanoparticles were used in the glazes on Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) ceramics. "Carbon black," used since the early 1900s as a reinforcing agent in automobile tires and other rubber goods, is a nanoparticle. Kodak scientists developed nanoparticulate silver materials before World War II, for use in color and black and white products. Today, nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in a wide range of consumer products. It is creating new market opportunities for consumer product manufacturers, while increasing the efficiency of manufacturing and logistics operations. Conversely, the consumer products industry is an important market for many nanotechnology companies. Last but not least, nanotechnology is having an impact on consumers' lives, providing them with new or improved products, often at a lower cost. This report provides an analysis of the technical possibilities as well as the commercial potential of nanotechnologies for consumer products applications. The study identifies consumer-related nanotechnology applications with the greatest commercial potential in the near to mid-term, projects future demand, and evaluates the potential impact of these developments on the nanotechnology industry. The report contains:
Definitions and a brief history of nanotechnology as related to consumer applications Current and potential applications for nanotechnology, including production processes, inputs and handling after production Applications and end-users with the greatest commercial potential through 2010 Global market trends for nanotechnology-based consumer products through 2010 Discussion of related markets for nanotechnologies used in consumer product applications Analysis of factors that will influence the long-term development of nanotechnology consumer applications Key players, market shares and industry structure.
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