Week 8: Nanotechnology & Art


This week material can be expressed through the lens of Dr. Jim Gimzewski and Dr. Victoria Vesna in the article, “The Nanomeme Syndrome” Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science,” in which they highlight that nanotechnology is part of the third culture that embraces both the art and science to produce new inventions, which ultimately blur the lines separating art and science (Gimzewski and Vesna). Nanotechnology has a plethora of applications, from advancing medicine to producing new commercial products and artworks.

Nanotechnology has advanced medicine through learning about the drugs’ physical and chemical properties and examine the manipulations that can be done using nanotechnology to improve/optimize drugs. For example, Abraxane, a drug to treat breast cancer, is known for its low toxicity level in compared to other drugs used to treat cancer because of its nanoparticle formulation (Zhao et al.). Also, in the video lecture, Dr. Gimzewski discusses a nano-particle probe for the detection of cancer/disease via diagnostic biomarkers (Gimzewski, part 4).

A flow chart outlining the chemistry of a universal nanoparticle probes for multiplexed detection of protein cancer markers
https://cdn-pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja0613106

Interestingly, the commercial products that resulted from nanotechnology best represent the third culture because the integration of science and art in nanotechnology allowed for the production of commercial products containing nanoparticles. From learning about the physical properties of nano-particles including their hydrophobic properties and small sizes, scientists were able to improve sunscreen formulas and develop socks, containing silver nanoparticles, which are known to have an antimicrobial effect (Gimzewski, part 3).  One of the most interesting effects resulting from nanoparticles is the self-cleaning effect because it has led to numerous inventions that help with energy conservation. For example self-cleaning glass in cars such as BMW and in Japan bullet trains is beneficial for the environment because of its low maintenance requirement.

Japan Bullet Train
https://www.fun-japan.jp/my/articles/900


Lastly, new forms of art have been introduced through the use of nanotechnology. From the lecture video, I found that the ancient cup, Lycurgus Cup, containing nanoparticles to be very interesting because they would be green in sunlight and would become red when there is no sunlight. The color red is a result of nanosized gold in the cup being activated in a specific condition (Fleming). 
Lycurgus Cup
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/romans-used-nanotechnology-turn-lycurgus-cup-green-red-1600-years-ago-1468746
References: 

Fleming, Stuart J. Roman Glass. University Of Pennsylvania Museum Of Archaeology And Anthropology, 1999.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt3". Youtube, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt4". Youtube, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Gimzewski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring Of Fact & Fiction In The Construction Of A New Science". Vv.Arts.Ucla.Edu, http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Ismail, S.F. et al. Effects Of Titanium Nanoparticles On Self-Cleaning And Structural Features Of Zinc-Magnesium-Phosphate Glass. 2016, 

 Zhao, Minzhi et al. "Abraxane, The Nanoparticle Formulation Of Paclitaxel Can Induce Drug Resistance By Up-Regulation Of P-Gp". PLOS | One, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131429. Accessed 23 May 2018.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 30, 2018 at 9:10 PM

    It's very interesting how you draw attention to the prevalence of nanotechnology. On the surface it sounds like a science that is very high-tech and may not be widespread. However, nanotechnology is already being integrated into technology. Although not many people are aware of it, artists are slowly bringing knowledge about this science to the general public.

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