Week 8 | Nanotechnology + Art

Nanotechnology has always been an elusive subject to me. The first thing that would come to mind when I heard about nanotechnology was tiny computer parts. This is not entirely incorrect, but it certainly does not encompass all that nanotechnology is. The impact of this “new science” extends to fields such as chemistry, engineering, computing, communications, food science, and art. (Vesna) After reading "The Nanomeme Syndrome", I realized the reason I have trouble visualizing what nanotechnology is, is because it is inherently hard to do so. (Gimzeski and Vesna) How do you make sense of what you cannot see? In the PBS documentary, “Making Stuff: Smaller”, Frances Ross uses pizza as a metaphor to help people visualize nanowires, which are transistors that are layered vertically to prevent short circuiting. Creating tangible analogies like these will combat the problems that may arise when trying to visualize nanotechnology as Vesna suggests.

From Huan Meng's  Lecture on Drug Delivery using Nanotechnology
As a biochemistry major, I am most excited by the use of nanotechnology in science. Recently, a guest lecturer presented in my biology class on "Dosage Form Design: Pharmaceutical and Formulation Considerations –Emerging formulation using nanotechnology". His presentation was the first time I learned about the use of nanotechnology in drug delivery, specifically. When creating a drug one must consider its solubility and stability. Often it can be difficult to deliver a drug directly to the target. Nanostructures, like micelles or scaffolds, are created to facilitate this process.


DNA-origami strategies for drug delivery
Furthermore, Dr. Gimzeski introduced the self-assembly of nanoparticles, which is important especially in medical applications. For instance, micelles organize based on solubility and are used to encapsulate a drug and deliver it to its target. Nanoparticles function within a cell on a nano-scale, thus it may not be possible to construct them outside of the body. Recent efforts to create self-organizing nanoparticles led to a new technique: Nano-origami. Nano-scientists utilize the ancient Japanese art form to study how nanoparticles can fold. In this way, scientists innovatively use art to push the boundaries of this developing field.
Finally, on a nanoscale, light is reflected off of nanostructures differently than what we see. Nanophotonics is the study of this phenomenon which gives the blue morpho butterfly its iridescent blue color. This science is already utilized to create non-toxic pigmentation in our food. (Drake) Nanophotonics and other branches of nanoscience serve as new media for artists, which again reflects the collaboration of artists and scientists.


Nanoparticle folding inspired by origami














Biomimetic iridescent berries (nanotech in our food)
References

Cavallo, Francesca, and Max G. Lagally. "Nano-origami: Art and function." Nano Today 10.5 (2015): 538-41. Web. 24 May 2017.

Drake, Nadia. "Weird Nanophotonic Materials Bend and Trap Light to Make Crazy Colors." Wired. Conde Nast, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 26 May 2017. <https://www.wired.com/2013/11/weird-nanophotonic-materials/> 

Gimzeski, Jim. "Nanotech for Artists Part 5." YouTube, 21 May 2012. Web. 26 May 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWc8nmHJmY>.

Gimzeski, Jim, and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2017.

Jude, Deborah L. "Engineering undergrads use DNA origami to target cancer." University of California. UC San Diego,  06 Mar. 2017. Web. 24 May 2017. <https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/engineering-undergrads-use-dna-origami-target-cancer>.

"Making Stuff: Smaller." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 24 May 2017. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html#making-stuff-smaller>

Meng, Huan. "Dosage Form Design: Pharmaceutical and Formulation Considerations --Emerging formulation using nanotechnology." Guest Lecture. UCLA, Los Angeles. 24 May 2017. Lecture.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 30, 2017 at 11:18 PM

    I really like how you connected what we learned in class to what you learn in your other classes/your major.I had no idea that nano-scientists applied origami in studying nanoparticles. What benefits have been found by studying origami in the folding of nanoparticles? In particular, are there any recent discoveries that suggest certain origami folds in nanoparticles lead to a more effective treatment in medicine/ whatever usage of nanoparticles?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 3 | Robotics + Art

Image
This week’s discussion of Robotics and Art was not what I expected. I envisioned learning about the ways in which artists and scientists use robotics to create. Instead, we viewed robotics from a cultural perspective, focusing on the history of industrialization and robotics, the implications of such technologies on society, and how these robots and mass-produced media later connect the arts and sciences. One of the works I studied was Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, in which he explores society’s perception of art in the age of mass production. According to him, mass reproduction eliminates the originality and authenticity of art, thus "changing the reaction of the masses toward art." (Benjamin) He describes people who go to films as passive participants to exemplify how reproduced art ultimately results in the “liquidation of the traditional value of the cultural heritage”. (Benjamin) His description of the public as an "absen
Read more

Week 1 | Two Cultures

Image
Within the UCLA community, there is a perception that humanities classes are “easier” than physical science classes. For this reason, an underlying tension exists between those pursuing degrees in the humanities and those pursuing degrees in the physical sciences.  The geographic division of the two disciplines—North Campus (arts and humanities) and South Campus (math and physical sciences)—only magnifies this separation. Ironically, as a college student trying to find her place among these “Two Cultures” (Snow), I was unaware of how deeply rooted in our education system this divide between North Campus and South Campus is until thinking of them as two distinct "cultures".   Although C.P. Snow delivered his famous lecture over 50 years ago, his ideas are still relevant. He  noted: “the politeness [between scientists and non-scientists] has gone, and they just make faces [at each other]” (Snow 19).  The Sokal controversy (Vesna 123) exemplified this hostility
Read more

Week 7 | Neuroscience + Art

Image
Neuroscience is so engrained in our society that we—myself included—fail to notice its’ impact on our everyday lives. This week we took a closer look at this connection.  Left (analytical) and right (creative) brain argument  We begin with a bit of history. Phrenology is a pseudoscience, in which the size of bumps on the head is believed to indicate character traits. (Vesna) Franz Joseph Gall’s practice of phrenology led to the notion that brain size is related to intelligence. Despite being a pseudoscience, it did influence science in that specific areas of the brain do have specific functions (i.e. Broca's and Wernicke’s areas). Phrenology allows us to revisit the left brain versus right brain argument. Regarded as fiction by many neuroscientists, this idea of the brain reinforces the division between art and science by providing an explanation for the stereotypes of artists and scientists.  Adult coloring book, which recently gained popularity This week I
Read more