Biological and ecological implications of safe nanotechnology

Recent research at Clemson University helpes to understand the biological and ecological implications of nanotechnology on the environment. The research provided proof that soft nanomaterial dendrimers can be used to rid the environment of toxic nanomaterials. Dendrimers are polymers that belong to a special class of macromolecules. A specific fullerenol-a buckyball-shaped carbon molecule functionalized with hydroxyl groups was used as a model system. The researchers discovered that at “neutral water pH and ambient temperature and pressure, assemblies of dendrimers and fullerenols were found to be strong, spontaneous, and thermodynamically favorable," according to a press release. With this research, scientists have provided a “proof-of-concept on the use of a benign dendritic technology as a robust drug delivery vehicle and a solution to environmental remediation of discharged nanomaterials.”