Bottini M, Magrini A, Bottini N, Bergamaschi A
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettronica, Sezione di Optoelettronica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via di Tor Vergata 135, 00133 Roma.
Med Lav. 2003 Nov-Dec;94(6):497-505.
Nanotechnology operates in a dimension that is invisible not only to the human eye but also to most highly sensitive instruments; this technology has made it possible to manufacture materials that have not existed in our environment before. In the medical sphere, many important applications in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases are foreseen. Up to now nanotechnology has evaded social, political and regulatory scrutiny concerning the safety of nano-particles in workplaces and in commercial products.
The present article reports the most important bio-medical applications of nanotechnology, followed by the results of research on the individual and environmental effects of nanomaterials and in particular of nanotubes, that are considered one of the most fascinating discoveries of the last millennium.
A report is given on the data presented at the 225th ACS National Meeting (March 23-27, 2003, New Orleans, LA), division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.
Nanotubes and fullereness are recently discovered different forms of carbon-based materials which are widely applied in various technical fields. One of the main concerns regarding these structures is that they resemble asbestos fibers.
Although preliminary studies suggest that these materials are not associated with any health risk, many researchers highlight the need to assess possible risks of such structures before they become ubiquitous in every aspect of life.
纳米技术所涉及的维度不仅肉眼不可见，而且大多数高灵敏度仪器也难以察觉；这项技术使得制造出我们环境中前所未有的材料成为可能。在医学领域，预计在疾病诊断和治疗方面会有许多重要应用。到目前为止，纳米技术避开了关于工作场所和商业产品中纳米颗粒安全性的社会、政治和监管审查。
本文报道了纳米技术最重要的生物医学应用，随后是关于纳米材料尤其是纳米管对个体和环境影响的研究结果，纳米管被认为是过去一千年中最引人入胜的发现之一。
报告了在第225届美国化学学会全国会议（2003年3月23日至27日，路易斯安那州新奥尔良）工业与工程化学分会场展示的数据。
纳米管和富勒烯是最近发现的不同形式的碳基材料，它们在各种技术领域有广泛应用。关于这些结构的一个主要担忧是它们类似于石棉纤维。
尽管初步研究表明这些材料与任何健康风险无关，但许多研究人员强调在它们在生活的各个方面变得无处不在之前，有必要评估此类结构可能存在的风险。
