Nanotechnology Applications and Markets in North America

SUMMARY

Plethora of Opportunities Exist for Nanotechnology across Various Sectors

Researchers have engineered composite materials that are a hundred times stronger than steel, yet weigh only one-sixth of its mass, using nanotechnology. The advent of these stronger, improved nanomaterials has paved the way for their use in high-performance applications. Though highly effective and abundantly available at a slightly higher price than the current composites, these new materials have certain disadvantages and prominent among these is their high initial cost. Despite such shortcomings, nanomaterials have immense potential to initiate innovation in almost all fields of science, and hence, it will be hardly surprising if nanotechnology turns from being an enabling technology to rather a disruptive one in the long term.

Technical Insights' recent research is a comprehensive effort to understand, analyze, and present the endless possibilities of nanotechnology applications in the fields of life sciences, materials and chemicals, electronics, and imaging. The study also lists out major application developers and a summary of key patents, besides providing the limitations of competing technologies that have helped nanotechnology develop further.

Exciting New Applications on the Horizon

Nanomaterials have opened the gateway for an exciting array of applications that are capable of changing the way of life for everyone. Some of the exhilarating possibilities include imaging agents that can identify cancer cells and treat them prior to their spreading; targeted delivery systems that can kill cancer cells while leaving the healthy tissue unharmed; and a fingernail sized electronic device having the capacity to store several gigabytes of data. "Though these applications seem straight out of a science fiction movie, they are plausible and excitingly proximate to reality," comments the analyst. "Many companies have already introduced such products in the market and others are on the verge of commercialization."

Nanomaterials are also extremely useful in a variety of other applications such as supporters and possible replacements for noble metal catalysts for use in fuel cells and the paints and coatings industry. Nanotechnology-based sensors have the potential to replace the presently used traditional sensors. With current semiconductor fabrication techniques reaching their limit, new techniques based on nanotechnology are evolving that are anticipated to make higher speed processors and faster and high-density memories available in extremely small form factors.

Market Holds Immense Revenue Potential

The ever-growing need for better materials and the inability of existing materials to cater to the functional requirements is assisting nanomaterials in gaining a strong foothold in different industries. This is evident from their increasing use in many applications across various fields such as materials and chemicals, electronics, and life sciences. "With current technologies proving insufficient, the need for new techniques that can improve upon existing materials and create opportunities for fresh applications has become quite imminent," says the analyst. "This is the reason for nanotechnology's extending orbit of growth with many high-performance industries craving for new-generation technologies that are likely to help in churning out cost-effective products with high market sustenance."

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To maximize the potential for growth within a firm's internal and external environment, Frost & Sullivan consultants can facilitate the creation of strategic programs that deliver improved market success. Frost & Sullivan's strengths lie in combining strategic understanding with market expertise and applying these with absolute commitment to its clients' growth.

Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research:

• Nanocomposites: These are materials that are reinforced with nanotechnology-based additives that help them gain exceptional mechanical and/or electrical properties.
• Quantum Dots: These are nanocrystals which absorb light and remit them at a wavelength different from the incident wavelength. This absorption and re-emission property depends on the size of the quantum dot.
• Dendrimers: These are nanoparticles with branches that can be attached to almost anything such as target markers or antibody agents.
• Nanolithography: This is a process involving lithographic techniques to imprint substrates with less than 50 nanometer patterns.

Benefits of this Service

Get All the Information you needed About Nanotechnology in North America

Technical Insights defines key markets and applications and reports on technology drivers as well as obstacles in the way of commercialization.

Learn about the Technologies that are on the Verge of Commercialization

This research identifies key technologies in selected sectors that are moving into the commercial space. These are the technologies that are on the brink of commercialization or are already in the market.

Benefit from a Comprehensive Contact Information Database

This research identifies key participants in the industry who are developing applications based on nanotechnology. It also provides readers with a contact information list, to enable potential collaborations with these leading participants or universities working on ground-breaking research. The list contains the names of the company or the university, their URLs, contact numbers, and email addresses.

Learn About the Competing Technologies

Find out the market performance of existing competing technologies and how they fare against new and upcoming technologies.

Find out about the Intellectual Property

Learn about the intellectual property that is being patented. This gives you an idea about where this technology is heading.

Know what Research is Happening and Where

Learn how nanotechnology research endeavors are likely to impact current products and technologies. Also learn about the key developments that are taking place in different industry segments.

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the use of nanotechnology in the following market sectors:

• Life sciences
• Materials and chemicals
• Electronics
• Imaging

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary

• 1. Introduction
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Key Features
• 2. Scope and Methodology
  • 1. Scope of this Study
  • 2. Research Methodology

2. Nanotechnology in Medicine and Life Sciences

• 1. Technology Description & Applications
  • 1. Technology Description
  • 2. Drug Delivery; Discovery; Therapeutics
• 2. Technical Drivers and Challenges
  • 1. Drivers
    • a. Size
    • b. Improved Therapeutics
    • c. Products Already in the Market
    • d. Ready for Clinical Trials
    • e. Drug Delivery Made Easy
  • 2. Challenges
    • a. No Standardization
    • b. No Human Trials
    • c. No Safety Rules
    • d. Public Perception
    • e. Road to the Market
  • 3. Competing Technologies
    • 1. Oral; Injection and Inhalation Delivery Systems
    • 2. Liposomes; Micro-Encapsulation and Polymer Drug Delivery Systems
    • 3. Antibodies
  • 4. Key Developers and Developments
    • 1. Key Developments
    • 2. Key Developers
  • 5. Current Research & Development
    • 1. Nanoshells to Cure Cancer
    • 2. Peptides for Precise Nanomaterials
    • 3. Nanoparticles Light Up Brain Tumors
    • 4. Biobarcode Amplification to Anaylze DNA
    • 5. Intracellular Nanosensors
    • 6. Microfluidic Chips for LOCs
    • 7. Silica Nanotubes for Medical Applications
    • 8. Nanotubes for Drug-Delivery
    • 9. Nanotubes Coat Titanium Arthritis Joints
    • 10. One-Cell Genetics
    • 11. Nanotubes for Better Orthopedic Implants
    • 12. Buckyballs' Toxic Effects in (Fish) Brains

3. Nanotechnology in Chemicals and Materials

• 1. Technology Description & Applications
  • 1. Technology Overview
  • 2. Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites
  • 3. Carbon Nanotube-Based Materials
• 2. Technical Drivers & Challenges
  • 1. Drivers
    • a. Exceptional Properties
    • b. Mulifunctionality
    • c. Wide Application Spectrum
    • d. Better cost-to -Benefit Ratio
  • 2. Challenges
    • a. High Initial (Capital) Cost
    • b. Bridging the Innovation Gap
    • c. Safety Concerns
    • d. Environmental Hazards
• 3. Competing Technologies
  • 1. Alloys
  • 2. Composites
• 4. Key Developers and Developments
  • 1. Key Developments
  • 2. Key Developers
• 5. Current Research & Development
  • 1. Nanotechnology for Better Refrigeration
  • 2. Nickel Silicide Nanowires For Nanoscale Junctions
  • 3. Produce Nanoparticle-Carbon Nanotube Composites via Direct Assembly
  • 4. Novel Nanoparticles for Electrical Components
  • 5. Patterned Devices from Colloidal Nanocrystals
  • 6. Growing Uniformly Aligned Nanorods
  • 7. Produce Long SWNTs via Rapid CVD Process
  • 8. Room Temperature \'Green\' Nanoparticles
  • 9. Electricity Controls Nanocrystal Shape
  • 10. Manufacturing Polyaniline Nanofibers
  • 11. Critical Intensity Optics and Nanomorphing
  • 12. Duke Researchers Fabricate 'Smart' Nanostructures
  • 13. Nematic Nanotube Gels
  • 14. Methanol Fuel Cell Catalysts Using Fullerene Films
  • 15. Nanotechnology-Based Thermal Insulators
  • 16. Constant Strain Stiffens Nanoparticles

4. Nanotechnology in Electronics

• 1. Technology Description & Applications
  • 1. Technology Description
  • 2. Nanoelectronics
  • 3. Nanolithography
• 2. Technical Drivers and Challenges
  • 1. Drivers
    • a. Lithographic Techniques
    • b. Next- Generation Devices
    • c. Carbon Nanotubes
    • d. Need for small Sensing System
  • 2. Challenges
    • a. Measurement Devices
    • b. Verification Techniques
    • c. Electrical Contacts to Macrosc
• 3. Competing Technologies
  • 1. MEMS
  • 2. Microlithography
• 4. Key Developments and Developers
  • 1. Key Developments
  • 2. Developers
• 5. Current Research & Development
  • 1. Improving Infrared Performance of Nanoscale Sensors
  • 2. Ferromagnetic Iron Nanowire Arrays
  • 3. Making Nanoscale Electronics
  • 4. Silicon Nanoparticle Photodetector
  • 5. Quantum Dots Without Wires
  • 6. Conducting Polymer Nanowires Build Addressable Arrays
  • 7. Nanoscale 3D Optical Photonic Crystals
  • 8. Semiconducting Nanotubes Display Band-Gap Shrinkage
  • 9. Metallic Nanotubes go Semiconducting
  • 10. SWNTs as Pressure Sensors
  • 11. Molecular Devices to Use Nanowire Memory Cells
  • 12. DNA Nanopatterning Makes Re-Writable Memory
  • 13. Entangled Ions Form Quantum Computer
  • 14. Quantum Computing Closer to Reality

5. Nanotechnology in Imaging

• 1. Technology Description & Applications
  • 1. Technology Overview
  • 2. Atomic Force Microscopy
  • 3. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
  • 4. Nanotechnology in Conventional Imaging
• 2. Technical Drivers and Challenges
  • 1. Drivers
    • a. Quantum Dots
    • b. Dendrimers
    • c. Eliminating the Need for Invasive Tests
  • 2. Challenges
    • a. Unpredictable Properties
    • b. Health Hazards
    • c. High Cost
• 3. Competing Technologies
  • 1. Ultrasound
  • 2. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • 3. Optical Imaging
  • 4. Nuclear Imaging
• 4. Key Developers
  • 1. Key Developers
• 5. Current Research & Development
  • 1. Quantum Dots from Germanium Nanocrystals
  • 2. Optical Imaging Research
  • 3. Fluorescent Nanodots to Tag Faulty Genes
  • 4. Electronically Coupled Quantum Dots
  • 5. Superconducting Microtesla MRI
  • 6. Watch One Electron Spin

6. Patents; Contacts; Glossary and FAQs

• 1. Patents & Contacts
  • 1. Patents
  • 2. Contacts
• 2. Glossary & FAQs
  • 1. Glossary
  • 2. FAQs

7. Frost & Sullivan 2004 Science and Technology Awards

• 1. Excellence in Technology
  • 1. Award Description
  • 2. Award Recipient
• 2. Technology Innovation
  • 1. Award Description
  • 2. Award Recipient

8. Decision Support Databases

• 1. Decision Support Database
  • 1. Number of Manufacturing Establishments
  • 2. Commercial & Consumer Car Sales
  • 3. Number of Diagnostics Testing Facilities
  • 4. US Plastic Consumption
  • 5. US Transportation Industry Revenue