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What is Nanotechnology and How Does it Work?

Tiny networks of engineered machinery exist inside your body right now. It’s in all of us, and in nearly everything. It’s called nanotechnology. It has been put into our air, rain, soil, plants, animals, and into every human. Nanotechnology involves engineering and manipulating atoms and molecules at a nano scale (1-1,000 nanometers). Particles in this scale are referred to as nanoparticles. The range of scale from 1 to 100 nanometers is where quantum effects happen, which is why some organizations tend to emphasize this range within the nanoscale to the point of defining nanoparticles as such, which is a misnomer. "Nanomaterials can be defined as physical substances of which a single unit is sized (in at least one dimension) between 1 and 1000 nanometers (10−9 meter), [but] is usually 1-100 nm (the usual definition of nanoscale)."
Nanomaterials

The engineering of nanoparticles is called nanotechnology. The word ‘nanoparticles’ refers synthetic nanoparticles made from this process and will be used synonymously with ‘nanotechnology’ throughout this website.

The nanotechnology in our bodies consists of engineered nanoparticles and nanoscale machinery known as nanomachines or nanobots. They contain embedded software for storage and performing tasks. They have transceivers to send and receive messages at the nano-level. They have the ability to reproduce. They can fabricate and replicate components and are capable of self-assembling. They are equipped with nano-sensors and actuators that use nano-scale communication technologies (Molecular Communication/ Terahertz based Nano Electromagnetic Communication). They also contain a power generator that harvests energy from the body, which can store power in cells within the nanomachine and maintain an electrical current in the software.

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Image Credit: IFTF Blog

Nanomachines inside the body form intra-body nano-networks, referred to as the Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT). 

The networks inside of us connect to networks of devices outside of us, known as the Internet of Things (IoT).

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Very helpful visual aids contained here:

Intra-body nano-network

Nanosensors, biosensors, or Bionanosensors are nanostructures that detect and measure a variety of things such as chemicals, light, temperature, gases, electric fields, physical or biological materials at the nano scale. “Biosensors” are nanosensors that have biological elements in their construction.

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There are several ways to categorize the types of nanosensors based on their structure and application. Nanosensors, along with nanoantennas, and nanotransceivers, form wireless nanosensor networks (WNSN’s). 

Nanosensors are used in everything from medical diagnostics to electronics, monitoring water quality, weather modification, farming, to food production including packaging and transportation.

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“Recently, nanosensors have taken a lot of applications in the fields of pharmacy, medicine, industry and etc. Nano sensors can be utilized to solve many human problems and treat disease as they can easily be adapted to the environment.”

Nanosensors for Chemical and Biological and Medical Applications

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Global Environmental MEMS Sensors (GEMS): A Revolutionary Observing System for the 21st Century

MEMS technology and applications in geotechnical monitoring: a review

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Internet of Bio-Nano-Things (IoBNT):

The Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT), a term coined in 2008 by leading Telecommunications expert Professor Ian F. Akyildiz of the IEEE, refers to the networks of natural and synthetic nanoscale entities such as nano biosensors or genetically engineered bacteria called Bio-Nano-Things (BNT) which combine biological entities with synthetic nanoscale devices. BNT involve engineered bacteria such as e. coli, biological cells, synthetic plasmonic nano antennae, transceivers, energy harvesting devices, and storage units for continual power supply. BNT are deployed into the human blood stream with the purpose of connecting the body to the Internet of Things (IoT). 

 

IEEE: The Internet of Bio-Nano Things — Smart Computing in the Human Body

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Internet of Bio-Nano Things: A review of applications, enabling technologies and key challenges

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A recent video presentation by Ian Akyildiz on the application of BNT with healthcare model PANACEA can be found here:

Inside the Body's Future: How Bio-NanoThings Will Change Disease Detection (video)

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“BNTs and the IoBNT framework stand as crucial pieces of the [Internet of Everything] IoE, underpinning the expansion of our connectivity to a universal scale…”

Graphene and related materials for the Internet of Bio-Nano Things​

Dennis Bushnell, former Chief Scientist NASA Langley Research Center speaks in this clip about the global sensor grid containing 10-100 trillion sensors networked and monitored by satellites, all within 5-10 years, according to the Pentagon. This was recorded in 2018.

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Internet of Everything (IoE)- From Molecules to the Universe

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“Internet of Everything (IoE)…includes networked environments of objects, files, humans and processes… It is projected by many that in the future, 99.4% of objects will be covered by the IoE concept. IoE sensors can capture many parameters, such as temperature, pressure, bio-signals, velocity, etc., that are collected from massive numbers of intelligent devices used in industrial applications, health care, smart cities, etc.”

The Role of 6G Technologies in Advancing Smart City Applications: Opportunities and Challenges

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“The Trillion Sensors (TSensors) Initiative was started in 2013 in the U.S. alongside the global economic tide of the Internet of Things (IoT) to pursue a society in which trillion sensors are connected to networks worldwide…”

Trillion Sensors and MEMS, Sensors and Materials (2017)

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“Trillion sensors/year translates to about 130 sensors/person/year. We already are using up to about 200 sensors/car, 100 sensors/smart home, 15 sensors/cell phone, 10 sensors/wearables, etc.”

The Trillion Sensors (TSensors), Foundation for the IoT

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“…while IoT has grown into a veritable behemoth, stamping its authority indelibly across all areas of human activity, we haven’t quite been able to get anywhere close to the prophesied trillion mark. 

There are a number of reasons for this - we won’t quite get into all of them here. In this post, we thought we could take a look at some of the actionable insights we’ve been able to glean from these years of seeing IIoT technology in action. The effort is to try and list out some ways for the trillion sensor IIoT dream to be realised.”

Realizing the Trillion Sensor IIoT Dream: Actionable Insights (2023)

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Ten years have passed since this estimate made in 2015:

“For decades, sensors were on sidelines of the semiconductor industry,” Bryzek said in his opening remarks to the Trillion Sensor Summit. “Apple’s iPhone changed all that, triggering a sensor tornado of 10 million MEMS sensors in 2007—the year of the iPhone’s introduction—that has grown to 15 billion sensors in 2015.

Today in 2015, Bryzek estimates that there are about 15 billion connected sensor in place, but on a growth rate curve of 200 percent a year from 2007 to 2014. Over the same periods, the sensor development cycle has shrunk from 27 years down to 10 years, from conception to commercialization. And with professional 3-D printers, like IBM’s capable of 10-nanometer resolution, that 10 years could shrink to months.

Agricultural sensors are on a similar headlong rise from $103 million in 2013 to $2.1 billion in just the first two quarters of 2015, according to Bryzek. Likewise cars have about 200 sensors, smart homes have about 100, smartphones have about 15. And with the Internet of Things (IoT) on the rise, we can expect up to 130 new sensors per person per year, also contributing to the trillion sensor prediction.”

Roadmap to Trillion Sensors Forks (2015)

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Ian Akyildiz, the creator of IoBNT, on CubeSats: mini satellites designed to cover the earth (video)

Nanomachines communicate with each other inside the body. They also communicate with devices outside of the body. There are many types of communication employed. For the sake of simplicity, only the main types will be discussed here.

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​Nanomachines communicate with each other inside the body primarily through molecular nanocommunication, which involves the exchange of molecules. Molecules are released by way of molecular transceivers and detected molecular receivers.

​Nanomachines are designed to run on Terrahertz (THz) band frequencies, Bluetooth technology and Near-field communication (NFC).

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Efforts to develop the framework for nanoscale and molecular communication is underway by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association, known as IEEE. More specifically, IEEE P1906.1 Recommended Practice for Nanoscale and Molecular Communication Framework, which is an IEEE standards group sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society Standards Development Board. The IEEE is the single most important regulatory authority on engineering and communication standards for the entire world. They answer to the United Nations General Secretary. They cover all nanotech, including the engineered bacteria nanomachines and how they connect to devices in the environment. 

(for more on IEEE, click here)

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​Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN):

WBAN

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“We use the Internet of Bodies in our Central Command Platform for City Management, Security, and Surveillance.”

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Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) and Body-to-Body Network (BBN or B2B)

Source

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​​Human skin serving as a layer of wireless computer networking:

The Internet of Bio-Nano-Things (IoBNT) and Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) use biocyber interfaces to connect with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Both the WBAN, which has existed prior to 2004, and the IoBNT, continue to be developed. 

The first international standard for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) (802.15.6) was published in 2012 by the IEEE. It was made for both medical and non-medical uses. 

“Short-range, wireless communications in the vicinity of, or inside, a human body (but not limited to humans) are specified in this standard.”

Coinciding with that standard, nanoscale antenna made from graphene were being developed.

According to Professor Akyildiz, as seen in the video the clip below, they had tried to apply for the patent on graphene-based plasmonic nano-antenna earlier on. However, the CIA had prevented it until the release of the patent by the CIA in 2017. 

Ian Akyildiz helped form The NaNoNetworking Center in Catalonia (N3Cat). They describe the communication of nanomachines as such: Nanonetworks are the interconnection of nanomachines, and as such expand the capabilities of a single nanomachine.

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Multiple nanoscale networks installed inside humans using Terahertz band and MAC is discussed in this document. It requires Bluetooth and Near Field Communications (NFC) which are found in smart devices such as cell phones.

​“…THz communication acts as a bridge, facilitating the conversion of information between the molecular domain (inside the body) and the electromagnetic domain (outside the body).”

For more detailed information on how Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT) communication in THz works, please see this interview with Josep Jornet (skip the first 6 minutes):

How Terahertz relates to gene editing:

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“Unwinding the double helix of the DNA molecule is the basis of gene duplication and gene editing, and the acceleration of this unwinding process is crucial to the rapid detection of genetic information. Based on the unwinding of six-base-pair DNA duplexes, we demonstrate that a terahertz stimulus at a characteristic frequency (44.0 THz) can serve as an efficient, nonthermal, and long-range method to accelerate the unwinding process of DNA duplexes.”

How 5G and 6G connects to nanonetworking:

Plasmonics:

Plasmonics (also known as nanoplasmonics) is a form of nanomachine communication that involves sending, receiving and manipulating optical signals. Graphene in relation to plasmonics has played a key role in the development and use of nanomachines.

"A [plasmonic] nanoparticle can be described as an antenna, enhancing the light emission radiating into the far-field, consistent with other spectroscopic signals being plasmon enhanced by either increasing photon absorption or emission."

Examples of nanoscopic plasmonics are graphene oxide, nano-gold, iron oxide and titanium dioxide.

Iron oxides and titanium dioxide are added to our food and medicine.

Gold nanorods are found in the air for use in aerosol for geoengineering.

Titanium dioxide is also found in sunscreen and cosmetics- plasmonics enhance skin penetration.

Graphene oxide is used in healthcare and used in aerosol for geoengineering. 

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Graphene oxide and iron oxide, in addition to being plasmonics, are also magnetic.

Optogenetics:

Optogenetics is an area of nanotechnology that involves using light to manipulate specific neurons to control their behavior, wirelessly re-programming the genome, and more. The optical nano-bio interfaces connect the biological networks with traditional electronic computing systems.

Optogenomic Interfaces: Bridging Biological Networks With the Electronic Digital World

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Optogenomic Interfaces: Controlling Neuronal Networks through Light-mediated Programming of

Genomic Networks with Josep Jornet (video)

"Optogenetics is an elegant approach of precisely controlling and monitoring the biological functions of a cell, group of cells, tissues, or organs with high temporal and spatial resolution by using optical system and genetic engineering technologies."

"Fluorescent molecules, such as fluorescent proteins, quantum dots, and organic dyes, can also be used to realize a wavelength‑selective optical interface. Organic dye molecules have been used as nanotransceiver antennas for FRET‑based molecular nanonetworks. They act as single molecular optical interfaces that receive optical control signals from an external source and non‑radiatively transmit them into a FRET‑based nanonetwork.

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(Photo credit: Rabih O. Al-Kaysi, from the link below)

“It looks like a spider and scurries like a spider,

but it's actually a tiny motor made from

crystallized molecules that move when exposed to light."

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Optical microscope photographs showing time lapse growth of self assembling nanocomposites resulting from light. “The yellow circle indicates the position of the UV light spot (50 µm radius), the black solid and dashed line indicate the position of the growth front present and previous position respectively, and the white arrow indicate the shift of the growth front relative to the light spot. Red arrows indicate features on the substrate that illustrate the movement of the substrate relative to the light spot.”

Are self-assembling
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“Contouring and shaping of individual nanocomposites.”

“In this study, light-controlled nucleation and growth is demonstrated for self-assembling composites according to precise user-defined designs...Light-directed generation of local gradients opens previously unimaginable opportunities for guiding self-assembly into functional materials."

Other examples of self assembly in nanomaterials:

“The genome-editing system known as CRISPR allows scientists to delete or replace any target gene in a living cell. MIT researchers have now added an extra layer of control over when and where this gene editing occurs, by making the system responsive to light.”

Optogenetics and smartphones:

Visible Light Communication (VLC):

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​“In telecommunications, visible light communication (VLC) is the the use of visible light…as a transmission medium. VLC is a subset of optical wireless technologies. 

The technology uses fluorescent lamps (ordinary lamps, not special communications devices) to transmit signals…over short distances.

Specially designed electronic devices generally containing a  photodiode receive signals from light sources, although in some cases a cell phone camera or a digital camera will be sufficient.”

Wikipedia: Visible light communication

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An Introduction to Visible Light Communication (VLC) (video)

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“The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has standardized the physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) sublayer for short-range optical wireless communications (OWC), including VLC and optical camera communications (OCC).”

Experimental Measurements of a Joint 5G-VLC Communication for Future Vehicular Networks

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A Wide-Area Coverage 35 Gb/s Visible Light Communications Link for Indoor Wireless Applications

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Visible Light Communication Module: An Open Source Extension to the ns3 Network Simulator with Real System Validation Two scenarios are used in the validation of the VLC module

 

Data Transmission via Visible Light Communication (VLC) Technique

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Visible Light Communication System Technology Review: Devices, Architectures, and Applications

Markov Model for the Flow of Nanobots in the Human Circulatory System (2021)

Quantum Dots:

Quantum dots are elemental semiconducting nanoparticles measuring between 1.5-10 nanometers.

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“Magnetic quantum dots (Magnetic QDs) are dual-purpose reagent, combining the ability of quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide particles, which endows them optical and magnetic properties. Magnetic QDs are applied in a wide variety of fields, which permit visualization, catalysis, sensor, magnetic resonance imaging, cancer treatment and environmental remediation.”

Magnetic quantum dots

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Some other examples of these can be found here when selecting “Quantum Dots” from the menu. They make up a list of available semiconductor materials manufactured by American Elements.

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Lattice engineering uses a process conducted at the nanoscale called “doping” in which conductive particles (aka “impurities”) are added to semi-conducting and nonconducting materials.

"In semiconductor production, doping is the intentional introduction of impurities into an intrinsic semiconductor for the purpose of modulating its electrical, optical and structural properties. The doped material is referred to as an extrinsic semiconductor."

Wikipedia definition of “doping”

 

"The human body acts as a semiconductor; its resistance therefore varies with voltage. Low Voltage Electro-technical Regulations (average value) establish the value of electrical resistance of the human body at 2,500 Ohms."

Electrical resistance of the human body

 

The examples of oxide semiconductors from the earlier link include Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Anatole Titanium Dioxide, and Rutile Zinc Oxide- all of which are approved by the FDA as food additives. 

 

When these are ingested, humans become the semiconductor as these quantum dots enhance the body’s conductivity. 

3D Bioprinting

3D Printing:

3D printing is bioprinting. 

When scientists refer to printing, they're referring to 3D and 4D bioprinting. 3D and 4D bioprinting involve programmable shape-shifting nanotechnology enabled smart materials. Smart materials can change their properties according to external stimuli (such as temperature, force, moisture, electric charge, magnetic fields and pH) and/or their environment.

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How 3D Printing is the Key to Nanotechnology (video)

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Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials

 

Smart Materials Using Nanotechnology To Produce The Materials To Be Used In Applications Of The Future

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3D and 4D bioprinting is used in medical, engineering, food, and more.

 

“What is 4D Printing?”

 

4D printing technology in medical engineering: a narrative review

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Forever and Ever: 3D-Printed Magnetic Liquids

alternate link:

Forever and Ever 3D printed magnetic liquids from Policy Horizons 

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A review on 3D printed smart devices for 4D printing

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3D bioprinting in food:

 

3D bioprinting in vertical farming:

 

3D bioprinting in fast food:

 

3D bioprinting in Covid shots:

The NIH tells us 3D printed magnetic microfluids are used in the making of Covid shots. Elon Musk and his Tesla 3D molecule printer played a significant role in this:

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3D bioprinting used in the making of healthcare equipment (face masks, face shields, rapid detection kits, testing swabs, biosensors, and various ventilator components):

 

3D bioprinting of human organs:

4D Bioprinting

​​Reprogramming Human Cells:

“Human Cell Engineering" involves inserting new DNA code into human beings with the Lentivirus, a special type of virus used in genetic engineering. Lentivirus is a "plasmid" based on the HIV-1 virus. It is able to "infect" human cells (eukaryotic cells) and inject new DNA code into human cell DNA.

This technique, upon cell replication, would enable human cell reprogramming.

Prof. Dr. İlhan Fuat Akyıldız

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The Capability To Wirelessly Edit Your Genome:

 

CRISPR & DREADDS:
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
DREADDS stands for Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs.

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Cello:

A human made programming language that allows doctors and others to reprogram engineered bacteria to perform whatever is needed in the human body, remotely and wirelessly.

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Bi-Fi:

Biological Internet and communication through a biological communication network embedded in human bodies. It uses an innocuous bacterial virus to send information from cell to cell.

Stanford Bioengineers Introduce Bi-Fi: The Biological Internet​​

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MI-FI technology:

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Biofield:

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Biomimetics:

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Human Digital Twins:

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Radar based human activity recognition:

“Radar systems are increasingly being employed in healthcare applications for human activity recognition [HAR]…”

Radar-based human activity recognition with adaptive thresholding towards resource constrained platforms

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“Extensive research showed that the physiological response of human tissue to exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields is the induction of an electric current in the body segments. As a result, each segment of the human body behaves as a relay, which retransmits the radio-frequency (RF) signal. To investigate the impact of this phenomenon on the Doppler characteristics of the received RF signal, we introduce a new three-dimensional (3D) non-stationary channel model to describe the propagation phenomenon taking place in an indoor environment.”

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Further study:

More articles, videos and documents

CRISPR

©2025 by Love Billy

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