The science of the extremely small, and how it's being applied across medicine, energy, and materials.
Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter at the nanoscale — roughly 1 to 100 nanometres, or about the scale of individual molecules — where materials often display very different physical, chemical, and electrical properties compared to their bulk form.
Nanomedicine includes targeted drug delivery systems (which reduce side effects by concentrating a drug's action at the specific site needed), advanced diagnostic tools, and nanoparticle-based imaging techniques that can detect diseases like cancer at earlier stages than conventional methods.
Nanotechnology is improving the efficiency of solar cells, enabling higher-capacity battery technology, and producing stronger, lighter materials for use in construction, aerospace, and consumer goods — including water-repellent and self-cleaning surface coatings.
The Nano Mission, run under the Department of Science and Technology, supports research infrastructure and capacity-building in nanoscience and nanotechnology across Indian research institutions.
Download this topic's notes as a PDF, or search uploaded materials.
