Recent Progress in Nanoethics and its Possible Effects on Engineering Education

Abstract

Nanotechnology can improve many physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological properties of materials, which can be very useful for many industries, including the biomedical, aerospace, textile, cosmetics, manufacturing, oil, agricultural, defense, and electronics industries. However, nanotechnology products (or nanomaterials) can be hazardous because of the way they are manipulated on an atomic scale. Since nanomaterials, such as nanotubes, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanofibers, nanocomposites, and nanofilms, are all new, produced with entirely new manufacturing techniques, there are no specific rules and regulations for them. In the present nanoethics study, we provide a detailed report of the ethical, social, philosophical, environmental, safety, and legal issues surrounding nanotechnology and its products, which can be very useful for the training and protection of students, as well as scientists, engineers, policymakers, and regulators working in the field.