A Canadian-based biotechnology start-up, ViveNano, is hoping to use nanotechnology to diminish residual chemicals in agricultural runoff. The technology uses nanoparticles to create a water-soluble “cage” that can be filled with a pesticide’s active ingredient. The nanoparticles bond with the pesticide, and both dissolve in the water. The company uses biodegradable components such as chitosan, an amino acid found in crustacean shells, to make the process more water quality friendly. Keith Thomas, the CEO of ViveNano, dismisses fears about the unknown effects of nanotechnology down the road: “Anytime you have a new technology, it’s impossible to know its effects,” and stresses that his biosolid cage is a nanoparticle, with the entire molecule being the same size as the pesticide molecules currently used to fight off bugs and weeds. The company’s technology won’t be on the market for about two years, Thomas says, as it is undergoing field testing and regulatory review. The article can be viewed online at the link below.
http://eponline.com/blogs/planetshed/2011/03/crustacean-nanoparticles-and-agricultural-runoff.aspx