Biocompatible Nanomaterials for Pollutant Treatment Technologies

Modern research trends are emerging out more on the polymer based nanomaterials which are widely applied in the active areas of pharmacology, drug designing, drug delivery systems, environmental remediation, energy storage and their conversions etc. This review shows the recent research developments in the use of nanomaterials for waste water treatments, specific adsorption mechanisms, improvements, control of toxicity and various techniques to control the hazardous pollutants present in the environment. Recent reports show different electrochemical sensors that incorporate biomolecules like enzymes, antibodies and aptamers as recognition elements for fabrication of simple, low cost, compact biosensors that can be extensively used for on-site, rapid environmental monitoring of deadly pollutants like pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides and explosives. Some new biohybrid nanomaterials had great potential as efficient novel antibacterial agents with high biocompatibility. Designing of hybrid nanocomposites by the conjugation of the natural and synthetic polymers with certain active elements like TiO2 creates certain advanced materials with the desired (tailored) properties and functions. This paper mainly emphasizes on the particulate pollutants in the air which is growing tremendously with the rapid increase in the technologies and industries leading to so many chronic diseases and various the health hazards. Thus nanomaterials could be specifically functionalized and designed to act as a sensor prototype for certain toxin materials in the environment. Designed nanomaterials has the ability to treat particulate pollutants and can offer many advantages to improve existing environmental pollution remediation technologies and also gives pointers to create new technology that is better than current technology.