Nanotechnology and Nanoethics in Engineering Education

Nanotechnology can improve many physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological properties of materials, which can be very useful for many industries, including biomedical, aerospace, textile, cosmetic, manufacturing, oil, agricultural, defense, and electronic. However, nanotechnology products (or nanomaterials) also can be hazardous materials 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 materials produced with entirely new manufacturing techniques, there are no specific rules and regulations for many of them. In the present nanoethics study, we will provide a detailed report of the ethical, social, philosophical, environmental, safety, and other legal issues of 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.