A new way of demonstrating the potential applications of nanotechnology is being unveiled today in Cairns at the "Oz Nano 03" Nanotechnology conference.

Nanotechnology is the design, fabrication, and characterisation of functional objects having dimensions at the nanometer (one billionth of a metre) length scale.

CSIRO and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have developed a model house that shows how new materials, products and processes that are emerging from nanotechnology research and development might be applied to our living environment.

"Nanotechnology will impact on our lives in ways we can only imagine," says Carl Masens from the UTS Institute for Nanoscale Technology and project leader of the NanoHouse Initiative.

"The NanoHouse takes us from imagination to reality. The principles upon which it is based are energy efficiency, sustainability, and mass customisation," Mr Masens says.

The NanoHouse has a radiative cooling paint as the outer surface of some of the roofing material. A metal roof coated with this paint will become a cooling element in a building rather than a source of unwanted heat gain. Other features are self-cleaning glass, cold lighting systems and the dye solar cell - a photovoltaic cell based on titanium dioxide rather than silicon.

The architectural model of the house is the first stage of the concept, with the creators planning a full size version in the future.

"Nanotechnology is the convergence of chemistry, physics, biology and engineering. CSIRO, with its diversity and breadth of expertise in all the sciences is a leader in nanotechnology research and development. We already have the necessary expertise to exploit what nanotechnology has to offer, and we're doing it right now," says Fiona Cameron, Executive Officer, CSIRO Nanotechnology Centre.

Examples of CSIRO nanotechnology research that will change our lives include:

• the biosensors for diagnostics that CSIRO is developing might one day be found in the medicine cabinet
• research into molecular electronics that might one day revolutionise information technology and find it's way into the computer in your home office
• new particle processing techniques that yield bulk commercial quantities of nanoparticles for total UV protection are already finding their way into cosmetics & sunscreens, paints and textiles. These products will be found in the medicine cabinet, in the wardrobe and on the walls of the house
• new food wraps that use nanoparticles to improve gas barriers might be found in the kitchen.
• Other examples of how nanotechnology can be applied to our living environment are:
• Multifunctional windows - self cleaning, solar control, switchable, photovoltaic...all in one.
• New paint additives that mean dark surfaces stay relatively cool, and light surfaces can absorb heat.
• Embedded, distributed sensing systems that involve implanting tiny sensors (temperature, air quality, stress) in building materials. Using such systems we get "smart spaces" that employ technology that can sense and act, communicate, reason, and interact with us to make our living and working environment a better one.

Also at the Nanotechnology Forum CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition's Associate Professor EJ (Ted) McMurchie will talk about new biosensors currently under development.

"Most disease states are characterised by subtle changes in certain molecules which can be detected in the blood or other body fluids. However early diagnosis would be enhanced if a far wider range of molecules could be screened in a much shorter time," Associate Professor McMurchie says.

CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition is creating sensors which have the potential to do this, enabling early treatment of diseases.

"Using 'nanobiotechnology construction', these biosensors can also be applied to drug discovery, diagnostics and even the detection of particular flavours and aromas."

The technology makes use of proteins, termed receptors, which bind very specific molecules. If a molecule 'sticks' to the protein then a message is sent to a support matrix which signals that the molecule is present. The technology actually mimics the processes that nature uses to detect various molecules in the body. These tests could also be done on a microchip containing thousands of these different receptor proteins.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system including hypertension, some cancers and disorders of the central nervous system are likely to be areas where this technology could be applied.

About the Asia Pacific Nanotechnolgy Forum

The APNF 2003 "Oz Nano 03" Nanotechnology conference will bring together international leading policy makers in Nanotechnology, developing and manufacturing industry engaged and interested in Nanotechnology, Nanotechnology commercialisation organsisations, the venture capital and financial industry, and Nanotechnology scientists. The APNF 2003 "Oz Nano 03" conference is the first major international Nanotechnology conference in Australia

Concept design of the Nanohouse, southwest corner.

More information:

Carl Masens, UTS Institute for Nanoscale Technology, 61 2 9514 2188, mobile: 0409 409 169

Dr Fiona Cameron, CSIRO Nanotechnology Centre, 61 2 9490 5024, mobile: 0407 043 480

Associate Professor E.J. (Ted) McMurchie, CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, mobile: 0417 817 301

Media Assistance:

Jacqui De Battista, CSIRO Telecommunications & Industrial Physics, 61 2 9413 7641, mobile: 0419 259 560