2020 · GS Paper 3 · Q5 · 10 marks
What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in health sector?
In short
Nanotechnology works with matter at 1 to 100 nanometres, where new properties let medicine act with far greater precision. It helps health through targeted cancer drugs, lipid-nanoparticle mRNA vaccines of 2020, gold-nanoparticle rapid tests and antimicrobial silver dressings.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 276 words
Definition
Nanotechnology is the design and use of materials and devices at 1 to 100 nanometres, far finer than a human hair, which is about 80,000 nanometres wide.
Why size matters
At this scale a huge surface area and new optical, magnetic and chemical properties emerge, so gold nanoparticles look red and silver ones kill microbes.
Indian push
DST's Nano Mission (2007, Rs 1,000 crore) built research centres and the skilled people the field needs.
Targeted drug delivery
Nanocarriers take cancer drugs straight to diseased cells and spare healthy tissue, as liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil, 1995), the first approved nanodrug, showed.
Vaccines and therapy
Lipid nanoparticles delivered the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines in 2020, and iron oxide nanoparticles enable magnetic hyperthermia that heats and kills tumours.
Faster diagnosis
Gold nanoparticles give the colour in rapid antigen and pregnancy test strips, and quantum dots sharpen imaging so disease is caught earlier.
Infection control and repair
Silver nanoparticle dressings resist infection, nanofibre filters improved masks, and nano-hydroxyapatite helps regrow bone.
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Nano-technology3 questions
Asked in 3 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2025How does nanotechnology offer significant advancements in the field of agriculture ? How can this technology help to uplift the socio-economic status of farmers ?
- 2016Why is nanotechnology one of the key technologies of the 21st century? Describe the salient features of Indian Government's Mission on Nanoscience and Technology and the scope of its application in the development process of the country.
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.