Manipulating materials at a nanoscale allows researchers and companies to improve material properties like lightweight, durability, heat resistance, and more. Such nanomaterials find applications across industries from healthcare and manufacturing to food and personal care. We give you data-driven innovation insights into the top nanotechnology applications based on our analysis of 1093 companies so that you do not miss out on emerging solutions advancing your company. They allow you to improve material and product performance. Read more to explore the impact of nanotechnology on 10 industries and how they advance your business.
Tree Map reveals the Top Nanotechnology Applications across Industries
Based on the Innovation Map, the Tree Map below illustrates the impact of Top Nanotech Applications on 10 industries in 2023 & 2024. Improving the bioavailability of particles using nanotechnology accelerates its adoption in the healthcare, biotech, pharma, and food industries. Nanobots also enable targeted particle delivery in pharma and healthcare applications.
Additionally, manufacturing, energy, and semiconductor companies manipulate material properties with nanotech to enhance process and product performance. Nanomaterials reduce emissions in combustion, streamline energy production, and advance carbon capture, improving sustainability. Lastly, the chemical manufacturing sector leverages nanotech to increase process efficiency while personal care companies use it to improve formulation performance.
Global Startup Heat Map covers 1093 Nanotechnology Startups & Scaleups
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the global distribution of the 1093 exemplary startups & scaleups that we analyzed for this research. Created through the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform that covers 2 500 000+ startups & scaleups globally, the Heat Map reveals that Western Europe has a high concentration of nanotechnology startups, followed by the US.
Below, you get to meet 10 out of these 1093 promising startups & scaleups as well as the solutions they develop. These nanotechnology startups are hand-picked based on criteria such as founding year, location, funding raised, & more. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
Interested to explore all 1000+ nanotechnology startups & scaleups?
Top 10 Nanotechnology Examples in 2023 & 2024
1. Healthcare
Many healthcare institutions lose patient confidence and life due to misdiagnosis. With nanotech, they are able to greatly reduce diagnostic errors and extend patient life. For example, cantilevers find use as high-sensitive disease marker diagnostic detectors and devices. Further, nanotechnology startups develop nanobots to repair and replace intercellular structures.
Such micro-scale robots also repair DNA molecules to cure genetic disorders that are otherwise incurable. At the same time, the healthcare industry leverages nanotech to enhance the performance of wound dressings, surgical textiles, and implants. Some startups offer nanotech-based wearables that integrate with clothes to enable remote patient monitoring.
Poly-Dtech develops Nano Molecule Biomarkers
Poly-Dtech is a French startup that makes nano molecule biomarkers for pathology and medical imaging diagnosis. The startup’s ultra-luminescent nano-marker, Bright-Dtech, couples with biological molecules like antibodies and proteins.
These fluorophore nanoparticles are resistant to photobleaching and improve detection efficiency in assays and diagnostics. Consequently, the startup’s biomarkers enable early disease detection and rapid tests like its Sars-CoV-2 testing kit.
2. Chemical
Engineering the nano and microstructures of molecules allow chemical manufacturers to better control the performance of their offerings. Additionally, it optimizes chemical synthesis and improves the cost-effectiveness of chemical production. For instance, coating household equipment with nanoparticles enhances its smoothness and heat resistance.
Manufacturers also use nanotechnology to increase the catalytic performance of chemical reactions. Metal organics frameworks (MOFs) are modular nanomaterials that aid selective separations in the petrochemical industry and hydrogen generation. These advances will improve the performance of all commodity and industrial chemicals that find applications across industries.
Litus enables Nanotech-powered Lithium Extraction
Litus is a Canadian startup that extracts lithium using nanotech and advanced chemistry. The startup’s extraction technology, Litus LiNC, selectively harvests high-purity lithium from aqueous sources.
This technology collects lithium even in the presence of other cations and uses modular nanomaterial composites. Moreover, Litus LiNC is more efficient and environmentally responsible than conventional lithium production means.
3. Manufacturing
Industrial materials and chemicals developed using nanotechnology improve the performance of the final product in the manufacturing sector. This includes improved heat resistance, strength, durability, and electrical conductivity. For this, manufacturers utilize top-down or bottom-up approaches wherein they break down larger molecules to nanoscale or build nanoscale particles from individual molecules.
Chemical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, and roll-to-roll processing are some examples of bottom-up approaches. Carbon nanotubes are one of the most used nanomaterials, due to their lightweight and strength, to make bike frames, bulletproof vests, sailboat hulls, and more.
Nemo Nanomaterials makes Industrial Nanocarbon-based Additives
Nemo Nanomaterials is an Israeli startup that creates industrial nanocarbon-based additives. The startup’s proprietary technology and techniques process and mix nanomaterials as well as introduce them to various careers.
Moreover, the technology ensures uniform distribution and nanoparticle distribution in an active form. Leveraging it, manufacturers are able to enhance material properties and performance parameters such as strength, weight, electrical conductivity, and more.
4. Climate & Environment
Fossil-fuel combustion is a pressing factor driving climate change. Nanotechnology applications in water and waste management, conventional products, and energy generation significantly reduce carbon emissions. For example, nanocoating reduces emissions from automobiles while nanotech in solar and hydrogen fuel cells improves energy efficiency.
Even though nanomaterials are generally toxic to the environment, better management and recycling at their end-of-life improves sustainability. Further, carbon capture solutions leverage nanotechnology to collect carbon emissions at sources, including industries and households, reducing their carbon footprint.
Aavalor GreenTech advances Sustainable Water Filtration
Aavalor GreenTech is a UK-based startup that sustainably filters water. The startup utilizes graphene and nanotech to remove heavy metals, contaminants, bacteria, and salt. It does not require energy to operate and is a resource-efficient method to filter wastewater and desalinate saltwater. The startup’s solution finds use in industrial waste purifiers, large-scale desalinators, and community water purifiers.
5. Biotechnology
Nanobiotechnology miniaturizes biotech solutions into a nanoscale. With this innovation, researchers are able to coat biomolecules with nanoparticles and deliver them directly into the cell nucleus. This increases the bioavailability and efficiency of particle delivery while reducing development costs. Nanotechnology also enables cost-effective assays and gene editing.
Consequently, this enhances production and disease resistance in plant biotech while nanotech-powered interventions reduce genetic disorder risks in humans. Nanoparticle-based gene editing also replaces viral vectors for safer drug delivery, whereas pharmaceutical biotech companies use nanotech for disease detection and diagnosis.
Gisens Biotech provides a Portable Testing Device
Gisens Biotech is an Argentine startup that offers Nano-Lab, a portable testing device. It uses a low-cost, high-sensitivity biosensor and its multi-processor offers test results through a companion smartphone app.
This way, the startup eliminates chemical reagents and features a low response time. This allows healthcare professionals and hospitals to accelerate medical tests and decouple them from labs, accelerating disease diagnosis and care delivery.
6. Energy
As energy consumption is increasing every year and the renewable energy transition is more significant, energy supply chains have to ensure increased capacity and storage. This is primarily due to the intermittency of renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy. One-dimensional nanomaterials tackle these issues by increasing energy density, cycling life, and safety of energy storage systems like Lithium-ion batteries.
On the other hand, two-dimensional nanomaterials find use in catalytic applications for energy production. Engineered nanomaterials in solar cells and nanoparticle fuel additives are examples of such use cases in the energy sector wherein they improve energy conversion efficiency.
INEM Technologies develops a High-Energy Density Cell
INEM Technologies is a Greek startup that builds HELT Cell, a high-energy density cell. The startup’s nanomaterials enable lithium-ion batteries that operate in low temperatures, as low as -40 degrees Celsius. HELT Cell utilizes a silicon anode, a low-temperature electrolyte solution, and an NCA cathode.
As a result, the cell retains up to 60% of its original capacity at lower temperatures, powering drones, industrial vehicles, power tools, and expeditions.
7. Pharma
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology improves drug delivery and development. Through nanoencapsulation of drug molecules, pharma companies are able to ensure the effective delivery of drugs into target molecules. This increases the bioavailability and enables the controlled release of drug molecules. In chemotherapy, nanobot-powered drug delivery targets specific malignant cells and thus reduces cytotoxicity.
Further, the pharmaceutical sector leverages nanotech in drug development to encapsulate otherwise insoluble particles and use them as drug molecules. It also enhances the efficacy of existing drug molecules. Nanoparticles greatly impact vaccine development and the Pfizer mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 are an example.
NuVessl aids Pharmaceutical Ingredient Delivery
NuVessl is a Canadian startup that facilitates pharmaceutical ingredient delivery. The startup’s nano-lipidic particle (NLP) encapsulation platform allows pharma companies to enhance drug molecule performance.
As a result, they are able to ensure faster drug delivery, increase bioavailability and use fewer ingredients while enabling novel delivery methods like gels and sprays.
8. Food & Beverage
Nanomaterials and nanoencapsulation allow food brands to improve the shelf life of their products. The same technology also finds applications in food and beverage packaging to enhance mechanical barrier properties. For example, nanomaterials in food packaging enhance microbial resistance and prevent spoilage.
Nanotechnology startups further develop anti-ultraviolet (UV) coatings and moisture-prevention additives. Nanocarriers also function as delivery systems that carry food additives without compromising morphology. Lastly, food manufacturers utilize nanoparticles to improve nutraceutical delivery and improve its bioavailability.
Nulixir creates Food-grade Nanocarriers
Nulixir is a US-based startup that manufactures food-grade nanocarriers. The startup’s nanovesicles optimize the performance of food and beverage functional ingredients. They mask the flavors and performance in the body of functional ingredients.
Consequently, they improve bioavailability and enable controlled release of kinetics. This way, food & beverage manufacturers are able to mitigate in-house nanocarrier development and integrate ingredients like vitamins, minerals, and energy stimulants directly into production lines.
9. Semiconductor
The quantum size effect of semiconductor nanomaterials greatly impacts their physical and chemical properties. This includes improved connectivity, reduced form factors, and increased power efficiency, among others. Such nanoparticles thus find applications across industries as light-emitting nanodevices, waveguides, and more.
Moreover, nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reduce electrical resistance, lowering signal propagation delays. Consequently, nanotech powers high-performance computing (HPC) and ultra-dense memory technologies. The wider bandgap of semiconductor nanoparticles also improves their chemical stability at high temperatures, eliminating cooling systems for high-temperature electronics.
Innovation Semiconductor makes High-Resolution Micro-LED Displays
Innovation Semiconductor is a US-based startup that develops high-resolution micro-LED displays. The startup’s monolithic vertical architecture comprises an LED and a driving transistor in each nanowire sub-pixel.
It is a single wafer and material system, does not require a TFT backplane, and eliminates the mechanical transfer of LED elements. Moreover, the startup’s micro-LED displays feature increased brightness, high power efficiency, improved refresh rates, and stability in high power and temperature environments.
10. Personal Care
As consumers increasingly focus on personal wellness, personal care companies are working to increase product performance and safety. Nanotechnology-driven cosmetic formulations deliver desired properties by leveraging cellular substructure interactions. The nanomaterials used in personal care products include nanosomes, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and more.
With them, cosmetics manufacturers are able to increase entrapment efficiency, dermal penetration, physical stability, and more. Some startups offer more effective formulations for UV protection in sunscreens by leveraging nanomaterials. Moreover, delivering formulations using nanoparticles is much safer as the skin only absorbs the formulation.
Dou Ys’ Chem offers a Functionalized Cellulose Nanofiber (CNF) Formulation
Dou Ys’ Chem is a South Korean startup that provides CelluloSys, a functionalized CNF formulation. The startup’s mineralized CNF cream forms moisture barriers to quickly moisturize dry and rough skins.
It features enhanced adherence, fast absorption, minimum moisture loss, and a non-sticky texture. This ensures oil and moisture balance without greasiness or stickiness while keeping the skin moisturized for longer.
Discover All Examples & Applications of Nanotechnology
Researchers and companies are developing novel nanomaterials and extending nanotech use cases. Green nanotech and cost-effective solutions will advance the integration of this technology. Further, nanobots enable precision surgeries in healthcare and improve patient care while nanotechnology also enhances drug delivery. Get in touch to identify specific examples of nanotechnology or such solutions that advance your business!
