Nanotechnology innovations, industrial applications and patents

Nanotechnology can be defined as the use of nanomaterials for human benefit. Nanomaterials have unique properties due to their physical and chemical characteristics at the nanoscale (10(-9) nm). Nowadays, nanotechnology is providing new products in all industrial sectors. This article reviews innovations in fields such as biomedical, diagnosis of diseases, therapeutics, agriculture and food, nanofertilizers, oil, gas, textile and cosmeceuticals and packaging. Recent trends of patents and scholarly publications in nanotechnology are also discussed.