The Keepers of the Gate Challenge

The ability to identify a problem and work with others to determine a solution is the core of the engineering design process. Students use their problem-solving abilities and team brainstorm session to figure out how they will solve the challenge: designing an experiment to test their hypothesis. Students recognize a problem and work through different channels to find a way to solve it. Additionally, students learn about bionanotechnology, a field of study that advances biomedical engineering technology.

After this lesson, students should be able to:

• Define nanotechnology, nanoscience and biomedical engineering.
• Explain how quantum dots are an example of nanotechnology used to detect cancer.
• Define the challenge associated with this unit.

Using the Introduction/Motivation content, present students with the Grand Challenge question, which they will later use to Generate Ideas and brainstorm in the associated activities, "Cell Membrane Journal and Brainstorm." and Grand Challenge Journaling and Brainstorming.

Show students the following video and articles so they gain a better understanding of the applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology:

• For Multiple Perspectives, show the TEDx video with Timothy Hanks at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k02DC7K52Ek.
• Have students read "The Science Behind The Nanotechnology Phenomenon" article, which describes the origin and science behind nanoscience.
• Students can also read the article "Applying Nanotechnology to Human Health: Revolution in Biomedical Sciences".
• As a class, read the "Finding Cancer Cells with Quantum Dots" article at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ac041673t. This article explains how quantum dots are used to detect and target cancer cells—an example nanoscience and nanotechnology application.

Conclude by describing how biomedical engineers use these concepts to help further explore the origins of problems with the human body. Biomedical engineers also develop better nanotechnology that is applied to the detection of diseases within the body. Then relate this back to the challenge question: understanding why saltwater helps our sore throats feel better. Explain how understanding the reasons behind a sore throat and defining possible solutions relies on obtaining a better understanding of the nanoscience involved at a cellular level.

Have you ever wondered why certain things work in your body? And, have you ever wondered how you can make things in your body work better? It is interesting to realize that many of the things that we wonder about have a unique scientific reason that makes them possible.

In this lesson, you will be presented with a problem that many of you have probably experienced and you will be challenged to figure out its scientific roots and solutions. The ability to identify a problem and work with others to determine a solution is the core of the engineering design process. In this case, you will ultimately design an experiment to test your hypothesis. You will listen to a doctor and read an article about quantum dots. (This is part of the Multiple Perspectives portion of the legacy cycle.)

This is your Grand Challenge: "You are spending the night with your grandmother when your throat starts to feel sore. Your grandma tells you to gargle with salt water and it will feel much better. Thinking this is an old-wives tale, you scoff, but when you try it later that night it works! Why?"

Before you can solve a problem like this, you need to first understand the scientific principles surrounding the problem. This is one of the first steps engineers take: brainstorming and researching content involving the problem. In this case, we will first listen to Timothy Hanks discuss the importance of nanotechnology and read articles on how it can be applied to solving medical problems, such as a sore throat. 

Pre-Lesson Questions: Evaluate students' prior knowledge by asking them to reflect and respond to a few questions about the lesson topics. Example questions:

• What is nanoscience?
• How might nanoscience help understand why you have a sore throat?
• What do engineers do?
• Why do you need to know about nanoscience?

Homework: Begin brainstorming possible hypotheses for why salt water helps sore throats feel better.

TEDx Talk with Timoty Hanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k02DC7K52Ek

"The Science Behind The Nanotechnology Phenomenon" article: https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1935

"Applying Nanotechnology to Human Health: Revolution in Biomedical Sciences" article: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnt/2009/184702/

Link for "Finding Cancer Cells with Quantum Dots" article: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ac041673t