SEPARATING THE HYPE AND THE BUZZ - Wednesday, January 20, 2010

NEWSWORTHY

Nanolens for better imaging
Researchers from the Northeastern University developed a nanolens that could improve imaging technologies. The nanolens is made up of nanowires or metamaterials (materials that are manufactured and not found naturally). The nanowires are 20nm in diameter and can be aligned suitably to guide the path of light in a desired manner. See AtoZ Nano, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Applied Physics Letters.

MRI+Nanodiamond=Improved signal intensity
At Northwestern University researchers found that combining nanodiamonds with an MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent improves the signal intensity and that in turn improves the image contrast. They used gadolinium(III)-nanodiamond complex that enhanced the relaxivity (a contrast efficacy indicator) by a factor of ten. This resulted in improvement in contrast and image resolution. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Nano Letters.

Nanoburrs
Scientists from Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed nanoburrs that are particles coated with tiny proteins so that they stick onto target proteins for drug delivery. The nanoburrs act on basement membranes (lining of the arterial walls, exposed only if any injury were to occur) and could be used to treat atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, and Nanowerk.

Nanotechnology to sense cancer biomarkers
Researchers from Yale University have developed a nanosensor that can identify biomarkers for prostate and breast cancer in whole blood. The silicon nanoribbon sensor filters out the antigens specific to prostate and breast cancer from whole blood. The test takes less than 20 minutes and the readings are precise. See Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Superlattices
Researchers from Missouri University of Science and Technology developed superlattices (nanoscale-structures) capable of manipulating their resistances. Defect chemistry and compositional superlattices were developed from magnetite and zinc ferrite, grown on a single gold crystal, and were placed in a beaker filled with a solution. Superlattices built through the defect-chemistry method displaced efficiency in altering their resistances through variations in applied voltage. Building such superlattices could lead to improvements in computing devices. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Artificial DNA
German researchers developed artificial DNA while preserving its original structure. The artificial DNA has a thin nanowire inside and its nucleobases are replaced by artificial components which bind tightly to silver ions. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Nature Chemistry.

Nano contact lens
Researchers from the University of Western Ontario created contact lens that could be used to measure glucose levels in diabetic patients. Nanoparticles used in these lenses react with the glucose molecules found in tears and change color when there is a change in the glucose content. The study is still in its developing stages. See Nanotech Wire and Nanowerk.

Nanocoating to stop light from reflecting
Physicists from the University of Stuttgart developed a nanocoating that prevents light from reflecting when applied to surfaces. The metallic nanoparticles act as an “anti-reflex coating” and eliminate light reflection almost entirely. This coating can be used in integrated optics or in solar cells. See Nanowerk and Physical Review B.