NEWSWORTHY
The charge of nanoparticles
Research conducted by chemists and chemical engineers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst revealed that positively charged nanoparticles are better absorbed by cell membranes whereas negatively charged nanoparticles diffuse and deliver drugs deep into tissues. To study different uptake and diffusions rates, they devised a three-dimensional cylindroidal “laboratory tumor” device. To control/change polarities for nanoparticles, they invented 2-nanometer core gold nanoparticles that when coated with varying chemicals develop specific polarities. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Nature.
Virus to assemble nanoscale components
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology identified a type of modified virus capable of assembling nanoscale components to split water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. They found that a bacterial virus called M13 mimics a wire-like device and along with a catalyst (iridium oxide) and a biological pigment (zinc porphyrins) is capable of splitting water molecules. This finding can help in organizing nanoscale components to control electron transfer rates in artificial photosynthesis. It could, in the future, also aid in generating electricity through fuel cells or could fuel automobiles. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Nature.
Nanosensors for civil structures
Engineers at the North Dakota State University, the National Institute of Applied Sciences, in Tunisia, and a team from Alabama A&M University devised wireless sensors for monitoring concrete systems. The device using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) was developed to monitor temperature and moisture within concrete and another device using a long gauge nanotube was used for crack detection in feasibility studies. These devices could enable construction of “self-sensing concrete structures.” See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity.
Mechanism for strength
Researchers from China and the United States (Brown University and University of Alabama) developed a mechanism to gauge the strength of nanostructured materials. They observed that as the space between the nanotwinned boundaries (i.e., when a grain of a material is divided, boundaries appear that are flat and crystal surfaces that reflect the crystal orientations across them) decreased from 100 nm to 15 nm the strength increased whereas decreasing it further resulted in the weakening of the material. A 3D simulation was performed to observe the mechanism that determines this peak strength. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Nature.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Nanoparticle vaccines
Researchers at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada developed a nanoparticle-based vaccine to cure type 1 diabetes which is caused when T-cells (a type of white blood cells) by mistake destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The nanoparticle vaccine, tested on mice, works by expanding the peptide-specific regulatory cells which restrains the immune attack on the beta cells. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, and Nanotech Wire.
Nano-bio-chip for oral cancer
Researchers at the Rice University, the University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio, and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, developed a device that can detect oral cancer from lesions on the tongue or cheek with a nano-bio-chip (a semiconductor-based device that can arrest and analyze biomarkers). They compared a nano-bio-chip to a traditional sensor and found the nano device to be 97 percent "sensitive" and 93 percent specific in detecting malignant or premalignant lesions in patients. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Cancer Prevention Research.
Nanoscale friction
A research team from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University studied nanoscale frictional characteristics using four atomically thin materials (graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), hexagonal-BN (h-BN), and niobium diselenide (NbSe2)). They examined each of the four types of atomic thin materials at the nanoscale and the bulk level and found that friction increased as the number of layers was reduced. This finding can be applied in future nanoelectronics. See AtoZ Nano and Nanowerk.
Silver nano for the environment
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have found that using nanoclusters of silver as a catalyst in the production of propylene oxide (used to make plastics) can reduce the amount of harmful by-products. It was found that the three-atom clusters or clusters of 3.5 nm were active and selective catalysts at low temperatures. See AtoZ Nano, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Science.
Harmless carbon nanotubes
A study conducted by scientists in Ireland, Sweden and the US revealed that an enzyme called myeloperoxidase (MPO) (found in white blood cells) can break carbon nanotubes into carbon and water. This finding can reduce effects such as severe inflammation, impaired lung functions, and in some cases cancer caused due to the inability of breaking down carbon nanotubes into harmless components. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanotech Wire, Nanowerk, and Nature.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
SEPARATING THE HYPE AND THE BUZZ - Monday, April 05, 2010
NEWSWORTHY
World’s smallest superconductor
Researchers at Ohio University created the world’s smallest superconductor comprised of only four molecules with a length of 3.5 nm and width of 0.87 nm. They placed molecules of an organic salt of (BETS)2GaCl4 (bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene) on a silicon surface and observed that superconductivity was existent among molecular chains as small as four molecules. This finding could aid the use of organic molecules in nanoelectronics. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.
New way to produce nanomaterials
Researchers from the University of Maryland developed a new non-epitaxial method that uses thermodynamic processes to create nanomaterials. Some of the benefits of this method include overcoming limitations of epitaxy such as high constraints on deposition thickness, requirement of “lattice matching,” no need of clean room facilities, and no need to make materials in a vacuum. This method will help create efficient nanostructures for computer chips, photovoltaic cells, and biomarkers. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Science.
Nanocrystals that heal themselves
Scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory created a mechanism, the “loading-unloading” effect, which will allow nanocrystalline materials that were affected during radiation to heal themselves. The loading process captures interstitials (atoms that detach themselves from the crystalline structure when radiated) and traps them in the grain boundaries of the nanocrystalline material. Then the unloading procedure delivers the trapped interstitial back into the vacancies (spaces left due to displaced atoms). These effects could lead to developing materials that are radiation-tolerant that could be used in nuclear energy applications. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Science.
Power for nanosensors
Researchers from Georgia Tech University combined two piezoelectric nanogenerators with two types of nanowires that can be used to generate power for nanosensing devices. Both ends of the nanowires were inserted into a polymer substrate and compressed in a nanogenerator enclosure. The wires generated current due to compression and as more strain was produced more current was gained. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
New nanocomposite
Researchers from the Aalto University created a light weight, strong, nacreous shell-like nanocomposite for potential use in telecommunications and aerospace applications. This material consists of alternating inorganic nanoscale platelets attached by polymers that self-assemble in a one-step process. See AtoZ Nano and Nanotech Wire.
Wrinkled nanotube coating
Researchers from the North Dakota State University revealed pictures showing wrinkles in a single walled carbon nanotube coating. When nanotubes are bent their conductivity levels vary sometimes irreversibly. When extreme strain or stretching is applied to the coating, it has been observed to bend in ways that result in them losing their networks responsible for conductivity. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Physical Review Letters.
The nano pill
Engineers from the University of Florida have made a pill with a microchip and an antenna, such that doctors, friends, and family could be notified about when the patient intakes medicine. The white capsule has thin lines of antenna printed through an ink of non-toxic silver nanoparticles. When the pill is taken an external device registers it. This device then sends a notification to cell phones or laptops that have been linked to it. See AtoZ Nano and Nanowerk.
Flexible Nano for chips
Researchers from De Montfort University are working on using gold nanoparticles and small molecules for flexible memory chips that could be embedded into paper or clothing. Nanoparticles charge when exposed to an electric field and have an ability to retain that charge even after removal from the field. They plan on storing information in the charged and uncharged particles. See AtoZ Nano.
World’s smallest superconductor
Researchers at Ohio University created the world’s smallest superconductor comprised of only four molecules with a length of 3.5 nm and width of 0.87 nm. They placed molecules of an organic salt of (BETS)2GaCl4 (bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene) on a silicon surface and observed that superconductivity was existent among molecular chains as small as four molecules. This finding could aid the use of organic molecules in nanoelectronics. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.
New way to produce nanomaterials
Researchers from the University of Maryland developed a new non-epitaxial method that uses thermodynamic processes to create nanomaterials. Some of the benefits of this method include overcoming limitations of epitaxy such as high constraints on deposition thickness, requirement of “lattice matching,” no need of clean room facilities, and no need to make materials in a vacuum. This method will help create efficient nanostructures for computer chips, photovoltaic cells, and biomarkers. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Science.
Nanocrystals that heal themselves
Scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory created a mechanism, the “loading-unloading” effect, which will allow nanocrystalline materials that were affected during radiation to heal themselves. The loading process captures interstitials (atoms that detach themselves from the crystalline structure when radiated) and traps them in the grain boundaries of the nanocrystalline material. Then the unloading procedure delivers the trapped interstitial back into the vacancies (spaces left due to displaced atoms). These effects could lead to developing materials that are radiation-tolerant that could be used in nuclear energy applications. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Science.
Power for nanosensors
Researchers from Georgia Tech University combined two piezoelectric nanogenerators with two types of nanowires that can be used to generate power for nanosensing devices. Both ends of the nanowires were inserted into a polymer substrate and compressed in a nanogenerator enclosure. The wires generated current due to compression and as more strain was produced more current was gained. See AtoZ Nano, First Science, Nanowerk, and Nature Nano.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
New nanocomposite
Researchers from the Aalto University created a light weight, strong, nacreous shell-like nanocomposite for potential use in telecommunications and aerospace applications. This material consists of alternating inorganic nanoscale platelets attached by polymers that self-assemble in a one-step process. See AtoZ Nano and Nanotech Wire.
Wrinkled nanotube coating
Researchers from the North Dakota State University revealed pictures showing wrinkles in a single walled carbon nanotube coating. When nanotubes are bent their conductivity levels vary sometimes irreversibly. When extreme strain or stretching is applied to the coating, it has been observed to bend in ways that result in them losing their networks responsible for conductivity. See AtoZ Nano, Nanowerk, and Physical Review Letters.
The nano pill
Engineers from the University of Florida have made a pill with a microchip and an antenna, such that doctors, friends, and family could be notified about when the patient intakes medicine. The white capsule has thin lines of antenna printed through an ink of non-toxic silver nanoparticles. When the pill is taken an external device registers it. This device then sends a notification to cell phones or laptops that have been linked to it. See AtoZ Nano and Nanowerk.
Flexible Nano for chips
Researchers from De Montfort University are working on using gold nanoparticles and small molecules for flexible memory chips that could be embedded into paper or clothing. Nanoparticles charge when exposed to an electric field and have an ability to retain that charge even after removal from the field. They plan on storing information in the charged and uncharged particles. See AtoZ Nano.
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