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Archive for July, 2008

Weighing atoms with nanotechnology

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 31st, 2008

A double-walled carbon nanotube forms a device able to weigh a single atom of gold.

Nanotechnology creates structures that mimic proteins

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 30th, 2008

A major advance in mimicking protein function has been made by scientists working with peptoids.

New method for nanotechnology images light atoms on graphene surface

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 29th, 2008

The recently demonstrated ability to visualize individual atoms of carbon and hydrogen on a graphene surface opens new avenues for studying the behavior of hydrocarbon chains.

Measuring picometers to advance nanotechnology

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 28th, 2008

A recent review describes the advantages to nanotech of advances in electron microscopy that allow mapping electron states localized at or between atoms.

Nanotechnology builds flexible electronic circuits from random networks of carbon nanotubes

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 25th, 2008

A nanotech approach assembles flexible electronic circuits from random networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Activating cancer-fighting cells using nanotechnology

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 24th, 2008

Single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles may provide a nanotech method to activate certain cancer-fighting white blood cells outside a patient’s body in the hope that they will more effectively fight the patient’s cancer upon being returned to the patient.

Detecting motion in simple nanotech machines

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 23rd, 2008

Japanese researchers have succeeded in visualizing the motion of a molecular rotor.

Graphene strongest material for nanotechnology applications

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 22nd, 2008

Researchers at Columbia University have demonstrated that graphene is the strongest known material.

Roundup and removal of cancer cells using nanotechnology

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 21st, 2008

A nanotech method to capture cancer cells and remove them from the body might be useful for combating ovarian cancer, in particular.

Sorting carbon nanotubes for different nanotechnology applications

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 18th, 2008

An international team of scientists has shown that semiconductor nanotubes can be attracted to and aligned on surfaces chemically modified with amino groups, while surfaces with phenyl groups attract metallic nanotubes.

Nanotechnology may be able to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 17th, 2008

Researchers expect protein-conjugated quantum rods to be able to transport multiple agents across the blood-brain barrier so that they could function synergistically.

Nanotechnology provides key capability for artificial photosynthesis

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 16th, 2008

Chinese scientists have developed a nanotech solution to harvest energy from multiple electrons—something alternative approaches to artificial photosynthesis have not yet managed to do.

Open source nanotechnology for clean water

Posted by Christine Peterson on July 15th, 2008

From the conference report Setting an Agenda for the Social Studies of Nanotechnology (PDF): For example, researchers at Rice University have been working on the use of nanoparticles to absorb arsenic from drinking water supplies. Nanoscale iron oxide absorbs arsenic effi ciently, but in many countries implementing the process is either too expensive or technically [...]

Another way to manipulate individual DNA molecules

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 15th, 2008

Individual DNA molecules can also be manipulated by optical tweezers and microfabricated structures.

Atomically precise nanotechnology leading to new catalysts

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 14th, 2008

The emerging ability to control the sizes of these clusters to atomic precision affords new opportunities for designing novel catalysts.

Nanotechnology therapies for cancer progress, block metastasis

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 11th, 2008

In experiments in mice, chemotherapy drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles targeted to the blood vessels that supply nutrients to tumor cells prevented the usually fatal spread of the cancer to additional sites.

Nanotechnology may allow hip implants to sense growth of new bone

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 10th, 2008

The nanotech-prepared titanium surface serves as a sensor to detect bone formation.

Artificial DNA base pairs for nanotechnology building blocks

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 9th, 2008

An ‘artificial DNA’ in which the two natural DNA base pairs have been replaced by two non-natural base pairs may provide useful new nanotech building blocks.

Nanotechnology may decrease energy costs for desalination

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 8th, 2008

Scientists have continued progress toward the goal of nanotech membranes for water purification that will greatly decrease the energy cost for desalination.

Nanotechnology mimics virus sizes and shapes for more efficient gene therapy

Posted by Jim Lewis on July 7th, 2008

A nanotech replacement for virus vectors offers a safer way to introduce DNA into cells for gene therapy.