https://phys.org/nanotech-news/ en-us Nanotechnology. The latest news on nanoscience, nanoelectronics, science and technology. Updated Daily. Many cellular functions in the human body are controlled by biological droplets called liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) droplets. These droplets, made of soft biological materials, exist inside living cells but are not enclosed by membranes like most cell structures. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-method-synthetic-dna-droplet.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:00:10 EDT news646578001 A toothpaste-based transistor is the latest innovation from the research team at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) in Milan, which pushes the boundaries of edible electronics. This innovative nano-device is expected to become a key component of future smart pills, designed to monitor health conditions from within the body and then safely dissolve after completing their function. The research findings have been published in the journal Advanced Science. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-edible-toothpaste-based-transistor.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:36:46 EDT news646565801 A team of chemical biologists at the University of Washington, working with colleagues at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, has developed a protein sequencing process that involves pulling proteins through nanopores in a lipid membrane. Their paper is published in the journal Nature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-biologists-sequence-proteins-nanopores.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:32:26 EDT news646565540 Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are growing in adoption, used in devices like smartphones and laptops, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. But supplies of nickel and cobalt commonly used in the cathodes of these batteries are limited. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-manganese-cathodes-boost-lithium-ion.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:57:07 EDT news646487820 Everyone knows it from their childhood days in the sandpit: sand is filtered using a sieve. Larger stones get stuck, while fine sand can fall through the sieve. The same principle is used when making coffee: water and aromatic substances can pass through unhindered, while the fine-grained coffee powder sticks to the coffee filter. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-filtering-mussel-power-nanomembrane-efficient.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:13:27 EDT news646485198 In the process of oil extraction, hard mineral buildup inside the pipes and equipment can cause serious operational damage, safety issues such as pipe explosion and significant economic losses. The current methods for descaling mineral buildup, however, can adversely impact the environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nanoparticle-mineral-buildup-equipment-oil.html Nanomaterials Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:25:04 EDT news646478702 With strong bactericidal properties, graphene has the potential to become a game changer in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So far there have been no efficient ways to control these properties—and thus no way to make use of graphene's potential in health care. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-graphene-spike-mat-ordinary-fridge.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:50:12 EDT news646401006 Battery performance is heavily influenced by the non-uniformity and failure of individual electrode particles. Understanding the reaction mechanisms and failure modes at nanoscale level is key to advancing battery technologies and extending their lifespan. However, capturing real-time electrochemical evolution at this scale remains challenging due to the limitations of existing sensing methods, which lack the necessary spatial resolution and sensitivity. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-quantum-approach-captures-nanoscale-electrochemical.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:33:27 EDT news646400005 It's almost time to dust off the Halloween decorations and adorn the house with all manner of spooky things, including the classic polyester spider webs. Scientists reporting in ACS Nano have made their own version of fake spider silk, but this one consists of proteins and heals wounds instead of haunting hallways. The artificial silk was strong enough to be woven into bandages that helped treat joint injuries and skin lesions in mice. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-artificial-spider-silk-generation-medical.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:50:03 EDT news646397402 Topological insulators raise the exciting hope of realizing lossless energy transport, which is true at ultralow temperatures. However, topological insulators fail to maintain this lossless 'magic' at room temperature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveal-reality-lossless-energy-topological.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:57:53 EDT news646394267 The future of technology has an age-old problem: rust. When iron-containing metal reacts with oxygen and moisture, the resulting corrosion greatly impedes the longevity and use of parts in the automotive industry. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-free-approach-advance-2d-electronics.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Mon, 23 Sep 2024 12:00:46 EDT news646311641 UC Irvine-led research reveals that the optical properties of materials can be dramatically enhanced—not by changing the materials themselves, but by giving the light new properties. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-momentum-pure-silicon-indirect-bandgap.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:10:02 EDT news646059727 Spintronics uses the spins of electrons to perform logic operations or store information. Ideally, spintronic devices could operate faster and more energy-efficiently than conventional semiconductor devices. However, it is still difficult to create and manipulate spin textures in materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-analysis-heterostructures-spintronics-desired-quantum.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:37:03 EDT news646054621 Diabetes, a widespread condition affecting approximately 13% of American adults, is often accompanied by complications such as impaired wound healing. If left unchecked, this can lead to severe outcomes, including the need for amputation. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-harnessing-exosomes-hydrogels-advanced-diabetic.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:18:58 EDT news646053534 When we need to recharge, we might take a vacation or relax at the spa. But what if we could recharge at the cellular level, fighting against aging and disease with the microscopic building blocks that make up the human body? https://phys.org/news/2024-09-recharging-mitochondria-nanoflowers-simulate-energy.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:17:04 EDT news646053421 RNA interference (RNAi) technology has gradually become a cutting-edge technology for treating diseases such as genetic disorders and cancer due to its huge potential in gene expression regulation. However, the efficient delivery and safety of short interfering RNA (siRNA) remain key challenges for its clinical application. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-cholesterol-exosome-rna-drug-delivery.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:30:03 EDT news646050601 A research team has unveiled an innovative technology for ultraprecision surface polishing and cleaning using simultaneously operating magnetic micro spinbots. These tiny robots, capable of nanometer-scale contaminant removal and polishing, offer a lightweight, scalable, and cost-effective alternative for advanced industries like semiconductors and optics. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-magnetic-micro-spinbots-ultraprecise-surface.html Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:19:04 EDT news646049941 In a study published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers discovered that cuproptosis may serve as a new target for radiosensitization in re-irradiation. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-copper-based-nanocapsules-shown-radiotherapy.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:17:22 EDT news646049838 Like moths to a flame, microbes can also be moved by light. Using this knowledge, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University's Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS) have demonstrated a method to detect the presence of viruses quickly and using only a small sample. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-immunoassay-coronavirus-spike-proteins-minutes.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:02:02 EDT news645958921 The importance of testing for diseases was thrust into the limelight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have undergone a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) or ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test within the past four years. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-janus-particles-rapidly-accurately-covid.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:24:57 EDT news645956693 Depression is a significant challenge to diagnose and treat. Among the factors influencing depression onset and severity, there is growing evidence for chemical imbalances that generate oxidative stress throughout the body. To address this problem, researchers reporting in the journal Langmuir have developed antioxidant carbon dot nanozymes (synthetic enzyme-like substances) that reduced oxidative stress, rebalanced gut microbes and alleviated stress-induced depression in rats. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-antioxidant-carbon-dot-nanozymes-alleviate.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:08:06 EDT news645898081 Anyone who has ever pet a cat or shuffled their feet across the carpet knows that rubbing objects together generates static electricity. But an explanation for this phenomenon has eluded researchers for more than two millennia. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-petting-cat-static-electricity.html Nanophysics Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:10:27 EDT news645891019 After thousands of years as a highly valuable commodity, silk continues to surprise. Now it may help usher in a whole new direction for microelectronics and computing. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-2d-silk-protein-layers-graphene.html Nanomaterials Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:40:10 EDT news645889201 In the world of nanotechnology, the development of dynamic systems that respond to molecular signals is becoming increasingly important. The DNA origami technique, whereby DNA is programmed so as to produce functional nanostructures, plays a key role in these endeavors. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-dna-origami-fluorescent-probes-precisely.html Bio & Medicine Nanophysics Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:17:03 EDT news645880621 Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing noise is crucial. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-noise-power-nanoscale.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:34:04 EDT news645795241 Researchers at the University of Toronto and its hospital partners have developed a method for co-delivering therapeutic RNA and potent drugs directly into cells, potentially leading to a more effective treatment of diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-method-rna-drugs-cells.html Bio & Medicine Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:24:04 EDT news645722642 Water filters on the market today can remove some contaminants, but they're not designed to capture microplastics. In fact, some of them may actually add small plastics into drinking water during the filtration process. What's worse is these microplastics can cause inflammation, increase the risk of cancer and act as carriers for harmful chemicals that trigger other health problems. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-filter-fabric-tiny-plastics.html Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:38:05 EDT news645709077 Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body's own immune system to help fight cancer. This is by stimulating the immune response to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. The treatment involves using substances that boost the immune system, teaching immune cells to target cancer, or using engineered cells to specifically target and kill cancer cells. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nano-sized-cell-particles-boost.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 16 Sep 2024 10:14:02 EDT news645700436 A research group from Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a novel method for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapy by transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which improved the therapeutic efficacy and realized real-time treatment visualization. The study was published in Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-trimetallic-based-nanocarriers-method-visualized.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:47:03 EDT news645698821 Physicists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have achieved controlled conformational arrangements in nanostructures using a flexible precursor and selenium doping, enhancing material properties and structural homogeneity. Their method advances on-surface synthesis for the design and development of engineered nanomaterials. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-physicists-high-nanostructures-selenium-doping.html Nanophysics Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:27:04 EDT news645697622