Chemical & Engineering News NanoFocus

[C&EN May 5, 2008]

Nanoscience

A new twist on nanowire growth leads to stunning structures.

[C&EN May 5, 2008]

How to dissolve your carbon nanotubes

Although carbon nanotubes are generally regarded as insoluble in all solvents.

[C&EN May 5, 2008]

Souped-up nanomotors

Drop a bimetal nanowire, composed of a segment of gold and a segment of platinum, into a solution of aqueous hydrogen peroxide and the tiny rod will chug along at about 8 µm/second.

[C&EN May 5, 2008]

Nano-biointeractions need more study

A coordinated global research effort is needed to predict how engineered nanoparticles will interact with biological systems.

[C&EN April 30, 2008]

Firing Up The Tank With Nanoparticles

Aluminum or aluminum oxide particles could help improve fuel efficiency.

[C&EN April 21, 2008]

Nano TV Series Debuts

Public broadcasting provides a forum for discussing the risks and benefits of nanotechnology.

[C&EN April 21, 2008]

Peptide Nanostructure Kills Cancer Cells

By adding crown ether moieties to a polypeptide, chemists in Canada have created a nanoscale chemotherapeutic compound that can selectively and efficiently kill prostate cancer cells (Chem. Commun., DOI: 10.1039/b800528a).

[C&EN April 21, 2008]

Nanocomposite Strategy Eliminates Matrix

The narrow spectral width and high quantum efficiency of lanthanide spectral emission make rare-earth-doped nanocrystals good candidates for optical materials.

[ES&T April 9, 2008]

Silver socks have cloudy lining

A first assessment of socks containing silver nanoparticles, meant to cut down on foot odors, shows that the fabrics release most of the tiny particles in the wash—and possibly into the environment via solid waste from water treatment plants.

[C&EN April 7, 2008]

Toxic Socks

Silver nanoparticles intended to control odor release in the wash.

[C&EN April 7, 2008]

Nanobacteria May Only Be Nanoparticles

Nanobacteria are a putative novel life form first identified in the 1990s and implicated in the origin of life and in a variety of diseases.

[C&EN March 31, 2008]

Building Businesses

Turning university research into products takes time, money, and initiative as four nanotechnology companies' experiences show.

[C&EN March 31, 2008]

Stock Market

Indexes Track Pool Of Public Nanotech Companies.

[C&EN March 31, 2008]

Deciphering Nanoethics

Book is a guide to the future even if the ethical questions have not yet matured.

[ES&T April 1, 2008]

All nanotubes are not created equal

Significant differences among different single-walled carbon nanotubes make it difficult to model their environmental risk.

[AC April 1, 2008]

Photothermal Methods for Single Nonluminescent Nano-Objects

New optical methods allow the detection of tiny individual nano-objects, opening a wide range of applications.

[C&EN March 17, 2008]

FDA Confronts Nanotechnology

Agency believes it has the authority it needs to regulate nanomaterials.

[C&EN March 3, 2008]

Nanotech Strategy

Prioritizing federal efforts for studying health and safety of nanomaterials evolves.

[C&EN February 21, 2008]

Gecko Feet Inspire Medical Adhesive

Nanostructured polymers may replace sutures and staples.

[ES&T February 20, 2008]

Risks of nanotechnology remain uncertain

Despite an onslaught of research, scientists cannot say which nanomaterials are hazardous to the environment or human health.

[C&EN February 18, 2008]

Powerful Threads

Kevlar-nanowire hybrid collects energy from gentle friction.

[C&EN January 31, 2008]

DNA-Guided Crystallization

Selective biochemical interactions organize metal nanoparticles.

[C&EN January 28, 2008]

Graphene Ribbons

Slim carbon strips show promise as semiconductors.

[C&EN January 21, 2008]

Nanotubes Create Darkest Dark Material

Materials science has a dark side. Researchers report that they have made the world's darkest material from a low-density, vertically aligned array of carbon nanotubes.

[C&EN January 7, 2008]

Strategic Plan For U.S. Nanotech Updated

As mandated by law, the strategic plan that guides the National Nanotechnology Initiative has been updated to reflect progress in the field.

[C&EN December 24, 2007]

A Material World

Images captured during research turned into award-winning art.

[C&EN December 24, 2007]

Assessing Nanotech Exposure

The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health is seeking input on its interim guidance for the medical screening of workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles.

[C&EN December 6, 2007]

Squishy Cancer Cells

Atomic force microscopy pinpoints cancer cells by their softness.

[C&EN December 3, 2007]

'Nano-Flares' Probe Cellular Activities

Northwestern University chemists report fluorescence probes that can be used as transfection agents.

[C&EN November 19, 2007]

Nanoscale Doping Via Chemistry

Surface reactions tailor silicon's properties with high spatial precision.

[ES&T November 14, 2007]

The challenge of regulating nanomaterials

As the nanotechnology industry thunders ahead, filling consumer products with nanomaterials, experts worry about the lack of adequate oversight and regulation.

[C&EN November 12, 2007]

Carbon Nanotubes By The Metric Ton

Anticipating new commercial applications, producers increase capacity.

[C&EN November 12, 2007]

Product Stewardship

Nanotube Producers Take Concerns Seriously.

[C&EN November 6, 2007]

Hot-Wiring Hydrogenase With A Carbon Nanotube

Single-walled nanotube serves as an electrical wire to help harness enzyme's catalytic powers.

[C&EN November 6, 2007]

ACS Launches Nanotation

Online forum highlights nanoscience and nanotechnology research.

[C&EN October 22, 2007]

Tuning In With A Nanotube

Carbon nanotube is employed as an AM radio demodulator.

[C&EN October 22, 2007]

Setting Priorities For Nanotech

The state of environmental, health, and safety research of engineered nanoparticles gets a critical exam.

[C&EN October 22, 2007]

Nanowire Powers pH Meter

Design of coaxial nanostructures yields stable, powerful solar cells.

[C&EN October 22, 2007]

A Golden Close-Up

Crystal structure of a gold-thiolate cluster reveals surprising surface chemistry.

[C&EN October 15, 2007]

Challenges Of Risk-Based Nanotech Research

Understanding the environmental health and safety (EHS) implications of engineered nanotechnology is receiving a lot of attention these days.

[C&EN October 15, 2007]

Silver Nanoparticles Monitored in Vivo

Silver nanoparticles passively diffuse into zebrafish embryos through their external pores.

[C&EN October 15, 2007]

Fine Art Gets A Nano Sponge Bath

Tiny particles help tidy up delicate frescoes.

[C&EN October 1, 2007]

Nanotubes Imaged In Fruit Fly Larvae

Using near-infrared fluorescence imaging, scientists at Rice University have managed to sneak a peek at single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs).

[C&EN September 5, 2007]

Companies Invest In Nanotubes

Start-up Nanotailor targets single-walled tubes, while Bayer expands multiwalled tubes.

[C&EN September 3, 2007]

Gold Nanoparticles Carry Paclitaxel

One day, nanoparticles studded with a powerful therapeutic drug might be used to deliver that drug to disease sites in the body.

[C&EN August 27, 2007]

Tapping The Sun

Basic chemistry drives development of new low-cost solar cells.

[C&EN August 23, 2007]

Nanotube Synthesis Emits Toxic By-Products

Evaluating small-scale processes could shed light on potential large-scale environmental issues.

[C&EN August 20, 2007]

Improving Dialysis Membranes

Nanoporous alumina membrane mimics human kidneys better than current technology.

[C&EN August 20, 2007]

Nanotech Survey

OECD countries are examining nanomaterials.

[C&EN August 20, 2007]

In Living Color

Nanoscale fluorescence imaging now in multicolor.

[C&EN August 16, 2007]

New Chemistry Journals Emerge

Nature Chemistry, ACS Nano, and ChemSusChem are unveiled.

[C&EN August 6, 2007]

Tailor-Made Nanostructures

New methods offer precise control of polymeric micelles.

[C&EN July 23, 2007]

Nanotoxicity

In vivo study of fullerenes contradicts in vitro data.

[C&EN July 9, 2007]

Pacing Nanotechnology

The nanotechnology movement has engendered an eclectic community of historians, lawyers, communicators, educators, environmentalists, and others in the science, technology, and society.