News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

Researchers at Rice University have shown that six-sided aluminum nanoparticles with sharply pointed corners had a reaction rate five times higher than nanocubes and 10 times higher than 14-sided nanocrystals. This study shows that a nanoparticle's shape not only affects how it interacts with light but also affects its ability to use light to catalyze chemical reactions. The work is part of an ongoing green chemistry effort by the researchers to develop commercially viable light-activated nanocatalysts that can insert energy into chemical reactions with surgical precision.

Researchers at Rice University have shown that six-sided aluminum nanoparticles with sharply pointed corners had a reaction rate five times higher than nanocubes and 10 times higher than 14-sided nanocrystals. This study shows that a nanoparticle's shape not only affects how it interacts with light but also affects its ability to use light to catalyze chemical reactions. The work is part of an ongoing green chemistry effort by the researchers to develop commercially viable light-activated nanocatalysts that can insert energy into chemical reactions with surgical precision.

Researchers at Arizona State University have described a method for examining proteins in keen detail by incorporating a phenomenon known as surface plasmon resonance into an innovative type of microscope and by using polystyrene nanoparticles, whose size was precisely controlled. While surface plasmon resonance has been a powerful technique for investigating interactions of bacteria and viruses, the study marks the first occasion when this technique has successfully been used to image single molecules, in this case, proteins.

Researchers at Arizona State University have described a method for examining proteins in keen detail by incorporating a phenomenon known as surface plasmon resonance into an innovative type of microscope and by using polystyrene nanoparticles, whose size was precisely controlled. While surface plasmon resonance has been a powerful technique for investigating interactions of bacteria and viruses, the study marks the first occasion when this technique has successfully been used to image single molecules, in this case, proteins.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have created carbon nanotube pores that are so efficient at removing salt from water that they are comparable to commercial desalination membranes. These tiny pores are just 0.8 nanometers in diameter.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have created carbon nanotube pores that are so efficient at removing salt from water that they are comparable to commercial desalination membranes. These tiny pores are just 0.8 nanometers in diameter.

By varying the energy and dose of tightly focused electron beams, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Pusan National University in South Korea have demonstrated the ability to both etch away and deposit high-resolution nanoscale patterns on two-dimensional layers of graphene oxide. The 3-D additive/subtractive "sculpting" can be done without changing the chemistry of the electron beam deposition chamber, providing the foundation for building a new generation of nanoscale structures.

By varying the energy and dose of tightly focused electron beams, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Pusan National University in South Korea have demonstrated the ability to both etch away and deposit high-resolution nanoscale patterns on two-dimensional layers of graphene oxide. The 3-D additive/subtractive "sculpting" can be done without changing the chemistry of the electron beam deposition chamber, providing the foundation for building a new generation of nanoscale structures.

Researchers at Rutgers University have created a smart drug delivery system that reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. The team's unique drug delivery system consists of ultrathin nanomaterials, sugar polymers and neural proteins. The system, which releases an anti-inflammatory molecule (methylprednisolone), can create a favorable micro-environment to promote tissue repair and recovery after neurological injury.

Researchers at Rutgers University have created a smart drug delivery system that reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. The team's unique drug delivery system consists of ultrathin nanomaterials, sugar polymers and neural proteins. The system, which releases an anti-inflammatory molecule (methylprednisolone), can create a favorable micro-environment to promote tissue repair and recovery after neurological injury.