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

A research team from Caltech and UCLA has demonstrated a promising way to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into ethylene—an important chemical used to produce plastics, solvents, and cosmetics. The scientists developed nanoscale copper wires with specially shaped surfaces to catalyze a chemical reaction that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while generating ethylene. Computational studies of the reaction show the shaped catalyst favors the production of ethylene over hydrogen or methane.

A research team from Caltech and UCLA has demonstrated a promising way to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into ethylene—an important chemical used to produce plastics, solvents, and cosmetics. The scientists developed nanoscale copper wires with specially shaped surfaces to catalyze a chemical reaction that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while generating ethylene. Computational studies of the reaction show the shaped catalyst favors the production of ethylene over hydrogen or methane.

Researchers at Arizona State University have described a technique for using LEGO-like elements at the scale of a few nanometers. These design elements were able to self-assemble, with each piece identifying its proper mate and linking up in a precise sequence to complete the desired nanostructure. While the technique is simulated on computer, the strategy is applicable to self-assembly methods common to the field of DNA nanotechnology.

Researchers at Arizona State University have described a technique for using LEGO-like elements at the scale of a few nanometers. These design elements were able to self-assemble, with each piece identifying its proper mate and linking up in a precise sequence to complete the desired nanostructure. While the technique is simulated on computer, the strategy is applicable to self-assembly methods common to the field of DNA nanotechnology.

Researchers at Texas A&M University have created a novel plant-based energy storage device that could charge devices — even electric cars — within a few minutes. Supercapacitors have an internal architecture that is similar to basic capacitors. Both devices store charge on metal plates or electrodes. For their work, the researchers were attracted to manganese dioxide nanoparticles for designing one of the two supercapacitor electrodes.

Researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County have, for the first time, demonstrated a method of biosynthesizing plasmonic gold nanoparticles within cancer cells, without the need for conventional bench-top lab methods. These nanoparticles generated within the cell can potentially be used in X-ray imaging and in therapy by destroying abnormal tissue or cells.

Researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County have, for the first time, demonstrated a method of biosynthesizing plasmonic gold nanoparticles within cancer cells, without the need for conventional bench-top lab methods. These nanoparticles generated within the cell can potentially be used in X-ray imaging and in therapy by destroying abnormal tissue or cells.

Combining their expertise in protein engineering and synthetic DNA technology, scientists at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia have successfully delivered nanoparticle antitumor vaccines that stimulated robust T cell immunity and controlled melanoma growth in preclinical models. The vaccines, which displayed 60 copies of protein parts derived from melanoma-specific antigens, were tested in mouse models of melanoma and resulted in prolonged survival that depended on T cell activation.

Combining their expertise in protein engineering and synthetic DNA technology, scientists at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia have successfully delivered nanoparticle antitumor vaccines that stimulated robust T cell immunity and controlled melanoma growth in preclinical models. The vaccines, which displayed 60 copies of protein parts derived from melanoma-specific antigens, were tested in mouse models of melanoma and resulted in prolonged survival that depended on T cell activation.

Vehicles powered by polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are energy-efficient and eco-friendly, but despite increasing public interest in PEMFC-powered transportation, current performance of materials that are used in fuel cells limits their widespread commercialization. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory led a team to investigate reactions in PEMFCs, and their discoveries informed the design of a nanocatalyst that could bring fuel cells one step closer to realizing their full market potential.