Articles tagged with Polymers
A team of researchers at NIST developed methods to accurately measure the length of nanopores, which could enable rapid DNA analysis. They created 'molecular rulers' using exotic techniques, including a molecular-scale version of ice fishing, to calibrate tailor-made nanopores.
Researchers at UCLA have created a novel desalination membrane that resists clogging, allowing for lower energy demands and increased lifespan. The membrane's surface topography and chemistry enable it to repel impurities, making it suitable for various water sources.
Researchers at the University of Southampton are exploring the use of patient-derived stem cells to mend damaged hips. The study aims to improve outcomes for revision hip replacement therapy, a procedure where surgeons introduce donor bone to provide support for the new hip stem.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that small molecules could act as 'molecular midwives' to help polymers form and select base pairs in DNA. They discovered ethidium assists short oligonucleotides in forming long polymers and can also select the structure of base pairs.
Researchers created a self-healing polymer that can extend the lifetime of automotive oils. The 'starfish' polymer, designed by Professor David Haddleton's team, helps maintain engine efficiency and resists mechanical and thermal stress.
The journal joins Springer's Chinese Library of Science, a collection of high-quality English-language research journals from China. CJPS reflects the new achievements obtained in various laboratories in China and includes papers submitted by scientists from the international community.
Researchers developed sugar-coated polymer strands that selectively kill off cells involved in triggering aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. The treatment targets specific immune cells, showing promise as a new weapon against life-endangering conditions.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a fluid-dynamical model that reveals nanopillars form through thermocapillary flow, not pressure fluctuations. This discovery paves the way for a new 3D lithography method with high precision and potentially limitless patterns.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory identified an enzyme responsible for suberin production, which can help control water and nutrient transportation in plants. This discovery may lead to easier agricultural production of crops used for biofuels, enabling them to thrive in specific or harsh environments.
High-resolution 3D images of polymer solar cells reveal new insights into their nanoscale structure and effect on performance. Researchers shed light on operational principles, highlighting potential for cost-effective, flexible, and lightweight technology.
Researchers at NIST have advanced understanding of organic films in solar cells, revealing ways to control their formation and optimize performance. By changing electrode surface properties, they reduced barriers between polymers and fullerenes, improving photocurrent and reducing accumulation of fullerenes.
Researchers at Kansas State University are using an atomic force microscope to study proteins and molecules, which could lead to better diagnostic tools for diseases like cancer. By stretching and measuring tiny displacements in protein molecules, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the causes of diseases.
Researchers at UW-Madison identified a unique process for building structural carbohydrates in tuberculosis bacteria, offering insight into controlling carbohydrate polymers' length. This discovery may lead to developing new therapeutics against TB and has broader applications in designing vaccines and producing fuels.
Researchers found that molecular bonds don't always break faster when pulled, contradicting the intuitive notion of rubber bands. The sulfur-sulfur bond's fragmentation rate depends on nearby atom movement and protein structure changes.
Vanderbilt physicists have developed a method to create freestanding nanoparticle films without additives, revolutionizing semiconductor fabrication and flexible display technology. The films exhibit high cohesion and resistance to cracking, making them ideal for applications in transistors and flat panel screens.
Scientists have created a microcontainer that can hold thousands of individual 'carrier units' - a 'capsosome'. These are polymer capsules with embedded liposomes, combining the advantages of both systems. The capsosomes were produced by several steps and demonstrated successful transport of an enzyme model cargo.
University of Illinois researchers create force-sensitive polymers that respond to mechanical stress by changing color, allowing for self-sensing and self-reinforcing properties. The polymers use mechanophores to trigger chemical reactions, enabling a range of applications in materials science and engineering.
Scientists have produced amphiphilic hybrid particles consisting of water-insoluble inorganic nanoparticles at the core surrounded by bristle-like layers of hydrophilic polymer chains. The nature of these aggregates depends on the density of polymer
Blacksburg, VA-based Louis A. Madsen will focus on revealing new aspects of charged polymers in water purification and fuel cells through detailed analysis and computer modeling techniques. His project aims to improve the performance of advanced polymers for sustainable energy production and distribution.
A team of scientists at NIST discovered that temperature can influence the competing processes of crystallization and dewetting in polymer films. This understanding could lead to better control of these processes, resulting in more stable and uniform films for applications like organic solar cells. The research also has implications fo...
SMU chemist Brent Sumerlin has received a $475,000 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award for two related nanotechnology research projects. His work focuses on developing novel materials with composite properties, including automatic insulin release technology for diabetics and self-repairing coatings for airplane wings.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created ceramics that mimic mother of pearl, outperforming human-synthesized composites by 300 times in terms of toughness. The materials use a combination of alumina and polymer to dissipate strain energy and achieve remarkable strength and resistance to fracture.
Scientists have reproduced the protein responsible for mussel adhesion in a synthetic material, showing that adhesion is independent of link number. The findings could lead to manufacturing polymers with binding sites for different materials.
Kumacheva has been recognized for her innovative research in designing new materials with applications in cancer treatments and optical data storage. Her work involves creating polymer particles that deliver drugs to specific diseased sites on demand.
Researchers have developed polymer patches that can ferry drugs, assist in cancer diagnosis and help with tissue engineering. The polymer backpacks allow researchers to use cells as vectors to carry materials to tumors or other tissue sites.
The 12-month ATLANTA Trial data showed zero percent stent thrombosis in patients discontinuing dual anti-platelet therapy after 30 days. The CATANIA stent's Polyzene-F surface treatment promoted healthy endothelial cell growth and reduced platelet activation, leading to improved safety and economic benefits.
Researchers found an unexpected increase in squeeze flow of thin films when film thickness was smaller than 100 nanometers. This phenomenon occurs due to changes in molecular entanglement and polymer chain interaction at the nanoscale.
Researchers have developed a new method to fabricate borosilicate glass nanoparticles with increased stability, overcoming limitations of current nanoparticle materials. These nanoparticles could enable applications in diagnostic tests, targeted drug therapy, photonic devices, ultrasonic microscopy, and chemical filtration membranes.
Researchers have developed a new class of polymer-based semiconductors that distribute themselves evenly at the top and bottom of the film, enabling large-scale manufacturing. This breakthrough could lead to practical, high-performance electronic devices such as flexible displays and photovoltaic cells.
The LEADERS study demonstrated that Biosensors DES is non-inferior to Cypher DES in terms of clinical events, stent thrombosis rates and angiographic follow-up data. The trial included a broad range of patients with symptomatic coronary disease, reflecting routine clinical practice.
A new randomised study has found that biolimus-eluting stents are as effective as sirolimus-eluting stents in treating patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndromes. The study also showed similar effectiveness of each stent in reducing in-stent percentage diameter stenosis.
The LEADERS study found that a biolimus-eluting stent with a biodegradable polymer is as safe and effective as a sirolimus-eluting stent with a durable polymer, reducing the risk of restenosis. The results suggest that this new generation of drug-eluting stents may offer improved long-term safety and effectiveness.
Researchers from Northwestern University have successfully mass-produced the 2008 Summer Olympics logo, 15,000 times, using a new printing technique called Polymer Pen Lithography (PPL). The PPL method allows for fast, inexpensive, and simple printing on nanometer, micrometer, and millimeter length scales.
Researchers have created ultrathin polymer films made of nanocrystals using a novel production technique. The method, led by Stefan Mecking, produces films with a thickness of 50 nm using individual prefabricated nanocrystal building blocks.
Glowing films developed by UC San Diego chemists can quickly reveal trace amounts of nitrogen-based explosives, providing evidence in crime-solving. The technology uses fluorescent polymers that emit blue light under UV light, detecting minute amounts of explosives.
A team of Penn State researchers created a simple artificial cell with a mix of PEG and dextran polymers to investigate the organization and function of cell components. The model cell exhibited polarity, a critical step in development, and showed the interrelationship between cytoplasm and cell membrane.
Researchers at UC San Diego have created experimental solar cells with nanowires that show promise as efficient thin-film solar cells of the future. The new design increases electron transport and reduces recombination, leading to a significant boost in efficiency.
Scientists at NIST have created a synthetic cartilage replacement that can withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure and is pliable like gelatin. The double-network hydrogels' unique structure helps dissipate deformation energy, allowing them to endure large deformations without breaking apart.
Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding the physics of translocation, showing that memory effects in polymeric molecules dominate their behavior. This discovery has major implications for drug delivery and gene therapy, as well as single-molecule characterization techniques.
Researchers develop inexpensive, quick-drying polymer PES for improved photolithography processes, enabling lower-cost, on-chip nanoimprinting lithography technology. PES offers advantages over existing materials in terms of cure temperature, water uptake, and adherence to copper.
A team of researchers from Seoul National University has developed a novel approach for aligning carbon nanotubes in microscale devices. The technique utilizes the flow of a nanotube-containing solution through nanochannels, relying on capillary force to order the nanotubes within the channels.
Scientists at NIST made direct measurements of thin polymer film expansion and collapse in photolithography, revealing a complex chemistry that affects transistor performance. The findings offer new insights into modifying resist chemistry to control swelling and achieve optimal edge resolution.
The Rutgers-Camden team has identified conditions that ensure thorough polymer coating and compiled new data on the effects of wavelengths on specific properties. The research aims to improve the coating of polymers in smoothness and uniformity, crucial for biomedical devices like pacemakers and artificial joint replacements.
Researchers at MIT develop a new method to produce tiny particles with defined size and shape featuring regular patterns in two or three dimensions. The team creates Janus particles, microparticles with two chemically different hemispheres, using stop-flow interference lithography.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University created a material with extremely high birefringence, surpassing that of calcite. This achievement is made possible by the design flexibility of coordination polymers, which can be tailored to exhibit specific optical properties.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Clemson University researchers nearly $1 million to develop polymer dot nanoparticles for tracking single molecules in live cells. This technology could help determine the body's defenses against viruses and bacteria, as well as pinpoint cancer cells for more effective treatment.
Rutgers University's New Jersey Center for Biomaterials has developed a groundbreaking biomaterial that is being tested in clinical trials for a new coronary stent. The material, designed to be strong, biodegradable, and radio-opaque, addresses the long-standing challenge of creating clinically useful fully degradable coronary stents.
JILA scientists discovered a flaw in the most common DNA elasticity model, leading to errors in measuring short DNA molecules. The finite worm-like chain (FWLC) model improves accuracy by incorporating length effects.
Gene therapy holds great promise but faces safety concerns due to virus-based delivery methods. MIT researchers have created biodegradable polymers that can deliver genes safely and effectively, showing promise for ovarian cancer treatment and other applications.
Scientists create a surface pair that sticks together in response to an environmental stimulus, allowing for reversible detachment. This discovery could lead to innovative applications in microfluidic systems, actuators, and pharmacological agents.
Researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have created a nanothin sheet of nanoparticles that boasts surprising strength, rivalling that of an ultrathin sheet of plexiglass. The material's characteristics make it a promising candidate for use in pressure sensors and chemical filters.
Scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem Racah Institute of Physics have developed a way to program polymer sheets to bend and wrinkle into prescribed structures. By varying the local polymer density, the gel shrinks at specific temperatures, causing it to buckle and change shape.
Researchers developed a technique to detect and sort different-sized polymer chains that pass through or block tiny pores in thin membranes. This non-destructive method measures individual biomolecules at the nanoscale level, enabling future applications in lab-on-a-chip molecular analyzers.
A £9.5 million European Union-funded project will build a self-healing house in Greece with unique walls that contain wireless sensors and can repair cracks using nano polymer particles. The system aims to alert residents straight away if there are any problems, potentially saving lives.
Dr. Timothy M. Swager has invented amplified fluorescent polymers that can detect nitro aromatic molecules, a class of chemicals used in explosives. His molecular wire sensors have applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring and security.
Gérard Férey and his team at Institut Lavoisier have discovered a new family of trivalent metal dicarboxylates with unprecedented respiration properties, exceeding 300% volume variation upon solvent immersion. These crystalline solids possess reversible respiration mechanism without apparent bond rupture.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created ultrathin films composed of DNA and water-soluble polymers that allow controlled release of DNA from surfaces. These films could be used to deliver genetic material for gene therapy, potentially treating conditions such as cardiovascular disease by preventing smooth muscle...
Researchers develop biodegradable vaccine delivery system that stimulates cellular-mediated immunity and enhances antibody response. The microsphere formulation could lead to single-dose vaccines for diseases requiring booster shots.
Researchers at Harvard University developed a new class of rapid tests that can carry out several biological tests simultaneously on a single drop using patterned paper. The tests are highly practical, inexpensive, and unaffected by contamination.
Applied scientists developed a method for creating wrinkled hard skins on polymer surfaces using a focused ion beam. The technique has potential use in biological sensors and microfluidic devices, as well as custom-made cell templates for tissue engineering.