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Compact biosensor microscope built for point of care diagnostics

Researchers developed a compact photonic resonator absorption microscope for point-of-care diagnostics, using photonic crystal biosensors to detect proteins or other biomarkers linked to gold nanoparticles. The portable instrument costs $7,000 and has potential applications in detecting various cancers.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Gold nanoparticles more stable by putting rings on them

Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a method to prevent gold nanoparticles from clumping, which could improve their effectiveness as anti-cancer therapy. Attaching ring-shaped synthetic compounds to gold nanoparticles retains their light-absorbing properties and maintains dispersion in solution.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 21, 2021

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers synthesize gold nanoparticles capable of attacking cancer cells

A team of NYU Abu Dhabi researchers have developed a new, one-pot synthetic approach to obtain water-stable and ready-to-use gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can be heated with a simple green laser, improving their ability to penetrate and destroy malignant cells through hyperthermia while releasing chemotherapeutic drugs.

SourceNew York University·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·DateApr 6, 2020

What happens to gold nanoparticles in cells?

Researchers found gold nanoparticles undergo significant transformations after a few weeks in cellular environments. They revealed mechanisms of detoxification and cell protection, also seen in the degradation of other nanomaterials.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2019

Ultra-sensitive sensor with gold nanoparticle array

Scientists from the University of Bath and Northwestern University have developed a new ultra-sensitive sensor using a gold nanoparticle array, detecting tiny amounts of material with great potential. The sensing mechanism is affected by molecules binding to the surface of nanoparticles, providing a means for detecting small molecules ...

All that is gold is not biochemically stable

A study by environmental engineers at Duke University found that gold nanoparticles can be dismantled by microorganisms on aquatic plants, complicating laboratory experiments. This discovery highlights the importance of considering complex ecosystems in research design to ensure accurate results.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 28, 2018

Plants open their pores and scientists strike gold

Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University have identified gold nanoparticles in two plant species, B. nivea and E. Canadensis, collected from their natural environments. The particles were found to be similar in characteristics to artificial ones, suggesting they may have been absorbed through plant pores directly.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Chemistry Letters·DateJun 14, 2018

A novel way of creating gold nanoparticles in water

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a new method for creating gold nanoparticles in water droplets, which could lead to more sustainable ways of producing these materials. The technique uses microdroplets as reactors and eliminates the need for potentially toxic reducing agents.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 19, 2018

Ultra-efficient removal of carbon monoxide using gold nanoparticles on a molecular support

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a way to mount gold nanoparticles on a molecular support, achieving nearly 100% conversion of carbon monoxide over a wide temperature range. The discovery reveals the crucial role of water in catalysis, promising new applications for gas purification and industrial filtration.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 9, 2018

Self-assembled 'hairy' nanoparticles could give a double punch to cancer

Researchers have developed 'hairy' nanoparticles that can assemble and disassemble on demand, allowing for simultaneous delivery of therapeutic drugs and heating to cancer cells. This technology combines light-sensitive materials with water-repelling yet light-absorbing materials to create photo-responsive gold nanoparticles.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2018

Multifunctional platform for the delivery of gene therapeutics

Researchers have developed a multifunctional vehicle using gold nanoparticles to transport and release the CRISPR-Cas9 system for targeted gene editing in tumors. The platform combines hyperthermal cancer therapy with genetic modification, offering a promising approach for tumor therapy.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 22, 2018

Gold shines through properties of nano biosensors

Researchers have discovered that fluorescence in ligand-protected gold nanoclusters is an intrinsic property of the gold particles. The study used Au20 nanoparticles with a tetrahedral structure and found intense fluorescence at a wavelength of 739.2 nanometers, indicating that the metal core is responsible for the phenomenon.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateAug 16, 2017

Revealing particle separation

Scientists have developed a new method for detecting extremely small amounts of DNA using associating and dissociating nanodimer analysis (ADNA). The method can differentiate true signals from noise and detect deviations of individual bases, with a detection limit of about 46 DNA copies.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 18, 2017

The key to mass-producing nanomaterials

Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed a method for manufacturing nanoparticles on a large scale, using microfluidics technology. This innovation enables the cost-effective production of gold nanoparticles with unique properties, making them ideal for applications in medicine and other fields.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 23, 2016

Too-few proteins prompt nanoparticles to clump

Rice scientists observed that blood serum proteins irreversibly attach, unfold, and bring gold nanoparticles together in low concentrations. This counterintuitive behavior has significant implications for diseases caused by aggregation, such as Alzheimer's, and nanoparticle toxicity issues.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 28, 2016

A 'printing press' for nanoparticles

Researchers at McGill University have developed a method to assemble gold nanoparticles using DNA structures, allowing for the creation of novel materials with unique properties. This 'printing press' for nanoparticles has the potential to facilitate use in electronic and medical applications.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJan 7, 2016

Inventing a 2-D liquid

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed nanoparticles that can interact with oil-water interfaces without clumping together. By measuring pressure and density, they've established universal rules governing the physics of these systems, which could lead to advances in nanomanufacturing, catalysis, and photonic devices.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 7, 2015