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Nanoparticles from dietary supplement drinks likely to reach environment, say scientists

Researchers tested the effects of commercial drinks containing nanoparticles on human intestinal cells, finding that they can interfere with digestion and potentially lead to poor digestion or diarrhea. The study suggests that nanomaterials from these products may be making their way into surface water, where they could harm aquatic life.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateJun 18, 2014

Graphene not all good

Researchers found graphene oxide nanoparticles more stable in groundwater and unstable in surface waters. The material's mobility in water has significant implications for its potential environmental impact. The study highlights the need for further research on the stability and transport of these engineered nanomaterials.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEnvironmental Engineering Science·DateApr 29, 2014

Fluorescent-based tool reveals how medical nanoparticles biodegrade in real time

Researchers developed a method to measure nanoparticle degradation in real time using Förster resonance energy transfer, enabling undistorted measurements without separating particles from their environment. This can inform the design of safer and more effective nanoparticles for various medical applications.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 28, 2014

Nanoreporters tell 'sour' oil from 'sweet'

Rice University scientists have created a nanoscale detector that checks for and reports on the presence of hydrogen sulfide in crude oil and natural gas while they're still in the ground. The detection method is sensitive enough to detect low concentrations, making it an important tool for improving safety and efficiency in oil fields.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 22, 2014

Expanding particles to engineer defects

Adding an impurity to a two-dimensional lattice structure can create defects that settle into harmony, restoring order and creating a 'screen' to protect the rest of the material. This finding could lead to new ways of engineering materials with unique properties.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 8, 2014

Nanoparticles cause cancer cells to self-destruct

Researchers at Lund University have developed a technique using magnetically controlled nanoparticles to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This method has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by reducing side effects associated with traditional therapies.

SourceLund University·JournalACS Nano·DateApr 3, 2014

Never say never in the nano-world

An international team of researchers found that a nanoparticle trapped with laser light temporarily violates the second law of thermodynamics, allowing it to release heat to hotter surroundings. This rare event occurs due to the non-equilibrium state created by cooling the nanoparticle below the surrounding gas temperature.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 31, 2014

Researchers develop technique to measure engineered nanomaterials delivered to cells

Scientists at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have discovered a technique to accurately determine the amount of nanomaterials interacting with cells and tissues. The Volumetric Centrifugation Method (VCM) enables hazard rankings of engineered nanoparticles, enabling risk assessors to perform accurate assessments.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 28, 2014

Scientists watch nanoparticles grow

Researchers at Århus University used X-ray light to track the growth of tungsten oxide nanoparticles, which can be tailored for smart windows and solar cells. The study shows that nanoparticles form from octahedra units in solution and develop a predominantly ordered crystal structure as they grow.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 27, 2014

Bionic plants

Researchers embedded carbon nanotubes into chloroplasts to capture light energy by 30 percent. Plants were also modified to detect nitric oxide, a common environmental pollutant. This represents the first steps in launching plant nanobionics, a field that could turn plants into self-powered devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 16, 2014

Nanotracer tester tells about wells

A Rice University lab has invented a tabletop device to evaluate the efficiency of oil and gas wells by analyzing nanoparticle movement. The device simulates the long path nanoparticles travel through deep rock formations, providing valuable information for producers.

SourceRice University·JournalEnvironmental Science Processes & Impacts·DateFeb 24, 2014

Nanoparticles treat muscular dystrophy in mice

Scientists at WashU Medicine have developed a new approach to treating muscular dystrophy, using nanoparticles loaded with rapamycin to improve recycling of cellular waste. The treatment showed significant improvements in skeletal muscle strength and cardiac function in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateFeb 11, 2014

A new postal code for cancer

Scientists at the University of Freiburg have discovered a new paradigm for targeting specific cell types using nanoparticles. They developed particles that can recognize endothelial cells through biophysical principles, allowing for precise delivery to cancer cells without changing biological addresses. This breakthrough has significa...

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 11, 2014

E-whiskers

Researchers at Berkeley Lab created highly sensitive tactile sensors using composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles, 10 times more sensitive than previous pressure sensors. These e-whiskers can be integrated into various systems to enable robots to 'see' and 'feel' their surroundings.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2014

Weighing particles at the attogram scale

Researchers create a system that can weigh particles as small as 0.85 attograms, opening up new possibilities for studying synthetic nanoparticles and biological components of cells. The device, known as a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR), uses a miniaturized sensor to measure the mass of particles flowing through a narrow channe...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2014

Pills of the future: Nanoparticles

Researchers have developed nanoparticles that can be delivered orally and absorbed through the digestive tract, allowing patients to take a pill instead of receiving injections. The particles are coated with antibodies that act as a key to unlock receptors found on cells lining the intestine.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 27, 2013