1. Nanotechnology

Category Archives: Nanotechnology

Funding in nanotechnology

Posted on by

Following one of my earlier blogs on the need for more funding in the sciences, a prominent scientist Professor C. N. R. Rao has commented recently to the press that government should ensure targeted funding to promote nanoscience and nanotechnology in solving societal problems and improving the quality of life.

Professor Rao went on to say, "Nano science has a lot to offer. As the science of the future, it has the potential to develop a number of applications for the benefit of masses in diverse areas such as water, food, shelter, healthcare and energy to name a few".

A recent advancement in nanotechnology proves just how important the science is as a future science. A group of researchers have reported on an efficient and reproducible way of bonding together gels and biological tissues. For many years scientists have failed to create strong bonds between two gels, until now. By spreading on the surface of the two tissues or gels you wish to bond, a solution containing nanoparticles scientists are now able to form very strong adhesion.

The finding will open up many new applications and areas of research, which will help to improve lives as well as society, the application will find particular use in medical, and veterinary fields, particularly in areas of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Professor Rao and others have all identified the importance of continued funding in science and in this particular case nanotechnology as the opportunities to help society across the world can only increase with time and effort.

See original here:

Funding in nanotechnology

MRHFM Supports Emerging Science Showing Promise in Advancing Early Detection of Mesothelioma Cancer

Posted on by

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) February 13, 2014

Early detection of cancer, including mesothelioma, is vital to prolonging the life expectancy of patients as treatment is more effective and available in the early stages. That is why the law firm of MRHFM supports new research from a group of UK scientists that published work in the "Journal of Alloys and Compounds" on the Science Direct website in January 2014. The research is about the development of a new bio-nanocomposite that could lead to earlier detection, and more successful treatment of breast cancer and other cancers.

Not to be confused with nanomaterials that are used in products such as invisible sunscreens and stain-resistant coatings for clothes, the types of nanomaterials or smart materials produced using nanotechnology are being studied with a focus on their potential ability to kill cancer cells without harming surrounding healthy cells. Not only has this emerging science shown promising potential in the treatment of everything from brain cancer to mesothelioma, a number of medical studies are now underway to determine if it will play a significant role in quicker and more advanced detection of aggressive cancers such as mesothelioma.

Research for not only treatment, but early detection of mesothelioma is crucial as these aggressive cancers spread so quickly that every day matters, said Neil Maune, partner at MRHFM. In order for treatment to be more effective, there must be the tools available to diagnosis as early as possible.

In the case of mesothelioma cancer, patients do not show any signs or symptoms until years after asbestos exposure. This coupled with the fact that mesothelioma is not an easy cancer to diagnose, it is especially critical to support research in the detection of mesothelioma cancer.

If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma, contact a doctor immediately to get tested. Also contact an attorney at MRHFM, the largest firm exclusively devoted to helping mesothelioma victims and their families to discuss your case. For more information about mesothelioma, request a free book about mesothelioma at http://www.mesotheliomabook.com or contact the legal team at MRHFM directly by calling 866-373-5000.

About Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC is a mesothelioma law firm based in St. Louis, MO. With offices across the country, their size and exclusive focus on mesothelioma cases allows them to represent clients through the process as quickly as possible and maximize their clients recovery. The attorneys at MRHFM have represented thousands of victims exposed to asbestos. The firm has 29 attorneys across the country, 16 investigators, 7 client service managers, and additional support staff including paralegals and legal assistants. For more information about Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC, visit http://www.mesotheliomabook.com.

See the rest here:

MRHFM Supports Emerging Science Showing Promise in Advancing Early Detection of Mesothelioma Cancer

U.S. GAO – Nanomanufacturing: Emergence and Implications …

Posted on by

What the Participants Said

The forum's participants described nanomanufacturing as a future megatrend that will potentially match or surpass the digital revolution's effect on society and the economy. They anticipated further scientific breakthroughs that will fuel new engineering developments; continued movement into the manufacturing sector; and more intense international competition.

Although limited data on international investments made comparisons difficult, participants viewed the U.S. as likely leading in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) today. At the same time, they identified several challenges to U.S. competitiveness in nanomanufacturing, such as inadequate U.S. participation and leadership in international standard setting; the lack of a national vision for a U.S. nanomanufacturing capability; some competitor nations' aggressive actions and potential investments; and funding or investment gaps in the United States (illustrated in the figure, below), which may hamper U.S. innovators' attempts to transition nanotechnology from R&D to full-scale manufacturing.

Funding/Investment Gap in the Manufacturing-Innovation Process

Participants outlined three approaches that might be viewed as alternative ways to address these challenges--or used together: (1) strengthen U.S. innovation by updating current innovation-related policies and programs, (2) promote U.S. innovation in manufacturing through public-private partnerships, and (3) design a strategy for attaining a holistic vision for U.S. nanomanufacturing. Participants who represented a range of perspectives on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) issues also noted that significant research is needed to understand the risks associated with nanomaterials. As such, multiple participants advocated a collaborative effort, in which nanotechnology stakeholders create an EHS framework, including developing standards for measurement and nomenclature, to help assess and address these risks.

Finally, participants advocated both maintaining R&D support and considering ways to address the challenges outlined above. Justification of further steps might be based on their potential for improving (1) international data on nanotechnology investments, (2) international standard setting for nanomanufacturing and U.S. participation, (3) U.S. ability to maintain or enhance competitiveness, and (4) U.S. and international efforts to address EHS issues.

Nanotechnology has been defined as the control or restructuring of matter at the atomic and molecular levels in the size range of about 1-100 nanometers (nm); 100 nm is about 1/1000th the width of a hair.

The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), begun in 2001 and focusing primarily on R&D, represents a cumulative investment of almost $20 billion, including the request for fiscal year 2014. As research continues and other nations increasingly invest in R&D, nanotechnology is moving from the laboratory to commercial markets, mass manufacturing, and the global marketplace--a trend with potential future import that some compare to history's introduction of technologies with major economic and societal impact, such as plastics and even electricity. Today, burgeoning markets, innovation systems, and nanomanufacturing activities are increasingly competitive in a global context--and the potential EHS effects of nanomanufacturing remain largely unknown.

At the July 2013 forum, participants from industry, government, and academia discussed the future of nanomanufacturing; investments in nanotechnology R&D and challenges to U.S. competitiveness; ways to enhance U.S. competitiveness; and EHS concerns. Participants reviewed a summary of forum discussions, and two experts (who did not attend the forum) independently reviewed a draft of this report. Their comments were incorporated in this report as appropriate.

Read this article:

U.S. GAO - Nanomanufacturing: Emergence and Implications ...

Zydex Nanotechnology for Pothole – Free India

Posted on by

Zydex, an innovation-driven organization from Vadodara, Gujarat, has come up with a Nanotechnology that provides a complete solution to build moisture-resistant, long-lasting roads.

Zydex Nanotechnology is patented across the globe and is on its way to revolutionize the very way in which the roads are designed and built today - globally.

Zydex Nanotechnology was recognized and awarded by International Road Federation (IRF) in the form of their IRF Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) for 2013, in the research category.

Dr Ajay Ranka, CEO, Zydex Industries was felicitated with an award at the IRF Global Conference recently held in Riyadh. Highway Agency Directors, dignitaries and top-notch road professionals from across the world were also present on the occasion.

Zydex Nanotechnology in a nutshell

Ingress of water in the rainy season weakens the road soil bases, de-bonds the Prime and Tack coats and destroys the bituminous layers causing undulations and potholes affecting ride-quality and motorability.

Moisture is the well-known enemy of roads. The present technology for road-making provides very limited protection against moisture and that is the reason most roads go bad during the monsoon.

The Zydex Nanotechnology is all about waterproofing soil bases, and chemical bonding of bitumen to aggregates, sand, clay etc, and eliminating moisture related damages.

Zydex Nanotechnology: Key Features

a. Zydex Nanotechnology additives allow moisture proofing of soil layers and reduce moisture permeability by 500 1000 times. They strengthen the soil by increasing the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil, reduce expansiveness by 90% and eliminate undulations and cracking. b. Nanotechnology based additives make Bond Coats (Prime &Tack) 100% waterproofed, allowing 100% stress transfer and saving bitumen by achieving chemical bonding. c. The global award winning technology enables chemical bonding of bitumen with aggregates and eliminates moisture damage to bituminous layers. Benefits: - Zydex nanotechnologies are cost neutral at CAPEX and improve durability of the road to reduce life cycle cost by 50 % or more. This Nanotechnology is expected to revolutionize the urban and rural India, just as mobile telephony did.

View original post here:

Zydex Nanotechnology for Pothole - Free India

Gold Nanowires for Ultrathin, Flexible Sensors

Posted on by

Pressure sensors are used in all kinds of applications, including touch screens, wearable technology and even in aircraft and cars. Unlike current pressure sensors, which rely on semiconductor material, "this approach is low-cost and doesn't require lithography or expensive equipment, and it does not need a clean room," said study co-author Wenlong Cheng, a nanomaterials researcher at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. "It's environmentally friendly."

The new sensor, described today (Feb. 4) in the journal Nature Communications, could one day be used as artificial skin for heart-rate monitors or other body sensors. [The Best Fitness Trackers]

Most pressure sensors typically rely on either capacitors or piezoelectric materials, both of which accumulate electric charge when subject to mechanical stress. But both of these elements require semiconductor material, which is brittle and has to be fabricated in clean rooms, free of dust and contaminants, by people wearing astronautlike suits.

Cheng and his colleagues had another idea. The team mixed a gold salt with another chemical called oleylamine, and then waited a day or two. The chemical reaction forms miniscule, threadlike nanowires of gold.

They then soaked a paper-towel-like material in the nanowires, and the golden threads were automatically absorbed into the paper towel. The team then sandwiched the paper-towel material between two thin, synthetic rubber sheets.

The total thickness was about 0.02 inches (0.5 millimeters), Cheng said.

When exposed to pressure, the nanowires change how easily electrical current flows through them, and this change in current can then be detected.

Sensitive and Flexible

The new devices are as sensitive as the best pressure sensors, and can withstand twisting and bending without cracking.

The device could be used as artificial skin to monitor many mechanical properties of the blood, including heartbeat. The sensor would be placed on top of a person's skin, where it would sense the acoustic and pressure changes from blood flow.

Go here to read the rest:

Gold Nanowires for Ultrathin, Flexible Sensors

Using nanotechnology to protect grain exports

Posted on by

6 hours ago by Robyn Mills

(Phys.org) University of Adelaide researchers are using nanotechnology and the fossils of single-celled algae to develop a novel chemical-free and resistance-free way of protecting stored grain from insects.

The researchers are taking advantage of the unique properties of these single-celled algae, called diatoms. Diatoms have been called Nature's nanofabrication factories because of their production of tiny (nanoscale) structures made from silica which have a range of properties of potential interest for nanotechnology.

"One area of our research is focussed on transforming this cheap diatom silica, readily available as a by-product of mining, into valuable nanomaterials for diverse applications - one of which is pest control," says Professor Dusan Losic, ARC Future Fellow in the University's School of Chemical Engineering.

Their research is being presented at this week's ICONN2014-ACMM23 conference for nanoscience and microscopy being hosted by the University of Adelaide at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

"There are two looming issues for the world-wide protection against insect pests of stored grain: firstly, the development of resistance by many species to conventional pest controls - insecticides and the fumigant phosphine - and, secondly, the increasing consumer demand for residue-free grain products and food," Professor Losic says.

"In the case of Australia, we export grain worth about $8 billion each year - about 25 million tonnes - which could be under serious threat. We urgently need to find alternative methods for stored grain protection which are ecologically sound and resistance-free."

The researchers are using a natural, non-toxic silica material based on the 'diatomaceous earths' formed by the fossilisation of diatoms. The material disrupts the insect's protective cuticle, causing the insect to dehydrate.

"This is a natural and non-toxic material with a significant advantage being that, as only a physical mode of action is involved, the insects won't develop resistance," says Professor Losic.

"Equally important is that it is environmentally stable with high insecticidal activity for a long period of time. Therefore, stored products can be protected for longer periods of time without the need for frequent re-application."

Continue reading here:

Using nanotechnology to protect grain exports

Nanotips uses nanotechnology to make any pair of gloves touch-friendly

Posted on by

Keeping our digits warm and dry can be a real challenge when using smartphones in the winter. The solution we usually peddle is simple: dump your current hand warmers for a new pair of touch-enabled gloves. But there arent a lot of brands that sell touch-enabled gloves, and what if you like what youre already wearing? Canadian inventor Tony Yu has thought of a solution.

Meet Nanotips: A specially-designed compound made with nanotechnology that can help you turn any pair of gloves into touch-enabled ones. Hes running a Kickstarter to help get raise money to mass produce the compound.

Yu told us he got the idea after buying his motorcycle, along with all the much-needed accessories, such as a helmet, jacket, and you guessed it gloves.

When I started actually riding, I ran into the inconvenience of always having to take off my gloves whenever I wanted to check the maps on my phone. Yus ridiculously expensive gloves for riding didnt come with a conductive thread that would make them touch-enabled.

You apply the solution on the glove tips, and once it dries they will work with smartphone and tablet touchscreens.

Yu hated the touch-enabled gloves that were on the market, and certainly didnt want to spend a bunch of money for a whole new pair. At first he thought about using silver thread, but didnt want to take a sewing needle to his $200 gloves. Next was trying a set of studs that were inserted, but according to Yu they were so hard to apply and they ended up coming off almost immediately.

Yu tried several more methods, including a sort of condom for your gloves, but they either wouldnt work, or kept sliding off while he rode his motorcycle.

There wasnt anything on the market that fit Yus needs, so he decided to figure out a solution on his own, taking a few ideas he had in mind with readily available components and modifying them to suit his own needs. Yu came up with his own formula for a compound that uses special conductive nanotubes, but remains super durable so it can last as long as possible on your gloves. After some more tweaking around and a few test batches, Nanotips was born.

Nanotips is a liquid solution that comes in a bottle small enough that it could contain nail polish. You apply the solution on the glove tips, and once it dries they will work with smartphone and tablet touchscreens. The original formula was supposed to be clear, but despite Yus best efforts, it still leaves a bluish hue when it dries, which is why he called it Nanotips Blue. Theres also a Black color available for the solution, which is designed especially for fabric or woven gloves. A bottle of the Blue stuff will give you about 15 fingers worth before you run out.

Nanotips use a special chemical compound using nanotechnology that dries on to make them touch-capable.

The rest is here:

Nanotips uses nanotechnology to make any pair of gloves touch-friendly

Nanotechnology – www.Nanotechnology.com

Posted on by

Nanotechnology, or nanotech, is the study and design of machines on the molecular and atomic level. To be considered nanotechnology, these structures must be anywhere from 1 to 100 nanometers in size. A nanometer is equivalent to one-billionth of a regular meter, which means that these structures are extremely small.

Researcher K. Eric Drexler was the first person to popularize this technology in the early 1980s. Drexler was interested in building fully functioning robots, computers, and motors that were smaller than a cell. He spent much of the 80s defending his ideas against critics that thought this technology would never be possible.

Today, the word nanotechnology means something a bit different. Instead of building microscopic motors and computers, researchers are interested in building superior machines atom by atom. Nanotech means that each atom of a machine is a functioning structure on its own, but when combined with other structures, these atoms work together to fulfill a larger purpose.

The U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative has large plans for nanotech. Mihail Roco, who is involved in this organization, explains the groups future plans by dividing their goals into four generations.

The first generation of nanotech is defined by passive structures that are created to carry out one specific task. Researchers are currently in this generation of the technology.The second generation will be defined by structures that can multitask. Researchers are currently entering this generation and hoping to further their abilities in the near future. The third generation will introduce systems composed of thousands of nanostructurers. The last generation will be defined by nanosystems designed on the molecular level. These systems will work like living human or animal cells.

As nanotech continues to develop, consumers will see it being used for several different purposes. This technology may be used in energy production, medicine, and electronics, as well as other commercial uses. Many believe that this technology will also be used militarily. Nanotechnology will make it possible to build more advanced weapons and surveillance devices. While these uses are not yet possible, many researchers believe that it is only a matter of time.

Link:

Nanotechnology - http://www.Nanotechnology.com

Adept Armor Announces the Launch of Two New Products: Adept Armor (TM) Fabric Guard and Glass Guard

Posted on by

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2014

Adept Armor, a company that produces safe and effective solutions that help make products waterproof, has just announced the launch of two new products: Adept Armor (TM) Fabric Guard and Adept Armor (TM) Glass Guard.

From the day Adept Armor opened for business, they have strived to engineer some of the most amazing and innovative products that can help protect a variety of items. Over time, the company has earned a well-deserved reputation for creating solutions that do just that.

For example, for people who love to buy shoes, bags, hats, dresses, shirts and other clothes, Adept Armor Fabric Guard is an incredible product that is designed to keep fabrics stain-free and waterproof. Although a competitor of Adept Armor created a solution that can help give fabrics an anti-stick quality, it is for industrial use only and tends to cover material with an unattractive milky white coating. Thanks to the products SiO2 nanotechnology, the surface of fabrics that are treated with Fabric Guard will become anti-stick as well as hydrophobic, which means that it will repel both stains and water.

The Fabric Guard has TiO2 molecules for self-cleaning capabilities, preventing mildew and bacteria from growing, an article on the companys website noted, adding that it will also safeguard textile fabrics, keeping them intact against nearly every form of moisture damage.

The TiO2 nano-molecules also prevent UV damage to fabrics, which in turn, keeps the color vibrant as the day you bought it.

The new Adept Armor (TM) Glass Guard also features the same nanotechnology that is found in the Fabric Guard; once it is applied to glass, nothing will stick to the surface. From windshields that get fogged up easily to windows or glass display cases that are covered with fingerprints, Glass Guard will help to keep them oil, dirt and residue-free.

Another product that has been getting a lot of attention lately is the Adept Armor (TM) Circuit Guard; the 4-ounce spray bottle uses the same nanotechnology to help repel water and oil from electronic devices like phones, tablets and iPods.

Anybody who would like to learn more about Adept Armor and its newest products is welcome to visit the companys user-friendly website at any time; there, they can read about Fabric Guard, Glass Guard and more, and how these revolutionary products will help fabric and glass last longer while keeping them looking like new.

About Adept Armor:

Continue reading here:

Adept Armor Announces the Launch of Two New Products: Adept Armor (TM) Fabric Guard and Glass Guard


  1. Nanotechnology