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Category Archives: Nanotechnology

Invisibility may be possible with nanotechnology

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For those set on sneaking into the nonexistentrestricted sectionof Van Pelt Library late at night, electrical and systems engineering professor NaderEngheta is working with materials that can bend light in a manner reminiscent of an invisibility cloak straight out of Harry Potter.

Engheta works with materials known as metamaterials, which are engineered to have certain properties that are not currently found in nature.When these materials are manipulated, theycan gain strange capabilities like the ability to bend waves around an object, hiding that object from sight.

You can write down the theoretical equations that show that you can bend light around an object, said professor Mark Allen, director ofthe Singh Center of Nanotechnology. Then what I would see is whats behind you. To me you would look invisible.

These metamaterials do not only work with waves of light they have also been used to bend heat around objects and reduce the scattering of electrons, which could increase the efficiency of electronic devices.

Waves are all around usfrom radio stations, micro-ovens and light, Engheta said. We work with how to control these waves with materials and structures that might make them do something unusual.

Some other applications for this technology could include blocking electromagnetic radiation andguiding cellphone tower signals.

However, this technology is not quite from a J.K. Rowling novel. It only worksover a narrow range of light, which means that only light of a particular color shown from a particular direction can be bent.So if someone or somethingwere to be invisible from the front, they would still be visible from the back.

Wharton Sophomore Luis De Castrois interested in the possible applications that these nanomaterials might offer.

It makes me excited for the future, saidDe Castro, who is also the captain of the Penn Quidditch teamBoth scientifically, and the idea that things that are so clearly magic arent.

Yet, Engheta's technology may never create a complete invisibility cloak because the daylight hours feature too many distinct wavelengths. Even so, his research may contribute to a more worldly application he has recently been investigating how scattering light throughmetamaterials cansolve complex mathematical equations.

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Invisibility may be possible with nanotechnology

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Used in Batteries and Fuel Cells for Transportation – Video

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Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Used in Batteries and Fuel Cells for Transportation
Speaker: Prof. Emanuel Peled The Fred Chaoul 10th Annual Workshop The Center for Nanoscience Nanotechnology Tel Aviv University Feb. 15, 2015 Hagoshrim Hotel.

By: TAUVOD

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Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Used in Batteries and Fuel Cells for Transportation - Video

American Chemical Society Presidential Symposia: Nanoscience, International Chemistry

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WASHINGTON, March 5, 2015 The burgeoning field of nanotechnology, nanoscience at prestigious U.S. national laboratories and the worldwide promotion of chemistry are the topics of three special Presidential Symposia planned for the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

The symposia will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, March 22-24, and will be sponsored by Diane Grob Schmidt, Ph.D., president of ACS, the worlds largest scientific society.

Nanotechnology: Delivering on the Promise will highlight the fascinating research, development and commercialization of nanochemistry and nanotechnology, and will include 16 senior-level speakers from industry, academe and government. Sessions will be held in Mile High Ballroom 3A on Sunday, March 22, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, March 23, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

DOE Nanoscience Research Centers: National Resources for the Nanoscience Community will feature the five heads of chemistry at national laboratories. This is the first symposium of its kind to include these prestigious scientists collectively. The session will be held Tuesday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in Rooms 506/507.

The other presidential symposium, Chemistry without Borders: The Transnational Practice of Chemistry and Allied Sciences and Engineering will take place Sunday, March 22, 8 a.m. to noon, in Mile High Ballroom 3A. It will touch on issues facing researchers, students and professionals working overseas and efforts to attract and build a workforce to promote the worldwide success of chemistry.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the worlds largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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American Chemical Society Presidential Symposia: Nanoscience, International Chemistry

Behind the Storefront: Dunkin Donuts to remove nanomaterial from powdered doughnut recipe

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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) Dunkin Donuts announced Thursday that it plans to remove a potentially harmful nanomaterial from its powdered doughnuts.

The San Franciscobased advocacy group As You Sow commissioned an independent study in 2013 that tested 10 types of powdered doughnuts and found a nanoparticle called titanium dioxide in Hostess Donettes and Dunkin Donuts powdered cake doughnuts.

Dont miss: Dunkin Donuts, 3M, McDonalds and even Ringling Bros. making changes under consumer pressure

Also: What substances are creeping into our food supply via nanotechnology?

Dunkin Donuts DNKN, +2.98% said it is now in the process of removing the nanomaterial after coming under pressure from As You Sow, whose effort included putting a proposal before parent company Dunkin Brands shareholders. In accordance with the withdrawal of that shareholder proposal, Dunkin Donuts has 30 days to provide a time table for the ingredients removal from its powdered doughnuts.

Titanium dioxide is used to brighten white substances. Some preliminary studies show that nanomaterials can cause DNA and chromosomal damage, organ damage, inflammation, brain damage and genital malformations among other harms, according to As You Sow.

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The main reason for deploying nanotechnology in foods is that it gives manufacturers tighter control over what theyre producing, touching on such areas as coloration, dimensions and taste. Through nanotechnology, manufacturers are able to manipulate materials down to a billionth of a meter.

Our concerns are, do doughnuts really need to be wider or brighter, and whats the effect of that? asked Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow. If we dont know what happens to the body yet, then we shouldnt be putting these in our food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt yet have a definition for what constitutes nanomaterial in food, but here is what the FDA has issued guidance to the food industry (see adjacent image).

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Behind the Storefront: Dunkin Donuts to remove nanomaterial from powdered doughnut recipe

Dr David Zhitomirsky – Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) Seminar – Video

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Dr David Zhitomirsky - Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) Seminar
Dr David Zhitomirsky, Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, delivered a WIN seminar entitled "Surface Eng...

By: Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology

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Dr David Zhitomirsky - Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) Seminar - Video

Almouj partners with SQU on use of nanotechnology to prevent biofouling

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(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) An experimental project that uses nanotechnology is being implemented at The Wave Muscat in association with the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) to prevent biofouling.

The project is aimed at developing technologically enhanced non-toxic coatings to be used on boats submerged structures and industry equipment.

A nanocoated net submerged in water at The Wave Muscat

Centered on nanotechnology the study aims to identify environment-friendly methods that can reduce the impact of biofouling on waterways marine life maintenance costs and fuel consumption. Khalil Abujaber marina manager of Almouj Marina said 'We are delighted to be part of this eco-project.

The value of the data acquired will potentially have a profound impact not only on our marine environment but on the lives of our boaters. As one of Oman's premier marinas we seek to lead by example in reducing the pollution in our waters to benefit the local community and the boating industry.'

Professor Joydeep Dutta chair at SQU's Nanotechnology in the Water Research Centre said 'This is a unique experiment where state-of-the-art nanotechnology is being applied toward the development of environment-friendly solutions to biofouling.'

In the experiment nanostructures are grown on fishing nets (test surfaces) to prevent biofouling. The metal oxide nanostructures absorb sunlight to provide a shield of highly reactive oxygen and hydroxyl radicals in the vicinity of the coated surfaces thereby hindering the accumulation of biofouling species through a process called photocatalysis.

'The results of this field trial could potentially reduce biofouling in local marine environments an issue that is responsible for over US10bn in damages worldwide' said Dr Sergey Dobretsov head of the Marine Science and Fisheries Department at SQU.

'Marinas are of particular interest to marine biologists as they possess a variety of structures that attract a diversity of marine organisms; the marina therefore virtually guarantees the availability of samples for the duration of our experiment.' This project is being supported by The Research Council.

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Almouj partners with SQU on use of nanotechnology to prevent biofouling

Singapore, Canada researchers make longer-lasting lithium battery breakthrough

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SINGAPORE: A scientific breakthrough in rechargeable battery technology could result in the doubling of the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used to power smartphones, medical devices and electric vehicles.

The researchers from A*STAR's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and Quebec's Hydro-Quebec's research institute (IREQ) have synthesised silicate-based nanoboxes that could more than double the capacity compared to conventional phosphate-based cathodes, both institutes said in the joint press release on Wednesday (Feb 25).

IBN researchers have successfully achieved simultaneous control of the phase purity and nanostructure of Li2MnSiO4 for the first time, said Professor Jackie Y Ying, IBN Executive Director. This novel synthetic approach would allow us to move closer to attaining the ultrahigh theoretical capacity of silicate-based cathodes for battery applications.

The five-year research collaboration between IBN and IREQ was established in 2011. The researchers plan to further enhance their new cathode materials to create high-capacity lithium-ion batteries for commercialisation, the press release stated.

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Singapore, Canada researchers make longer-lasting lithium battery breakthrough

Breakthrough in rechargeable batteries

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SINGAPORE, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Researchers from Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) of A*STAR and Quebec's IREQ (Hydro-Quebec's research institute) have synthesised silicate-based nanoboxes that could more than double the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries as compared to conventional phosphate-based cathodes.

This breakthrough could hold the key to longer-lasting rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices, a joint statement said.

Commenting on the breakthrough, Professor Jackie Y. Ying, IBN Executive Director said that IBN researchers have successfully achieved simultaneous control of the phase purity and nanostructure of Li2MnSiO4 for the first time

"This novel synthetic approach would allow us to move closer to attaining the ultrahigh theoretical capacity of silicate-based cathodes for battery applications."

Director Energy Storage and Conservation at Hydro-Quebec, Dr. Karim Zaghib meanwhile said, "IBN's expertise in synthetic chemistry and nanotechnology allows us to explore new synthetic approaches and nanostructure design to achieve complex materials that pave the way for breakthroughs in battery technology, especially regarding transportation electrification."

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used to power many electronic devices, including smart phones, medical devices and electric vehicles.

Its high energy density, excellent durability and lightness make them a popular choice for energy storage.

Due to a growing demand for long-lasting, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for various applications, significant efforts have been devoted to improving the capacity of these batteries.

In particular, there is great interest in developing new compounds that may increase energy storage capacity, stability and lifespan compared to conventional lithium phosphate batteries.

The five-year research collaboration between IBN and Hydro-Quebec was established in 2011.

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Breakthrough in rechargeable batteries

Together, nanotechnology, genetic interference may tackle 'untreatable/ brain tumors

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There are no effective available treatments for sufferers of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and devastating form of brain tumor. The disease, always fatal, has a survival rate of only 6-18 months.

Now a new Tel Aviv University study may offer hope to the tens of thousands diagnosed with gliomas every year. A pioneer of cancer-busting nanoscale therapeutics, Prof. Dan Peer of TAU's Department of Department of Cell Research and Immunology and Scientific Director of TAU's Center for NanoMedicine has adapted an earlier treatment modality -- one engineered to tackle ovarian cancer tumors -- to target gliomas, with promising results.

Published recently in ACS Nano, the research was initiated by Prof. Zvi R. Cohen, Director of the Neurosurgical Oncology Unit and Vice Chair at the Neurosurgical Department at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. The Israeli Cancer Association provided support for this research.

Trying a new approach to gliomas

"I was approached by a neurosurgeon insistent on finding a solution, any solution, to a desperate situation," said Prof. Peer. "Their patients were dying on them, fast, and they had virtually no weapons in their arsenal. Prof. Zvi Cohen heard about my earlier nanoscale research and suggested using it as a basis for a novel mechanism with which to treat gliomas."

Dr. Cohen had acted as the primary investigator in several glioma clinical trials over the last decade, in which new treatments were delivered surgically into gliomas or into the surrounding tissues following tumor removal. "Unfortunately, gene therapy, bacterial toxin therapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy had all failed as approaches to treat malignant brain tumors," said Dr. Cohen. "I realized that we must think differently. When I heard about Dan's work in the field of nanomedicine and cancer, I knew I found an innovative approach combining nanotechnology and molecular biology to tackle brain cancer."

Dr. Peer's new research is based on a nanoparticle platform, which transports drugs to target sites while minimizing adverse effects on the rest of the body. Prof. Peer devised a localized strategy to deliver RNA genetic interference (RNAi) directly to the tumor site using lipid-based nanoparticles coated with the polysugar hyaluronan (HA) that binds to a receptor expressed specifically on glioma cells. Prof. Peer and his team of researchers tested the therapy in mouse models affected with gliomas and control groups treated with standard forms of chemotherapy. The results were, according to the researchers, astonishing.

"We used a human glioma implanted in mice as our preclinical model," said Prof. Peer. "Then we injected our designed particle with fluorescent dye to monitor its success entering the tumor cells. We were pleased and astonished to find that, a mere three hours later, the particles were situated within the tumor cells."

A safer, more promising approach

Rather than chemotherapy, Prof. Peer's nanoparticles contain nucleic acid with small interference RNAs, which silence the functioning of a key protein involved in cell proliferation. "Cancer cells, always dividing, are regulated by a specific protein," said Prof. Peer. "We thought if we could silence this gene, they would die off. It is a basic, elegant mechanism and much less toxic than chemotherapy. This protein is not expressed in normal cells, so it only works where cells are highly proliferated."

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Together, nanotechnology, genetic interference may tackle 'untreatable/ brain tumors

Nanoscience Classroom Installed at Northern Virginia Community College

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Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 24, 2015

Northern Virginia Community College has initiated a new program to increase the number of STEM graduates to meet the growing need in the workforce. Assistant Dean of Sciences Dr. Ia Gomez manages the implementation of the NOVA college-wide STEM initiative (NCSI), led by Manassas Campus Provost Dr. Roger Ramsammy and Interim NOVA President Dr. Melvin Schiavelli. NOVA faculty from several disciplines, including biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry and physics, are collaborating to keep students current with this emerging science.

The Manassas Campus has invested in state-of-the-art equipment to incorporate nanotechnology activities into the classroom so our students receive cutting-edge instruction, said Dr. Ia Gomez. For the Biotechnology program, we have a rigorous curriculum that includes a strong hands-on component combined with an internship to prepare our students for a STEM career path.

The cornerstones of a Nanoscience Classroom are desktop scanning electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, and 3D optical profilers. These instruments are all unique in their compactness, ease of use, and low maintenance.

The Phenom SEMs are state-of-the-art microscopes that magnify samples up to 100,000 times with remarkable detail. Additionally, students can investigate the elemental composition of materials as well as see them with high precision. The Phenom scanning electron microscopes are instrumental in bridging the visible world with the nanoscale world.

The Nanosurf AFMs are the eyes into the nanoscale world. The AFM has the ability to probe smaller dimensions in true 3D. AFM is required to evaluate smaller and smaller devices. AFMs allows students to visualize surface structures that are continually being created for new technologies.

The Zeta optical profiler is an industrial instrument that provides stunning 3D images in true color. Measurements are made on mechanical devices to look at holes, scratches, steps, roughness, and other important parameters. Students can evaluate micromachined parts, conduct failure analysis, inspect surface finishes, and perform many other tasks associated with 21st century manufacturing.

This powerful collection of instrumentation allows students to see structures from millimeters to nanometers in dimension. Applications vary greatly and include pharmaceuticals, bioinformatics, physics, forensics, and more. Students will be exposed to a great number of characterization techniques that can be used immediately after high school in jobs at high technology companies, as critical training for technical college preparation, or as a primer to a higher level college career.

As part of our STEM initiative we are promoting undergraduate research in our college and we are committed to become a national leader in community college research, adds Dr. Gomez. I believe your instrumentation has placed NOVA in a very advantageous position to accomplish this goal.

About Northern Virginia Community College

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Nanoscience Classroom Installed at Northern Virginia Community College


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