Suspended nanochannel resonator (SNR), a high precision instrument, can now measure masses of particles as small as one millionth of a trillionth of a gram, say MIT researchers.<\/p>\n
Researchers from MIT can now measure masses of particles as small as one millionth of a trillionth of a gram. <\/p>\n
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The suspended nanochannel resonator (SNR), a high precision instrument devised by researchers, can determine the mass of particles with a resolution better than an attogram one millionth of a trillionth of a gram, according to a press release by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. <\/p>\n
With the help of the SNR, researchers can now determine the mass of minuscule-sized viruses, protein aggregates, and other naturally occurring and engineered nanoparticles (a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter), which were earlier difficult to measure due to their small size, according to the findings that were published in a paper for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. <\/p>\n
Now we can weigh small viruses, extracellular vesicles, and most of the engineered nanoparticles that are being used for nanomedicine, said Selim Olcum, one of the paper's lead authors. <\/p>\n
The SNR builds upon the suspended microchannel resonator (SMR), an earlier technology developed by Scott Manalis, an MIT professor of biological and mechanical engineering. <\/p>\n
The SMR was used to track cell growth and measure density of cells, according to the MIT press release. <\/p>\n
The SMR consists of a fluid-filled microchannel in a tiny silicon cantilever, a beam secured at one end. The particles are made to flow through the channel, one by one, and the mass of the particles changes the vibration frequency of the cantilever. <\/p>\n
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Link: Suspended nanochannel resonator (SNR), a high precision instrument, can now measure masses of particles as small as one millionth of a trillionth of a gram, say MIT researchers. Researchers from MIT can now measure masses of particles as small as one millionth of a trillionth of a gram. Subscribe Today to the Monitor Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition The suspended nanochannel resonator (SNR), a high precision instrument devised by researchers, can determine the mass of particles with a resolution better than an attogram one millionth of a trillionth of a gram, according to a press release by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Continue reading
\nResearchers measure minuscule particles with 'tiny diving boards'<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"