Nov 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Two newly developed, low-cost tests that use nanoparticles to detect chemicals can accurately measure tiny amounts of two potentially harmful herbicides in fruits, vegetables and their products. Reporting in the journal Food Chemistry ("Simultaneous detection of two herbicides in fruits and vegetables with nanoparticle-linked immunosorbent...
New machine-learning simulations reduce energy need for mask fabrics, other materials
Nov 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Making the countless numbers of N95 masks that have protected millions of Americans from COVID requires a process that not only demands attention to detail but also requires lots of energy. Many of the materials in these masks are produced by a technique called melt...
New model for matter in neutron star collisions
Nov 01, 2022 (Nanowerk News) After a massive star has burned its fuel and explodes as a supernova, an extremely compact object, called a neutron star, can be formed. Neutron stars are extraordinarily dense: To reach the density inside them, one would need to squeeze a massive body like our...
Electrical gating of the charge-density-wave quantum phases opens up innovative electronic applications
Nov 01, 2022 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The charge-density-wave (CDW) phase is a macroscopic quantum state consisting of a periodic modulation of the electronic charge density accompanied by a periodic distortion of the atomic lattice. The early work on CDW effects revealed many spectacular phenomena: oscillating electric current for constant voltages, giant...
Engineers draw inspiration from geometrical frustration (w/video)
Oct 31, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Springs, squeegees and soda straws function with a common property — they are rigid in one direction and flexible in another. Structures like these, with properties that vary across dimensions, have played critical roles in human technology from the longbow to the booster rocket. Now,...
A new paradigm to enhance tumour targeting with biomimetic nanovectors
Oct 31, 2022 (Nanowerk News) A new technique to improve the coating of nanoparticles used in cancer therapy may enhance tumour targeting, a new study carried out in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Anhui Medical University in China concludes. Tumour targeting is a prerequisite for effective cancer...
Stretchable battery packaging with moisture and gas barrier could power the future of wearable devices
Oct 31, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Wearable devices have garnered attention for their potential as sensors that could monitor various biomarkers, a means of drug delivery, medical devices and more. In order for these wearable devices to be functional and practical, they need to have batteries that are stretchable and highly...
Artificial intelligence and molecule machine join forces to generalize automated chemistry
Oct 31, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Artificial intelligence, “building-block” chemistry and a molecule-making machine teamed up to find the best general reaction conditions for synthesizing chemicals important to biomedical and materials research – a finding that could speed innovation and drug discovery as well as make complex chemistry automated and accessible....
Efficient nanovaccine delivery system boosts cellular immunity
Oct 31, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibition therapy, have been attracting attention in recent years as new methods for treating cancer. However, immune checkpoint inhibition therapy is only effective in 20%–30% of cancer patients, so developing better drug delivery systems to induce anticancer cellular immunity...