Sharks are often the subject of TV specials or news stories focusing on their attacks on humans. But scientists are finding that sharks could inspire a new type of surface that would attack bacteria, helping humans instead of hurting them. As reported in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers have designed a coating that is…
E- Textiles Control Home Appliances With the Swipe of a Finger
Magnetic Treatment Could Help Remove ‘Off-Flavor’ From Wines
Step Aside Superman, Steel is no Competition for this New Material
Precise Targeting Technique Could Regulate Gut Bacteria, Curtailing Disease
Nanoparticles Stuffed with Rabies Virus Parts Could Treat Parkinson’s Disease
The rabies virus wreaks havoc on the brain, triggering psychosis and death. To get where it needs to go, the virus must first trick the nervous system and cross the blood brain barrier — a process that makes it of interest in drug design. Now, scientists report in ACS Nano a way to exploit the…
Injected DNA Nanodevice Functions as Light-activated Cell Remote Control
What if doctors had a remote control that they could use to steer a patient’s own cells to a wound to speed up the healing process? Although such a device is still far from reality, researchers reporting in the ACS journal Nano Letters (“Near-Infrared Light-Activated DNA-Agonist Nanodevice for Nongenetically and Remotely Controlled Cellular Signaling and…
Hybrid Solar Cells Function in Rain or Shine
Despite the numerous advances in solar cells, one thing remains constant: cloudy, rainy conditions put a damper on the amount of electricity created. Now researchers reporting in the journal ACS Nano have developed hybrid solar cells that can generate power from raindrops. In areas where it frequently rains, solar cells might not seem like the…
Harvesting Water From Fog With Harps
As summertime draws near, some people around the U.S. will face annual water usage restrictions as water supplies become strained. But for those who live in arid climates year-round, water shortages are a constant concern. In these areas, residents must capitalize on even the smallest bit of moisture in the air. Now researchers report in ACS…
Electronics Knit from Waterproof, Rechargeable Yarn
When someone thinks about knitting, they usually don’t conjure up an image of sweaters and scarves made of yarn that can power watches and lights. But that’s just what one group is reporting in ACS Nano (“Waterproof and Tailorable Elastic Rechargeable Yarn Zinc Ion Batteries by a Cross-Linked Polyacrylamide Electrolyte”). They have developed a rechargeable…
Implantable Sensor Relays Real-Time Personal Health Data to a Cell Phone
Nanospears Send Precisely Targeted Genetic Material to Cells
In a step toward accelerating the production of new gene therapies, scientists report in ACS Nano that they have developed remote-controlled, needle-like nanospears capable of piercing membrane walls and delivering DNA into selected cells. They say the new technique, which can ferry biological materials to cells with pinpoint accuracy, overcomes many of the existing barriers…
Graphene-Based Nanoscrolls Inspired by Dog’s Nose
It is well known that dogs have a better sense of smell than humans. For years, researchers have been trying to develop an artificial detector that is just as good as a canine’s nose. Now, one group reports in ACS Nano that they were able to mimic a dog’s sniffer with graphene-based nanoscrolls. The inside…
From Compost to Composites: An Eco-Friendly Way to Improve Rubber
Nanotechnology Could Reduce Oral Surgery Pain, Recovery Time
A trip to the dentist or orthodontist usually instills a sense of dread in most patients, and that’s before the exam even begins. Add to that the fear of oral surgery with a painful recovery, and many people will avoid these visits at all costs. Now, one group reports a pre-clinical study in ACS Nano…
A Step Toward Sensitive and Fast Gluten Detection
Self-Healing, Skin-Inspired Coating is Hard as Teeth
Self-healing smart coatings could someday make scratches on cell phones a thing of the past. But researchers often have to compromise between strength and the ability to self-repair when developing these materials. Now, one group reports in ACS Nano the development of a smart coating that is as hard as tooth enamel on the outside…
Pearly Material for Bendable Heating Elements
The iridescent shimmer of a string of pearls may one day be more than pretty adornment. Scientists now report in ACS Applied Nano Materials a hybrid material consisting of imitation pearl combined with silver nanowires that works as a heater, with the added benefit of high flexibility, suggesting a potential role in wearable devices. Nacre, otherwise…
Nanoribbon Biosensor Monitors Glucose Using Sweat, Tears
Constantly tracking a person’s glucose levels through their tears or sweat could be one step closer to providing people with diabetes an improved monitoring tool. Researchers report in the journal ACS Nano the development of an ultra-thin, flexible sensor that could be incorporated into contact lenses or on the backs of watches for real-time glucose…
Anti-Cancer Drugs Hide in Nanoparticles for Effectiveness
Despite herculean efforts, cancer remains a formidable disease, with each malignant subtype responding differently to therapeutics. One hurdle specific to treating solid tumors is a protective layer called an extracellular matrix that can prevent chemotherapeutic agents from penetrating the tumor’s core. Scientists now report results in ACS’ Chemistry of Materials showing that, by cloaking anti-cancer…
Scaling to New Heights With Gecko-Inspired Adhesive
Harmful Silver Nanoparticles Hide in Laundry Wastewater
Silver nanoparticles are being used in clothing for their anti-odor abilities but some of this silver comes off when the clothes are laundered. The wastewater from this process could end up in the environment, possibly harming aquatic life, so researchers have attempted to recover the silver. Now, one group reports in ACS Sustainable Chemistry &…
Cool Textiles to Beat the Heat
Air-conditioned buildings bring welcome relief to people coming in from the heat. But creating that comfort comes with a cost to our wallets and the environment in the form of increased energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Now researchers report in ACS Nano the development of a new material for clothing that we could one day don…
Jellyfish-Inspired Electronic Skin Glows When it Gets Hurt
Electronic-skin technologies for prosthetics and robots can detect the slightest touch or breeze. But oddly, the sensors that make this possible do not respond effectively to a harmful blow. Now researchers report in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces the development of a jellyfish-inspired electronic skin that glows when the pressure against it is high enough to potentially…
Jellyfish-Inspired Electronic Skin Glows When It Gets Hurt
Electronic-skin technologies for prosthetics and robots can detect the slightest touch or breeze. But oddly, the sensors that make this possible do not respond effectively to a harmful blow. Now researchers report in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces the development of a jellyfish-inspired electronic skin that glows when the pressure against it is high enough…