Papers about papers - p633

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.322

Publishing a paper in a journal has traditionally marked the end of a research project, but increasing numbers of academics are becoming interested in the publication process itself.

Full Text - Papers about papers | PDF (130 KB) - Papers about papers

Subject Category: Education and research

The US must help set international standards for nanotechnology - pp635 - 636

Vladimir Murashov & John Howard

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.323

International standards have a crucial role in supporting global trade and protecting human health and the environment. US government agencies and the private sector must become more involved in international efforts to establish such standards, and representatives from all nations must ensure that all standards are based on sound science.

Full Text - The US must help set international standards for nanotechnology | PDF (162 KB) - The US must help set international standards for nanotechnology

Subject Categories: Environmental, health and safety issues | Ethical, legal and other societal issues | Industry and IPR

Rhapsody in C - pp637 - 638

Chris Toumey

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.324

Do molecules have beauty? Is it possible to fall in love with one? Based on what Harry Kroto and others have written about buckminsterfullerene, Chris Toumey thinks that the answer to both these questions is yes.

Full Text - Rhapsody in C | PDF (183 KB) - Rhapsody in C

Subject Category: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes

Hanging by a nanotube, graphite oxide takes a breather, molecular electronics with fullerenes, optical nanotomography for fluids, and more - pp640 - 641

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.325

Full Text - Hanging by a nanotube, graphite oxide takes a breather, molecular electronics with fullerenes, optical nanotomography for fluids, and more | PDF (265 KB) - Hanging by a nanotube, graphite oxide takes a breather, molecular electronics with fullerenes, optical nanotomography for fluids, and more

Top down bottom up: Working in harmony - p641

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.326

Researchers across Europe have collaborated to identify the 'music' of different types of nanoparticles.

Full Text - Top down bottom up: Working in harmony | PDF (165 KB) - Top down bottom up: Working in harmony

Subject Categories: Nanoparticles | Structural properties

Nanoscale magnetometry: Microscopy with single spins - pp643 - 644

Christian Degen

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.328

Two teams of researchers have exploited defects in diamond to demonstrate a new approach to magnetic sensing and imaging at the nanoscale.

Full Text - Nanoscale magnetometryMicroscopy with single spins | PDF (175 KB) - Nanoscale magnetometryMicroscopy with single spins

Subject Categories: Nanomagnetism and spintronics | Nanometrology and instrumentation | Nanosensors and other devices

Molecular switches: Order and control - p644

Owain Vaughan

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.320

Full Text - Molecular switchesOrder and control | PDF (123 KB) - Molecular switchesOrder and control

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Surface patterning and imaging

Biosensors: New leverage against superbugs - pp645 - 646

François Huber, Hans Peter Lang & Christoph Gerber

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.294

As the evolution of new strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics continues, a nanomechanical approach to understanding the interactions between them could help efforts to develop new antibiotics.

Full Text - BiosensorsNew leverage against superbugs | PDF (344 KB) - BiosensorsNew leverage against superbugs

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanomedicine | Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

X-Ray diffraction: Catalysis live - p646

Owain Vaughan

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.321

Full Text - X-Ray diffractionCatalysis live | PDF (136 KB) - X-Ray diffractionCatalysis live

Subject Categories: Nanoparticles | Structural properties

Artificial cells: Designing biomimetic nanomachines - pp647 - 648

Marco Saraniti

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.327

A new mathematical approach could lead to a better understanding of how events at the cellular level are related to the way the body functions.

Full Text - Artificial cellsDesigning biomimetic nanomachines | PDF (225 KB) - Artificial cellsDesigning biomimetic nanomachines

Subject Categories: Computational nanotechnology | Molecular machines and motors | Nanosensors and other devices | Structural properties

Nano-selenium captures mercury - p648

Nicholas Ralston

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.310

Full Text - Nano-selenium captures mercury | PDF (90 KB) - Nano-selenium captures mercury

Spatial periodicity in molecular switching - pp649 - 653

Carlo Dri, Maike V. Peters, Jutta Schwarz, Stefan Hecht & Leonhard Grill

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.269

The development of molecular devices will require functional molecules that can be integrated into larger architectures and addressed selectively. Now it has been shown that molecular switches, adsorbed in a homogeneous two-dimensional layer, can be collectively switched with spatial selectivity. The probability of a molecule switching is controlled by the surrounding molecules and the supporting surface.

Abstract - | Full Text - Spatial periodicity in molecular switching | PDF (1,249 KB) - Spatial periodicity in molecular switching | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Surface patterning and imaging

See also: News and Views by Vaughan

Current saturation in zero-bandgap, top-gated graphene field-effect transistors - pp654 - 659

Inanc Meric, Melinda Y. Han, Andrea F. Young, Barbaros Ozyilmaz, Philip Kim & Kenneth L. Shepard

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.268

The first observation of saturating transistor characteristics in a graphene field-effect transistor is reported. The saturation velocity is attributed to scattering by interfacial phonons in the silicon dioxide layer supporting the graphene channels. These results demonstrate the feasibility of graphene devices for analogue and radio-frequency circuit applications without the need for bandgap engineering.

Abstract - | Full Text - Current saturation in zero-bandgap, top-gated graphene field-effect transistors | PDF (693 KB) - Current saturation in zero-bandgap, top-gated graphene field-effect transistors | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Electronic properties and devices

Integration of photonic and silver nanowire plasmonic waveguides - pp660 - 665

Anna L. Pyayt, Benjamin Wiley, Younan Xia, Antao Chen & Larry Dalton

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.281

Confining light below the diffraction limit is likely to be a feature of future optical data transmission systems, but it will be necessary to integrate such waveguides with diffraction-limited components. The coupling of light from a polymer optical waveguide into multiple silver nanowire plasmonic waveguides shows that this will be possible.

Abstract - | Full Text - Integration of photonic and silver nanowire plasmonic waveguides | PDF (432 KB) - Integration of photonic and silver nanowire plasmonic waveguides

Subject Category: Photonic structures and devices

Designing artificial cells to harness the biological ion concentration gradient - pp666 - 670

Jian Xu & David A. Lavan

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.274

A numerical model of a cell from the electric eel shows that artificial cells can be built to have higher power output densities and greater energy conversion efficiencies than natural cells, allowing them to potentially power medical implants and other devices.

Abstract - | Full Text - Designing artificial cells to harness the biological ion concentration gradient | PDF (431 KB) - Designing artificial cells to harness the biological ion concentration gradient | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Computational nanotechnology | Molecular machines and motors | Nanosensors and other devices | Structural properties

See also: News and Views by Saraniti

A thixotropic nanocomposite gel for three-dimensional cell culture - pp671 - 675

Y. Shona Pek, Andrew C. A. Wan, Asha Shekaran, Lang Zhuo & Jackie Y. Ying

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.270

Polymer–silica nanocomposite gels can be used to culture cells in a three-dimensional environment, offering a way to propagate cells without using enzymes to dissociate them from the surface of conventional cell culture flasks. This approach relies on the dependence of the viscosity of the gel on stress

Abstract - | Full Text - A thixotropic nanocomposite gel for three-dimensional cell culture | PDF (453 KB) - A thixotropic nanocomposite gel for three-dimensional cell culture | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Nanoparticles | Structural properties | Synthesis and processing

Free-standing graphene at atomic resolution - pp676 - 681

Mhairi H. Gass, Ursel Bangert, Andrew L. Bleloch, Peng Wang, Rahul R. Nair & A. K. Geim

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.280

A combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy has been used to produce and analyse images of free-standing graphene sheets with atomic resolution. The influence of microstructural peculiarities on the stability of the sheets and the evolution and interaction of point defects were also explored.

Abstract - | Full Text - Free-standing graphene at atomic resolution | PDF (1,136 KB) - Free-standing graphene at atomic resolution

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Structural properties | Surface patterning and imaging

Nanopatterning self-assembled nanoparticle superlattices by moulding microdroplets - pp682 - 690

Wenlong Cheng, Nokyoung Park, M. Todd Walter, Mark R. Hartman & Dan Luo

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.279

Nanoparticle superlattices are promising for many applications but the de-wetting processes normally used to produce these systems are not compatible with conventional patterning methods. Researchers have now developed an approach for patterning such superlattices that involves moulding microdroplets containing the nanoparticles and spatially regulating their de-wetting process.

Abstract - | Full Text - Nanopatterning self-assembled nanoparticle superlattices by moulding microdroplets | PDF (1,865 KB) - Nanopatterning self-assembled nanoparticle superlattices by moulding microdroplets | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanoparticles | Surface patterning and imaging

Nanomechanical detection of antibiotic–mucopeptide binding in a model for superbug drug resistance - pp691 - 696

Joseph Wafula Ndieyira, Moyu Watari, Alejandra Donoso Barrera, Dejian Zhou, Manuel Vögtli, Matthew Batchelor, Matthew A. Cooper, Torsten Strunz, Mike A. Horton, Chris Abell, Trevor Rayment, Gabriel Aeppli & Rachel A. McKendry

doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.275

The alarming growth of the antibiotic-resistant superbugs has created a demand for sensors that can investigate antibiotics and their modes of action. The label-free detection of the antibiotic vancomycin binding to mucopeptides on cantilever arrays, with 10 nM sensitivity and at clinically relevant concentrations in blood serum, could lead to improved biosensors and a better understanding of antibiotic drug action in bacteria.

Abstract - | Full Text - Nanomechanical detection of antibiotic–mucopeptide binding in a model for superbug drug resistance | PDF (639 KB) - Nanomechanical detection of antibiotic–mucopeptide binding in a model for superbug drug resistance | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanomedicine | Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

See also: News and Views by Huber et al.