Of mice and men - p395

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.162

We need a systematic way to formulate and tackle problems in nanotoxicology, and to compare and combine the results from individual studies.

Full Text - Of mice and men | PDF (83 KB) - Of mice and men

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Environmental, health and safety issues

Plenty of gloom and doom at the bottom? - pp396 - 397

Chris Toumey

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.163

The relationship between humans and technology is often viewed as a debate between technophobes who oppose technology, irrespective of its benefits, and technophiles who think that all technology is good. Chris Toumey prefers the cyborg point of view.

Full Text - Plenty of gloom and doom at the bottom? | PDF (282 KB) - Plenty of gloom and doom at the bottom?

Subject Category: Ethical, legal and other societal issues

Strictly nanotubes in Beijing - pp398 - 399

Adarsh Sandhu

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.164

A collaboration between China's leading university and one of the world's biggest industrial companies is bringing a range of nanotube-based materials and devices to the market.

Full Text - Strictly nanotubes in Beijing | PDF (130 KB) - Strictly nanotubes in Beijing

Subject Categories: Education and research | Industry and IPR

Our choice from the recent literature - pp400 - 401

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.165

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (217 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Top down bottom up: Strength in numbers - p401

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.166

Computational screening has turned up a fullerene derivative that might help fight the HIV virus.

Full Text - Top down bottom upStrength in numbers | PDF (139 KB) - Top down bottom upStrength in numbers

Nanobiotechnology: A fluid approach to simple circuits - pp403 - 404

Vicente M. Aguilella & Antonio Alcaraz

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.168

Using simple components such as oil, salt water, lipids and proteins, plus routine genetic engineering techniques, it is possible to create simple nanofluidic circuits.

Full Text - NanobiotechnologyA fluid approach to simple circuits | PDF (6,142 KB) - NanobiotechnologyA fluid approach to simple circuits

Subject Category: Nanobiotechnology

Nanoelectromechanical systems: Mass spec goes nanomechanical - pp404 - 405

Anja Boisen

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.169

A new approach to mass spectrometry based on nanoelectromechanical systems removes the need to ionize molecules before their mass can be determined.

Full Text - Nanoelectromechanical systemsMass spec goes nanomechanical | PDF (156 KB) - Nanoelectromechanical systemsMass spec goes nanomechanical

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanometrology and instrumentation | Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

Ferroelectric memory: Slim fast - p405

Michael Segal

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.161

Full Text - Ferroelectric memorySlim fast | PDF (137 KB) - Ferroelectric memorySlim fast

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Surface patterning and imaging

Correlated electron systems: Better than average - pp406 - 407

Douglas Natelson

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.124

Experiments on single-crystal nanobeams have revealed several new aspects of a phenomenon that has puzzled physicists for decades — the metal–insulator transition in vanadium dioxide.

Full Text - Correlated electron systemsBetter than average | PDF (124 KB) - Correlated electron systemsBetter than average

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | NEMS | Structural properties

Nanomaterials: Sticky but not messy - pp407 - 408

Zhong Lin Wang

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.135

Inspired by the feet of the gecko lizard, researchers have tweaked a conventional plasma etching chamber so that it can make reusable adhesives that could have applications in the semiconductor industry.

Full Text - NanomaterialsSticky but not messy | PDF (169 KB) - NanomaterialsSticky but not messy

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | Synthesis and processing

Nanotoxicology: How do nanotubes suppress T cells? - pp409 - 410

Alison Elder

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.167

Mice inhaling low levels of multiwalled carbon nanotubes show suppressed immune function. New studies suggest that this suppression originates from signals in the lungs.

Full Text - NanotoxicologyHow do nanotubes suppress T cells? | PDF (213 KB) - NanotoxicologyHow do nanotubes suppress T cells?

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Environmental, health and safety issues

Evaluation of nanoparticle immunotoxicity - pp411 - 414

Marina A. Dobrovolskaia, Dori R. Germolec & James L. Weaver

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.175

Abstract - | Full Text - Evaluation of nanoparticle immunotoxicity | PDF (178 KB) - Evaluation of nanoparticle immunotoxicity | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Environmental, health and safety issues

Nanoscale shape-memory alloys for ultrahigh mechanical damping - pp415 - 419

Jose San Juan, Maria L. Nó & Christopher A. Schuh

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.142

Shape-memory alloys undergo reversible transformations between two distinct phases. Now researchers have shown that nanoscale pillars made of shape-memory alloys have a figure of merit for mechanical damping — substantially higher than the figures previously reported for bulk materials — making these nanopillars attractive for use in future microscale and smaller devices.

Abstract - | Full Text - Nanoscale shape-memory alloys for ultrahigh mechanical damping | PDF (3,930 KB) - Nanoscale shape-memory alloys for ultrahigh mechanical damping | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomaterials | NEMS | Structural properties

New aspects of the metal–insulator transition in single-domain vanadium dioxide nanobeams - pp420 - 424

Jiang Wei, Zenghui Wang, Wei Chen & David H. Cobden

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.141

Many strongly correlated electron systems have a domain structure that obscures the fundamental properties of the homogeneous material. Experiments on single-domain nanobeams made of vanadium dioxide have revealed several new aspects of the metal–insulator transition in this material.

Abstract - | Full Text - New aspects of the metal–insulator transition in single-domain vanadium dioxide nanobeams | PDF (1,333 KB) - New aspects of the metal–insulator transition in single-domain vanadium dioxide nanobeams

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | NEMS | Structural properties

See also: News and Views by Natelson

Observation of the triplet exciton in EuS-coated single-walled nanotubes - pp425 - 429

Aditya D. Mohite, Tiffany S. Santos, Jagadeesh S. Moodera & Bruce W. Alphenaar

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.122

Excitons are created when a carbon nanotube absorbs photons. However, the triplet exciton is usually optically inactive, preventing its direct observation, lowering photocurrent efficiency and making optical injection of spin-polarized carriers impossible. Optical excitation of the triplet exciton has now been achieved.

Abstract - | Full Text - Observation of the triplet exciton in EuS-coated single-walled nanotubes | PDF (373 KB) - Observation of the triplet exciton in EuS-coated single-walled nanotubes | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Nanomagnetism and spintronics

Multifunctional nanoarchitectures from DNA-based ABC monomers - pp430 - 436

Jong B. Lee, Young H. Roh, Soong Ho Um, Hisakage Funabashi, Wenlong Cheng, Judy J. Cha, Pichamon Kiatwuthinon, David A. Muller & Dan Luo

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.93

Multifunctional nanostructures have been created from DNA-based anisotropic, branched and crosslinkable building blocks — ABC monomers. Using these monomers, a target-driven polymerization process is demonstrated where polymers are generated only in the presence of a specific DNA molecule, leading to highly sensitive pathogen detection. The nanoarchitectures can also be used to deliver drugs to cells.

Abstract - | Full Text - Multifunctional nanoarchitectures from DNA-based ABC monomers | PDF (1,814 KB) - Multifunctional nanoarchitectures from DNA-based ABC monomers | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanomaterials

Droplet networks with incorporated protein diodes show collective properties - pp437 - 440

Giovanni Maglia, Andrew J. Heron, William L. Hwang, Matthew A. Holden, Ellina Mikhailova, Qiuhong Li, Stephen Cheley & Hagan Bayley

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.121

Aqueous droplets connected by single lipid bilayers have been used to examine the properties of protein channels and pores, and networks of droplets can form microscale batteries and detect light. Now, by inserting an engineered pore with diode-like properties into the interface bilayers, droplet networks that mimic simple electronic devices have been produced.

Abstract - | Full Text - Droplet networks with incorporated protein diodes show collective properties | PDF (1,141 KB) - Droplet networks with incorporated protein diodes show collective properties | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic properties and devices | Nanobiotechnology

See also: News and Views by Aguilella & Alcaraz

Transfer of gold nanoparticles from the water column to the estuarine food web - pp441 - 444

John L. Ferry, Preston Craig, Cole Hexel, Patrick Sisco, Rebecca Frey, Paul L. Pennington, Michael H. Fulton, I. Geoff Scott, Alan W. Decho, Shosaku Kashiwada, Catherine J. Murphy & Timothy J. Shaw

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.157

Gold nanorods added to a laboratory-constructed estuarine mesocosm can accumulate in sediments, biofilms and various organisms such as fish, snails and shrimp. Most of the nanorods ended up in biofilms and clams, indicating that these nanoparticles could readily pass from the water column into the marine food web.

Abstract - | Full Text - Transfer of gold nanoparticles from the water column to the estuarine food web | PDF (460 KB) - Transfer of gold nanoparticles from the water column to the estuarine food web | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Environmental, health and safety issues

Towards single-molecule nanomechanical mass spectrometry - pp445 - 450

A. K. Naik, M. S. Hanay, W. K. Hiebert, X. L. Feng & M. L. Roukes

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.152

Mass detection of single biological molecules in real time by a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) is demonstrated for the first time, and this is used to perform first generation NEMS-based mass spectrometry. Precipitous frequency shifts, proportional to the mass of the molecules, are recorded in real time by the NEMS mass spectrometry system as protein molecules and nanoparticles adsorb, one-by-one, onto an ultrahigh frequency NEMS resonator.

Abstract - | Full Text - Towards single-molecule nanomechanical mass spectrometry | PDF (654 KB) - Towards single-molecule nanomechanical mass spectrometry | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanobiotechnology | Nanometrology and instrumentation | Nanosensors and other devices | NEMS

See also: News and Views by Boisen

Mechanisms for how inhaled multiwalled carbon nanotubes suppress systemic immune function in mice - pp451 - 456

L. A. Mitchell, F. T. Lauer, S. W. Burchiel & J. D. McDonald

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.151

It has been shown that inhaling multiwalled carbon nanotubes does not lead to significant lung inflammation, but can suppress the immune function of mice. Now it is demonstrated that signals in the lung can activate signals in the spleen to inhibit the immune function of mice inhaling low levels of nanotubes.

Abstract - | Full Text - Mechanisms for how inhaled multiwalled carbon nanotubes suppress systemic immune function in mice | PDF (616 KB) - Mechanisms for how inhaled multiwalled carbon nanotubes suppress systemic immune function in mice | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanomedicine | Environmental, health and safety issues

See also: News and Views by Elder

Self-assembled cationic peptide nanoparticles as an efficient antimicrobial agent - pp457 - 463

Lihong Liu, Kaijin Xu, Huaying Wang, P. K. Jeremy Tan, Weimin Fan, Subbu S. Venkatraman, Lanjuan Li & Yi-Yan Yang

doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.153

A class of core–shell nanoparticles self-assembled from amphiphilic peptides can kill a range of bacteria, yeast and fungus. They are more potent than their unassembled peptide counterparts and can suppress bacterial growth in the brains of rabbits infected with meningitis. These particles, which carry a high number of positive charges, are promising antimicrobial agents.

Abstract - | Full Text - Self-assembled cationic peptide nanoparticles as an efficient antimicrobial agent | PDF (1,152 KB) - Self-assembled cationic peptide nanoparticles as an efficient antimicrobial agent | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Nanomedicine | Nanoparticles