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When a butyl methyl sulphide (BuSMe) molecule is absorbed on a metal surface it can rotate around the bond between the sulphur atom in the molecule and one of the metal atoms in the surface. Now Charles Sykes and co-workers have shown that electrons from a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) can be used to drive directional motion of BuSMe molecules adsorbed on a copper surface. The direction and rate of the rotation are related to the chiralities of the molecule and the microscope tip. The BuSMe molecules shown here measure 2.5 nm across and appear hexagonal because of the symmetry of the underlying copper surface. The colours represent height (blue being the highest). This image was formed by duplicating an STM image of two BuSMe molecules.
What progress has been made in efforts to engage the public in decisions about nanotechnology over the past five years? Chris Toumey asks various experts in the field.
The first issue of Nature Nanotechnology, published five years ago, contained seven research papers. We catch up with the authors of those papers and ask how nanotechnology has changed since then.
Electrons from the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope can be used to drive and monitor the directional rotation of a single molecule on a metal surface.
Risk assessments of products containing nanomaterials require both the materials in the products and the materials emitted during their use to be analysed so that realistic exposures can be determined.
Recent advances suggest that nanopore-based sensors may be able to sequence the human genome for under $1,000. This article reviews the use of nanopore technology in DNA sequencing, genetics and medical diagnostics.
Gold nanoparticles can inhibit the amplification of base mismatches in DNA, allowing the genes associated with certain diseases to be identified more accurately for large sample sets.
Thin graphene oxide windows can be used in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of environmental cells by virtue of their transparency to low-energy electrons.
The three-way junction domain of the phi29 bacteriophage can be assembled from three pieces of RNA oligomers to form stable multifunctional nanoparticles that are useful for the treatment of different diseases.
A biological nanopore is used to detect circulating microRNA in the plasma of lung cancer patients, offering a non-invasive method to screen and diagnose diseases.
Iron oxide and zinc oxide core–shell nanoparticles can deliver antigens into dendritic cells and also act as an imaging agent for cancer immunotherapy.
Since it was launched in October 2006, Nature Nanotechnologyhas published papers on a wide range of topics within nanoscience and technology. This web focus brings together all the papers we have published in four particularly active areas - DNA nanotechnology, graphene, nanopores and nanotoxicology - along with articles on the public perceptions of nanotechnology.