News & Comment

If we want nano-enabled tools that can increase our understanding of the physical and biological world, and also improve our quality of life, it will be necessary to overcome a complex set of commercialization challenges. Michael Helmus explains.

How do the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, as viewed by the public, compare with those associated with other technologies such as genetically modified organisms, stem cells, biotechnology and nuclear power? And when deciding to use a specific nanotechnology product, will consumers consider the risks, the benefits, or both? We report the first large-scale empirical analyses of these questions.

A focused beam of gallium ions has been used to make holes in colloidal particles with nanometre precision

A small mechanical stimulus can trigger molecules to self-assemble into neat arrays of nanodots and lines

Metallic carbon nanotubes can be destroyed by a chemical reaction that leaves semiconducting nanotubes unaltered

A theoretical study shows how to prepare two strips of graphene to act as quantum dots in a spin-based quantum bit

The addition of molecular side groups to mesoporous silica nanoparticles enhances their uptake and retention by human cervical cancer cells

Arrays of cylindrical nanowells can now image molecular binding events with high sensitivity over large areas

A simple and inexpensive method to remove arsenic contamination from water using iron oxide nanoparticles has been developed

Dispersions of magnetic nanoparticles form columnar structures under the influence of an external magnetic field

With Raman spectroscopy, it is now possible to identify the number of carbon layers — one, two or more than five — in cleaved pieces of graphite

Aluminium nitride films can now be grown at room temperature using a laser deposition technique

The direct addition of cyclic groups to carbon nanotubes is possible using a combination of pressure and a chromium catalyst

Small atomic cages made from tin and oxygen can be used as scaffolds for the assembly of fullerene-rich nanostructures

With a clever combination of photolithography, etching and electroplating, it is possible to ‘draw’ sub-100-nm lines of noble metals over large areas

Cerium oxide, a common compound found in glass polish and automobile exhaust systems, can help fight blinding diseases

Nanorods can be made from highly ordered, liquid crystalline hydrocarbon molecules

The sensing of small molecules by carefully designed DNA structures reaches its logical conclusion