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Particle News
Nanogenerator provides continuous electrical
power. Professor Zhong Lin Wang at Georgia Tech and coworkers have demonstrated a prototype
nanometer-scale generator that produces continuous direct-current electricity by harvesting mechanical energy from such
environmental sources as ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibration or blood flow. Based on arrays of vertically-aligned zinc
oxide nanowires that move inside a novel “zig-zag” plate electrode, the nanogenerators could provide a new way to power
nanoscale devices without batteries or other external power sources.
Nanotube arrays for high performance devices.
University of Illinois, Lehigh University, and Purdue University researchers report a new approach to
producing dense linear arrays of aligned carbon nanotubes. These arrays can be used to enhance the performance of existing
devices, and function as semiconducting thin films.
Targetted nanoparticles for cancer therapy
have recently been reviewed by an all-star cast of authors including Robert Langer in nanotoday.
Organic single crystal FETs fabricated on
flexible support. A recent report in Nature from the Bao group in chemical engineering at Stanford in
collaboration with scientists at UCLA presents exciting new results of single crystal organic transistor arrays patterned
using microcontact printing technology. Single crystals are grown using vapro phase methods, and appear to be superior to
thin film fabrication approaches.
Nanoparticle gold used as "nano-explosives" to
create microtunnels in nanoparticle/polymer composite films, as
reported by Qun Huo and coworkers from University of Central Florida in a paper published
online in Advanced Materials. Upon laser irradiation, gold nanoparticles convert the
photon energy into thermal energy, causing chemical decomposition of polymers and leading
to an underlayer explosion of the composite film. Microtunnels, holes, and reservoirs
were fabricated in their work using a continuous wave Nd:YAG laser.
SPD-SmartGlass on display at Second Skin exhibition in Essen, Germany.
SPD-Smart controllable glass from licensees of Research Frontiers, Inc. (Woodbury, NY) is on display at the Second Skin
exhibition taking place now through December 3, 2006 at the Zollverein World Cultural Heritage site in Essen, Germany. This technology is
based on suspended particle dispersion (SPD) technology, where the particles, suspended between glass panes, are engineered to
perform as electronically controlled light valves.
Paint on semiconductor outperform chips!
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created a semiconductor
device that outperforms today's conventional chips -- and they made it simply by painting a
liquid onto a piece of glass. The finding, which represents the first time a so-called "wet"
semiconductor device has bested traditional, more costly grown-crystal semiconductor devices,
is reported in the July 13 issue of the journal Nature. More recently, the group headed by
Edward Sargent, Canada Research Chair in Nanotechnology at the University of Toronto, has
disclosed an infrared detector device based on this technology.
Quantum dots for monitoring cell death have
just been disclosed in a soon to be published paper in Bioconjugate Chemistry
from a group led by Geralda van Tilborg of Eindhoven Technical University. The quantum dot provides optical
detection and paramagnetic stabilizing lipids provide MRI detection. Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is
often indicated by the occurrence of phosphatidyleserine (PS) at the outer cell membrane, and the bimodal-functional
particles are bioconjugated to appropriately targetting proteins that preferentially bind to PS. This type
of targetting provides imagable feedback on the progress of therapies and promises to be an important aid
to the oncological clinician.
Nanoparticle-based tactile sensor reported
recently by Maheswari and Saraf in Science magazine. Metal and
semiconductor nanoparticles are self-assembled into a thin film using LbL methods. The lateral
and height resolution are similar to human finger sensitivity at comparable stress levels (e.g., 10 kPa).
All optical nanoparticle pH meter reported by
Naomi Halas and coworkers from Rice University in a soon to be published paper
in Nano Letters. THe device uses hollow core-shell nanoparticle technology developed by the Halas group
and organic surface functionalization that couples carboxylate ionization to the plasmon resonance
of the core-shell particle. Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy of these surface organics provide spectra
that shift with pH. Uncertainties of +/- 0.1 pH unit were obtained over the device range of pH 5.8-7.6.
Particle News Archives
Thanks to the speakers and conferees for a seminal conference!
Particle Business
Nanosphere announces FDA clearance of second
moleclar diagnostics assay. This nanotechnology-based molecular diagnostics company has received
clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Verigene® F5 / F2 / MTHFR Nucleic Acid Test, which
detects disease-associated gene mutations that can contribute to blood coagulation disorders and difficulties metabolizing
folate (vitamin B-12). This marks the second nanotechnology-based assay cleared by the FDA to run on the Verigene® System,
following clearance in September of the company’s Verigene® Warfarin Metabolism Nucleic Acid Test.
Hitachi achieves milestone in HD technology.
Researchers at Hitachi have successfully reduced existing recording heads by more than a factor of
two to achieve new heads in the 30-50 nanometer (nm) range, which is up to 2,000 times smaller than the width of an
average human hair (approx. 70-100 microns). Called current perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magneto-resistive (CPP-GMR)
heads, Hitachi's new technology is expected to be implemented in shipping products in 2009 and reach its full potential
in 2011. This technology will support nanoparticle-based recording media.
Air Force contract for $5.6M to Hybrid Plastics
for POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) nanomaterials. The Air Force expects polymers based on
POSS to soon replace Kapton in space vehicle applications.
Polysciences opens new custom synthesis
laboratory. Polysciences, Inc., a leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, and a leading supplier
to the particle industry, announced the opening of a new laboratory dedicated to custom synthesis in Warrington,
Pennsylvania.
Nantero carbon nanotube technology and HP thermal inkjet ssed for printable memory
applications. Nantero, Inc., a nanotechnology company using carbon nanotubes for the development of
next-generation semiconductor devices, is working with HP to explore the use of HP inkjet technology and Nantero’s carbon
nanotube (CNT) formulation to create flexible electronics products and develop low cost printable memory applications.
Aquanova German Solubilisate Technologies GmbH receives the Frost & Sullivan 2006
Excellence in Technology Award in the field of solubilisation processes for functional foods
and dietary supplements. This award recognizes the company’s development of the highly sophisticated NovaSOL® Nanosome
technology, which enables the encapsulation of active functional food and supplement ingredients. Unlike the
conventional emulsion and microemulsion particles with massive particle size, this technology enables the formation
of micelles, which are just 30 nm in diameter, for encapsulating the active substance, thus enhancing its
bioavailability many times over.
Malvern Instruments wins Queen's Award
for enterprise in international trade. Malvern Instruments’ award is in the category of
International Trade, reflecting the company’s increased export earnings, up by 76% through sustained growth over the
past six years.
Particle Measuring Systems received Photonics Company of the Year Award
on November 14th from the Colorado Photonics Industry Association. The
Boulder, Colorado company was founded in 1972 as a developer and manufacturer of instruments for measuring extremely
small particles. It has since grown to be a major provider of instruments to the semiconductor, pharmaceutical,
aerospace, biotechnology and automotive industries.
FEI Company and Malvern Instruments team
for nanoparticle analysis. FEI Company and Malvern Instruments Ltd (Malvern, UK) have entered into
a joint development and marketing program for advanced nanoparticle analysis utilizing Malvern's particle image analysis
software on FEI's line of Quanta(TM) scanning electron microscopes (SEMs). The combination delivers a powerful particle
analysis solution that extends current analysis technologies for nano-sized particles.
NanoSight receives £250,000 from Strathdon Investments plc.
NanoSight Ltd, a leading provider of instruments for the optical detection and real time analysis of
sub-micron particles, announced it has secured significant investment to support its current sales drive and develop new
capabilities in nanoparticle analysis in the sub-500nm region. This latest tranche is the second in a round of investment
totalling £500,000, led by Strathdon and including the South West Venture Fund and a private investor.
Rinzler Lab/Arrowhead Research partner
to further develop thin film flexible electronics based on carbon
nanotubes. The thin film transistors (TNT) fabricated in the process at the University of Florida can be used to manufacture RFID tags,
flexible displays, and electronic paper. Arrowhead will provide $647,000 over a two year period
to develop optimized TFT devices and prototypes of TFT arrays and will have the first option to
exclusively license and commercialize the technology owned by University of Florida.
Particle Business Archives
We thank the 480 participants for a great conference!
3D Model of an Immunoliposome
by Dr. R. Rezka, MDC, Berlin
and courtesy of Dr. Reto A. Schwendener
Particle People
Sumio Iijima named 2007 Balzan Prize winner.
Professor Iijima of Mejo University, Nagoya, honored for his discoveries of single walled carbon
nanotubes and for his studies of their properties. The prize comes with 1 million Swiss Francs.
Pierre-Gilles de Gennes dies at 74.
As reported by the Associated Press in the Herald Tribune and by Le Monde, the 1991 Nobel Laureate in Physics
passed away last Friday on May 18th in the Paris suburb, Orsay. Awarded the Nobel Prize for his seminal work on liquid crystalline phases, de Gennes remained
a popular scientific figure worldwide up to his death. He was widely acclaimed for his abilities to make problems and solutions easy
to understand by scientists and by lay people alike. He was widely respected for his contributions to surface and polymer science, and
these contributions have been invaluable to various aspects of colloid and particle technology.
Alan Pitt named 2007 Redeal Lecturer.
This prestigious lecture award and supporting symposium are sponsored by the Society of Chemical Industry and the
symposium will be held April 27, 2007, at the SCI International Headquarters on Belgrave Square, London. The Awardee will present
a lecture entitled "Designer Molecules for Interfacial Activity". Pitt has had a long and distinguished carreer at Kodak,
Ltd. (Harrow), where he has made many invaluable contributions to dispersion technology, and the design and use of multi-tailed
surfactants.
Two Nobel Laureates and a half dozen or so
contenders will lecture at the nanoparticle-packed program for the Chemistry of Supramolecules and Assemblies Gordon
Research Conference at the Il Ciocco Resort in Barga (Tuscany), Italy in early May 2007. This program focuses upon Functional
Materials via Bottom-Up Self-Assembly, and showcases leading nanoparticle and supramolecular scientists in a program limted to
150 participants. Nobel Laureates Lehn and Polanyi and twenty other distinguished scientists will describe frontier advances
in sensors, devices, and advanced materials.
Activery Biotech names Andreas Kordikowski
R&D director. Dr. Kordikowski is a recognized expert in supercritical fluid crystallization, This
pharmaceutical company of Barcelona, Spain, focuses upon SCF technologies for pharmaceutical particle precipitation.
Simitri Gidaspow receives Thomas Baron Award in Fluid-Particle Systems
at the 2006 Annual AIChE meeting. This PTF/AIChE award is sponsored by Shell Global Solutions
for outstanding scientific/technical accomplishment which has made a significant impact in the field of fluid-particle
systems or in a related field with potential for cross-fertilization. Gidaspow is University Distinguished Professor
of Chemical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology.
Particle Technology Forum Award given to Douglas W. Fuerstenau of Berkeley
at the 2006 Annual AIChE meeting. This PTF/AIChE award is sponsored by DuPont for outstanding contributions in the field of
particle technology, teaching of particle technology (as evidenced by the aggregate contributions of the nominee’s
PhD students to the field) and the advocacy of particle technology within industry, academia, and government.
McMurray and Flagan share 2006 Fuchs Award.
Professors Peter McMurray (University of Minnesota) and Richard Flagan (Caltech) were named the
2006 Fuchs Awardees at the 7th International Aerosol Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota in October. This award is given
every four years jointly by the Gesellschaft für Aerosolforschung, the Japan Association of Aerosol Science and
Technology, and the American Association for Aerosol Research. The Fuchs Award is considered the highest honor for
researchers in the field of aerosol science and technology.
Joe DeSimone named AAAS Fellow.
Joseph DeSimone, Professor of Chemistry (UNC, Chapel Hill) and Chemical Engineering (North
Carolina State University) was recently named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
DeSimone was cited for his entrepreneurship in developing nanoparticle enterprises, such as Micell and Liquidia, that
have brought innovative nanoparticle technology into the marketplace.
Don Kania named president and CEO at FEI.
Dr. Kania, 51, has most recently been president and chief operating officer of Veeco Instruments Inc.,
where he has worked since 1998. Prior to that he held technical and general management positions of increasing
responsibility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Particle People Archives
Thanks to the 220+ conferees who made Particles 2005 such a rich and stimulating conference!
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