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WHAT'S BIG IN SMALL SCIENCE? A Quarterly Newsletter of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) |
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DIRECTOR'S CORNER 
Let’s celebrate! I personally feel it is so important to pause from our busy lives and celebrate; the big things and those that are very small. And there is so much to celebrate! For World Cancer Day, we celebrated research advances in nanotechnology that enable better detection, imaging, and treatment of cancer, including nanoparticles that can activate a patient’s immune system to fight cancer (e.g., A nanotechnology approach to cancer treatment and How nanotechnology is helping to develop the next-generation of cancer therapeutics). For National Battery Day, we highlighted batteries powered by nanotechnology that can store more energy and last longer (e.g., New electrode design may lead to more powerful batteries). And it is not too early to start thinking about what you will do to celebrate National Nanotechnology Day on October 9th (for 10-9, of course)! I plan to run a 100 billion nanometer dash, will you?
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NNI On Jan. 21, 2020, NASA invited small businesses to submit proposals under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program solicitation. The FY 2020 SBIR/STTR solicitation, which is open until March 20, 2020, includes several topics related to nanotechnology, such as spacecraft water sustainability through nanotechnology, nanoelectronics and nanomagnetics, and advanced telescope technologies. USDA/NIFA is requesting applications for six Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) priority areas through the Foundational and Applied Science Program for FY 2020. The goal of this program is to invest in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive, and economically viable plant and animal production systems. Some priority areas are related to nanotechnology, such as nanotechnology-based sensing mechanisms and smart sensors for detection of pathogens, allergens, and contaminants in food; nano-encapsulation to enhance bioavailability of bioactive components in food; and characterization of hazards, exposure levels, transport, and fate of engineered nanoparticles in food, crops, soil, and water. Proposals are due March 19, 2020. On Jan. 2, 2020, NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases posted a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that encourages applications from institutions and organizations proposing original research addressing barriers that limit progress toward effective open- and closed-loop glucose control systems. Proposed research may contribute to development of affordable and user-friendly technologies to improve glucose control in patients with type 1 diabetes. All applications are due on April 7, 2020.
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NANOTECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION An MIT spinout is developing nanotechnologies for industrial sensing. Its technology allows modified carbon nanotubes to react in highly sensitive ways to specific compounds, such as those released from ripening apples. The company has received an SBIR award from NSF and has raised over $3 million in private capital. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee spinout holds an exclusive patent license for graphene monoxide that the company will use to develop lithium-ion battery components. The company founders are co-inventors of a novel 2D, solid crystalline graphene monoxide aimed at increasing energy storage and safety. The company recently received a Phase 2 STTR award from DOE for high-energy safe anodes for lithium ion batteries. The founders credited the DOE I-Corps experience with making their start-up possible. Using a technology that combines nano- and ultra-filtration methods, an MIT spinout is working to commercialize an industrial filtration membrane technology. The food and beverage industry is the first commercialization target. The company has received three SBIR awards (NSF, USDA) and has participated in the NSF I-Corps program. In collaboration with the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, a New Mexico company is using quantum dots to tailor the spectrum of sunlight for optimized crop growth for in-space and planetary exploration missions. The company has received four SBIR/STTR awards (NASA, NSF, DOE). A Wisconsin-based company is commercializing a new wound care matrix made with bioresorbable polymers and a patented antimicrobial silver nanotechnology. The company has received five SBIR awards (DHHS, NSF, NIH). According to Diabetes Care, diabetic foot ulcers impose health care costs between $9 billion and $13 billion annually – over and above other diabetic care costs. A company located in New York City is using a patented printed graphene sensor to detect small changes in foot temperature, which is indicative of diabetic foot ulcers. The company has received two SBIR awards (NSF).
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NANOTECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY (nanoEHS) DEVELOPMENTS Near-term nanoEHS COR activities include an Exposure COR teleconference to discuss measurements of indoor air quality on March 19th, and the Risk Assessment COR has planned a series of discussions to explore novel risk assessment methodologies and strategies for nanomaterials. The next nanoEHS COR workshop is being planned for September in Washington, DC. The Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) Working Group is planning nanoEHS webinars to present progress in the following areas: (1) nanomaterial measurement infrastructure, (2) human exposure assessment, (3) human health, (4) environment, (5) risk assessment and risk management methods, and (6) informatics and modeling. These are the research areas identified in the NNI Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy. More information will be posted on www.nano.gov/publicwebinars as it becomes available.
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STEM EDUCATION Today (Feb. 20, 2020), join a free professional development webinar organized by NextTech on using LinkedIn effectively. The guest speaker, Josh Henkin, founder of STEM Career Services, LLC, will provide tips on how to create a strong LinkedIn profile and grow a network that can be tapped when searching for a job. To register, please email nanoed@nnco.nano.gov. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education will be held in Boston on April 2–5, 2020. This conference will offer the latest in science content, teaching strategy, and research in science education. Join science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, and business and industry representatives who are involved in and committed to science education. Stop by the NNI booth in the Exhibit Hall! The USA Science & Engineering Festival (USASEF) will be held in Washington, DC, on April 25–26, 2020. As the Nation's largest celebration of science, technology, engineering & mathematics, this festival will feature more than 3,000 hands-on activities and more than 50 stage shows geared toward students, teachers, and families. Mark your calendars and stop by the NNI booth!
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NANOTECHNOLOGY AND YOU Researchers engaged in nanomedicine are welcome to participate in the growing Nanomedicine Community of Research (COR). This collaborative effort, co-chaired by Anil Patri (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and Ruth Schmid-Baumberger (SINTEF), provides a platform for nanomedicine scientists to identify and share resources and best practices. For more information or to be added to the Nanomedicine COR distribution list, please contact CORmembership@nnco.nano.gov. The next annual gathering of this community will take place at the 12th European and Global CLINAM-Summit in Basel, Switzerland, on May 17–20. Thank you to all the nanotechnology professionals from academia, government, and industry who participated in the 46 weekly episodes of the “Stories from the NNI” audio podcast celebrating the 15-year anniversary of the 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act! In these episodes, experts shared their perspectives on key research and development advances in nanotechnology. In the final four episodes, perspectives from scientists and experts were compiled in four key themes: the critical role of interdisciplinarity in nanotechnology, advances that have been made over the past 15 years, areas in which nanotechnology will make a big impact in the future, and advice to nanotechnology students and those who are interested in starting a company. The NNI podcast family is growing. Guests explore nanotechnology topics from different perspectives:
Recent episodes of the Nano Matters podcast were released on Jan. 6 (Chad Mirkin), Jan. 20 (LaShanda Korley), Feb. 3 (Angelique Johnson), and Feb. 17 (Paul Weiss), and the first episodes of the Stories from the NNI podcast for 2020 were released on Jan. 13 (Gerhard Klimeck), Jan. 27 (Chris Ober, Ron Olson, and Don Tennant), and Feb. 10 (LaShanda Korley).
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NNCO IN THE COMMUNITY NNCO Deputy Director Stacey Standridge presented an overview of the Sensors Nanotechnology Signature Initiative (NSI) at the 5th Annual Sensors Summit (December 10–12, 2019, in San Diego, California). Participants represented over 150 organizations from 12 countries, and presentations covered a wide range of topics, including healthcare applications, chemical and biological sensing, and manufacturing. Lisa Friedersdorf and Stacey Standridge, NNCO Director and Deputy Director, respectively, attended nano tech 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, January 29–31. In addition to talking with company representatives commercializing nanotechnology from all over the world, they had the opportunity to meet with colleagues representing nanotechnology associations from several countries and regions. Nanotechnology remains an active area of research and development around the globe and is recognized as an enabler of other priority areas, including quantum information science and artificial intelligence.
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UPCOMING EVENTS April 2–5, 2020: Boston, MA April 25–26, 2020: Washington, DC May 17–20: Basel, Switzerland June 29–July 1, 2020: National Harbor, MD August 23–26, 2020: Montreal, Canada October 14–15, 2020: Edison, NJ
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The following examples highlight research advances that were recently announced: 
This week is National Entrepreneurship Week (Feb. 15–22)! Check out the 
Are you working on the potential environmental, health, and safety (EHS) implications of nanomaterials? If so, you might be interested in participating in the U.S.-EU NanoEHS Communities of Research (CORs), which provide a platform for scientists to collaboratively identify and address key research needs through community-led activities such as conference calls, webinars, publications, and an annual in-person meeting. The seven NanoEHS CORs address the following research areas: (1) nanomaterial characterization, (2) databases and computational modeling, (3) ecotoxicity, (4) human toxicity, (5) exposure through product life, (6) risk assessment, and (7) risk management and control. Contact 
Undergraduates, we welcome you to get involved! 
Let's celebrate Women's History Month (March) by honoring women in nanoscience! On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Feb. 11), NNCO launched a social media campaign inviting members of the NNI community to recognize the inspiring women nanoscientists in their lives. Tweet using 
NNCO will showcase teacher resources and nanotechnology demonstrations at the upcoming National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference on Science Education (April 2–5, 2020) and USA Science & Engineering Festival (USASEF) (April 24–26, 2020), respectively. Volunteers to help with demos at the USASEF are welcome! Please contact us at 
March 18, 2020: Brussels, Belgium
