News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

Individual carbon nanotubes are basically rolled-up tubes of graphene, which is one of the strongest known materials. But when bundled into nanotube fibers, the fibers are far weaker – about one-hundredth the strength of individual nanotubes. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed a computational model that establishes a universal scaling relationship between nanotube length and friction between them in a bundle – parameters that can be used to fine-tune the strength of carbon nanotube fibers. The model is a tool for scientists and engineers who develop conductive fibers for aerospace, automotive, medical, and textile applications.

Individual carbon nanotubes are basically rolled-up tubes of graphene, which is one of the strongest known materials. But when bundled into nanotube fibers, the fibers are far weaker – about one-hundredth the strength of individual nanotubes. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed a computational model that establishes a universal scaling relationship between nanotube length and friction between them in a bundle – parameters that can be used to fine-tune the strength of carbon nanotube fibers. The model is a tool for scientists and engineers who develop conductive fibers for aerospace, automotive, medical, and textile applications.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Washington, and CUNY City College of New York have established a quantitative understanding of how nano-sized particles assemble and crystalize for a model system of semiconductor zinc oxide. This new understanding is important for using particles to design and synthesize materials with desired arrangements and shapes. It also helps scientists understand how minerals form in the earth and in biological systems and expands potential applications for zinc oxide.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Washington, and CUNY City College of New York have established a quantitative understanding of how nano-sized particles assemble and crystalize for a model system of semiconductor zinc oxide. This new understanding is important for using particles to design and synthesize materials with desired arrangements and shapes. It also helps scientists understand how minerals form in the earth and in biological systems and expands potential applications for zinc oxide.

Researchers at Stanford University have used light and advanced fabrication and characterization techniques to endow catalysts with new abilities. In a proof-of-concept experiment, researchers placed nanorods above gold nanobars that focused and "sculpted" the light around the nanorods, which were used as catalysts. This sculpted light changed the regions on the nanorods where chemical reactions took place. This work could be an early step toward more efficient catalysts, new forms of catalytic transformations, and potentially catalysts capable of sustaining more than one reaction at once.

Researchers at Stanford University have used light and advanced fabrication and characterization techniques to endow catalysts with new abilities. In a proof-of-concept experiment, researchers placed nanorods above gold nanobars that focused and "sculpted" the light around the nanorods, which were used as catalysts. This sculpted light changed the regions on the nanorods where chemical reactions took place. This work could be an early step toward more efficient catalysts, new forms of catalytic transformations, and potentially catalysts capable of sustaining more than one reaction at once.

Although there are now some preventive measures to alleviate food allergies, there are not yet any long-lasting solutions—treatments capable of locking the immune system into a state of tolerance, so that it doesn't respond to allergens. Now, a UCLA research team has developed a possible way to impart long-term relief from allergies by inducing an active state of immune tolerance. The technology uses nanoparticles to deliver proteins to the liver that can activate a tolerant immune response and switch the allergic response off.

Although there are now some preventive measures to alleviate food allergies, there are not yet any long-lasting solutions—treatments capable of locking the immune system into a state of tolerance, so that it doesn't respond to allergens. Now, a UCLA research team has developed a possible way to impart long-term relief from allergies by inducing an active state of immune tolerance. The technology uses nanoparticles to deliver proteins to the liver that can activate a tolerant immune response and switch the allergic response off.

There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but a group of scientists from the United States, Canada, and China has discovered a method through which a simple knee injection could potentially stop the disease's effects. The researchers created nanotherapeutics that they injected into mice that already had cartilage damage in their knees. The researchers noticed that these injections slowed cartilage degeneration and bone hardening and eased knee pain. No major side effects were seen in the mice that were treated.

There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but a group of scientists from the United States, Canada, and China has discovered a method through which a simple knee injection could potentially stop the disease's effects. The researchers created nanotherapeutics that they injected into mice that already had cartilage damage in their knees. The researchers noticed that these injections slowed cartilage degeneration and bone hardening and eased knee pain. No major side effects were seen in the mice that were treated.