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

Scientists from Penn State and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Space Flight Center have developed an electronic tongue that can identify differences in similar liquids, such as milk with varying water content; different soda types and coffee blends; and signs of spoilage in fruit juices. The researchers also found that results were more accurate when artificial intelligence (AI) used its own assessment parameters to interpret the data generated by the electronic tongue. The tongue contains a graphene-based ion-sensitive field-effect transistor – a conductive device that can detect chemical ions – that is linked to an artificial neural network trained on various datasets. 

In this blog post, James Warren and Craig Brown, two scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, explain how nanotechnology could help address the climate crisis, for example by reducing industry’s greenhouse gas emissions, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and making buildings more energy-efficient. The scientists co-authored a comment article on this topic with colleagues from other government agencies, the Kavli Foundation, and Carbice Corporation.

Using peptides and a snippet of the large molecules in plastics, scientists at Northwestern University have developed materials made of tiny, flexible nano-sized ribbons that can be charged just like a battery to store energy or record digital information. Highly energy efficient, biocompatible and made from sustainable materials, the systems could give rise to new types of ultralight electronic devices while reducing the environmental impact of electronic manufacturing and disposal. "This is a wholly new concept in materials science and soft materials research," said Samuel I. Stupp, the scientist who led the study. "We imagine a future where you could wear a shirt with air conditioning built into it or rely on soft bioactive implants that feel like tissues and are activated wirelessly to improve heart or brain function.”

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania have developed a technique that enhances the optical absorptivity of metal powders used in 3D printing. The approach, which involves creating nanoscale surface features on metal powders, promises to improve the efficiency and quality of printed metal parts. "Our method combines the effects of traditional surface treatments [that increase absorptivity] but doesn't compromise the purity or material properties of copper that make it desirable – namely its high thermal and electrical conductivity,” said Philip DePond, one of the scientists involved in this study.

In this Q&A article, Debbie Senesky, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University and Site Director of nano@stanford, talks about properties of materials at the nanoscale, nanotechnology in everyday life, areas in which nanotechnology may have the most impact in the coming years, and the work being done in nanotechnology at Stanford University. nano@stanford is one of the 16 sites of the National Science Foundation-funded National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure.

In a significant advancement for point-of-care medical diagnostics, a team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, has introduced a deep learning-enhanced, paper-based vertical flow assay capable of detecting cardiac troponin I with high sensitivity. Troponin I is a protein released when the heart muscle has been damaged. The innovative assay integrates deep learning algorithms with cutting-edge nanoparticle amplification chemistry and could enable access to rapid and reliable cardiac diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings. "Our goal was to design a system that could be used not only in hospitals but also in clinics, pharmacies, and even in ambulances," said Gyeo-Re Han, one of the scientists involved in this study.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have unveiled a new platform that combines a flexible material called graphene oxide with antibodies to closely mimic the natural interactions between immune cells. The investigators found that this platform shows a high capacity for stimulating T cells to reproduce, while preserving their versatility and potency. The advance could make CAR-T cell therapy more effective and accessible. In this type of therapy, patients' own immune cells are collected, genetically engineered so that they specifically target cancer cells, and then returned to the body. The new technology enhanced the efficiency of engineering immune cells, leading to a five-fold increase in CAR-T cell production, compared to the standard process.

A new way of diagnosing lung cancer with a blood draw is 10 times faster and 14 times more sensitive than earlier methods, according to researchers from the University of Michigan and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The microchip that the researchers developed captures nanoscale particles called exosomes – tiny packages released by cells – from blood plasma to identify signs of lung cancer. Although exosomes from healthy cells move important proteins or DNA and RNA fragments throughout the body, exosomes from cancer cells can help tumors spread by preparing tissues to accept tumor cells before they arrive. Also, cancer cell exosomes can be distinguished from healthy cell exosomes because proteins on the surfaces of cancer cell exosomes are often mutated.

By fusing together a pair of contorted molecular structures, researchers from Cornell University, Rice University, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University have created a porous #crystal that can uptake #lithium-ion #electrolytes and transport them smoothly via one-dimensional #nanochannels – a design that could lead to safer solid-state #LithiumIonBatteries. The researchers devised a method of fusing together two eccentric molecular structures that have complementary shapes: #macrocycles and #MolecularCages. "Both macrocycles and molecular cages have intrinsic pores where ions can sit and pass through," said Yuzhe Wang, one of the scientists involved in this study. "By using them as the building blocks for porous crystals, the crystal would have large spaces to store ions and interconnected channels for ions to transport."

Researchers from Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered how certain bacteria are breaking down plastic for food. First, they chew the plastic into small pieces, called nanoplastics. Then, they secrete a specialized enzyme that breaks down the plastic even further. Finally, the bacteria use a ring of carbon atoms from the plastic as a food source, the researchers found. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste, which pollutes drinking water and harms wildlife.