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

Nanoporous membranes with holes smaller than one-billionth of a meter have powerful potential for decontaminating polluted water or for osmotic power generators. But these applications have been limited in part by the tedious process of tunneling individual sub-nanometer pores one by one. Now, researchers from the University of Chicago have found a novel path around this long-standing problem. They created a new method of pore generation that builds materials with intentional weak spots and then applies a remote electric field to generate multiple nanoscale pores all at once.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have created an array of nanopillars that can breach the nucleus of a cell – the compartment that houses our DNA – without damaging the cell's outer membrane. This new “gateway into the nucleus” could open new possibilities in gene therapy, where genetic material needs to be delivered directly into the nucleus, as well as drug delivery and other forms of precision medicine. The nucleus is impenetrable by design. Its membrane is a highly fortified barrier that shields our genetic code, letting in only specific molecules through tightly controlled channels.

Purdue University researchers have developed patent-pending one-dimensional boron nitride nanotubes containing spin qubits, or spin defects. These nanotubes are more sensitive in detecting off-axis magnetic fields at high resolution than traditional diamond tips used in scanning probe magnetic-field microscopes. Applications include quantum-sensing technology that measures changes in magnetic fields and collects and analyzes data at the atomic level.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University in Philadelphia, the University of Delaware, and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have discovered a novel means of directing lipid nanoparticles to target specific tissues. The engineers demonstrated how subtle adjustments to the chemical structure of an ionizable lipid, a key component of a lipid nanoparticle, allow for tissue-specific delivery to the liver, lungs, and spleen. The researchers' key insight was to incorporate siloxane composites – a class of silicon- and oxygen-based compounds already used in medical devices, cosmetics and drug delivery – into ionizable lipids.

For the first time ever, researchers have witnessed – in real time and at the molecular-scale – hydrogen and oxygen atoms merge to form tiny, nano-sized bubbles of water. The event occurred as part of a new Northwestern University study, during which scientists sought to understand how palladium, a rare metallic element, catalyzes the gaseous reaction to generate water. "Think of Matt Damon's character, Mark Watney, in the movie 'The Martian’,” said Northwestern's Vinayak Dravid, senior author of the study. “He burned rocket fuel to extract hydrogen and then added oxygen from his oxygenator. Our process is analogous, except we bypass the need for fire and other extreme conditions. We simply mixed palladium and gases together." Dravid is the founding director of the Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental (NUANCE) Center, where the study was conducted. 

Having already created a technology that makes bone scaffolds with collagen-like nanostructures, researchers from the University of Michigan have now regenerated bone by improving cell-matrix interactions. The latest discovery is especially beneficial for patients needing repairs involving larger amounts of bone. "What we invented are biodegradable polymer templates that contain peptides on nanofibers, acting like keys to open new gates to liberate the locked bone regeneration potential from the recipient's own cells," said Peter Ma, one of the scientists involved in this study.

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa in Honolulu have unveiled a new technique that could make the manufacture of wearable health sensors more accessible and affordable. Producing these devices often requires specialized facilities and technical expertise, limiting their accessibility and widespread adoption. So, the researchers introduced a low-cost, stencil-based method for producing sensors made from laser-induced graphene, a key material used in wearable sensing. "This advancement allows us to create high-performance wearable sensors with greater precision and at a lower cost," said Tyler Ray, the researcher who led this study.

Cellulose nanocrystals derived from renewable resources have shown great potential for use in composites, biomedical materials, and packaging. But a major challenge in the production of cellulose nanocrystals is the energy-intensive drying process. To address this issue, a team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has introduced a novel multi-frequency ultrasonic drying technology. This method not only accelerates the drying process but also reduces energy consumption, compared to traditional drying techniques.

Supplies of nickel and cobalt, which are commonly used in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries, are limited. Now, new research led by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory opens up a potential low-cost, safe alternative in manganese, the fifth most abundant metal in the Earth's crust. The researchers showed that manganese can be effectively used in emerging cathode materials called disordered rock salts. They used state-of-the-art electron microscopes to capture atomic-scale pictures of the manganese-based material in action and found that it formed a nanoscale semi-ordered structure that enhanced the battery performance.

Researchers from Texas A&M University have developed molybdenum disulfide nanoflowers that can stimulate mitochondrial regeneration, helping cells generate more energy. According to Akhilesh Gaharwar, one of the researchers involved in this study, the nanoflowers could offer new treatments for muscle dystrophy, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders by increasing ATP production, mitochondrial DNA, and cellular respiration. "This discovery is unique," said Vishal Gohil, another researcher involved in the study. "We are not just improving mitochondrial function; we are rethinking cellular energy entirely. The potential for regenerative medicine is incredibly exciting."