Gram-scale synthesis of single-crystalline graphene quantum dots from lignin biomass.
Built / tested: quantum dots
As reported in: Ding, Li, Wen et al. (2018). Gram-scale synthesis of single-crystalline graphene quantum dots derived from lignin biomass. Green Chemistry. doi:10.1039/c7gc03218h
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A review of graphene quantum dots made from biomass waste and their applications.
As reported in: Abbas, Mariana, Phan (2018). Biomass-waste derived graphene quantum dots and their applications. Carbon. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2018.08.016
Lin and colleagues made ultrathin two-dimensional niobium carbide (Nb2C, an MXene) nanosheets that converted near-infrared light to heat efficiently, ablated tumour xenografts in mice, and were broken down by the human enzyme myeloperoxidase.
As reported in: Lin, Gao, Dai et al. (2017). A Two-Dimensional Biodegradable Niobium Carbide (MXene) for Photothermal Tumor Eradication in NIR-I and NIR-II Biowindows. Journal of the American Chemical Society. doi:10.1021/jacs.7b07818
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Feng and colleagues used nanopores in single-layer molybdenum disulfide as nanoscale power generators driven by salt gradients.
As reported in: Feng, Graf, Liu et al. (2016). Single-layer MoS2 nanopores as nanopower generators. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature18593
Wong and colleagues turned living spinach plants into self-powered samplers of chemicals in groundwater, including nitroaromatic compounds used in explosives, that could send an infrared signal to a smartphone.
Built / tested: sensor spinach
As reported in: Wong, Giraldo, Kwak et al. (2016). Nitroaromatic detection and infrared communication from wild-type plants using plant nanobionics. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat4771
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Giraldo and colleagues found carbon nanotubes moved into extracted plant chloroplasts and raised their photosynthetic activity more than threefold.
Publisher update notice: correction
As reported in: Giraldo, Landry, Faltermeier et al. (2014). Plant nanobionics approach to augment photosynthesis and biochemical sensing. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat3890
Douglas, Bachelet, and Church built a DNA nanorobot that opens to deliver a payload when it recognizes cells.
As reported in: Douglas, Bachelet, Church (2012). A Logic-Gated Nanorobot for Targeted Transport of Molecular Payloads. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1214081
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Fan, Tian and Wang introduced a flexible triboelectric generator.
As reported in: Fan, Tian, Lin Wang (2012). Flexible triboelectric generator. Nano Energy. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.004
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Kudernac and colleagues built a molecule with four rotary motor units that moved in one direction across a copper surface when driven by electrons from an STM tip.
As reported in: Kudernac, Ruangsupapichat, Parschau et al. (2011). Electrically driven directional motion of a four-wheeled molecule on a metal surface. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature10587
Silica-encapsulated microalgae that biosynthesise gold nanoparticles as a living bio-hybrid material.
Built / tested: living materials
As reported in: Sicard, Brayner, Margueritat et al. (2010). Nano-gold biosynthesis by silica-encapsulated micro-algae: a “living” bio-hybrid material. Journal of Materials Chemistry. doi:10.1039/c0jm01735c
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Golberg and colleagues reviewed boron nitride nanotubes and nanosheets.
As reported in: Golberg, Bando, Huang et al. (2010). Boron Nitride Nanotubes and Nanosheets. ACS Nano. doi:10.1021/nn1006495
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Lund and colleagues showed DNA "molecular spiders" moving on DNA origami landscapes autonomously carry out start, follow, turn and stop actions.
As reported in: Lund, Manzo, Dabby et al. (2010). Molecular robots guided by prescriptive landscapes. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature09012
Wang and colleagues showed that adding trivalent lanthanide dopant ions at set concentrations tunes NaYF4 upconversion nanocrystals in size (down to 10 nm), crystal phase and emission colour.
As reported in: Wang, Han, Lim et al. (2010). Simultaneous phase and size control of upconversion nanocrystals through lanthanide doping. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature08777
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Rothemund folded long DNA strands into nanoscale shapes and patterns.
As reported in: Rothemund (2006). Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature04586
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Wang and Song converted nanoscale mechanical energy into electricity by bending piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowires, with an estimated efficiency of 17–30%.
As reported in: Wang, Song (2006). Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Based on Zinc Oxide Nanowire Arrays. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1124005
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Chen and colleagues showed cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) prevented rises in reactive oxygen inside rat retina cell cultures and, in living animals, prevented vision loss from light-induced degeneration of photoreceptor cells.
As reported in: Chen, Patil, Seal et al. (2006). Rare earth nanoparticles prevent retinal degeneration induced by intracellular peroxides. Nature Nanotechnology. doi:10.1038/nnano.2006.91
Daniel and Astruc reviewed gold nanoparticle chemistry and uses in biology, catalysis, and nanotechnology.
As reported in: Daniel, Astruc (2003). Gold Nanoparticles: Assembly, Supramolecular Chemistry, Quantum-Size-Related Properties, and Applications toward Biology, Catalysis, and Nanotechnology. Chemical Reviews. doi:10.1021/cr030698+
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A method for size-controlled synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles.
Built / tested: nanoparticles
As reported in: Sun, Zeng (2002). Size-Controlled Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles. Journal of the American Chemical Society. doi:10.1021/ja026501x
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Whaley and colleagues used phage display to find peptides that selectively bind semiconductor surfaces.
As reported in: Whaley, English, Hu et al. (2000). Selection of peptides with semiconductor binding specificity for directed nanocrystal assembly. Nature. doi:10.1038/35015043
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Koumura and colleagues reported repeated one-way rotation around a carbon–carbon double bond, driven by UV light and heat in four steps.
As reported in: Koumura, Zijlstra, van Delden et al. (1999). Light-driven monodirectional molecular rotor. Nature. doi:10.1038/43646
Douglas and Young used the shell of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus as a host for making materials inside it, controlled by pH-dependent opening of the shell's pores.
As reported in: Douglas, Young (1998). Host–guest encapsulation of materials by assembled virus protein cages. Nature. doi:10.1038/30211
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Chan and Nie attached zinc sulfide-capped cadmium selenide quantum dots to biomolecules; compared with rhodamine dye they were 20 times brighter and 100 times more stable against photobleaching, and transferrin-labelled dots were taken up by HeLa cells.
As reported in: Chan, Nie (1998). Quantum Dot Bioconjugates for Ultrasensitive Nonisotopic Detection. Science. doi:10.1126/science.281.5385.2016
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Mirkin and colleagues used DNA strands to assemble gold nanoparticles into larger materials, later used in sensitive tests.
As reported in: Mirkin, Letsinger, Mucic et al. (1996). A DNA-based method for rationally assembling nanoparticles into macroscopic materials. Nature. doi:10.1038/382607a0
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Chopra and colleagues first synthesized boron nitride nanotubes.
As reported in: Chopra, Luyken, Cherrey et al. (1995). Boron Nitride Nanotubes. Science. doi:10.1126/science.269.5226.966
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Iijima reported helical tubes of graphitic carbon, sparking nanotube research.
As reported in: Iijima (1991). Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature. doi:10.1038/354056a0
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Seeman proposed building structures from branched DNA junctions.
As reported in: Seeman (1982). Nucleic acid junctions and lattices. Journal of Theoretical Biology. doi:10.1016/0022-5193(82)90002-9
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Turkevich and colleagues studied how gold nanoparticles form, the basis of a widely used synthesis method.
As reported in: Turkevich, Stevenson, Hillier (1951). A study of the nucleation and growth processes in the synthesis of colloidal gold. Discussions of the Faraday Society. doi:10.1039/df9511100055
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