Month: April 2005

Those of us needing a quick intro to the topic of protein nanomachines can check out Michael Strong's summary in PLoS Biology: "The work of Yan et al. (2003) has opened up exciting new avenues in the field of nanotechnology and has provided the molecular framework for the construction of dynamic protein-based assemblies. It is foreseeable that variations of these same DNA scaffolds will eventually be used for the design and construction of more complex protein-based assemblies, such as nanoscale ìassembly linesî or periodic arrays of dynamic motor proteins." Unfortunately, though the first two references are available free online, the links in the article do not lead to free versions (try Google).

Nanopolis writes "Nanopolis announces the upcoming second edition of the ìExploring matter with Neutronsî encyclopedia (http://neutrons.nanopolis.net). This huge interactive multimedia volume expands its e-Learning content on the matter exploration at the subatomic scale with valuable new topics: Phase Transitions of matter, the study of matter at High temperatures, High pressures and High Magnetic Fields, Neutrons Detection and Optics and various fields of neutron applications. The 2000 computer animated pages represent the most outstanding information of the world research institutes participating to the Nanopolis challenging consortium. You, as a scientific research institute, industrialist or university representative investing nanoscale science and engineering, are invited to join us at www.nanopolis.net Enjoy the Nanopolis Knowledge World !"

Roland Piquepaille writes " Physicists from several U.S. labs have clocked the transition of vanadium dioxide nanoparticles from a transparent to a reflective, mirror-like state, at less than 100 femtoseconds (a tenth of a trillionth of a second). According to this Vanderbilt University report, this effect has a size limit: "it does not occur in particles that are smaller than about 20 atoms across (10 nanometers)." This opens the door — if I can say so — to windows that are transparent at low temperatures and block out sunlight when the temperature rises. But other applications are possible, such as nanosensors which could measure the temperature at different locations within human cells, or "ultrafast" optical switches which could be used in communications and optical computing. Read this overview for more details, references and a surprising nanoscale image of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza."

Scientists at LBL and LLNL are reporting that using a clever method of attaching quantum dots to the protein used by the SV40 virus to target it to the cell nucleus they can get quantum dots inside the nucleus. If this were combined with Sangamo Biosciences method of using its engineered zinc fingers to target specific chromosome locations one could use quantum dots to provide information about *where* those chromosomes are within the nucleus as well as perhaps whether or not the genes are active.

This could potentially be much faster than current chemical methods for determining cellular gene activity. Or how living cells respond to different signals in succession (something which is more difficult to do with chemical methods).

Tomorrow I'm serving on one panel and moderating another at Stanford Law School's event featuring nanotechnology. One issue we'll be examining with panelist Susan Kovarovics of Foley & Lardner is the potential for nanotech export controls: "Nanotechnologies that are likely to come under scrutiny include products that could be used to further or counter chemical and biological warfare and other weapons, Kovarovics said. The broad capabilities of nanotechnology could present problems for regulators or their advisers, she said. The challenge will be ensuring national security while avoiding undue regulation." This is going to be a huge issue, eventually. And it's being looked at now: "A panel that advises President Bush on export issues will explore whether nanotechnology needs regulating…The scope could range from restrictions on international trade to rules on staffing foreign nationals."

EuroNanoForum 2005 will cover a number of advanced topics including "nanorobots in surgery." The timeframe of focus is 2020. Evening activities include a public debate. Read more for their most recent message.

For those of you who have been waiting for "real" molecular nanotechnology to arrive I would suggest that you might want to visit the highlights documenting the work of the Zettl Research Group at UCB. It has movies associated with their recent papers on a Nanoelectromechanical relaxation oscillator, a Nanoscale mass conveyor and a Synthetic Rotational Nanomotor.

I don't know how they constructed these devices but my impression is — this group is *good*!

Foresight's Judy Conner points us at an essay by Josh Wolfe at Forbes.com: "Nanotech is still in its infancy, and scientists are just beginning to understand how it can be used to improve products and processes in fields ranging from semiconductors to medicine and energy. The last thing it needs is a 'societal debate' and intense government scrutiny. How can you intelligently discuss and regulate something that is still in the discovery and development stage, before it really exists in a practical manufacturing sense?"

Germany has a traveling nanotech roadshow called the nanoTruck, apparently the brainchild of nanopromoter and Federal Minister for Education and Research, Ms. Edelgard Bulmahn. There's a form to use to request a visit by the nanoTruck — do they ship to the U.S.? (As for who is envious, that would be me.)

Foresight Senior Associate Tihamer Toth-Fejel, a research engineer at General Dynamics, reports that he was able to locate 43 "nanosystems" studies in the list of NNI funded projects, some of which he reports look "somewhat promising" for molecular manufacturing. Read more to see his choice of the top seven projects funded.