Liposuction and Gold Nanoparticles

Scientists have discovered that tiny particles of gold injected into fat tissues can offer a new and potentially safer way to carry out liposuction procedures. Liposuction by definition is the process of removing excess fat found underneath the skin by suction. Although liposuction has a reputation as a low risk cosmetic surgery, this procedure is …

Nanomedicine Explainer – My Cat is in a Clinical Trial

I present to you my cat, Graboid. She has nanoparticles coursing through her veins, and those nanoparticles may save her life. Grabby is 14 years old. She was not featured at the Internet Cat Video Film Festival at the Minnesota State Fair, but I still think she’s pretty great. Unfortunately, Grabby has oral squamous cell …

Nano-Koosh-balls: What They’re Good For and How I Made Them.

We talk a lot about nanoparticles, which are nano-sized and nearly spherical. But, the shapes accessible in the nano-world are plentiful! For example, I recently made these! (click for larger images... Ā DO IT!) I like to call them ā€œnano-Koosh-balls,ā€ because of how closely they resemble the children’s toy of the same name. These nano-Koosh-balls are …

Silver For Your Smelly Socks??

Silver nanoparticles can be found in socks and sports clothing because of their ability to kill bacteria and inhibit unwanted odors.Ā  Their antibacterial properties are exploited in a number of other products on the market, including cutting boards, computer keyboards, personal care products…and the list goes on. The multitude of uses explains why nanoparticles made …

Art as Inspiration for Science

What inspires people to do science? Perhaps you, Dear Reader, are interested in understanding how the physical world works.Ā  Maybe you saw a rainbow, or ocean waves on the beach, when you were a kid, and therefore have a love for optics, physics, or oceanography. Human-made objects can also inspire scientists.Ā  Quite a few people …