a blog by the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
During my time in the Marine Corps I met several people that lost limbs in the war. I made the decision to leave the service to get my degree. Inspired by my fellow soldiers, my ultimate goal is to start a company making prosthetics and bionic limbs, hopefully making their lives a little bit easier. …
Continue reading "Nanoparticles in Prosthetics & Bionics"
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 …
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There is an ovarian cancer drug called DOXIL that is delivered to cells in a nanoparticle made of molecules of fat. But, how does the nanoparticle enter the cell? According to a recent study that uses computers to model this process, there are mainly 3 ways in which scientists think a nanoparticle can enter the …
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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 sheās pretty great. Unfortunately, Grabby has oral squamous cell …
Continue reading "Nanomedicine Explainer – My Cat is in a Clinical Trial"
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 ānano-Koosh-balls,ā because of how closely they resemble the childrenās toy of the same name. These nano-Koosh-balls are …
Continue reading "Nano-Koosh-balls: What They’re Good For and How I Made Them."
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 productsā¦and the list goes on. The multitude of uses explains why nanoparticles made …
Continue reading "Silver For Your Smelly Socks??"
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 …
Continue reading "Art as Inspiration for Science"
"Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.ā Ā āGenesis 1:29 Can you imagine going outside when you are hungry and munching on a handful of leaves from any tree or plant? …
Continue reading "All Natural Chemicals"
Sustainable Nano 