Articles tagged with "nanoparticles"
Metal nanoparticles exist in two places at once, study finds
Researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Duisburg-Essen have demonstrated that metallic nanoparticles composed of thousands of sodium atoms still exhibit quantum mechanical behavior, specifically quantum interference. These nanoparticles, about 8 nanometers in size and weighing over 170,000 atomic mass units, are significantly larger than typical quantum objects like electrons or small molecules. Despite their size—comparable to components in modern electronics—they form interference patterns when passed through ultraviolet laser diffraction gratings, indicating they exist in a superposition of states, akin to Schrödinger cat states where the particles are simultaneously in multiple locations. This experiment marks a significant advancement in testing quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales, achieving a macroscopicity value of μ = 15.5, roughly ten times greater than previous experiments. The researchers created cold sodium clusters containing 5,000 to 10,000 atoms and used laser light to precisely control and measure their quantum states. The setup not only pushes the boundaries of quantum theory but also functions as
materialsnanoparticlesquantum-mechanicsmetallic-nanoparticlesquantum-interferencenanotechnologyquantum-physicsBacterial patterns hide messages until triggered with correct biochemical
Researchers have developed a novel photodynamic nanoparticle-based platform that creates high-resolution, biochemically responsive bacterial patterns capable of securely encoding information. By coating bacteria with specially designed nanoparticles that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under white light, the system selectively kills exposed bacteria while leaving unexposed ones alive to form precise patterns on membranes. This approach overcomes previous limitations by enabling spatial control of bacterial survival without relying on genetically engineered strains, achieving pattern resolutions of approximately 16 micrometers and allowing biofilm transfer between culture media without pattern degradation. The platform leverages differences in bacterial metabolism to reveal hidden messages only when triggered by specific biochemical substrates. For example, MRSA converts tellurite into black colonies, while E. coli processes X-Gal to produce cyan deposits, enabling the creation of complex living codes such as Morse patterns and QR codes. Some codes can display false information under one substrate but reveal the true message under another, enhancing security. This system represents the first photodynamic bacterial encoding method
nanoparticlesphotodynamic-therapyantibacterial-materialsadvanced-functional-materialsbacterial-patterningreactive-oxygen-speciesbiochemical-triggersHybrid matter that behaves like both liquid and solid discovered
Researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of Ulm have discovered a novel hybrid state of matter in which some atoms within a liquid remain stationary, effectively "corralling" the liquid and enabling it to exist in a supercooled state far below its normal freezing point. Using a low-voltage SALVE transmission electron microscope, the team observed that metal nanoparticles (such as platinum, gold, and palladium) melted on graphene supports contained atoms pinned to defects in the graphene. These stationary atoms, especially when arranged in ring-like structures, trap the liquid metal and prevent it from crystallizing, allowing it to remain liquid at temperatures over 1,000 degrees Celsius below its typical freezing point. This atomic confinement disrupts normal solidification, resulting in the formation of an amorphous, glass-like solid when the liquid eventually freezes. The discovery marks the first time atomic corralling has been demonstrated, a phenomenon previously only seen with photons and electrons. This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields, including
materialshybrid-mattersupercooled-liquidatomic-corralsolidificationnanoparticlesgrapheneScientists make dead nanoparticles emit light with tiny antennas
Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory have overcome a major challenge in optoelectronics by developing a method to electrically power lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (LnNPs), which were previously considered unusable in electronic devices due to their insulating nature. The team created an organic-inorganic hybrid material by attaching an organic dye, 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-ACA), to the surface of the LnNPs. This dye acts as an “antenna” that directly receives electrical charges, bypassing the insulating nanoparticles. The energy captured by the 9-ACA molecules is transferred with over 98% efficiency to the lanthanide ions, resulting in bright light emission and enabling the creation of a new class of LEDs called LnLEDs. These LnLEDs operate at low voltages (~5 volts) and emit light with exceptionally narrow spectral width in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window, which can penetrate biological
materialsnanoparticlesoptoelectronicslight-emitting-diodeslanthanide-doped-nanoparticlesorganic-inorganic-hybridnear-infrared-LEDsWater-based plasma forges novel alloy to turn CO₂ into useful chemicals
Chinese researchers at Northeast Normal University have developed a novel water-based plasma technique to synthesize stable high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles directly in solution. These nanoparticles, composed of five metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn) in near-equal ratios, overcome traditional challenges in nanoscale alloy synthesis by forming a self-protecting oxidized shell that enhances stability and photothermal performance. The plasma process involves generating plasma between alloy rods submerged in water with oxide supports (e.g., TiO₂), which melts and rapidly cools alloy droplets to prevent metal separation, resulting in nearly spherical 200 nm particles anchored to the support. This method is versatile and can produce other HEA formulations. The HEA nanoparticles exhibit a metallic core with an oxidized shell rich in chromium and manganese, which stabilizes the particles during catalytic reactions. When supported on TiO₂, these catalysts efficiently convert CO₂ and hydrogen into carbon monoxide under visible and infrared light, achieving reaction rates significantly higher than
materialshigh-entropy-alloysplasma-synthesiscarbon-dioxide-conversionphotothermal-catalysisnanoparticlessustainable-chemistryTargeted nanoparticles show 80% success in treating ovarian cancer
MIT researchers have developed targeted nanoparticles that significantly enhance immunotherapy against ovarian cancer, a disease often resistant to treatment. These nanoparticles deliver the immune-activating molecule IL-12 directly to ovarian tumors, activating T cells and other immune cells to attack cancer. In mouse models, this approach eradicated metastatic ovarian cancer in over 80% of cases when combined with checkpoint inhibitors, which alone have limited success against ovarian tumors. The nanoparticles slowly release IL-12 within tumors, avoiding the severe side effects associated with high systemic doses of the molecule. The nanoparticles are liposomes coated with poly-L-glutamate (PLE) that specifically target ovarian tumor cells, with IL-12 tethered via a stable chemical linker for controlled release over about a week. This design maintains immune activation in the tumor microenvironment while preventing toxicity. The treatment not only cleared tumors but also induced long-term immune memory, protecting mice from tumor recurrence upon re-exposure. The MIT team is now working toward clinical development of this promising therapy,
nanoparticlescancer-immunotherapydrug-deliverynanomaterialstargeted-therapyIL-12tumor-treatmentNanoparticle screen hits record clarity visible to the human eye
Researchers from Swedish institutions—including Chalmers University of Technology, the University of Gothenburg, and Uppsala University—have developed a groundbreaking display technology called retina E-paper, featuring pixels as small as 560 nanometres. This size is smaller than the wavelength of visible light, enabling a pixel density exceeding 25,000 pixels per inch (ppi), roughly 150 times denser than typical smartphone screens. The display uses tungsten oxide nanoparticles to control light scattering and produce highly accurate, tunable red, green, and blue colors. Unlike conventional LED or OLED screens, retina E-paper is reflective, relying on ambient light rather than emitting its own, which significantly reduces energy consumption and allows the screen to be positioned very close to the eye. The retina E-paper’s pixel size corresponds approximately to the size of a single photoreceptor in the human retina, meaning it achieves the maximum resolution perceivable by the human eye. The researchers demonstrated the technology by reproducing Gustav Klimt’s painting “The
nanoparticlesdisplay-technologymaterials-scienceenergy-efficient-displaysvirtual-realityaugmented-realitytungsten-oxide-nanoparticlesGold nanoparticle nasal spray delivers lithium safely to the brain
Italian researchers have developed a novel nasal spray that uses gold nanoparticles to deliver lithium directly to the brain, aiming to provide safer treatment options for conditions like bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and viral brain infections. Traditional oral lithium therapy, while effective, often causes harmful side effects on organs such as the kidneys and thyroid. The new approach leverages inert gold nanoparticles coated with lithium and functionalized with glutathione, enabling the particles to cross the nasal passage and enter brain cells where they release lithium precisely, minimizing systemic exposure and associated risks. Preclinical studies demonstrated that these lithium-loaded gold nanoparticles (LiG-AuNPs) effectively inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), an enzyme implicated in Alzheimer’s and bipolar disorder, and restored memory loss in mice without adverse effects. The technology, developed by teams at Università Cattolica Rome and the University of Salerno, has been patented internationally and shows promise for clinical application due to its ease of synthesis and low
nanoparticlesgold-nanoparticlesdrug-deliverybrain-treatmentlithium-therapyAlzheimer's-diseasebipolar-disorderNanoparticles repair brain barrier, reverse Alzheimer’s in mice
A novel nanotechnology-based therapy using “supramolecular drugs” has demonstrated promising results in reversing Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models by targeting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) rather than neurons directly. Developed collaboratively by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, these engineered nanoparticles restore the BBB’s function, which is crucial for protecting the brain and clearing toxic proteins like amyloid-beta (Aβ). In treated mice, a significant reduction (50-60%) in brain Aβ levels was observed within an hour after injection, and long-term treatment led to behavioral and memory recovery comparable to that of healthy younger mice. The therapy works by reactivating the LRP1 protein, a molecular gatekeeper responsible for transporting Aβ across the BBB for elimination. In Alzheimer’s, this clearance system is impaired, but the nanoparticles mimic LRP1 ligands, binding to Aβ and restoring the brain’s natural waste disposal mechanism. This breaks
nanoparticlesnanotechnologyAlzheimer's-diseaseblood-brain-barriersupramolecular-drugsbrain-repairbiomedical-materialsThe LA Fires Spewed Out Toxic Nanoparticles. He Made It His Mission to Trace Them
The article centers on Nicholas Spada, a project scientist at UC Davis’ Air Quality Research Center, who has taken on the critical task of tracing toxic nanoparticles released during the unusual 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. These fires, fueled largely by manmade materials such as lawn chemicals, asbestos insulation, lead paint, and lithium batteries, erupted unexpectedly in winter due to strong Santa Ana winds. Unlike typical wildfires, these urban blazes emitted highly toxic substances, including aerosolized particles and nanoparticles that pose significant health risks. Spada employs a specialized nuclear method using protons to detect and analyze these ultrafine particles, which are particularly dangerous because their tiny size allows them to penetrate deep into human organs, potentially causing cancer, autoimmune disorders, and dementia. Spada’s research focuses on quantifying the exposure Angelenos experienced, especially to hazardous substances like PFAS “forever chemicals” and transformed nanoparticles such as titanium monoxide, which forms when titanium dioxide pigments are exposed to extreme heat and becomes more
nanoparticlesair-pollutionwildfiretoxic-materialslithium-batteriesPFASenvironmental-healthQuantum freezing at room temperature locks nanoparticle at 92% purity
Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough by freezing the rotational motion of a tiny glass nanoparticle at room temperature to a record quantum purity of 92%. This nanoparticle, though still extremely small, is much larger than typical quantum-scale objects and remains hot internally at several hundred degrees Celsius. Traditionally, observing quantum behavior in larger objects required cooling them near absolute zero and isolating them in vacuum to prevent environmental interference. However, this study bypasses those constraints by focusing solely on the particle’s rotational motion rather than its entire internal energy, enabling quantum ground-state cooling without massive cryogenic setups. The researchers used a slightly elliptical nanoparticle trapped in an electromagnetic field, where it naturally wobbles like a compass needle. By precisely controlling laser light within a high-finesse optical cavity and adjusting mirrors to favor energy removal over addition, they drained nearly all rotational energy, achieving about 0.04 quanta of residual energy. This delicate process also involved managing quantum noise from the lasers to maintain the purity of the
quantum-physicsnanoparticlesmaterials-sciencequantum-optomechanicsroom-temperature-quantum-effectsnanotechnologyquantum-purityQuantum state unlocked in object at room temperature in world-first
Researchers from TU Wien and ETH Zurich have achieved a world-first by unlocking quantum states in glass nanoparticles at room temperature, bypassing the need for ultra-low temperatures typically required in quantum experiments. Their work focused on slightly elliptical nanoparticles smaller than a grain of sand, which were held in electromagnetic fields causing them to rotate around an equilibrium orientation. By using a system of lasers and mirrors capable of both supplying and extracting energy, the team was able to reduce the rotational energy of these particles, effectively bringing their motion close to the quantum ground state despite the particles being several hundred degrees hot. This breakthrough challenges the conventional understanding that quantum states can only be observed in systems cooled near absolute zero to isolate them from environmental disturbances. The researchers emphasized the importance of treating different degrees of freedom separately, which allowed them to manipulate the rotational movement independently and achieve quantum behavior at ambient temperatures. This advancement opens new avenues for studying quantum properties in larger objects and at practical temperatures, potentially accelerating developments in quantum sensing, computation, simulation, and crypt
materialsquantum-physicsnanoparticlesenergy-statesquantum-computingquantum-sensingroom-temperature-quantum-statesTiny metallic flowers show big gains in treating brain diseases
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have developed microscopic metallic nanoparticles shaped like flowers, termed “nanoflowers,” that show promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction—the root cause of these conditions. These nanoflowers improve mitochondrial structure and function in brain cells, significantly reducing oxidative stress caused by harmful byproducts like reactive oxygen species. This restoration of mitochondrial health could lead to improved overall brain function rather than merely alleviating symptoms. The team tested the nanoflowers on neurons and astrocytes, observing enhanced mitochondrial performance after 24 hours, and extended their research to live organisms using the Caenorhabditis elegans worm model. Treated worms exhibited longer lifespans and reduced early-life mortality, supporting the neuroprotective potential of nanoflowers. The researchers plan to conduct further safety and distribution studies in more complex animal models before moving toward human trials. Texas A&M has filed a patent for this technology
nanoparticlesnanomaterialsbrain-healthneurodegenerative-diseasesmitochondrianeurotherapeuticsoxidative-stressNew test uses coffee stains for 100x boost in disease detection
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a novel, low-cost diagnostic test that leverages the "coffee-ring effect" to significantly enhance the sensitivity of at-home disease detection. This effect, commonly seen in coffee or wine stains where particles concentrate along the edges as a droplet evaporates, is used to pre-concentrate disease biomarkers into a ring pattern on a test membrane. By combining this natural phenomenon with plasmonic nanoparticles and an AI-powered smartphone app, the test can detect trace amounts of proteins associated with diseases such as COVID-19, sepsis, and prostate cancer within just 12 minutes—offering up to a 100-fold increase in sensitivity compared to current rapid tests. The testing process involves placing a droplet of a biological sample (e.g., nasal or cheek swab) on a membrane, where the coffee-ring effect concentrates disease markers at the edge as the droplet dries. A second droplet containing engineered nanoparticles is then added; these bind to the biomarkers
materialsnanoparticlesdiagnostic-technologyplasmonicscoffee-ring-effectdisease-detectionrapid-testing