Nanoparticles

A new type of ultra-thin film with an incredible ability to change color as it is twisted or bent could one day make its way onto robots to give them chameleon-like skin, or into cash as a means of verifying its authenticity.

Would you buy a cloudy white wine? Probably not, which is why vintners go to great lengths to clarify their product. Soon, they could do so more efficiently than ever, using newly created nanoparticles.

Not all maple syrups are created equal. There are actually over 60 taste categories that syrups fall into, as determined by human taste-testers. Soon, though, a solution containing gold nanoparticles could save those people some work.

The colorful glaze on that ceramic mug of yours may look nice, but there's a chance that it could contain toxic substances. US scientists have thus created a safer type of glaze, that incorporates tiny particles of silver and gold.

The brain’s own defense mechanism often prevents treatment of brain cancers. But a new experimental treatment has shown success in mice, with carbon nanoparticles able to sneak through the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs directly to tumors.

Urine tests that pick up biomarkers of cancer are one way scientists hope to diagnose the disease early, and MIT researchers have demonstrated a particularly promising example that could give efforts to diagnose early-stage lung cancer a huge boost.

Scientists have managed to copy one of cancer's strategies to hide from the immune system, and use it for good. They made new microparticles that permanently prevent transplanted tissue or even whole limbs from being rejected by the immune system.

If you like spicy foods, then you're probably aware of the claimed anti-inflammatory qualities of turmeric. Scientists have now developed what they say is a more effective way of biologically delivering turmeric's active compound, curcumin.

Two new studies are offering novel insights into celiac disease. One study is suggesting immune responses to gluten lead to neurological damage, while another offers hope for a cure demonstrating a nanoparticle treatment can induce immune tolerance.

Atherosclerotic plaque-deposits on the inner walls of arteries are a frequent cause of heart attacks and strokes. A newly-developed nanoparticle could help minimize those deposits, as it prompts the body's own cells to "eat" them.

In 2018, researchers created the world’s fastest-spinning object that reached 60 billion rpm – now that seems like the teacup ride at Disneyland. The same team has broken its own record, creating a new nano-scale rotor that spins five times faster.

Causing the death of cancer cells while leaving healthy ones in tact is central to the goal of safer, more effective forms of treatment for the disease, and scientists have now come up with one that leans heavily a common household item – salt.