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Nanoparticles can have an adverse impact on cells, even when there is a barrier between the cells and the source of the nanoparticles. Both direct and indirect effects should therefore be included in assessments of nanoparticle safety.
Magnetic nanoparticles and gold-plated carbon nanotubes allow rapid detection of circulating tumour cells in the blood vessels of mice using two-colour photoacoustic methods.
Single-walled carbon nanotubes can be dissolved in superacids to produce solutions that should make it easier to process nanotubes into bulk structures.
By measuring the motion of a nanomechanical oscillator with an extremely small error, researchers have passed a milestone on the road to measurements of position at the ultimate limit set by quantum mechanics.
Two groups of researchers have shown that the minimum size of a laser need not be restricted by the wavelength of light it emits, provoking a rethink of what optics and lasers can do at the nanoscale.
A meta-analysis of surveys about public perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with nanotechnology suggests that further research is needed to help us better understand and, perhaps, inform public attitudes to nanotechnology.
The magnetism of semiconductor nanocrystals can be controlled by shining light on them, which could have applications in information storage and processing.
A sensor consisting of an array of gold nanoparticles can distinguish the breath of lung cancer patients from the breath of healthy individuals without the need to pre-treat or dehumidify the samples.