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Manufacturing Technology Insights | Saturday, January 01, 2022
New nanoscale discoveries are fast altering the technical landscape in various industries, and these are expected to be the next big thing.
FREMONT, CA: Eric Drexler, an American engineer, created the phrase "nanotechnology" in the 1980s. Over the past few decades, nanotechnology has found an increasing number of applications in fields ranging from information technology to textiles. Uncertainty surrounds the extent to which nanotechnology will transform medicine, but nanotech advancements are continuously revealed.
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Nature as a source of exceptional carbon fibers
Carbon fiber's light, durable, and aesthetically pleasing properties continue to fuel the industry's growth. The material is used in various applications, including aerospace, high-performance automobiles, and sports equipment, in addition to essential practical applications such as water filtration. However, the current nanotechnology methods for producing carbon fibers, such as those derived from polyacrylonitrile (a synthetic polymer) and raw pitch, are still too expensive for widespread consumer use.
This new nanotechnology invention from the University of North Texas manufactures carbon fiber from the seed coats of plants such as the vanilla orchid, but this nanotechnology is anything but vanilla... This innovative technology creates carbon fibers that are more environmentally friendly, of greater quality, and have a narrower diameter dispersion and fewer flaws than Kraft lignin fibers.
An enhanced nanocarrier for targeted medication delivery
Targeted drug delivery is a new method for treating disease. A highly concentrated amount of medication is sent to a disease site, thereby avoiding adverse effects on healthy tissue. Nevertheless, despite this promising research, efficient carriers with the capacity to increase the stability and selectivity of a drug within the body and prevent undesirable immune responses are uncommon, restricting the effective delivery of medicinal molecules.
To solve this issue, a group of scientists from the State University of New York has developed a bespoke nanocarrier platform with the capacity for structure-based design and systematic optimization. The method enables numerous chemical formulations of biocompatible nanoparticles composed of polyethylene glycol, amino acids, and natural substances, enabling the effective delivery of therapeutic medications for infectious, autoimmune, and cancerous disorders.
The team is eager to collaborate with an industrial partner to license or further develop the technology.
Recent developments in transparent conductive thin films
Many electronic gadgets employ transparent conductive films for touchscreens and displays, in addition to photovoltaics and other high-performance coatings. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) is these films' most frequent conductive substance. As demand for wearable electronics and flexible thin films increases, there is a need for cheaper and more flexible alternatives to ITO, which is brittle and made from expensive and scarce raw ingredients.
Scientists have found a method for growing silver nanoparticles and nanowires that outperform their ITO counterparts. The highly transparent and conductive silver nanoparticles are manufactured using inexpensive components and a straightforward procedure.
The researchers are eager to explore possible applications in collaboration with the industry.
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