Nov 09, 2026 Endosomal escape, cardiolipin affinity and surface charge: what two recent liposome studies found when SS-31 was used as a targeting ligand, and what to verify about an SS-31 peptide for research before building a formulation. (Nanowerk News) Label a liposome, put it on a monolayer, come back...
How bacteria assemble the low-friction bearing in their swimming motors
Nov 09, 2026 Cryo-electron microscopy reveals how a bacterial motor assembles and releases its low-friction bearing, offering design principles for self-assembling nanomachines and future nanoscale drug delivery systems. (Nanowerk News) The bacterial flagellum is a motility organelle that enables bacteria to swim and is composed of more than 30 different...
Atomic-scale catalyst design could improve CO2-to-ethanol conversion
Nov 09, 2026 A proposed catalyst design uses precisely arranged atomic-scale reaction sites to improve ethanol selectivity and productivity, offering a potential route to more efficient carbon dioxide conversion. (Nanowerk News) CO₂ hydrogenation to ethanol is of critical importance for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable development, but simultaneously achieving...
Common nanoplastics trigger lung inflammation in mice
Nov 09, 2026 Polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics trigger lung inflammation in mice, highlighting why nanoparticle safety assessments should consider surface area and reactivity rather than particle mass alone. (Nanowerk News) Everyday plastic products, including water bottles, disposable cups, and packaging, can break down over time into tiny fragments known as...
Optical fingerprints reveal how atomic defects differ in quantum materials
Nov 07, 2026 Simulations of ten atomic defects in hexagonal boron nitride predict distinct light responses that could help identify defect structures and engineer reliable quantum light sources. (Nanowerk News) The tiny atomic defects so important for future quantum technologies can be difficult to spot. Fortunately, they leave behind some...
Charged excitons retain the optical handedness of carbon nanotubes
Nov 07, 2026 Adding an electron or hole to excitons in carbon nanotubes preserves their optical chirality, opening possibilities for electrically controlled light amplification, detection, and modulation. (Nanowerk News) Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that charged states made of two electrons and a positively charged hole (or vice...
Biodegradable microneedle particles boost drug delivery through the skin
Nov 07, 2026 Tiny spiked particles mixed into creams create microscopic openings in the skin, increasing delivery of a tested skincare compound nearly 37-fold without requiring injections or patches. (Nanowerk News) Your skin is remarkably good at keeping things out of your body. Typically, that’s a positive. It becomes an...
Traditional Korean paper becomes a breathable patch for drug delivery and sweat sensing
Nov 06, 2026 A breathable patch made from Korean mulberry paper combines 3D printed microneedles with wireless uric acid sensing, offering a potential platform for future wearable health monitoring. (Nanowerk News) Researchers have developed an innovative breathable wearable patch combining 3D-printed microneedles and wireless uric acid sensing on traditional Korean...
Microbes can grow in Mars-like conditions. What that means for the search for life
Nov 06, 2026 A new experiment reveals that Earth's microbes can grow in harsh conditions similar to what may exist just below the surface of Mars, suggesting new directions in the search for potential cellular life on the red planet. (Nanowerk News) The microbes grew over months in just a...
New method builds nanographenes with up to eight precisely controlled helices
Nov 06, 2026 A two-step synthesis produces nanographenes with up to eight controlled molecular helices, enabling tailored optical properties and efficient near-infrared emission for future optoelectronic devices. (Nanowerk News) Nanographenes, built from fused aromatic rings arranged in two-dimensional networks, are promising carbon-based materials for next-generation optoelectronic applications. Their extended rigid...