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    Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    New medical device concept could Reduce Time to Diagnose Tissue Infections: DOTS qPCR

    September 6, 2015, Categories  Health/Medical, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    An artist's rendition of the DOTS qPCR device. Credit: Dustin Harshman

    An artist’s rendition of the DOTS qPCR device. Credit: Dustin Harshman

    Dr’s ability to act quickly and correctly not only makes a difference to the patient’s outcome, it determines whether the infection spreads to other patients in the clinic, and can even contribute to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

    The device’s novel approach to molecular diagnostics, called DOTS qPCR, is faster, more efficient and less expensive than alternatives currently being used in clinics.

    Pathogens and infectious diseases are typically detected using a technique called polymerase chain reaction,ie PCR. The method involves rapidly heating and cooling DNA molecules from a biological sample in a process called thermal cycling...

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    New Nanomaterial maintains Conductivity in 3D: seamlessly bonding CNTs and Graphene

    September 5, 2015, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Schematic diagrams showing the synthesis and microstructures of a 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (A) Aluminum wire. (B) Surface anodized aluminum wire (AAO wire). (C) 3D graphene-RACNT structure on the AAO wire. (D) Schematic representation of the pure 3D graphene-RACNT structure. (E to G) Top view SEM images of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber at different magnifications. (I to K) SEM images of the cross-section of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (H and L) AFM images of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (M to P) SEM image (M) and corresponding EDX elemental mapping of (N) aluminum, (O) oxygen, and (P) carbon from the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber.

    Schematic diagrams showing the synthesis and microstructures of a 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (A) Aluminum wire. (B) Surface anodized aluminum wire (AAO wire). (C) 3D graphene-RACNT structure on the AAO wire. (D) Schematic representation of the pure 3D graphene-RACNT structure. (E to G) Top view SEM images of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber at different magnifications. (I to K) SEM images of the cross-section of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (H and L) AFM images of the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber. (M to P) SEM image (M) and corresponding EDX elemental mapping of (N) aluminum, (O) oxygen, and (P) carbon from the 3D graphene-RACNT fiber.

    First 1-step process for making seamless carbon-based nanomaterials that possess superior thermal, electrical and mechanical properties in 3 dimensions...

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    Nanowires from Protein and DNA: hybrid biomaterial with many Apps

    September 4, 2015, Categories  Health/Medical, Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Biology/Biotechnology

    Design strategy of protein-DNA nanowires. The protein-DNA nanowire is self-assembled with a computationally designed protein homodimer and a double-stranded DNA with the protein binding sites properly arranged. Credit: Yun (Kurt) Mou, Jiun-Yann Yu, Timothy M. Wannier, Chin-Lin Guo and Stephen L. Mayo/Caltech

    Design strategy of protein-DNA nanowires. The protein-DNA nanowire is self-assembled with a computationally designed protein homodimer and a double-stranded DNA with the protein binding sites properly arranged. Credit: Yun (Kurt) Mou, Jiun-Yann Yu, Timothy M. Wannier, Chin-Lin Guo and Stephen L. Mayo/Caltech

    Synthetic structures made of DNA could one day be used to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumor cells, and customized proteins could be designed to specifically attack a certain kind of virus. Although researchers have already made such structures out of DNA or protein alone, a Caltech team recently created- for the first time -a synthetic structure made of both protein and DNA. Combining the two molecule types into one biomaterial opens the door to numerous applications.

    “If your mat...

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    Unique Properties in Iridescent Wings of Tropical Butterfly key to highly selective Gas detection Sensors

    September 1, 2015, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Environment/Geology

    Design and fabrication of highly selective vapour sensors inspired by Morpho butterflies.

    Design and fabrication of highly selective vapour sensors inspired by Morpho butterflies. (a) Schematic of the tree-like tapered structure of natural butterfly scales with its chemical gradient of surface polarity. (b) Schematic of the fabricated nanostructure and design criteria for vapour-selectivity control. (c,d) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Morpho sulkowskyi scales and fabricated six-lamellae nanostructures. (e,f) Iridescent colouration of M. sulkowskyi scales and fabricated nanostructures. Shown in (f) are six regions of nanostructures that were fabricated with and without lamella; each region was 2 × 2 mm...

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