Nanoscale & Nanoscale Advances Blog

Functionalised graphene nanosheets have been produced in a green, fast and controllable method by scientists in China. The team used aqueous polycation electrolyte branch poly(ethylenimine) as both a stabiliser and a reducing agent to make the graphene nanosheets, which displayed high solubility and long-term stability in aqueous solution.

The nanosheets did not aggregate and they could be dispersed in aqueous solutions, alkaline solutions, salt solutions and organic solvents. The nanosheets can be used as effective and controllable building templates for applications in various fields, they say.

Read this HOT research in Nanoscale today:

Highly concentrated polycations-functionalized graphene nanosheets with excellent solubility and stability, and its fast，facile and controllable assembly of multiple nanoparticles
Zhaozi Lv, Xuan Yang and Erkang Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR33395C

Diatoms are photosynthetic microorganisms, found in marine and fresh water environments, which possess a porous silica exoskeleton called a frustule. Scientists in Australia and Canada coated the frustule with titanium dioxide nanoparticles – well known for their light harvesting properties – and incorporated the resulting material into dye sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). The DSSCs containing the frustules showed an efficiency increase of 30% compared to the titania coating alone, which the authors attribute to enhanced light scattering and trapping. The synthetic procedure is also inexpensive and simple.

Read the full details of this exciting Nanoscale communication today:

Diatom frustules as light traps enhance DSSC efficiency
Jeremiah Toster, K. Swaminathan Iyer, Wanchun Xiang, Federico Rosei, Leone Spiccia and Colin L. Raston
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32716C

Folding DNA to make new nanoscale shapes – so called DNA origami – has potential applications including in drug delivery and immobilising enzymes. The 7249 nucleotide-long M13mp18 strand is frequently used in DNA origami, but it is expensive, its long length makes it more prone to strand cleavage and it can be difficult to analyse on the molecular level.

Scientists in Germany have come up with a convenient method for making a 704 nucleotide-long fragment, which is suitable for making small origami structures, is large enough to analyse by TEM and is more affordable.

Read this HOT Nanoscale article in full today:

M1.3 – A Small Scaffold for DNA Origami
Clemens Richert, Hassan Said, Verena Schüller, Fabian Eber, Christina Wege and Tim Liedl
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32393A

Researchers based at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have prepared a  composite electrode of organic–inorganic polymers and Pyronin Y-doped silica nanoparticles, which was coated with poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), in the presence of phosphododecamolybdic acid (PMo₁₂).

The fluoresence of the nanoparticles can be switched on and off in aqueous solution by oxidation and reduction of the PEDOT, with fast colouration and bleaching of the film.

The materials have potential applications in organic LEDs and other photoelectric devices.

Reversible electroswitchable luminescence in thin films of organic–inorganic hybrid assemblies
Yanling Zhai, Lihua Jin, Chengzhou Zhu, Peng Hu, Lei Han, Erkang Wang and Shaojun Dong
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32623J

The RSC has teamed up with an Oxford University spin-out to sponsor six challenges on Marblar – a radical new online platform for finding applications for unused scientific discoveries.

More than 95% of technologies developed in universities never make it to market, leaving publicly or philanthropy-funded research collecting dust on the shelf.  Often, given that academic research can be so ahead of its time, the commercial relevance of these technologies isn’t immediately obvious.

Marblar aims to remove this bottleneck by crowdsourcing ideas for real-world applications from the global science and technology community, with the ultimate goal to create new products and new companies that will drive job creation around these innovative discoveries.

One of the projects to be selected is based on an article in Nanoscale: Take Two is an exciting new technique developed by Dr Sergio Bertazzo in Professor Molly Stevens’ lab at Imperial College London. It enables bioengineers to study interactions between cells and biomaterials by combining two forms of microscopy in an innovative way.

You can find more details on the Marblar website and read the Nanoscale article for free by following the link below:

Correlative light-ion microscopy for biological applications
Sergio Bertazzo, Thomas von Erlach, Silvia Goldoni, Pelin L Çandarlıoğlu and Molly M Stevens
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30431G

We would like to share with you some recent high impact graphene articles, published in Nanoscale.

Graphene expert and Nanoscale Editorial Board member Prof. Andrea Ferrari

With an international readership, across the many disciplines involved with nanoscience and nanotechnology and a first (2011) Impact Factor of 5.91, Nanoscale is the ideal place to publish your research.

Nanoscale has very fast times to publication. Our Accepted Manuscript service means research is published and can be cited on average within 1 day of acceptance – we invite you to submit your best research to Nanoscale.

Sign up to receive our free table-of-contents e-alert at www.rsc.org/alerts and be among the first to read our newest articles.

Read this high-impact graphene research today:

Review Articles

Graphene transfer: key for applications
Junmo Kang, Dolly Shin, Sukang Bae and Byung Hee Hong
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31317K

Graphene edges: a review of their fabrication and characterization
Xiaoting Jia, Jessica Campos-Delgado, Mauricio Terrones, Vincent Meunier and Mildred S. Dresselhaus
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00600A

Graphene: a versatile nanoplatform for biomedical applications
Yin Zhang, Tapas R. Nayak, Hao Hong and Weibo Cai
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31040F

Modeling of graphene nanoribbon devices
Jing Guo
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31437A

Original research

Percolation scaling in composites of exfoliated MoS2 filled with nanotubes and graphene
Graeme Cunningham, Mustafa Lotya, Niall McEvoy, Georg S. Duesberg, Paul van der Schoot and Jonathan N. Coleman
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31782F

Flexible photovoltaic cells based on a graphene–CdSe quantum dot nanocomposite
Jing Chen, Feng Xu, Jun Wu, Khan Qasim, Yidan Zhou, Wei Lei, Li-Tao Sun and Yan Zhang
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR11656A

Facile synthesis of metal oxide/reduced graphene oxide hybrids with high lithium storage capacity and stable cyclability
Jixin Zhu, Ting Zhu, Xiaozhu Zhou, Yanyan Zhang, Xiong Wen Lou, Xiaodong Chen, Hua Zhang, Huey Hoon Hng and Qingyu Yan
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00744G

Graphene based gene transfection
Liangzhu Feng, Shuai Zhang and Zhuang Liu
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00680G

Real-time DNA detection using Pt nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide field-effect transistors
Zongyou Yin, Qiyuan He, Xiao Huang, Juan Zhang, Shixin Wu, Peng Chen, Gang Lu, Peng Chen, Qichun Zhang, Qingyu Yan and Hua Zhang
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR11149C

Surface plasmon resonance-induced visible light photocatalytic reduction of graphene oxide: Using Ag nanoparticles as a plasmonic photocatalyst
Tongshun Wu, Sen Liu, Yonglan Luo, Wenbo Lu, Lei Wang and Xuping Sun
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR10128E

In situ synthesis of high-loading Li₄Ti₅O₁₂–graphene hybrid nanostructures for high rate lithium ion batteries
Laifa Shen, Changzhou Yuan, Hongjun Luo, Xiaogang Zhang, Sudong Yang and Xiangjun Lu
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00639D

Graphene decoration with metal nanoparticles: Towards easy integration for sensing applications
Albert Gutés, Ben Hsia, Allen Sussman, Willi Mickelson, Alex Zettl, Carlo Carraro and Roya Maboudian
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR11537E

Enhanced photocatalytic H₂-production activity of graphene-modified titania nanosheets
Quanjun Xiang, Jiaguo Yu and Mietek Jaroniec
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR10610D

Highly dispersed ultrafine Pt and PtRu nanoparticles on graphene: formation mechanism and electrocatalytic activity
C. Nethravathi, E. A. Anumol, M. Rajamathi and N. Ravishankar
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00664E

Fabrication of hybrids based on graphene and metal nanoparticles by in situ and self-assembled methods
Fu-An He, Jin-Tu Fan, Fei Song, Li-Ming Zhang and Helen Lai-Wa Chan
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00672F

Controlled assembly of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles on graphene oxide
Yi Zhang, Biao Chen, Liming Zhang, Jie Huang, Fenghua Chen, Zupei Yang, Jianlin Yao and Zhijun Zhang
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00776E

Synthesis of reduced graphene oxide-anatase TiO2 nanocomposite and its improved photo-induced charge transfer properties
Ping Wang, Yueming Zhai, Dejun Wang and Shaojun Dong
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00714E

Check out our previous collection of graphene reviews and our graphene web collection for even more fascinating articles in this exciting research area.

HOT Nanoscale Communication

Scientists in Australia have made carbon and boron nitride nano-scrolls from boron nitride flakes, which could be applied to chemical doping, hydrogen storage, battery technology and nano-mechanical devices.

Carbon nano-scrolls are more stable than flat graphene sheets, but have yet to be synthesised in reasonable quantities with control over the morphology. Impurities in the CNSs have also been a problem with previous synthetic methods. The team used a spinning disc processor to exfoliate graphite flakes, forming impurity-free scrolls.

This is  the first report of boron nitride nano-scrolls.

Read more details about this exciting research:

Shear induced formation of carbon and boron nitride nano-scrolls
Xianjue Chen, Ramiz Boulos, John Dobson and Colin Raston
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR33071G

Check out our selection of high impact articles, published in Nanoscale covering topics from drug delivery to bio-imaging.

On behalf of the Editors-in-Chief, Chunli Bai (CAS President, NCNST, Beijing), Jie Liu (Duke), Wei Lu (Michigan), Markus Niederberger (ETH Zurich), and Francesco Stellacci (EPFL), we invite you to submit your best research to Nanoscale.

Consider contributing to our exciting themed collection on Functional nanoparticles for biomedical applications, Guest Edited by Nguyen T K Thanh (UCL).

With an international readership, across the many disciplines involved with nanoscience and nanotechnology and a first (2011) Impact Factor of 5.91, Nanoscale is the ideal place to publish your research.

Sign up to receive our free e-alert and be among the first to read our newest articles.

Read this high-impact nanomedicine research today:

Review articles

Biomedical nanomaterials for imaging-guided cancer therapy
Yuran Huang, Sha He, Weipeng Cao, Kaiyong Cai and Xing-Jie Liang
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31715J

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for bioadsorption, enzyme immobilisation, and delivery carriers
Amirali Popat, Sandy Budi Hartono, Frances Stahr, Jian Liu, Shi Zhang Qiao and Gao Qing (Max) Lu
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR10224A

Fluorescence bioimaging with conjugated polyelectrolytes
Guangxue Feng, Dan Ding and Bin Liu
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31392H

Assembling nanoparticle coatings to improve the drug delivery performance of lipid based colloids
Spomenka Simovic, Timothy J. Barnes, Angel Tan and Clive A. Prestidge
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR11273B

Nanobionics: the impact of nanotechnology on implantable medical bionic devices
G. G. Wallace, M. J. Higgins, S. E. Moulton and C. Wang
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30758H

Optofluidic opportunities in global health, food, water and energy
Yih-Fan Chen, Li Jiang, Matthew Mancuso, Aadhar Jain, Vlad Oncescu and David Erickson
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30859B

Short-peptide-based molecular hydrogels: novel gelation strategies and applications for tissue engineering and drug delivery
Huaimin Wang and Zhimou Yang
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31149F

Development of viral nanoparticles for efficient intracellular delivery
Zhuojun Wu, Kevin Chen, Ibrahim Yildiz, Anouk Dirksen, Rainer Fischer, Philip E. Dawson and Nicole F. Steinmetz
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30366C

Nanoscale surface modifications of medically relevant metals: state-of-the art and perspectives
Fabio Variola, John B. Brunski, Giovanna Orsini, Paulo Tambasco de Oliveira, Rima Wazen and Antonio Nanci
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00485E

Macromolecular nanotheranostics for multimodal anticancer therapy
Ruben Huis in ‘t Veld, Gert Storm, Wim E. Hennink, Fabian Kiessling and Twan Lammers
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR10733J

Original research

Gold nanocages covered with thermally-responsive polymers for controlled release by high-intensity focused ultrasound
Weiyang Li, Xin Cai, Chulhong Kim, Guorong Sun, Yu Zhang, Rui Deng, Miaoxin Yang, Jingyi Chen, Samuel Achilefu, Lihong V. Wang and Younan Xia
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00932F

Biocompatible magnetic liposomes for temperature triggered drug delivery
Xingwei Ding, Kaiyong Cai, Zhong Luo, Jinghua Li, Yan Hu and Xinkun Shen
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR31292A

Graphene based gene transfection
Liangzhu Feng, Shuai Zhang and Zhuang Liu
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00680G

In vivo demonstration of enhanced radiotherapy using rare earth doped titania nanoparticles
Helen E. Townley, Jeewon Kim and Peter J. Dobson
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30769C

Low frequency heating of gold nanoparticle dispersions for non-invasive thermal therapies
Xiaoming Liu, Hui-jiuan Chen, Xiaodong Chen, Clive Parini and Dongsheng Wen
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30166K

Cellular uptake mechanisms of functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes by 3D electron tomography imaging
Khuloud T. Al-Jamal, Hannah Nerl, Karin H. Müller, Hanene Ali-Boucetta, Shouping Li, Peter D. Haynes, Joerg R. Jinschek, Maurizio Prato, Alberto Bianco, Kostas Kostarelos and Alexandra E. Porter
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR10080G

Curcumin-loaded biodegradable polymeric micelles for colon cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo
MaLing Gou, Ke Men, HuaShan Shi, MingLi Xiang, Juan Zhang, Jia Song, JianLin Long, Yang Wan, Feng Luo, Xia Zhao and ZhiYong Qian
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00758G

Synthesis and characterization of silver/alanine nanocomposites for radiation detection in medical applications: the influence of particle size on the detection properties
Eder José Guidelli, Ana Paula Ramos, Maria Elisabete D. Zaniquelli, Patricia Nicolucci and Oswaldo Baffa
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30090G

Superparamagnetic colloidal nanocrystal clusters coated with polyethylene glycol fumarate: a possible novel theranostic agent
Houshang Amiri, Morteza Mahmoudi and Alessandro Lascialfari
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00603C

Nanostructured nanoparticles of self-assembled lipid pro-drugs as a route to improved chemotherapeutic agents
Sharon M. Sagnella, Xiaojuan Gong, Minoo J. Moghaddam, Charlotte E. Conn, Kathleen Kimpton, Lynne J. Waddington, Irena Krodkiewska and Calum J. Drummond
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00781A

Synthesis and characterization of novel dual-responsive nanogels and their application as drug delivery systems
Jinrong Peng, Tingting Qi, Jinfeng Liao, Min Fan, Feng Luo, He Li and Zhiyong Qian
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30147D

Multicolor core/shell silica nanoparticles for in vivo and ex vivo imaging
Enrico Rampazzo, Federico Boschi, Sara Bonacchi, Riccardo Juris, Marco Montalti, Nelsi Zaccheroni, Luca Prodi, Laura Calderan, Barbara Rossi, Serena Becchi and Andrea Sbarbati
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR11401H

Magnetic nanobeads decorated by thermo-responsive PNIPAM shell as medical platforms for the efficient delivery of doxorubicin to tumour cells
Smriti R. Deka, Alessandra Quarta, Riccardo Di Corato, Andreas Riedinger, Roberto Cingolani and Teresa Pellegrino
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00570C

Irreversible changes in protein conformation due to interaction with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles
Morteza Mahmoudi, Mohammad A. Shokrgozar, Soroush Sardari, Mojgan K. Moghadam, Hojatollah Vali, Sophie Laurent and Pieter Stroeve
DOI: 10.1039/C0NR00733A

Non-invasive tumor detection in small animals using novel functional Pluronic nanomicelles conjugated with anti-mesothelin antibody
Hong Ding, Ken-Tye Yong, Wing-Chueng Law, Indrajit Roy, Rui Hu, Fang Wu, Weiwei Zhao, Kun Huang, Folarin Erogbogbo, Earl J. Bergey and Paras N. Prasad
DOI: 10.1039/C1NR00001B

A quartz nanopillar hemocytometer for high-yield separation and counting of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes
Dong-Joo Kim, Jin-Kyeong Seol, Yu Wu, Seungmuk Ji, Gil-Sung Kim, Jung-Hwan Hyung, Seung-Yong Lee, Hyuneui Lim, Rong Fan and Sang-Kwon Lee
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR11338D

Researchers working in Wales and Denmark have used Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) to measure the conductance through single-molecules of the electron transfer protein cytochrome b₅₆₂. The authors modified the protein, adding SH groups at opposite ends to allow contact with a gold surface and a Pt-Ir STM tip. They noted high conductance and conclude that this shows the importance of the heme co-factor bound to the natively structured protein in the electron transfer process.

Read the full details of this HOT Nanoscale article today:

Fast electron transfer through a single molecule natively structured redox protein
Eduardo Antonio Della Pia, Qijin Chi, J. Emyr Macdonald, Jens Ulstrup, D. Dafydd Jones and Martin Elliott
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR32131A