We are delighted to announce a high-profile themed issue on “Helical Micro- and Nanostructures”. This will be Guest Edited by Li Zhang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Lixin Dong (Michigan State University) and Peer Fischer (Max-Planck-Institute). The themed issue will be published in Nanoscale in 2014.
The helix is one of the most fundamental geometrical shapes in nature, which can be found at all length scales: from the structure of DNA to planetary helix nebula. During the last three decades, novel nanotechnologies have been developed that have provided various means for fabricating helices. Based on their unique shape micro and nanohelices are poised to play an important role in nanoelectronics, optics, MEMS/NEMS, micro-/nanorobotics, new materials, biology and nanomedicine, which this special issue will highlight. This themed issue aims to bring together exciting research from scientists who are working on these fascinating structures at small scales, and to review the recent advance of helical micro-and nanostructures from the fabrication technology to their applications.
Please contact the Nanoscale Editorial Office (nanoscale-rsc@rsc.org) if you are interested in contributing to this themed issue. The deadline for submissions to this themed issue is the 17th January 2014.
Seawater can be used as fuel to propel micromotors say scientists in the US. 
This method is based upon the anti-aggregation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), resulting in a reduced SERS signal in the presence of trypsin. The authors functionalized AgNPs with protamine, a low molecular weight protein, which adsorbs to the negatively charged AgNP surface via electrostatic interaction of the polycationic arginine residues abundant in the protein. Adsorption of protamine resulted in AgNP aggregation due to the neutralization of the negative charge on the NP surface. This resulted in an increase in the SERS signal of a Raman reporter molecule, 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPY), adsorbed on the NP surface.