Materials Engineering Nanotechnology

Scientists just made a material that disappears from radar and reflects zero light In a military materials lab in the Netherlands, physicists have created an ultra-thin surface coating that makes objects effectively invisible—not by bending light, but by absorbing 99.999% of it and scattering radar signals like background noise. The material, called VantaFlex, is made from vertical carbon nanotubes arranged in a forest-like structure. Light or radio waves entering it are trapped between tubes and converted to heat at microscopic levels, making the object appear blacker than black—and invisible to sensors. Unlike traditional stealth coatings that only block certain frequencies, VantaFlex works across a massive spectrum—from visible light to far infrared to radar bands. That means it can hide aircraft, drones, satellites, and even ground vehicles in any lighting condition. It’s flexible, lightweight, and can be sprayed on like paint. Military labs are already testing it on next-gen stealth drones and underwater vehicles. Civilians might see it one day in ultra-dark displays, heat-absorbing panels, or even cloaking wearables. True invisibility might still be sci-fi—but this is the closest physics has come to making it real.

Artificial Enzymes: Where Chemistry Meets Ingenuity ⚗️✨ Nature has always been our best chemist. Enzymes, the biological catalysts that power life, are astonishing in their precision and speed. But what if we could engineer similar catalysts - ones that can thrive in harsh environments, last longer, and be tailored for tasks nature never imagined? Enter artificial enzymes, also known as nanozymes. These synthetic catalysts mimic the functions of natural enzymes but with added perks: 🔹 Enhanced stability under extreme pH and temperature 🔹 Cost-effective large-scale production 🔹 Tunable catalytic properties 🔹 Potential applications in healthcare, environmental cleanup, and energy Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology have brought artificial enzymes closer to real-world impact: ✅ Smart cancer therapies using nanozymes for targeted oxidative stress ✅ Water purification systems that break down organic pollutants ✅ Biosensors with higher shelf life and sensitivity What excites me most? The interdisciplinary collaboration driving this field - chemists, material scientists, biomedical engineers, and AI researchers joining forces to rethink catalysis. #artificialenzymes #nanozymes #catalysis Image credit: Nature Catalysis volume 4, pages407–417 (2021)

South Korea just built liquid robots that mimic living cells. They're microscopic. Guided by sound. And could one day deliver cancer treatments with surgical precision. Here’s how they work: ▶︎ 1. They’re literally liquid These micro-robots aren’t built from metal or silicon. They’re made of water droplets, frozen into tiny cubes and coated with Teflon-like particles. As the ice melts, the coating forms a flexible shell - stable, but incredibly adaptive. ▶︎ 2. They move like cells, not machines These droplets can: - Squeeze through narrow biological pathways - Pick up and transport materials - Merge with other droplets and still hold their form They behave more like living tissue than technology. ▶︎ 3. Steered by sound These robots respond to sound waves, which guide their movement inside the body. That means they could one day deliver drugs directly to hard-to-reach tumours - with high precision and minimal disruption. ▶︎ 4. Early days, bold potential They’re still in early research, but full of promise. Beyond oncology, these microrobots could support: - Targeted drug delivery - Delicate, minimally invasive procedures - Even applications in environmental cleanup — reaching places rigid robots can’t And here’s what this signals for healthtech founders: → Biology-inspired design isn’t a trend - it’s the next wave. → Soft, adaptive tools will reshape how we think about hardware in medicine. → The line between biology and engineering is blurring - fast. This isn’t just innovation at the molecular level. It’s a new way of building care systems from the inside out. So would you trust a robot made of liquid to deliver your treatment? (Video by New Scientist.) #entrepreneurship #startup #funding

Revolutionizing Sustainability Check out this comprehensive The Future Makers article about AgriSea NZ Seaweed Ltd’s story! Read about AgriSea’s groundbreaking seaweed nano-cellulose bio-refinery supported by Scion’s advanced manufacturing and engineering innovations. In a world where sustainability is paramount, AgriSea is leading the charge with a revolutionary approach to seaweed utilization. Partnering with Scion - AgriSea has built the world’s first seaweed nano-cellulose bio-refinery in Paeroa. This innovative facility is a testament to how science and technology can drive economic growth, create high-value jobs, and boost exports while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. Seaweed, a resource that requires no fresh water, fertilizer, or land to grow, holds immense potential. However, wild resources are limited and too precious to over-harvest. AgriSea's solution? Focus on high-value outputs rather than chasing endless supply. By extracting nano-cellulose from seaweed remnants, AgriSea is unlocking new possibilities in electronics, batteries, wound dressings, and advanced medical products. With the support of Scion and other R&D partners, AgriSea is on the brink of engineering advanced materials - including hydro-gels, plastics replacements, and medical-grade solutions—all from a sustainable resource. #Sustainability #Innovation #AdvancedManufacturing #IndustrialBiotechnology #Forestry #EconomicGrowth #HighValueJobs #NanoCellulose #BioRefinery #Seaweed #Bioeconomy #CircularEconomy https://lnkd.in/d8fnTDfd

A new #textile was designed to combat the urban heat island effect, reflecting both the sun’s heat and the heat bouncing off buildings and streets. When a heat wave hits a city, the sidewalks, roads, and buildings make the air feel hotter. Thanks to the urban heat island effect, all that infrastructure absorbs and reemits the sun’s heat, raising temperatures even more. Getting cool means protecting yourself not just from the sun’s radiation but also from all the radiation bouncing off the pavement and concrete. A new textile—made of plastic and silver nanowires—does that and can keep its wearers as much as 16 degrees cooler than other fabrics. This week, a heat wave is expected to stretch across much of the U.S., with particularly dangerous temperatures forecasted for cities such as #Chicago, #NewYork, and #Boston. This new textile could provide some relief. It uses a process called radiative cooling, which describes how objects cool down by radiating thermal energy into their surroundings. Radiative cooling textiles do already exist, but most just reflect the sun’s heat. That “works very well if you’re in an open field,” says Po-Chun Hsu, a molecular engineering professor at the University of Chicago, whose team recently published a paper on their new material in the journal Science. But not in a city. Existing fabrics don’t reflect the ambient heat from the street below or a nearby building. The heat coming directly from the sun’s rays and the heat emitted from a sun-baked street aren’t the same; they have different wavelengths. That means a material has to have two different “optical properties” to reflect both. To do that, the researchers created a three-layer textile. The top layer is made of polymethylpentene or PMP, a type of plastic commonly used for packaging; the researchers had to figure out how to spin it into a fiber. The second is a sheet of silver nanowires, which acts like a mirror to reflect infrared radiation. Together, these block both the solar radiation and the ambient radiation reflected off of surfaces. The third layer can be any conventional fabric, like wool or cotton. Though there are multiple layers, the main thickness comes from the conventional fabric; the top layer is about 1/100th of a human hair. In outdoor tests in Arizona, the textile stayed 4 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than “broadband emitter” fabrics used for outdoor sports and 16 F cooler than regular silk, a breathable fabric often used for dresses and shirts. Along with clothing, the researchers say this cooling textile could be used on buildings, in cars, or even for food storage and shipping in order to lessen the need for refrigeration, which has a significant climate impact of its own. Next, Hsu’s team is collaborating with other teams to see how the textile could have a health benefit for those in extreme heat conditions. #climatechange #apparel #brands #retail #technology Kristin Toussaint for Fast Company

In the realm of cosmetic product testing, conducting in vitro tests is often deemed necessary before human trials, especially for topical bioactive products. The majority of modern formulations, whether serums or macroemulsions, contain numerous ingredients and typically do not penetrate deep into the skin layers. This is primarily because these formulations, commonly used by various brands, are intentionally designed to not penetrate to the deeper layers. However, the landscape is evolving with the emergence of nano-emulsions, exosomes, and nano-liposomes. These structures, with sizes below 200 nm, have the potential to both penetrate and interact with immune cells in the epidermis and dermis. This poses new challenges, whether intended or not, for product developers. Understanding how these structures interact with the skin's immune cells is crucial in designing effective and safe cosmetic products for direct deep delivery (D3) even to the dermis/ dermal papilla. Keratinocytes, acting as immune cells in the skin, play a significant role in monitoring potential immune responses. Conducting in vitro PCR analysis on keratinocytes in contact with these nanoparticles helps predict any adverse reactions, especially when dealing with complex biologicals like exosomes. Monitoring gene expressions, such as TP53 and IL1B, provides insights into the product's safety profile before advancing to human trials. Liquid core sub-micron liposomes, exosomes, and nano-emulsions can elicit immune responses based on their surface properties alone. Cell cultures involving keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and skin equivalents are valuable tools in evaluating the immune reactivity of these structures. While traditional formulations may not penetrate deeply, advanced formulations with specific characteristics can breach the skin barrier, particularly with pre-treatments like microneedling. The selection of emulsifiers in these formulations is crucial not only for controlling particle size and stability but also for modulating their interaction with immune cells during D3. A phrase is useful in formulating these D3 formulations “if you can’t eat it-delete it”. If ingredient is not food grade and radially digestible, probability not advisable for D3 applications Understanding these dynamics is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of future cosmetic products designed to target deeper skin layers.  This technology also be  will also be incorporated into  pharmaceutical products to deliver recombinant produced growth factors. These will enhance mild wounding in office dermatological procedures without contributing to additional inflammation.

🔬 #FluorescenceFriday 🎃 From spooky-colored clusters to nanoscale anchors Cells don’t just stick, they interpret. This week, we dive into the fascinating world of #cell–matrix interactions, from my PhD research in Prof. Duncan Sutherland’s group at Aarhus University, where we explored how #nanoscale protein patterning modulates integrin-mediated adhesion. In the fluorescent image, we see human #skin cells interacting with a nanopatterned surface functionalized with laminin, a key component of the basement membrane: 🟠 Integrin α6: clustering in bright nano-puncta 🟣 DAPI: nuclear staining By mimicking #hemidesmosome-like structures, these nanopatterns guide integrin clustering, enabling cells to form stable, specific attachments. These engineered biointerfaces don’t just enhance adhesion, they influence how cells spread, signal, and ultimately differentiate. 🔬 In the accompanying SEM image, captured at higher magnification, you can literally see cellular protrusions making contact with individual nanopatterns, offering a striking visualization of nano-biointerface recognition in action. This is a vivid reminder that in building complex in vitro models (CIVM), we must consider all dimensions of the cellular microenvironment, not just #biochemical or #biomechanical cues, but also the nano/micro-architecture of the interface itself. 🧠 Why this matters: By adjusting the size, spacing, and type of protein ligand, we can precisely tune the cell-matrix interaction landscape, regulating cell phenotype and behavior. To learn more about our approach and insights, check out the links below: -https://lnkd.in/dva9CAuc -https://lnkd.in/g7kFEe2W #NanoBiointerfaces #Hemidesmosomes #SkinCells #Nanopatterning #SEM #Biointerfaces #CellAdhesion #FluorescenceMicroscopy #MicroscaleBiointerfaces #ProteinLigands #CellMatrixInteraction #Mechanobiology #Biomaterials #TissueEngineering #InVitroModels #HighResolutionImaging #Laminin #PhDResearch #AarhusUniversity #DuncanSutherlandGroup #ScientificImaging #HalloweenScience #CellPhenotype #Nanoengineering #3DCellCulture #RegenerativeMedicine #EngineeringBiology #AdvancedMicroscopy

🚀 Breaking New Ground in Nanoscale Science! 🚀 I am excited to share our latest results from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University capturing the spatiotemporal evolution of surface charges on silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles with femtosecond precision! The related article led by my former graduate student Ritika Dagar and postdoc Wenbin Zhang was published today in Science Advances. For the first time, we used time-resolved reaction nanoscopy, developed in our group, to see how surface charges redistribute and affect molecular bonds. The study suggests a need to rethink nanoscale surface charge processes, influencing everything from catalyst design to photocatalytic systems. The findings can help to design new nanomaterials with tailored properties, impacting energy storage, sensing, and biomedicine. Join us in celebrating this milestone that promises to redefine our grasp of charge-driven phenomena! For more information, read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gAFJ6nXp The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. #Nanoscience #ResearchBreakthrough #ChargeDynamics #Innovation #ScienceAdvances #SLAC #StanfordUniversity #MaterialsScience

I am happy to share that the latest paper based on my PhD thesis at MIT was recently published in the Journal "Small" for micro-nano applications (Impact Factor: 13). Credits to my co-author Fabian Dickhardt and advisor Kripa Varanasi. Dust accumulation on solar panels is the single biggest problem that large-scale solar farms are facing. Removing dust using water-based cleaning is expensive and unsustainable. One of my earlier papers published in Science Advances showed that dust repulsion via charge induction is an efficient way to clean solar panels without consuming a single drop of water. However, it was still challenging to remove particles of ≈30 μm and smaller because the Van der Waals force of adhesion dominates the electrostatic force of repulsion. In the current paper titled "Enhanced Electrostatic Dust Removal from Solar Panels Using Transparent Conductive Nano-Textured Surfaces," we propose nano-textured, transparent, electrically conductive glass surfaces to significantly enhance electrostatic dust removal for particles smaller than ≈30 μm. Nano-textured surfaces reduce the force of adhesion by up to 2 orders of magnitude compared to un-textured surfaces from 460nN to 8.6 nN. The reduced adhesion on nano-textured surfaces results in significantly better dust removal of small particles compared to non-textured or micro-textured surfaces, reducing the surface coverage from 35% to 10%. We fabricate transparent, electrically conductive, nano-textured glass that can be retrofitted on solar panel surfaces using copper nano-mask-based scalable nano-fabrication technique and shows that 90% of lost power output for particles smaller than ≈10 μm can be recovered. We are hoping that this work takes us one step closer to the sustainable operation of solar farms. Large-scale field trials are still going on before we deploy this technology or a modified version of this on full-scale solar farms. You can read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gUEqMZ4M MIT had published a 3-minute video on my work on their YouTube channel. You can check that here: https://lnkd.in/gGYNJa8D