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In the world of science, even a small twist may carry immense implications for materials. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have uncovered how a subtle rotation in 2D layers can give rise to a vortex electric field. This finding, published in Science, has the potential to impact electronic, magnetic, and optical devices as well as new applications in quantum computing, spintronics, and nanotechnology. According to Professor Ly Thuc Hue of CityUHK’s Department of Chemistry, the study demonstrates how “a simple twist in bilayer 2D materials” can induce this electric field, bypassing the need for costly thin-film deposition techniques.

Akin to solving intricate technical puzzles, researchers had to ensure clean, precisely aligned layers of material—a notoriously difficult challenge in the world of 2D materials. Twisted bilayers are made by stacking two thin layers of a material at a slight angle, creating unique electronic properties.

However, traditional methods of synthesizing these bilayers often limit the range of twist angles, particularly at smaller degrees, making exploration of their full potential nearly impossible. To address this, the team at City University of Hong Kong developed an ice-assisted transfer technique that uses a thin sheet of ice to align and transfer bilayers with precision.

They could store 15,000 times more energy than steel springs and three times more energy than lithium.

A new study reveals a ‘nano-switch’ in ferredoxin that affects its electron transfer, which could lead to advancements in sensors and drug development.

Researchers in Japan have discovered a mechanism for controlling the potential of an “electron carrier” protein in the redox reaction that all organisms need to obtain energy. Through experiments, the precise 3D structure of the protein, including hydrogen atoms, was determined, and theoretical calculations using this data visualized the electronic structure of the iron-sulfur cluster.

The results revealed, for the first time, that the electric potential of the iron-sulfur cluster changes dramatically depending on the presence or absence of a single hydrogen atom at an amino acid side chain, a so-called “nano-switch” mechanism. This research, recently published in the journal eLife, not only deepens our scientific understanding of biological reactions but also provides crucial insights for the future development of ultra-sensitive sensors for oxygen and nitric oxide, as well as novel drugs.

As an emerging new class, metal nanoparticles and especially silver nanoparticles hold great potential in the field of cancer biology. Due to cancer-specific targeting, the consequently attenuated side-effects and the massive anti-cancer features render nanoparticle therapeutics desirable platforms for clinically relevant drug development. In this review, we highlight those characteristics of silver nanoparticle-based therapeutic concepts that are unique, exploitable, and achievable, as well as those that represent the critical hurdle in their advancement to clinical utilization. The collection of findings presented here will describe the features that distinguish silver nanoparticles from other anti-cancer agents and display the realistic opportunities and implications in oncotherapeutic innovations to find out whether cancer therapy by silver nanoparticles is fiction or reality.

A cutting-edge X-ray method reveals the 3D orientation of nanoscale material structures, offering fresh insights into their functionality.

Researchers at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) have developed a groundbreaking technique called X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography (XL-DOT). This method reveals the three-dimensional arrangement of a material’s structural building blocks at the nanoscale. Its first application focused on a polycrystalline catalyst, enabling scientists to visualize crystal grains, grain boundaries, and defects—critical features that influence catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, XL-DOT offers unprecedented insights into the structure of various functional materials used in information technology, energy storage, and biomedical applications.

Photosynthesis is one of the most efficient natural processes for converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy vital for life on earth. Proteins called photosystems are critical to this process and are responsible for the conversion of light energy to chemical energy.

Combining one kind of these proteins, called photosystem I (PSI), with platinum nanoparticles, microscopic particles that can perform a chemical reaction that produces hydrogen — a valuable clean energy source — creates a biohybrid catalyst. That is, the light absorbed by PSI drives hydrogen production by the platinum nanoparticle.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and Yale University have determined the structure of the PSI biohybrid solar fuel catalyst. Building on more than 13 years of research pioneered at Argonne, the team reports the first high-resolution view of a biohybrid structure, using an electron microscopy method called cryo-EM. With structural information in hand, this advancement opens the door for researchers to develop biohybrid solar fuel systems with improved performance, which would provide a sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources.

Continue reading “Unveiling the structure of a photosynthetic catalyst that turns light into hydrogen fuel” »

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Vaccines have advanced the field of health and medicine throughout the last century. They are commonly given before a disease can occur to expose individuals to invading pathogens. Vaccines given as a preventative treatment helps the immune system build an immune response against disease that the person may encounter in the future. When an individual gets a shot at the doctor’s office they are injecting an attenuated version of the disease. The body will then recognize this pathogen as foreign and build an immune response against it. This is why many times a person feels sick after a few days from a vaccination – the body is activating the immune system to eliminate the disease.

Many types of vaccines exist and are developed to optimize delivery of attenuated pathogen. Arguably, the most well-known type of vaccine uses messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). These vaccines work by delivering mRNA of a virus, which allows human cells to produce viral protein. The immune system responds strongly to the viral proteins and targets them with different immune cells, while also generating antibodies against it. Once the body has built this response, the immune system can more easily target the same virus in the future. This recognition of specific infections is referred to as immunological memory. Currently, the only mRNA vaccines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved are for COVID-19. However, the efficient use of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 have scientists wondering if this format can be used in other disease settings, including cancer.

A recent article in Nature Communications, by Dr. Damya Laoui and others introduce a novel therapeutic approach in which mRNA is integrated into nanoparticles to overcome tumor progression. Laoui is a group leader at Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) in Brussels, Belgium. Her work focuses on immune cell activation through specific immune cells known as macrophages and dendritic cells. Laoui also works on developing novel personalized immunotherapies for patients with hard-to-treat cancers.

Artificial intelligence and nanotechnology.