Blog @ NanoVic - Nanotechnology Blog

“At times I cannot believe what we have achieved at NanoVic in six years. From a virtual office in May 2003 we have grown to become an important player in one of the world’s most exciting industries. It has been an incredible journey, and I have relished every step”, Peter Binks, NanoVic CEO.

In September 2002, the then Victorian Minister for Innovation and State Treasurer The Honourable John Brumby, announced the formation of Nanotechnology Victoria Ltd (NanoVic) as a vehicle for accelerating the technological and economic promise of the relatively new and exciting field of nanotechnology.  During the next six years, our team of committed and diverse scientists and support staff achieved some remarkable outcomes including:
 

• Investment in 65 projects, touching nearly every industrial sector in Victoria;
• Partnerships and relationships with over 50 companies and institutions;
• Assembly of intellectual property portfolios worth more than $11 million;
• Investment of more than $2.5 million in enabling infrastructure;
• Securing more than $20 million of matching contributions from industry, research institutions and governments;
• Establishment as a leader in nanoscience eduction, nanotechnology regulation and public awareness.  

NanoVic officially ceased operations in January 2009. However, NanoVic’s dynamic team and portfolio of projects and intellectual property in both nanostructured materials for industrial and common use, and in sensing, drug delivery and imaging applications in medicine and agriculture have been transferred to the new commercial nanotechnology vehicle NanoVentures Australia.  Further information on NanoVentures Australia can be found at http://www.nvaustralia.com.au.

The NanoVic blog was set up in 2007 to share the latest development in nanotechnology and promote public understanding. The blog posts are still a useful resource and we appreciate the comments and positive feedback we have received. While this will be the last post for the NanoVic blog, updates on innovation around nanotechnology and other emerging technologies continue to be available through Bridge8 at http://bridge8.wordpress.com.

CleanFutures is a joint venture of NanoVentures Australia, Australian CleanTech and Bridge8 with the goal of successfully commercialising nanotechnologies that enable clean futures. By combining the IP, technology transfer and commercialisation project management skills of NanoVentures Australia (NVA) (which has grown out of Nanotechnology Victoria), with the clean technology and investment market knowledge of Australian CleanTech and the futures work, government networks and marketing capability of us here at Bridge8, CleanFutures plans to establish the template for the commercialisation of enabling sustainable technologies. I will be representing the Bridge8 component, and Michelle Critchley is representing NVA.We have commenced planning for our first three technologies in water and wind applications:

• Carbon nanotube composites for wind turbine blades;
• Aquasens, a rapid, highly sensitive sensor probe for the detection of nitrates and phosphates in water, and sulphites in wine and food products; and
• Oxipure, a patented technology for the effective removal of contaminants including arsenic, phosphates and silicates from environmental waters.

CleanFutures was initiated through discussions between the partners at two recently launched industry networks: the Adelaide Cleantech Network (led by Australian CleanTech) and the Australian Nano Business Forum. For further information, see our press release or email us at cleanfutures@bridge8.com.au.

In February last year, Lisa Bailey talked about labelling of nanotechnology:

It’s a question that got a lot of attention at a Royal Institution event at Science Oxford on Thursday night. It was interesting to hear some of the responses to a talk by Alexis Vlandis, a nanotechnology researcher and member of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility.A number of people expressed their concerns over potential safety and toxicity issues raised by nanotechnology. As Alexis pointed out, at this stage we don’t even know if nanotechnologies pose a toxicity risk, as risk implies that properties of the material are understood, after all toxicity doesn’t stop industry safely using thousands of toxic chemical compounds. At this stage the largest worry is in the uncertainty, and the lack of research going into this area.

So how do we deal with this? A few people said that they would like products to be labelled to contain nanomaterials. This was contentious though, some people agreeing that labelling informs the consumer, allowing them to make a choice, whereas others debated that labelling would only lead to confusion and does not address safety issues. I would tend to agree with Alexis, who pointed out that you would like to assume that any product for sale is safe, it shouldn’t be up to the consumer to have to make a decision about that by looking at a label.

What do you think? How meaningful would a label such as ‘contains nanoparticles’ be to consumers? Does labelling imply risk? Why should we care if they are labelled or not if they are safe? For more on labelling check out here on the NanoVic site.

The use of nanoparticles in sunscreens  (see ABC Science article from Feb 2008 and 7:30 Report item from Dec 2008) is one issue that merits further exploration around labelling.  Friends of the Earth are asking for “all sunscreens that contain nanoparticles [to] pass new safety testing and face mandatory labelling”. Most of the nanotechnologists I’ve spoken with support the call for labelling that indicates the size of active particles in consumer products. Do you think the issue of labelling has moved in the past year, or is more debate required?

My heroes: Tintin and Richard Feynman

2009 is a big year for anniversaries.

80 years ago, my favourite comic book hero Tintin first appeared in a Belgian newspaper.

25 years ago, my parents were married.

1 year ago, I saw falling snow for the first time.

I could keep going with my list of 2009 anniversaries which hold considerable personal significance, but feel that I should also mention several momentous scientific milestones that give us cause to celebrate.

400 years ago, Galileo Galilei demonstrated the use of a telescope to Venetian authorities.

200 years ago, the English naturalist, Charles Darwin, was born. 50 years later, his seminal work was published, entitled “On The Origin Of Species”, outlining his theory of natural selection.

I remain an avid fan of Herge’s Tintin, and was grateful to have at least a basic understanding of social Darwinism while wading through Joseph Conrad’s “Heart Of Darkness”. However, there is a 2009 milestone about which I am even more excited- the 50th anniversary of the oratorical masterpiece by Richard Feynman; “There’s Plenty Of Room At The Bottom”. This famous lecture, given in 1959 to the American Physics Society, explored the manipulation of matter on the atomic scale. It signifies the introduction of the concept of nanotechnology and catalysed research in this field.

The American physicist and Nobel Prize winner Feynman demonstrated his incredible imagination in postulating the possibilities presented by “manipulating and controlling things on a small scale”.

“It would be interesting in surgery if you could swallow the surgeon. You put the mechanical surgeon inside the blood vessel and it goes into the heart and ‘looks’ around”. Feynman acknowledged this as a “wild idea”, but in 2009 robots can be programmed to perform routine surgical procedures, and are continually moving closer to the mainstream.

Feynman also talked of improving the resolution of the scanning electron microscope, “so it should be possible to see the individual atoms”. This idea was later realised by the scanning tunnelling and atomic force microscopes, developed in 1981 and 1986 respectively. In addition to providing higher resolution than the SEM, AFM generates a true 3-dimensional surface profile.

Miniaturising the computer was considered by Feynman as a very real possibility. “Computing machines are very large; they fill rooms…There is plenty of room to make them smaller”. In 2009, miniaturising electronics to the nanoscale is being researched by scientists across the disciplines. A team at the University Of Southampton has recently announced the success of their lab-on-a-chip; miniaturised sensors that measure marine environments at a depth of 1600 metres.

It is strange to think that 400 years ago, Galileo used the telescope to behold the skies. It was not until 350 years later that we started moving towards the staggeringly small world that is below. Feynman opined, “In the year 2000, when they look back at this age, they will wonder why it was not until the year 1960 that anybody began seriously to move in this direction”. In the year 2009, I am wondering whether he knew that 50 years on, we would still be descending.

Scientists at Yale university have created a nanowire sensor, coupled with simple microprocessor electronics, that can be used to detect diseases in seconds.
The nanowire sensor works by detecting the activation of T cells by specific bacterial, viral or even cancer antigens. This activation produces acid, which generates a tiny current in the nanowire electronics, which can then be detected. The nanowire sensor is highly sensitive, with the ability to identify a single disease antigen, even with the presence of substantial background ‘noise’ from general immune system cells.
The inventors envisage this technology could be used to make an iPod-like device with changeable cards to detect or diagnose disease in point-of-contact diagnostics.

This time last year we reported on Daniel Tune, a student at Flinders University who had been doing a summer internship with Bridge8. Daniel’s interests include cleantech and he wrote some blogs on nanotechnology and energy:

Daniel Tune is about to commence his honours year in a Bachelor of Nanotechnology at Flinders University and has been working with Bridge8 over the summer. Daniel’s honours thesis will be examining organic dye-sensitized solar cells. Issues relating to energy are central to Daniel’s interests, so we asked him to write some blogs on opportunities for nanotechnology in energy. Click here to read profiles on the Max Water windmill, ink-printed solar cells and body batteries that transform mechanical energy into electricity.

We’ve also been thinking about cleantech again with the recent presentation by Dr Michelle Critchely of NanoVic at the Adelaide Cleantech Network Seminar on ‘How Nano is Driving Cleantech Growth’ on 8th December. Michelle spoke about how carbon nanotubes might be used to strengthen windmill blades for wind energy. Other speakers looked at nanotechnology applications in sensing and monitoring, biofuels, dye-sensitized solar cells, and energy efficient batteries.

Communicating your PhD through the medium of thesis is hard enough. I don’t think I’d be any good at turning it into interpretive dance! But that is exactly what loads of scientists have done for the ‘Dance your PhD’ competition. The rules are simple, you tell the story of your PhD using only the medium of dance. You can have other people help you out in your performance, but the author of the thesis has to be the main dancer.

The results are just awesome! I found a couple of nanotech related ones which I’ve included here. First, there was Anna Bershteyn from MIT who works on lipid-coated nanoparticles for vaccine development. Where else have you seen a dance which represents ‘the formation of a lipid-coated polymer particle by emulsion of an oily solution of lipid and polymer in a bath of water’.

My favourite is Bo Zhao, who has what some might think a challenging thesis title to work with of ‘Properties of Hard, Nanolayered TiB2:CHx Low Friction Coatings’. The description reads: This dance begins with the nanolayer film (the 4 guys) undergoing a “rub a dub dub” friction event. A dislocation (the girl) tries to pass through the film. The layers prove difficult to traverse. Will she succeed? Will the film deform “under pressure?”

Watch them. Browse through the rest. Learn some science, watch scientists have fun and not be afraid to have a go. They’re brilliant

AccessNano is all set for its November 28th launch by The Honourable Julia Gillard MP at the 2008 Science Teachers Association of Victoria Conference (STAVCON08). Here’s a few critical details in case you’re still in the dark:

What is AccessNano?
AccessNano is a cutting-edge nanotechnology educational resource designed to introduce acessible and innovative science and technology into Australian secondary school classrooms. It is different from most other nanotechnology education initiatives as it provides an integrated and locally-relevant approach to teaching nanotechnology.  AccessNano is presented in the form of 13 web-based, curriculum-matched modules targeted at years 7-11, featuring PowerPoint presentations, experiments, activities, animations and links to interactive websites.

Who has developed AccessNano?
AccessNano is an Australian government initiative funded through the Australian Office of Nanotechnoloy (under DIISR) in working with DEEWR. It was produced by Bridge8 Pty Ltd in close collaboration with science teachers and representatives from nanotechnology-related industry and academia, including NanoVic, Flinders University, Monash University, Deakin University, RMIT, GM Holden Ltd and A to Z of nanotechnology.

Why is AccessNano needed?
AccessNano provides an accessible, cutting-edge and versatile resource to:
1. Allow Australian secondary school teachers to introduce nanotechnology into their classrooms;
2. Reinvigorate teaching of science and technology in Australian secondary schools
3. Provide students with new pathways for Australian careers in nanotechnology

AccessNano was developed from the SHINE program.

[image thanks to desertcandy.blogspot.com]

In the last week there have been a couple of big reports issued relating to nanotechnology. Firstly, the UKs Royal Commission on environmental pollution released their report ‘Novel Materials in the Environment:The case of nanotechnology’. It’s quite a tome, with the full report running to 156 pages, but you can also access a more readable summary of the report. The commission did not find any evidence that nanomaterials are currently causing any harm to people of the environment. But is this just because current testing is inadequate? Some laboratory experiments have shown potential nanotoxicity, which we’ve blogged about before on NanoVic. The report has strenuously urged for more testing to be necessary to ensure public and environmental safety.

The recommendations state that testing should focus on the functionality of the nanomaterials, and that a classification by size alone will not be sufficient to estimate risk. There also needs to be a way to detect nanomaterials in the environment, for example a way to detect airborn nanotubes, as at present there’s no way to detect carbon buckyballs or nanotubes in the environment.
Sir John Lawton who chairs the commission, interestingly made the point that ‘more sophisticated later generation nanoproducts will raise issues which cannot be dealt with by treating them as chemicals or mixtures of chemicals. Current testing arrangements and existing regulations are inadequate.’ The report also recommends that new systems to govern and regulate the sector are necessary.

Will the recommendations of the report be implemented? Who knows, but I hope so. It’s a sensible call to enable us to really figure out what the risks are and how best to minimize them, without passing up the opportunities that using these materials can give us.

The second report I was going to quickly mention is a study from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Germany, which looked at how nanotechnology is reported in the media. They found that overwhelmingly the reports were supportive and did not show nanotech as a risky technology, reflecting the positive attitude of the German public towards nanotech.

Last week saw a momentous shift in the American political landscape. Nanobliss have celebrated (and made my day with by adding to the nano-pun fun) by creating Nanobama- the face of the President Elect in nanoscale.  Each Obama face is made up of approximately 150 million carbon nanotubes; which is the estimate of how many Americans voted in the 2008 presidential election.

How to make your own Nanobama:
(1) convert an image (original by Shepard Fairey) of Barack Obama to a line drawing
(2) shrink the drawing and print it onto a glass plate (mask), using a laser system
(3) shine ultraviolet light through the mask, and onto a thin layer of polymer on a silicon wafer, thereby patterning the polymer by photolithography
(4) coat the wafer with a thin layer of catalyst nanoparticle “seeds” for nanotube growth
(5) remove the remaining polymer, leaving the catalyst seeds in the shapes of the nanobamas
(6) grow the CNTs from the catalyst patterns, by placing the wafer in a high-temperature furnace and filling the furnace with a carbon-containing gas
(7) take pictures of the structures, which are barely visible to the naked eye, using electron and optical microscopes

The structures have been created by Nanobliss, which houses a gallery of extraordinary images of mechanically assembled and lithographically patterned nanoarchitectures.