Singapore: NUS Harnesses Nanosensors for Smart Farming
Assistant Professor Tedrick Lew at the National University of Singapore is pioneering the integration of fluorescent nanosensors and nanoparticle delivery systems to create smart farming solutions. The sensors embed in plant tissue, detecting stress, infection or nutrient deficiencies at the molecular level before symptoms appear. His SENDS platform targets stomata with antibacterial agents, enabling precise, on‑demand treatment while drastically cutting chemical use. Together, these technologies form a closed‑loop, data‑driven system that promises higher efficiency and sustainability for modern agriculture.
Microbiome-Activated Nanogel Successfully Delivers Butyrate in Mice
A preclinical study in Small describes an inulin‑butyrate nanogel that releases butyrate directly in the inflamed colon of mice, markedly improving colitis outcomes. The nanogel remains stable through the upper GI tract and is enzymatically activated by colonic microbes, delivering...
Solvent‐Induced Reverse‐Ostwald Ripening: Structure Conversion From Ag56 to Ag45 Clusters and Its Impact on Catalytic Reduction of 4‐Nitrophenol
Researchers have discovered a solvent‑induced reverse Ostwald ripening process that converts atomically precise silver clusters from Ag₅₆ to Ag₄₅ when exposed to pentane, while Ag₅₆ remains stable in dichloromethane. Structural analysis by ESI‑MS and single‑crystal X‑ray diffraction shows the Ag₄₅...
Beyond Lipid Nanoparticles: How Custom Polymers and AI May Reshape Gene Therapies
Researchers at Helmholtz‑Zentrum Hereon and partners propose a payload‑driven approach to nucleic‑acid delivery, designing polymeric carriers that are chemically tuned to each DNA, RNA or mRNA payload. The strategy contrasts with the one‑size‑fits‑all lipid nanoparticles that dominate current vaccines and...
Nanoplastics Released by ‘Eco-Friendly’ Bioplastics May Slow Fetal Development in Mice
A study by Anhui Medical University and Fudan University shows that polylactic acid (PLA), a widely used biodegradable bioplastic, breaks down into oligomeric lactic acid (OLA) nanoplastics that cross the placental barrier in mice. Exposure to environmentally relevant OLA doses...
Programmable Superconducting Diode Can Flow on Command
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a programmable superconducting diode using the LaAlO₃/KTaO₃ (LAO/KTO) interface. By employing conductive atomic force microscope (c‑AFM) lithography, they can reposition the weak link to reverse diode polarity without altering the material. The...
Cellulose Acetate Fibers With Infiltrated ZnO Nanocrystals: Activation of Antibacterial Properties Against Acne Vulgaris by Oxygen Plasma Treatment
Researchers created biodegradable cellulose acetate fibers infiltrated with up to 8 wt % zinc‑oxide nanocrystals using vapor‑phase infiltration and centrifugal spinning. A short oxygen plasma treatment converted the fibers from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, enabling Zn²⁺ release. Plasma‑modified fibers showed clear antibacterial activity,...
Orange Leaf Extract Produces Greener Antibacterial Nanoparticles
Researchers have refined a green synthesis route for copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using water extracts from dried orange (Citrus sinensis) leaves. The optimal protocol—pH 7, 10 g/L copper acetate, and calcination at 300 °C—produces 20‑30 nm particles with strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli...
Practical Design Guidelines for Atom-Thin Oxide Transistors Enable Reliable 3D Chip Integration
Researchers at National Taiwan University introduced a unified analytical framework that captures how channel thickness, trap states, interface quality, and surface roughness jointly dictate the performance of atom‑thin indium‑oxide and tungsten‑doped indium‑oxide transistors. The model accurately reproduces I‑V characteristics for...
NanoZymeX Secures €160K to Advance Lipid Nanoparticle Enzyme Therapies for Rare Diseases
Swiss biotech NanoZymeX has secured €160,000 (about $174,000) from Venture Kick to accelerate its lipid‑nanoparticle platform for enzyme replacement therapies. The technology, spun out of the University of Basel, seeks to improve delivery of therapeutic enzymes into muscle cells and lysosomes,...
Carbon Shell‐Mediated Electronic Modulation of NiFe Alloy Electrocatalysts for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction
Researchers introduced a carbon‑coated NiFe alloy (NiFe@NC) that uses a thin carbon shell to electronically reconfigure the catalyst surface, facilitating CO desorption and suppressing hydrogen evolution. Density‑functional theory and in‑situ spectroscopy confirm the electronic reconstruction and protective role of the...
Quasi‐2D Chiral Perovskite Janus‐Structural Nanofiber Film With Tunable Spectrum and Energy‐Transfer‐Amplified Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Researchers have created a Janus‑type nanofiber film that couples chiral quasi‑2D perovskite nanosheets with achiral perovskite nanocrystals or dye molecules via efficient energy transfer. This architecture raises the photoluminescence quantum yield of the achiral component by four times and pushes...
New Light Trap Design Supercharges Atom-Thin Semiconductors
Researchers have introduced an inverted‑confinement design that places a monolayer of tungsten disulfide (WS₂) on nanoscale air cavities—Mie voids—etched into high‑index bismuth telluride. The air‑filled resonators concentrate optical fields at the surface, boosting WS₂ photoluminescence by roughly 20 times and second‑harmonic...
E-Magy Presents Silicon-Dominant Anode Breakthroughs for Next-Gen Drone Power & Electronics
E‑magy will present new silicon‑dominant anode data at the 2026 International Battery Seminar in Orlando, showcasing 12 Ah 6S2P cells designed for high‑performance drone packs. The nanoporous silicon material promises higher energy density and faster charging compared with conventional chemistries, backed...
The Graphene Handbook: Your Essential Resource for Graphene Innovation and Market Insights
Graphene‑Info released the 2026 Graphene Handbook, its 13th edition, offering the most comprehensive guide to graphene technology, production, applications, and market dynamics. Authored by founder Ron Mertens and senior editor Roni Peleg, the book consolidates a decade of industry analysis and...
A Dynamic Yolk–Shell P–N Heterojunction With Coupled Shear Stress‐Triggered Tribo‐/Piezoelectric Effect for Catalytic Thrombolysis
Researchers introduced a yolk–shell BFO@tBT‑C nanoparticle that exploits shear stress at clot sites to trigger coupled tribo‑ and piezoelectric effects, generating reactive oxygen species for thrombolysis. The dynamic p–n heterojunction yields potentials 3.6‑ and 2.1‑fold higher than isolated triboelectric or...
In Situ Self‐Nanostructuring Enables Fast‐Recharging of an Aqueous‐Processed Organic Small Molecule Cathode
Researchers introduced 1,3,5‑tris(3‑vinyl‑10H‑phenoxazin‑10‑yl)benzene (V3PXZ) as an organic cathode that undergoes in‑situ electrochemical post‑crosslinking (IEPC) to form insoluble, non‑conjugated polymer networks. The IEPC process simultaneously creates high‑surface‑area nanostructures, enabling rapid ion transport and delivering 56 % of capacity in just 36 seconds (100 C)....
A Targeted Nanozyme for STING Activation Improves BiTEs Therapy Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer
Researchers engineered a tumor‑targeted nanozyme, MnO2‑dsDNA@BiTE/APT, that simultaneously delivers a double‑strand DNA STING agonist and a PD‑L1/CD3 bispecific T‑cell engager. The MnO2 carrier releases Mn2+ ions, activating the STING pathway, while the surface‑bound BiTE recruits T cells to cancer cells....
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles‐Based Formulations for Enhanced Oral Delivery of Peptide Drugs: A Case Study on Insulin
Researchers engineered mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) to encapsulate insulin and co‑formulated them with succinylated β‑lactoglobulin into pH‑responsive tablets. Surface grafting with polyethylene glycol and phosphonate groups boosted insulin solubility by roughly 2.5‑fold and stabilized the particles in gastrointestinal fluids. The...
MOF‐on‐MOF Core–Shell Heterostructure With Synergistic Porous Interface for Highly Efficient Propane/Propylene Separation
Researchers have created a Ni‑MOF‑74@ZU‑609 core‑shell heterostructure that simultaneously delivers high propylene uptake and selectivity. Dynamic breakthrough tests show a record‑high selectivity of 5.51 and a capacity of 1.14 mmol g⁻¹ at 298 K and 1 bar, surpassing the performance of the individual parent...
Magnetic Circular Dichroism Imaging of Atomic-Scale Antiferromagnetic Order at a Buried Interface
Researchers led by Dongsheng Song have demonstrated magnetic circular dichroism imaging of antiferromagnetic order at atomic resolution across a buried DyFeO₃/SmFeO₃ interface using scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy‑loss spectroscopy. By optimizing convergence semi‑angle and sample thickness, they...
Bio.3DGREEN Project: Creating a New Way to Produce Bio-Based Components Using Graphene Foam
The EU‑funded Bio.3DGREEN project, launched in May 2025, will run for 42 months and unites 14 partners from nine European nations. It aims to create bio‑based components using vegetable‑oil‑derived graphene foam that mimics natural sponge‑like structures. By combining biomimetic engineering...
Recent Graphene Industry News - March 2026
The graphene sector is experiencing rapid expansion, highlighted by new production facilities in the UK and Korea and a wave of sizable funding rounds totaling over $500 million. Companies are securing strategic partnerships for energy‑storage pouch cells, automotive racing trials, and...
Kimchi-Derived Probiotic Found to Promote Binding and Excretion of Intestinal Nanoplastics
Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi identified a kimchi‑derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, that can bind nanoplastics in the intestine. In simulated gut conditions the strain retained a 57% adsorption rate, far outperforming a reference probiotic that...
Designing Better 2D Electronics: Addressing Anisotropic Conductivity to Cut Contact Resistance
University of Michigan engineers have introduced an exact analytical model that accounts for anisotropic conductivity and realistic geometry in vertical contacts to 2D thin‑film materials. The framework replaces traditional isotropic approximations with a Laplace‑based field solution, eliminating the need for...
Exploring Mushroom Extracts as Green Reducing and Stabilizing Agents for Sustainable Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles
Researchers demonstrated a green route to synthesize silver nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of dried mushrooms, which serve simultaneously as reducing and stabilizing agents. The biogenic process yielded spherical AgNPs with a narrow size distribution of 1–2 nm, confirmed by UV‑visible spectroscopy...
Impressionist Sea Slugs Create Their Patterns by Arranging Colorful Photonic Crystals
A joint Max Planck and Cambridge team has shown that nudibranch sea slugs generate their vivid hues through nanostructured guanine photonic crystals, not traditional pigments. The crystals act as microscopic pixels, each reflecting a specific wavelength, which together create matte, Impressionist‑style...
Researchers Uncover Gut-Liver Serotonin Pathway that Limits Nanoparticle and Viral Delivery
Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China identified a gut‑liver serotonin signaling axis that governs the rapid clearance of nanomedicines and viral vectors. The pathway links intestinal commensal bacteria to hepatic Kupffer cells, where serotonin amplifies phagocytic...
Bias- and Temperature-Dependent Noise Measurements to Investigate Carrier Transport at the Tellurium Interface (POSTECH)
Researchers at POSTECH have identified contact‑origin trap‑assisted tunneling as the dominant source of low‑frequency noise in ultrathin (5 nm) tellurium field‑effect transistors at room temperature. Temperature‑dependent 1/f noise measurements reveal that cooling to 100 K suppresses trap activation, restoring the carrier‑number‑fluctuation (CNF)...
Synthesis of Quantum Dot‐Integrated Silica–Silver Nanocomposites With Scattering and Plasmonic Effects for Enhanced Photoluminescence
The study demonstrates a solution‑phase synthesis of a quantum‑dot‑embedded silica‑silver nanocomposite (QASQ) that dramatically boosts photoluminescence. Acting as both an optical cavity and a scattering center, the QASQ‑integrated PDMS film delivers a 4.34‑fold increase in PL compared with conventional QD...
Enhanced Selectivity of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas by Hybrid Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐67/2D Platinum Diselenide‐Based Sensors Toward Wafer‐Scale Production
Researchers have created a hybrid gas sensor by coating platinum diselenide (PtSe2) with zeolitic imidazolate framework‑67 (ZIF‑67). The ZIF‑67 layer acts as a molecular filter, raising the H2S‑to‑NH3 response ratio from 1.06 to 10.9 and delivering a 163% signal at...
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This High School Student Invented a Filter That Eliminates 96 Percent of Microplastics From Drinking Water
Virginia high‑school senior Mia Heller invented a compact water filter that uses magnetic ferrofluid to capture microplastics. Laboratory tests showed the device eliminates 95.5% of microplastic particles while reclaiming 87% of the ferrofluid for reuse. The membrane‑free system, about the...
Extracting Entropy Information From Quantum Dots
Stanford researchers have directly measured entropy production in semiconductor quantum dots, providing a quantitative view of energy dissipation at the nanoscale. By continuously exciting the dots with ultraviolet light and toggling a strong laser, they induced non‑equilibrium blinking and captured...
Active‐Site Engineering Enhanced PdRu Bimetallic Modified Hierarchical Mesoporous In2O3 Nanoflowers for Highly Efficient Assessment of Seafood Freshness
Researchers engineered PdRu‑modified hierarchical In2O3 nanoflowers to create a gas sensor that rapidly detects trimethylamine (TMA), a key indicator of seafood spoilage. The 3D mesoporous architecture accelerates TMA diffusion, while the PdRu bimetallic surface enhances oxygen spillover, lowering activation energy...
Silicon Metasurface Design Could Enable Dual-Channel Optical Encryption
Researchers have designed a silicon metasurface that uses circular polarization as a cryptographic key, enabling two distinct holographic images to be stored in a single nanostructured layer. By applying an improved Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm and FDTD simulations, they mapped phase information...
Ultra‑low‑energy Control of Graphene Stacking Could Enable Slidetronic Memory and Logic
Researchers from Tel Aviv University, SlideTro and NIMS have demonstrated ultra‑low‑energy, fully reversible control of graphene stacking at the 30‑nanometre scale. By applying lateral shear forces below 1 nanonewton and consuming less than 1 femtojoule per event, they can switch between graphitic...
Natural Superlattice 2D Materials‐based Volatile Memristor Promotes Artificial Nociceptor
Researchers have created a volatile memristor using the natural superlattice 2D material BiTiS3, which exploits interlayer coupling and sulfur‑vacancy‑induced lattice distortions to lower ion migration barriers. The device switches at low voltage within nanoseconds, as visualized by in‑situ conductive atomic...
Multifunctional Flexible Sensor with Bionic Micro‐Nano Hierarchical Structure for Dual‐Mode Pressure and Temperature Sensing
The study introduces a bioinspired multifunctional flexible sensor (BMF) that mimics ant, spider, mosquito and lotus leaf structures. Built from MXene‑coated melamine foam and CNT/PVDF nanofiber membrane, it delivers ultra‑high pressure sensitivity of 986.51 kPa⁻¹ across 0–200 kPa and temperature sensitivity of...
Scientists Turn CO2 Into Fuel Using Breakthrough Single-Atom Catalyst
Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered a single‑atom indium catalyst anchored on hafnium oxide that dramatically lowers the energy required to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methanol. The design maximizes metal utilization by making each indium atom an independent...
Research Progress of Porous Framework‐Based Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion Materials
The review surveys porous‑framework‑based triplet‑triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‑UC) materials, emphasizing metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs). It explains how these scaffolds improve oxygen resistance and enable solid‑state upconversion. The article details structure‑performance relationships, recent efficiency breakthroughs, and applications...
Sustainable Terephthalic Acid Modified Polyimide Binder for Enhanced Li‐Ion Storage in Silicon Nanoparticles (Small 17/2026)
Researchers Yuan Qiao and Ali Reza Kamali introduced a green, scalable polyimide binder modified with terephthalic acid for silicon anodes in lithium‑ion batteries. The binder reinforces electrode integrity, accelerates lithium‑ion kinetics, and boosts both capacity and long‑term cycling stability. Full‑cell...