Research News Highlights
For updated news releases relating to nanotechnology, see Current News.
As part of its Strategic Plan, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has identified 10 high-impact application opportunities and critical research needs. Described below, these each reflect the goal of the NNI to bring together federal agencies to address how nanotechnology can meet these significant demands.
Early Detection of Life-Threatening Diseases: Rapid, Multiplexed Detection of Disease Markers
Interested Agencies: CSREES, DOD, FDA, NIH, NIST, NSF
The difference between death and survival can come down to early detection of a life-threatening disease or exposure. Nanotechnology has the potential to overcome the limitations of current approaches and thereby advance the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases, enhance our national security, and improve food safety.
Read more about nanotechnology and early disease detection (pdf).
Knowing It's Safe: Exposure Measurements for Engineered Nanoscale Material
Interested Agencies: CPSC, DOD, DOE, DOL, DOT, EPA, FDA, NIH, NIOSH, NIST, NSF, USGS
To evaluate the potential impacts of engineered nanoscale materials on workers, consumers, the public, and the environment, it is essential to know the concentration and types of these materials in the air, in water, and on surfaces. Advan
ces in instrumentation would greatly facilitate risk assessment analyses and the development of appropriate exposure mitigation programs.
Read more about nanotechnology and exposure measurements (pdf).
Letting Nature Do the Work: Nanobiotechnology
Interested Agencies: CSREES, DOD, DOE, FDA, NASA, NIH, NSF
Biological systems, such as living cells and the proteins within them, perform key fabrication and assembly challenges on the nanoscale everyday. These biological capabilities can be harnessed directly, borrowed, or taken as inspirationfor future nanomanufacturing for the pharmaceutical, biochemical, nanoelectronics, and materials industries.
Read more about nanobiotechnology (pdf).
Safe and Affordable Water: Nanotechnology-Based Water Purification and Testing
Interested Agencies: CSREES, DOD, DOE, DOS, EPA, NASA, NIH, NSF, USGS
Even though the worldwide supply of potable water is limited and demand for it is increasing, clean water is a basic necessity for people and animals and is vital to agriculture. Nanotechnology could help meet the need for safe, affordable water through inexpensive water purification and rapid, low-cost detection of impurities.
Read more about nanotechnology and water (pdf).
Smarter Computers: Future Information Processing Technology from Nanotechnology
Interested Agencies: DOD, DOE, DOT, FDA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NSF
Computers and other advanced electronic systems are at the foundation of our Nation's technological and economic strength. Nanotechnology offers new approaches for continuing improvements in information technology, ideally providing increased performance while using significantly less electrical power.
Read more about nanotechnology and information technology (pdf)
Nanotoxicology: Doing it by the Numbers: Predicting Toxicity Before Manufacturing
Interested Agencies: CPSC, DOD, DOE, DOL, DOT, EPA, FDA, NIOSH, NIH, NIST, NSF
The exquisite sensitivity of a material to its biological microenvironment makes it difficult to predict biocompatibility or toxicity in humans and the environment. The ability to predict biological and environmental response to nanomaterials through a computational model and then adjust the materials accordingly has many benefits such as shorter testing times, lab
or and cost benefits, and improved risk assessment.
Read more about nanotoxicology (pdf).
Could, Would, or Should?: Societal Dimensions of Nanoscale Science & Technology
Interested Agencies: CPSC, CSREES, DOE, DOL, FDA, NASA, NIH, NSF
The potential applications of nanotechnology are expected in a wide range of fields. Anticipating the societal impact of nanotechnology requires balancing uncritical expectations and fears with values and issues raised by ethical, legal, and societal discussions regarding its development and applications.
Read more about nanotechnology and society (pdf).
More Energy-Efficient Transportation: Lightweight Magnetic and Structural Nanomaterials
Interested Agencies: DOD, DOE, DOT, EPA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NSF
Nanotechnology offers possibilities for the production of new strong and lightweight materials that also may exhibit superior magnetic and mechanical properties. These materials could result in vehicles with reduced fuel consumption and even significantly reduce electric motor weight and size in hybrid automobiles, railway systems, and subways.
Read more about nanotechnology and transportation (pdf).
Better Measurements: Reference Materials for Commerce and Safety Monitoring
Interested Agencies: CPSC, EPA, DOD, DOL, FDA, NIH, NIOSH, NIST, USGS
A suite of reference standards for engineered nanoscale materials is desperately needed. Reference standards, or stable materials with rigorously characterized properties, are used in laboratories to perform instrument calibrations, by manufacturers to verify the composition or properties of their products, and in clinical laboratories to validate the accuracy of
specific measurements.
Read more about nanotechnology and reference materials (pdf).
Energy Security: Meeting the Energy Challenge
Interested Agencies: CSREES, DOE, DOD, NASA, NSF
The difficulty of meeting the world's energy demand is compounded by the growing need to protect our environment. Nanomaterials offer new ways to store and transform energy and to control catalytic activity, which could greatlycontribute to energy independence and security.
Read more about nanotechnology and energy (pdf)
