Nanotechnology Research – Universities

The group studies the link between structure and mechanical properties in biological systems. They are particularly interested in self-assembled protein filaments like collagen fibrils, intermediate filaments and myosin thick filaments.

The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, in conjunction with Dartmouth College and Thayer School of Engineering, has a community of scientists, clinicians, and engineers, focused on the enormous potential of nanotechnology for improving cancer diagnostics and therapy. The group pulls together these diverse communities for educational and research purposes.

CNR@D, is an interdisciplinary grouping of faculty and students studying the processing and properties of materials. Research focuses on nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline and nanocomposite materials both in the form of thin films and as bulk materials, with a substantial emphasis on magnetic materials.

Since its inception in 1987, the Institute has been a bright source of creativity and innovation at the edge of microelectronic science. DIMES integrates nanoscale and high-speed device physics, material science and process technology, circuit design, and embedded system design methodology in one institute.

The research of the MB group focuses on single-molecule biophysics. The group employs magnetic and optical tweezers, AFM, single-molecule fluorescence, and nanofabricated structures to study biomolecular systems and foster new nanotechnology. Current research falls in two main areas: 1. Local probe studies of single biomolecules, for example DNA repair proteins, topoisomerases, RNA-processing enzymes, and DNA condensation. 2. Nanofabricated structures for single biomolecules, including solid-state nanopores, nanofluidic channels, and electrochemical detection using nanoelectrodes and carbon nanotubes.

The Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology consists of six research groups and a nanofabrication cleanroom facility.

Research in the Diederich group at ETH Zurich is structured around four central themes: Molecular recognition in chemistry and biology; Modern medicinal chemistry: molecular recognition studies with biological receptors and X-ray structure-based design of nonpeptidic enzyme inhibitors; Supramolecular nanosystems and nano-patterned surfaces; Advanced materials based on carbon-rich acetylenic molecular architecture.

The BioNanoTechnology research at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems at Drexel University (Drexel BIOMED) is focused on bioinformatics, biosensing, bioimaging, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and neuroengineering, which are the main research thrusts of the school.

The research group of MinJun Kim is experimentally investigating the mechanics of fluids at small scales including the behavior of biological materials in micro- and nanofabricated structures.

Research in the Kim Group includes nanofabrication and microfabrication for biological applications, micro- and nanofluidics and bacteria actuation, sensing, and transport at the micro/nanoscale.

Research in the Nanomaterials Group is focused on the fundamental and applied aspects of synthesis and characterization of carbon nanomaterials (nanotubes, nanodiamond and nanoporous carbons), ceramic nanoparticles (whiskers, nanowires, etc) and composites.

The Spanier Group at the MesoMaterials Lab at Drexel uses variable temperature scanning probe microscopy to probe selected physical, electronic, mechanical, magnetic and optical properties of nanostructures.

The nanotech aspects of their research deal with in-situ visualization of biomembrane activity; nanometer dimensioned electrodes and fibre optics; self-assembling molecular and polymer materials; biomaterials as linkers for self-assembling molecular electronics, security applications and multiplexed sensing and nanophase biolithography.

The Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) is dedicated to elucidating the relationship between a vast array of nanomaterials ? from natural, to manufactured, to those produced incidentally by human activities - and their potential environmental exposure, biological effects, and ecological consequences. Headquartered at Duke University, CEINT is a collaboration between Duke, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University, and Virginia Tech and investigators from the University of Kentucky and Stanford University.

Research topics are: Nanotubes and Nanowires; Cryogenic scanning microscopy; Self-assembled DNA templates; Nanocrystal Single-Electron Transistor

The graduate program is designed to address the need for an interdisciplinary graduate education at Duke in Nanoscience that extends beyond the traditional disciplines and skills that are taught within any existing department.

The Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics and Communications Systems at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering aims to help turn North Carolina into a photon forest where research and development in photonics can create the kind of technological advance and economic growth found in California's Silicon Valley.

The Liu Laboratory at Duke University pursues research in the field of nanomaterials, synthesizing and studying materials with size of nanometers.