In the ever-evolving landscape of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, the year 2023 has proven to be a remarkable period marked by groundbreaking advancements across various domains. From the precise manipulation of nanomaterials at the single-molecule level to the development of innovative drug delivery systems and the creation of nanorobots inspired by nature’s mechanisms, researchers have pushed the boundaries of what is possible at the nanoscale.
This yearly recap delves into the key achievements and breakthroughs in nanotechnology, biotechnology, material science, energy, and catalysis, shedding light on how these developments are poised to shape the future of science and technology.
January — February
Nanotechnology advancements
- Researchers have developed principles and technologies of nanofluidic devices to freely manipulate nanomaterials, biomaterials, and molecules at the single-molecule level using fundamental technologies such as nanofluidic processing, functional integration, and fluidic control and measurement, which has pioneered the way to integrate various fields under nanofluidics.
Biotechnology and medical applications
- Researchers have developed a new drug delivery approach that uses nanoparticles to enable more effective and targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs to treat brain tumors in children.
- Scientists announced the invention of a nanowire 10,000 times thinner than human hair that can be cheaply grown by common bacteria and tuned to ‘smell’ a vast array of chemical tracers — including those given off by people afflicted with a wide range of medical conditions, such as asthma and kidney disease.
- A new biomaterial that can be injected intravenously, reduces inflammation in tissue and promotes cell and tissue repair. The biomaterial was tested and proven effective in treating tissue damage caused by heart attacks in both rodent and large animal models.
Material science advancements
- Scientists created carbon nanotubes and other hybrid nanomaterials out of plastic waste using an energy-efficient, low-cost, low-emissions process that could also be profitable.
Nanorobots
- A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the incredible gripping ability of geckos and the efficient locomotion of inchworms.
March — May
Nanotechnology advancements
- Researchers have succeeded in filming the interactions of light and matter in an electron microscope with attosecond time resolution.
- As part of a comparative international study, researchers have successfully tested and validated a method of investigating dynamic protein structures.
- Optical probes have led to numerous breakthroughs in applications like optical memory, nanopatterning, and bioimaging, but existing options have limited lifespans and will eventually ‘photobleach.’ New work demonstrates a promising, longer-lasting alternative: ultra-photostable avalanching nanoparticles that can turn on and off indefinitely in response to near-infrared light from simple lasers.
- Cage structures made with nanoparticles could be a route toward making organized nanostructures with mixed materials, and researchers have shown how to achieve this through computer simulations.
- An international team led by scientists at the University of Sydney has demonstrated nanowire networks can exhibit both short- and long-term memory like the human brain.
- Researchers introduced a novel imaging method to detect gold nanoparticles in woodlice. Their method, known as four-wave mixing microscopy, flashes light that the gold nanoparticles absorb. The light flashes again and the subsequent scattering reveals the nanoparticles’ locations.
Biotechnology and medical applications
- Engineers designed a nanoparticle sensor that could enable early diagnosis of cancer with a simple urine test. The sensors, which can detect many cancerous proteins, could also be used to distinguish the type of tumor or how it is responding to treatment.
- The first protein-based nano-computing agent that functions as a circuit has been created. The milestone puts them one step closer to developing next-generation cell-based therapies to treat diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Material science advancements
- A new nano-barrier coating could help protect ultra-lightweight carbon composite materials from extreme conditions in space, according to a new study.
- Some foods and medicines, such as many COVID-19 vaccines, must be kept cold. As a step toward a robust, stable technique that could indicate when these products exceed safe limits, researchers report a class of brilliantly colored microcrystals in materials that become colorless over a wide range of temperatures and response times. As a proof of concept, the team packaged the color-changing materials into a vial lid and QR code.
Nanorobots
- Engineers have designed a new class of ‘microrobots’ several times smaller than the width of a human hair that may be able to treat human illnesses like interstitial cystitis — a painful bladder disease that affects millions of Americans.
Energy and catalysis
- Hydrogen, derived from polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), is an excellent source of clean energy. However, PEFCs require platinum (Pt), which is a limited resource. Some studies have shown that Pt nanoclusters (NCs) have higher activity than conventionally used Pt nanoparticles, however, the origin of their higher activity is unclear. Now, researchers have synthesized a novel Pt NC catalyst with unprecedented activity and identified the reason for its high performance.
June — August
Nanotechnology advancements
- Graphene nanoribbons with controllable properties have been introduced; attaching electrodes for quantum technology.
- Chemists discover gold ‘seed’ particles are gold buckyballs, with potential applications.
- The studyrevealed soft-robotic properties in Cytochromes P450 (CYP450s) enzymes.
- Breakthrough technique makes nanosensors processing cheaper and greener.
- A significant breakthrough in color switching for nanocrystals with potential applications in displays and sensors has been made.
- Researchers made stacked sandwich complexes form a nano-sized ring, investigating properties.
- Recreating two molecular languages at the origin of life validated mathematically.
- Ultrafast transmission electron microscopy demonstrated measuring sound waves in nanostructures.
- Adding molybdenum improved the performance of a nickel-cobalt phosphide catalyst for hydrogen production.
- Increasing the diameter of SWCNTs in SWCNT/perovskite QD heterojunctions improved optoelectronic performance.
- Emerging nanotechnology based on a “twisted” state of light for environmental monitoring and advanced medicines.
- Cracks in the positive electrode of lithium-ion batteries reduced charge time.
- Development of two new silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) with potential for environmental monitoring.
- An approach to enhance multifunctionality and structural properties by embedding patterned nanostructures has been introduced.
- Scientists generated superconducting pair states of electrons on nanowires for potential energy applications.
- In-cell engineering produced hybrid solid catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.
- A new approach constructed modular optical sensors for detecting viruses and bacteria using fluorescent carbon nanotubes.
Energy and catalysis
- Researchers demonstrated the potential of ultrafast transmission electron microscopy to measure sound waves in nanostructures for high-resolution imaging.
- The addition of molybdenum to a catalyst enhanced hydrogen production, potentially applicable to large-scale production.
- Cracks in lithium-ion battery electrodes were found to reduce charge time, challenging the conventional understanding.
- Scientists generated superconducting pair states of electrons on nanowires, exploring applications in energy.
- In-cell engineering produced hybrid solid catalysts for artificial photosynthesis, showcasing the potential for sustainable energy.
Controlling flames and processing materials
- Researchers developed a technique using a molecule-thin protective layer to control high-temperature flames and finely tune processed materials.
Biotechnology and medical applications
- Proof-of-concept technique to ‘tattoo’ living cells and tissues with gold nanodots and nanowires for biomedical applications has been introduced.
- Breakthrough in color switching for nanocrystals with potential applications in sensitive sensors for various substances, including biological and neuroscience uses.
- QUT researchers designed molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins for biotechnological applications.
- A nanoparticle is developed with the potential to improve the delivery of mRNA-based vaccines for infectious and non-infectious diseases. Read more
Material science advancements
- Researchers created a new class of latex films composed of rotaxane-crosslinked acrylic nanoparticles with remarkable mechanical properties.
- A new platform enables precise control of halide perovskite nanocrystals for nanoscale light-emitting diodes.
- Researchers used nanosheet technology to 3D print nanometer-scale quartz glass structures onto semiconductor chips.
September — December
Nanomaterials and nanoparticles
- Origami-inspired materials, specifically two-dimensional porphyrinic metal-organic framework, have been developed for unique mechanical properties.
- A team of researchers reviewed a method for reforming structures of ultra-small nanomaterials known as metal nanoclusters.
- Bayreuth researchers found ways to control tiny particles in liquids using magnetic patterns, with potential applications in various scientific and technological fields.
- Researchers at the University of Manchester achieved a breakthrough in the transfer of 2D crystals, paving the way for their commercialization in next-generation electronics.
- Self-folding polymers containing gadolinium-forming nanosized complexes showed promise for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and next-generation drug delivery.
- MIT researchers demonstrated precise control over nanoparticles’ size, composition, and properties crucial for clean energy and environmental technologies using ion irradiation.
- Progress in AI network computing was boosted with a graphene-based optical logic gate, addressing the limitations of conventional computer chip logic gates.
Nanoparticles in medicine and biotechnology
- Researchers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry highlighted the effectiveness of green tea–silver nanoparticles as a tool against pathogens such as bacteria and yeast.
- A study from the Fujian Institute of Research developed a near-infrared nanoprobe for in vivo real-time detection of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.
- Biomedical engineering scientists at the University of Cincinnati developed a new insulator-based dielectrophoretic device to rapidly isolate small extracellular vesicles.
- Max Planck Institute researchers explored innovative nanoparticles as a precise approach to treating pancreatic cancer.
- Researchers explored the use of nanobodies from llamas to neutralize human noroviruses in the lab.
- Scientists at Delft University of Technology introduced amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) for potential applications in microchip sensors.
Nanotherapeutics and drug delivery
- ETH Zurich researchers demonstrated the steering of microvehicles through blood vessels in the brains of mice using ultrasound for potential precision drug delivery.
- Northwestern Medicine scientists developed an improved method for creating nanotherapeutic vaccines and medicines.
Nanorobots
- Researchers in New York and Ningbo have created tiny robots built from DNA that can reproduce themselves for potential search-and-destroy missions against cancer cells.
As we draw the curtain on the nanotechnology and nanomaterials landscape for the year 2023, it is evident that the strides made in this field hold immense promise for diverse applications. The convergence of nanotechnology with biotechnology, medicine, material science, and energy has paved the way for transformative solutions to longstanding challenges. The ability to precisely control nanoparticles, engineer novel materials, and design intelligent nanorobots showcases the maturation of nanotechnology as a multidisciplinary force driving innovation.
From the inception of new drug delivery methods, such as nanoparticles targeting brain tumors in children, to the creation of advanced nanorobots inspired by nature’s mechanisms, the year has witnessed a fusion of biological and technological realms. The applications extend to medicine, where the early diagnosis of cancer through urine tests and the development of protein-based nano-computing agents hint at a future where nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in personalized healthcare.
Material science has not lagged, with the development of nano-barrier coatings protecting ultra-lightweight carbon composites in space and the creation of color-changing microcrystals for temperature indication in vaccine storage. The integration of nanotechnology into energy solutions, catalysis, and flame control further highlights its far-reaching impact.
In conclusion, the year 2023 has unfolded as a pivotal chapter in the narrative of nanotechnology, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential that lies within the minuscule realm of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. As we look ahead, the lessons learned and achievements unlocked this year will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for even more remarkable breakthroughs in the years to come, fostering a future where nanotechnology continues to redefine the boundaries of what is achievable in the realm of science and technology.
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