ACS Nano

Researchers from National Taiwan University develop advanced expansion microscopy methods that enable nanoscale visualization of centriole architecture using conventional fluorescence microscopes and superresolution imaging.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a polymer material that combines high mechanical durability with controllable enzymatic degradation. The material contains movable cross-links formed by cyclodextrin rings that slide along polymer chains. By using light to control the position of these rings, enzymatic degradation can be switched on or off and even spatially patterned.

We uncover moiré-induced electronic reconstruction in PtSe2/PtTe2 heterobilayers, where interfacial hybridization, geometric corrugation, and spin–orbit coupling generate emergent flat bands and distinctive eye-shaped band splitting, as directly confirmed by combined DFT and ARPES measurements.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) and the Cancer Research Institute at Kanazawa University led have uncovered how targeted lung cancer drugs alter the shape and behavior of a key cancer-driving protein—revealing a hidden mechanism that helps explain why some treatments stop working over time.

CO2 reduction to storable fuels or valuable chemical products provides a carbon-neutral cycle that can mitigate the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and increasing CO2 emissions. Although solar-driven CO2 reduction holds great promise for sustainable energy, the role and control of atomic-level active sites in governing intermediate formation and conversion pathways remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a capped VLS growth method employed to grow continuous ultrathin alloy films of molybdenum vanadium sulfide with sulfur vacancies, i.e., Svac-Mo1-xVxS2. The findings indicate a correlation between the density of Svac and the vanadium concentration, leading to the formation of V–Svac pairs, which serve as the active sites for CO2 reduction under solar light with water.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, in collaboration with Osaka University and the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism behind the activation of the Met receptor—a key player in tissue regeneration and cancer progression. Their findings reveal that HGF binding to the membrane-distal domain of Met promotes dimerization at the membrane-proximal domain, which subsequently triggers receptor activation.

- Improving the performance and durability of lithium-sulfur batteries by developing a new, highly effective host material that balances high porosity, excellent electrical conductivity, polarity, and catalytic properties. Research results published in ACS Nano, a well-known academic journal in the field of nanomaterials.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in ACS Nano the successful creation of artificial synaptic vesicles that can be remotely controlled by near-infrared (NIR) light. By embedding a phthalocyanine dye into lipid bilayers, the team achieved local heating that modulates membrane permeability, enabling precise release of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine. These findings demonstrate that nanoscale heating can control communication between nerve cells. The work opens new avenues for non-genetic modulation of neuronal activity, with potential applications in neuroscience, drug delivery, and bioengineering.

Researchers from The University of Osaka fabricated a nanopore surrounded by a gate as a cooling system with enhanced efficiency for semiconductor chips. Applying a voltage to the gate induces the flow of ions through the nanopore. Creating a salt gradient makes the ion flow unidirectional. Heat is dragged along with the ions, resulting in heat transfer. Changing the applied voltage from negative to positive switches the system from cooling to heating.

A collaboration team of researchers from the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Graduate School of Science at Nagoya University, and the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS) reports in ACS Nano an integrative modeling workflow to understand with atomistic precision biomolecular dynamics from high-speed atomic force microscopy experiments.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in ACS Nano, how proteins in cells can be controllably activated through heating, an effect that can be used to initiate programmed cell death.

- Achieved high-resolution quantum dot displays using photo-reactive materials and analyzed performance variations depending on the material - Developed a photoresist-free quantum dot patterning technique using a diazirine-based crosslinker - Research findings published in Nano Letters and ACS Nano

Researchers from The University of Osaka have used a miniature heater positioned over a nano-sized opening to gently unzip DNA’s double helix into a single strand for quick, efficient analysis. The device enables detection of longer DNA strands than before while using less power and improving accuracy. The technology could be used in handheld medical devices, helping doctors to diagnose disease and tailor treatments based on patients’ genes.

Singapore researchers uncover a low-power mechanism for upconverting light using geometry and kinetic electron motion

Researchers from the Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, have developed a new electron microscopy technique to reveal hydrogen storage and defect healing processes in palladium.

Rapid, isothermal SPR assay using AuNPs and triplex DNA nanoswitches for ultra-sensitive, non-invasive detection of bladder cancer–associated miRNAs.

Scientists at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University have captured real-time footage showing how a key hormone receptor activates genes, offering a clearer view into one of the most fundamental Kaprocesses in biology.

- Professor Hyuk-jun Kwon’s team at DGIST has developed a high-performance artificial olfactory platform that mimics the human nose to identify a wide range of scents - A simple laser-based process enables scent-sensitive sensors ... AI-powered scent analysis is expected to impact healthcare, cosmetics, and environmental monitoring

- A joint research team from DGIST and Kyungpook National University has developed a tailored protein adapter technology for the surface modification of extracellular vesicles (exosomes) - Recognized for its precision drug delivery platform capable of attaching diverse therapeutics, the study was published as a supplementary cover article in ACS Nano

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, discover brand new one-dimensional diffraction patterns in two-dimensional nanomaterials, with exciting implications

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, observe the configuration of different dipeptides on graphite electrodes and the subsequent arrangement of catalytic hemin on them to get an idea of the factors affecting its catalytic activity.

- Professor Kyoungsoo Park of DGIST and Professor Kwangjin Park of Gachon University have proposed a cause-based solution to performance degradation in nickel-rich anodes - Their proposition is expected to provide a breakthrough in electric vehicle range and safety. The findings have been published in ACS Nano, one of the world’s leading journals.

- DGIST’s Professor Jong-sung Yu’s Team, in Collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, Develops Next-Generation High-Capacity Lithium–Sulfur Battery Capable of Rapid Charging - Research Findings Published in ACS Nano

- DGIST Professor Jang Kyung-In’s research team has developed a highly efficient wearable energy harvester that can power electronic devices using only body movements - The research results are published in ACS Nano, a top-tier journal in the field of nanoscience

Researchers at Tohoku University have achieved a significant breakthrough in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, also known as the “king of nanomaterials.”

Ammonia is a gas that plays a crucial role in agriculture and industry and has the potential to become a zero-carbon fuel for energy conversion and storage technologies. However, the current methods of producing ammonia are highly energy-intensive, contributing to approximately 1.8% of global CO2 emissions. By focusing on spinel cobalt oxides, a research team has revealed how understanding and optimizing these catalysts could offer a solution to this challenge.

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, used high-speed atomic force microscopy to observe dynamic changes in AMPA receptors, which are vital for brain communication. Their findings, published in ACS Nano, reveal how these receptors adapt during signal transmission and suggest potential targets for neurological therapies.

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid, Spain) and CNB-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) report in ACS Nano experiments that reveal a cycle of conformational stages that recombinant Influenza A genomes pass through during RNA synthesis.

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo implement a genetic algorithm to automatically design phononic crystals with desired vibrational properties, which may help with future computer and communication devices

- Professor Kyung-In Jang’s team from DGIST, in collaboration with Professor Taeho Park’s team from POSTECH, has developed a stretchable electronic device based on hybrid polymers. - The device maintains high mechanical stability even when it is severely bent or impacted, making it applicable in various industries such as displays, healthcare, and wearables. - Research results published in ACS Nano, the prestigious nanoscience journal.