Report of Human deaths by Nanoparticles

Two women in China have achieved the dubious honor of being the first humans to be killed by nanotechnology. The women, who worked in a poorly ventilated factory spraying a paint that contained nanoparticles, reportedly inhaled the particles over a period of months. The tiny compounds infiltrated the workers' lungs and skin, causing lung damage, fluid buildup, and eventual respiratory failure. Five other women have been hospitalized for the same condition [1].

Ceria nanoparticles in human lung fibroblasts, picture Prof. Wendelin Stark [2].

References:
[1] China Reports the First Human Nano-Fatalities
[2] http://www.micronano.ethz.ch/opportunities_and_risks/risks

MACE Conference, June 2009

There will be a postgraduate conference, now this time in School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, commonly known as MACE, The University of Manchester.

My presentation will be at 11:15 in the morning, on Thursday, 11th June, 2009, in room C3, George Begg Building, The University of Manchester, Manchester.

I will cover the area of generation and mechanism of metal-oxide nanoparticles by continuous-wave laser ablation in liquid. This will be my last presentation for MACE, my second registered school for the multi-disciplinary area of generation and characterisation of nanoparticles and lasers.

New online community for Nano- related people: nanopaprika.eu

This is really interesting; the Nano- community is really evolving. There is a new online based community for Nano- related people. The site is well served with chance to meet people and one can discuss things online, during live chat. You can search people of your interest using easy and advance search tools and add them as your friends to remain in contact.

The site is full with information related to conference, workshops and other Nano- related events. Members can also add events easily. One can also post the photos and videos and can have a discussion over it.

Additionally, if member thinks that the information is too broad, there are 'Thematic groups', where one can find the people of specific interest. A thematic group can also be created, expand by inviting others and start fruitful discussion. However, each group need to be approved by editors, which is understandable. I have one group there, named as, 'NPs by Laser Ablation in Liquid'. Though that e-group is not very active uptil now, but I hope it will go on...

At the end I would like to appreciate the efforts and time, given by the editor of nanopaprika.

URL: http://www.nanopaprika.eu/

Postgrad Conference, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, 2009

There will be a postgraduate conference, of School of Materials, The University of Manchester.

My presentation will be at 11 in the morning, on Friday, 22 May, 2009, in room H06, the Renold Building, The University of Manchester, Manchester.

I will cover the area of generation of metal-oxide nanoparticles by continuous-wave laser ablation in liquid. This will be my last presentation at the school and will be covering nearly my all PhD work.

Addition to that there is a first school of materials photography competition is going on and the results will be announced soon.

More about the conference and photography competition:
http://www.pg-conference-materials.co.uk/

Conference on Laser Ablation and Nanoparticle Generation in Liquids (ANGEL 2010)

Location: Engelberg, Switzerland

Duration: 29 June 2010 - 30 June 2010

Submission Timeframe: 1 February 2010 - 26 February 2010

Today, nanoparticles are widely implemented as functional elements in plastics, lacquers and ceramic products. Novel applications are targeted on nanomedicine, sensing, electronics, optics and biophotonics.

Nowadays, however, only a limited variety of materials that may be integrated into advanced functional materials are available: Nanoparticles synthesized by conventional gas phase processes are agglomerated to micro powders that are hardly redispersible into functional matrices, and chemical methods often lead to impurities of the nanoparticle colloids caused by additives and precursor reaction products.

In the last decade, laser ablation in liquids has proven to be a unique and efficient technique to generate, fragmentate, re-shape and conjugate nanoparticles. This exciting method bears strong advantages:

• Laser-generated (metal) nanoparticles are charged and thus have an extremely high stability
• Nanoparticle colloids are not inhalable and thus lead to an improved occupational safety
• Chemical precursors are not required and thus the colloids are 100 percent pure
• This method can be applied universally with an almost unlimited variety of materials and solvents

Aspects of the fundamental physics of laser ablation in liquids as well as novel applications, such as the fabrication of core-shell particles, nano-alloys or laser ablation of nanoparticles in biological surroundings will be addressed in this conference. Moreover, the processes of laser nanoparticle interaction within liquid environments provide a large spectrum of applications, especially in biophotonics.

The latest findings on appropriate focusing conditions, cross-effects with particle-laser interaction, flow conditions, kinetics etc. will be discussed on an international level with enough time for discussions and an informal exchange of ideas.

http://www.myeos.org/angel2010

Nanogenerator provide continuous electric current

Researchers have demonstrated a prototype nanometer-scale generator that produces continuous direct-current electricity by harvesting mechanical energy from such environmental sources as ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibration or blood flow.

http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=1326

Postgrad Conference, School of Materials, The University of Manchester

There will be a postgrad conference, of School of Materials, The University of Manchester. I have my poster presentation tomorrow at the Renold Building, as the second year students only have to give poster presentation.

More about the conference:
http://www.pg-conference-materials.co.uk/