Volume 22, Issue 2 (March 2008)

Shelley J. Wilkins,¹ Martin F. Finlan² and Corinne S. G. Finlan² 1. Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, St John’s College, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. 2. Physical Sciences Consultant, Doncaster, UK.
Understanding cellular mechanisms and processes at the molecular and nano scale in a liquid presents a challenge to scientists. The application of a new form of scanning probe microscopy, scanning ion conductance microscopy, on living cells under physiological conditions has been used to obtain an insight into cellular processes at the nanoscale....

Qufu Wei, Dan Tao, Weidong Gao and Yubo Huang, Eco-Textiles Laboratory, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Electrospun polyamide nanofibres were used as substrates for creating functional nanostructures on the nanofibre surfaces. Conductive Cu, anti-bacterial Ag and transparent UV shielding ZnO nanostructures
were deposited onto the nanofibres by magnetron sputter coating at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were employed to study the topography of the functional nanofibres.

Arie van Houselt and Harold J. W. Zandvliet, Physical Aspects of Nanoelectronics and Solid State Physics, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
The scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) can be used as a tool for assembling nanostructures at the atomic level. In this article we briefly review several pathways for controlled manipulation of atoms and molecules on semiconductor surfaces at room temperature. As an illustrative example we discuss the controlled manipulation of atomic platinum chains.

Nadine Pernodet, et al. 1. Materials Science and Engineering, and 2. Oral Biology and Pathology, School of Dental Medicine, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, USA
We introduce a new application of scanning force modulation microscopy (SFMM) which we show can be used to differentiate transformed from normal live cells simply by measuring their nanomechanical properties This technique relies on the fact that cellular elasticity changes drastically when cells become cancerous.

Vaidehi Ganesan,¹ R. Sudha,² Jayesh Shah³ and Vedaraman Ganesan² 1. Metallurgy and Materials Group, and 2. Chemistry Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India 3. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
Mixed oxide of uranium and plutonium (MOX) is the fuel chosen for the prototype fast-breeder reactor (PFBR). In the oxide fuel system, the clad and the fuel come in contact after about 40,000 MW days per tonne burn-up. Fairly extensive chemical interactions between oxide fuel and clad, in particular D9, have been reported ...