Applications of Nanoscience 2025

Young's Modulus

A mechanical property that measures the stiffness or elasticity of a solid material; described as the relationship between stress (force per unit area) and strain (compression); has units of pressure, i.e., Pascals (kg/m*s2)

Polymer

A large number of similar monomer units linked together into a larger whole.

Monomer

Atoms or small molecules that bond together to form more complex structures such as polymers.

Amino acid

Organic compounds containing an amine group and a carboxyl group; when linked together, they make up the primary sequence of proteins.

Enzyme

Macromolecular biological catalysts that carry out reactions at a highly elevated rate due to its ability to lower the reaction energy needed. Is able to recognize its substrates very specifically due to a special binding pocket.

Enzyme activity

A measurement of active enzyme which is dependent on conditions (temperature, pH, enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and the presence of any inhibitors or activators).

Enzyme specificity

The ability of an enzyme to specifically recognize its substrate (due to charge, hydrophobicity, shape).

Gel

A cross-linked 3D structure made up mostly of water.

Nucleic Acid

A nucleotide is composed of a sugar group (ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base; when linked together, they make up polynucleic acids.

Polynucleic acid

A biopolymer composed of linked nucleotide monomers.

Polypeptide

A biopolymer composed of linked amino acid monomers.

Polysaccharide

A biopolymer composed of linked sugar (saccharide) monomers.

Substrate

A molecule that an enzyme acts upon.

Differential manometer

An instrument used to measure the difference in pressure between two systems.

Cation

Ions that are positively charged.

Antimicrobial

A substance that kills microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, mold) or prevents them from growing and causing disease.

Cellular respiration

A metabolic pathway that uses glucose to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Yeast

Eukaryotic organisms consisting of one cell.

Reactive Oxygen Species

Molecules capable of independent existence, containing at least one oxygen atom and one or more unpaired electrons.

Mitochondria

An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.

Ion Channels

Pore-forming membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through the channel pore

Lipid Bilayer

A thin polar membrane made of two layers of lipid molecules; these membranes are flat sheets that form a continuous barrier around all cells

Endocytosis

The taking in of matter by a living cell by invagination of its membrane to form a vacuole

Bulk

A property of something that is large in magnitude

Nanoparticle

A particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometers in diameter

Nucleation and Growth

The process whereby nuclei (seeds) act as templates for growth; process controlled by a balance between free energy available and energy consumed in forming a new interface

Colloids

A mixture consisting of molecules or particles evenly dispersed in solution

Surface area to volume ratio

The ratio of an object's surface area to its volume; calculated by dividing the surface area by the volume

Self-assembly

The process of association of individual units into a highly arranged/ordered structure

Intermolecular force

The force that mediates interaction between molecules, including the electromagnetic forces of attraction or repulsion

Immiscible

Characterization of liquids that do not form a homogeneous mixture when added together

Stabilizing agent

An ingredient or molecule used to provide desirable physical properties

Amphiphilic

A compound containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties

Emulsion

A fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible

Equilibrium

The state in which the system will exhibit no further tendency to change with time, so that there is no observable change in the properties of the system

Microfluidics

The science and technology which studies the behavior of fluids through micrometer-sized channels during which their flow follows well-characterized physical principles

Shear force

An internal force that acts perpendicularly to the extension of a substance

Laminar flow

The property of fluid particles in fluid dynamics to follow smooth paths in layers, with each layer moving smoothly past the adjacent layers with little or no mixing

Turbulent flow

The property of fluid particles in fluid dynamics characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity

Electromagnetic radiation

A type of radiation in which the energy depends on the frequency that is composed of oscillating perpendicular magnetic and electric fields

(Metric (SI) Prefixes) milli- (m)

10^(-3)

(Metric (SI) Prefixes) micro- (μ)

10^(-6)

(Metric (SI) Prefixes) nano- (n)

10^(-9)

Wavelength

The distance between successive maximums of a wave (units of length)

Control experiment

An experiment in which all variable factors have been kept constant and which is used as a standard of comparison to the experimental component (variable)

Hydrogen bonding

An electrostatic force of dipole-dipole attraction between a hydrogen atom which is covalently bound to a more electronegative atom (such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine) and another electronegative atom bearing a lone pair of electrons (the hydrogen bond acceptor)

Molarity (M)

Moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L); a measure of concentration of a solution

Solution (Chemistry)

A special type of homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances

Solute

A substance dissolved in another substance

Solvent

The substance that another substance is being dissolved in

Bacteria

Prokaryotic organisms often consisting of one cell; typically range in size range of 1-5 micrometers (1000-5000 nanometers)

Buffer

An aqueous solution that is made up of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa.

pH

Its pH changes very little when a small amount of a strong acid or base is added; used to keep a stable pH

Intellectual Property

A work or invention that is the result of human intellect (patent, copyright, trademark, etc.)

Patent

A type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention

Copyright

A type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time

Trademark

A type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others.

Trade Secret

A type of intellectual property that includes formulas, practices, processes, designs, instruments, patterns, or compilations of information that have inherent economic value because they are generally not known or readily ascertainable by others, and which the owner takes reasonable measures to keep secret

LLC (Limited Liability Company)

A business structure that can combine the pass-through taxation of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation

Venture Capital

A form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential

PESTEL Analysis

A tool used to gain a macro picture of an industry environment; Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors

SWOT Analysis

A tool used for assessing a company; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)

The annualized average rate of revenue growth between two given years

C-Suite

A company's top management positions; C = Chief; Chief Executive Office (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Accelerator (Entrepreneurship)

An organization that functions to help startup companies scale up their business

Incubator (Entrepreneurship)

An organization that functions to help startup companies grow and innovate by providing specialized tools like office space, mentorship opportunities, business education, etc.

Angel Investor

An individual who provides capital for a business or businesses, including startups, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity

Equity (Entrepreneurship)

An ownership interest in property that may be offset by debts or other liabilities; the value of the shares issued by a company

Balance Sheet

A financial statement that reports a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity at a specific point in time

TAM (Total Available Market)

The revenue opportunity for a product or service

Net Profit

A company's profits after all its expenses have been deducted from revenues

Gross Profit

A company's profits after subtracting the costs of producing and distributing its products

Horizontal integration (Entrepreneurship)

A business strategy in which one company grows its operations at the same level of the value chain, in the same industry (internal expansion, acquisition, merger)

Vertical integration (Entrepreneurship)

A business strategy in which a company takes ownership of two or more key stages of its supply chain

MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

A version of a product with just enough features to be usable by early customers who can then provide feedback for future product development

Calibration curve (standard curve)

Also known as a standard curve, this is a reference to which samples of unknown concentrations can be compared to determine the concentration

Detection Limit

The lowest quantity of a substance that can be distinguished from the absence of that substance (a blank value) with high confidence (generally 99%)

Absorption vs. Adsorption

A process in which atoms, molecules, or ions enter a bulk phase. Different from adsorption, which is restricted to the surface of the material.

Activated carbon

Purified, powdered charcoal; treated physically or chemically to generate small low-volume pores that vastly increase its surface area which is beneficial for adsorption or chemical reactions

Anion

Ions that are negatively charged

Heavy metals

Metals with high densities, atomic weights, or atomic numbers that are typically toxic or poisonous at low concentrations

Organic molecule

A molecule that is primarily made of carbon atoms bonded with other elements and/or other carbon atoms (typically, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen)

Organic dyes

Carbon based molecules that absorb light very well. Molecules in which the cross section for absorption is large

Water contamination

Unwanted materials found in water sources; includes: organic molecules, biological contaminants, heavy metals, etc.

Zeolite

Porous, crystalline minerals that contain mainly aluminum and silicon compounds that have high surface area; have negatively-charged nanoporous structures that range in diameter between 0.3-0.8 nm and can accommodate a wide variety of cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and others)

Contact Angle

The angle created by the liquid-surface interface and the liquid-air interface with the vertex at the point where the water droplet meets the surface and air

Surface Wetting

The extent to which a liquid droplet spreads out or beads up on a surface

Hydrocarbon

A molecule that consists of only hydrogen and carbon atoms

Hydrophilic

Water loving

Hydrophobic

Water fearing

Polar molecule

A molecule in which one end of the molecule is slightly positive, while the other end is slightly negative

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule that does not have any electrical charges or partial charges

Dipole-dipole moment

A measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a system

Surface ligand

A molecule adhered onto a surface that will be a source of interaction (e.g., chemical reaction) for the addition of molecules to the surface

Thiol

A compound which contains an -SH (sulfur-hydrogen) functional group

Van der waals forces

A distance-dependent interaction between atoms or molecules; bonds are weak (and susceptible to disturbance) in comparison to ionic or covalent bonds

Surface tension

The tension of the surface film of a liquid caused by the attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area

Surface energy

The energy required in the disruption of intermolecular bonds that occurs when a surface is created

Biomimetics/Biomimicry

The imitation of biological processes or models from nature aiming to solve various complex biological problems