Nanotechnology | Penn Today

A water droplet reflecting the color spectrum.

New class of materials passively harvest water from air

Researchers at Penn Engineering have discovered a new class of nanostructured materials that can pull water from the air, which could enable new ways to collect water in arid regions and devices that cool electronics or buildings using the power of evaporation.

2 min. read

Microrobots navigate diverse oral environments to deliver therapies

Penn Engineers and clinicians at the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry are developing shapeshifting microrobots capable of navigating the complex environments of the mouth to deliver targeted treatments.

Top row: Dennis Discher, Michael Correa-Jones, and Cherie Kagan. Bottom row: Sophie Rosenfeld and Susan Weiss.

Five Penn faculty elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Dennis E. Discher, Michael Jones-Correa, Cherie R. Kagan, Sophia Rosenfeld, and Susan R. Weiss are being recognized for their contributions to engineering, political science, history, and biology.

3 min. read

New chip opens door to AI computing at light speed

A new silicon-photonic (SiPh) chip design from the lab of Nader Engheta, alongside Firooz Aflatouni, uses light waves, the fastest possible means of communication, rather than electricity, to perform mathematical computations.

Exterior of Singh Center for Nanotechnology lit up at nighS

The Singh Center for Nanotechnology turns 10

Since its founding, the Center’s multidisciplinary approach has been a strength, where researchers from Penn Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and more come together in one space.

Microscopic rendering of mRNA gene editing.

‘In vivo’ RNA-based gene editing model for blood disorders developed

Researchers from Penn Medicine and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia show that gene editing tools can be delivered via lipid nanoparticles, which would reduce cost and increase access to cutting-edge gene therapies.

RNA lipid nanoparticle engineering stops liver fibrosis in its tracks

A successful lipid nanoparticles drug delivery system targets notoriously hard-to-target activated fibroblasts in the liver.

These Philly profs working on VR education, deepfake spotters, and tiny robots make predictions for next-gen tech

Mark Miskin of the School of Engineering and Applied Science is using tools from the semiconductor industry to develop nanotechnologies for microscopic robots.

Tiny swimming robots can restructure materials on a microscopic level

Penn Engineers are working to make controlling microscopic processes, such as transporting drugs to tumors for precise therapies, faster, safer, and more reliable through the use of microrobots.

A computer chip illuminated and elevated with the letters AI printed on it.

Rethinking the computer chip in the age of AI

A team of researchers from the School of Engineering and Applied Science has introduced a computing architecture ideal for AI using an approach known as compute-in-memory.

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