The Vireo Advisors blog brings you the latest news and developments in safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products including novel foods and sustainable nanomaterials.
Silkworms Fed with Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Produce Super-Strong, Electrically Conductive Silk
In a study published in Nano Letters, researchers have made silk which is stronger, tougher and electrically conductive by feeding carbon nanotubes and graphene to silkworms.
High-Performance Gas Barrier Films Made from Cellulose Nanocrystal (CNC) Coatings
In a recently published article in the journal ACS Applied Material & Interfaces, Jeff Youngblood and colleagues from Purdue University demonstrated the use of a shear-coating technique to developed gas barrier nanocellulose films which were anisotropic, allowing the researchers to control the volume of gas in the system.
Using Biological Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) to Create Functional Materials with Genetically Programmable Properties
In their recently published article in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, Charlie Gilbert and Tom Ellis review recent efforts in the emerging field of biological engineered living materials (ELMs) in which cells are programmed to produce new and useful biological materials with unique properties.
Alberta Innovates Calls for Submissions for International Competition
Six pitch competition winners will receive $10,000 in funding, free registration and access to professional coaching. Submissions are due March 15, 2019.
Micro- and Nano-Plastic in the Environment and Nanoparticles Released from Building Materials and Construction Waste Included on EC Committee Emerging Issues List
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) has released a statement regarding the emerging issues in non-food applications which have been identified as having the potential to impact human health and/or the environment.