chemical and biomolecular engineering

Oct 12, 2017

Study Shows How Rough Microparticles Can Cause Big Problems

New research finds the surface texture of microparticles in liquid suspension can cause internal friction that significantly alters the suspension’s viscosity – effectively making the liquid thicker or thinner. 

Aug 30, 2017

Researchers Set New Bar for Water-Splitting, CO2-Splitting Techniques

Researchers boost efficiency of techniques for splitting water to create hydrogen gas and splitting CO2 to create carbon monoxide. 

Apr 4, 2017

Touch-Sensitive, Elastic Fibers Offer New Interface for Electronics

NC State researchers have created elastic, touch-sensitive fibers that can interface with electronic devices. 

Mar 29, 2017

Researchers Control Soft Robots Using Magnetic Fields

Engineers have made a fundamental advance in controlling so-called soft robots, using magnetic fields to remotely manipulate microparticle chains embedded in soft robotic devices. 

Mar 22, 2017

Researchers Use Light to Remotely Control Curvature of Plastics

Researchers have developed a technique that uses light to get flat, plastic sheets to curve into 3-D structures, such as spheres, tubes or bowls. 

Mar 3, 2017

Researchers Remotely Control Sequence in Which 2-D Sheets Fold Into 3-D Structures

Inspired by origami, researchers have found a way to remotely control the order in which a two-dimensional sheet folds itself into a three-dimensional structure. 

Feb 23, 2017

Alum Robertson Finalist for ‘MythBusters’ Host

Alumna Tamara Robertson is one of 10 finalists to be a host on the Discovery Channel's new version of "MythBusters." The 2009 graduate with a degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering was one of 10,000 applicants to appear on the reality show "MythBusters: The Search," which concludes with winners being announced Saturday in the search finale. 

Nov 9, 2016

New ‘Bottlebrush’ Electroactive Polymers Make Dielectric Elastomers Increasingly Viable for Use in Devices

A new electroactive polymer can change shape and size when exposed to a relatively small electric field. The advance overcomes longstanding challenges regarding the use of electroactive polymers to develop new devices, opening the door to a suite of applications ranging from microrobotics to designer technologies. 

Oct 3, 2016

‘Nano-Kebab’ Fabric Breaks Down Chemical Warfare Agents

Researchers have created a fabric material containing nanoscale fibers that are capable of degrading chemical warfare agents. 

Jun 13, 2016

What Is CRISPR? And How Can It Be Used to Turn Genes ‘Off’?

CRISPR systems have been a hot research topic since they were shown to have utility as genetic engineering tools in 2012. And they’re often explained in a way that most folks can understand. But those explanations often overlook key details. 

Mar 31, 2016

New Tools Allow Rapid ID of CRISPR-Cas System PAMs

CRISPR-Cas systems are widely heralded as a new generation of genetic tools. But development of these tools requires researchers to identify the protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs) that unlock each system’s functionality. A new set of techniques expedites PAM identification — and early testing finds that many CRISPR-Cas systems actually have multiple PAMs of varying strength. 

Dec 17, 2015

A Researcher’s Journey

Heba Al-Mohsin wanted one thing as she pursued her doctorate: the opportunity to do her own research in the laboratory. Follow her remarkable journey from Saudi Arabia to the University of Washington to NC State, which will conclude at Friday's commencement exercises. 

Dec 2, 2015

Liquid Metal ‘Nano-Terminators’ Target Cancer Cells

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery technique that uses a biodegradable liquid metal to target cancer cells. The liquid metal drug delivery method promises to boost the effect of cancer drugs. To date, the technique has only been tested in an animal model. 

Oct 21, 2015

DeSimone Captures Big Nanoscience Prize

Acclaimed chemical and biomolecular engineer Joseph DeSimone scores the inaugural Kabiller Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomedicine for innovations leading to new cancer treatments, inhalable therapeutics for pulmonary diseases and next-generation vaccines. 

Aug 28, 2015

Researchers Use DNA ‘Clews’ to Shuttle CRISPR-Cas9 Gene-Editing Tool into Cells

Researchers have for the first time created and used a nanoscale vehicle made of DNA to deliver a CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool into cells.