Smart Dust

Like tiny tugboats, magnetized molecules allow scientists to safely move valuable drops of liquid containing DNA, bacteria, and viruses without harming the cargo.

These microscopic silicon chips known as "smart dust" were developed to keep molecules of nano-sized material from coming in contact with the walls of containers, thereby losing part of the material.

"We call them smart dust because their nanostructure can be engineered to give them rudimentary sensing, data processing, communication, and homing capabilities," said Professor Michael Sailor of the University of California at San Diego. His graduate student Jason Dorvee's addition of magnetic properties "allows us to direct their motion," Sailor said.

The silicon sensors initially detected toxic chemicals or cancer cells, but now have the additional benefit of having one side attracted to water, and the other side repelled from water, so they can travel through oil.

"With this system," said Dorvee, "you can transport tiny material suspended in water through oil efficiently without pumps and channels."

-- Sarah Davidson

Credit: Jamie Link, USCD