New nanoparticles make hidden chemical differences light up

Scientists have developed ultra-bright nanoparticles that can detect tiny amounts of chemicals and distinguish between molecules that look almost identical. The technology could one day provide a cheaper way to catch dangerous drug impurities or trace pollutants using simple low-cost lasers. New nanoparticles make hidden chemical differences light up.

New nanoparticles make hidden chemical differences light up Science News from research organizations New nanoparticles make hidden chemical differences light up New ultra-bright nanoparticles can spot vanishingly small traces of chemicals and even tell nearly identical molecules apart. The tiny particles produce a light signal after attaching to the chemical they are designed to detect. They absorb low-energy photons and convert that energy into higher-energy photons, creating a bright optical signal that researchers can measure.

That unusual ability could have practical uses in several fields. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, for example, could use the particles to identify unwanted impurities in drugs. Environmental researchers could potentially use them to search for very small amounts of chemical pollutants in groundwater.

Turning Infrared Light Into a Bright Green Signal "Organic molecules called fluorophores have been used for decades to absorb light and convert it into colorful emissions, but the process only works in one direction," says Professor Kai Huang, senior author on a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society that describes the new particles.