A Newsletter for Friends and Alumni of the University of Washington
Feature: Making Giant Discoveries at the Nanoscale

The University is at the forefront of this exciting field, taking a leadership role in a global competition for nanotechnology expertise. We’ve reached this position because our faculty are dedicated to the science of translating knowledge into solutions. This kind of commitment creates opportunities for students to engage in exceptional scientific endeavors available at few other universities.

The UW and the Puget Sound region are poised to become the epicenter of research and development for nanotechnology, as well as a number of other disciplines, including biotechnology, global health and engineering. This is an exciting time at the University, and I’m personally grateful to the many supporters who make it possible for the University of Washington to be a leader in scientific discovery.

Mark A. Emmert (’75)
President

François Baneyx, acting director of the UW Center for Nanotechnology, concedes that nanotechnology is a bit of a buzzword right now. While savvy manufacturers tout its benefits in everything from food storage containers to athletic socks, many people don’t fully understand what nanotechnology is and how it might revolutionize everything from building materials to medicine.

Nanotechnology, as Baneyx explains, is the exploration and exploitation of the phenomena that occur at the nanoscale, generally considered to be one to 100 nanometers, or one-billionth of a meter. At this scale, materials have unique properties that scientists can harness with extraordinary results.

Here at the UW, Baneyx and his colleagues are developing protein-coated nanoparticles that can be used to help surgeons localize tumors. When certain semiconductors are shrunk to small enough sizes, they emit light of different colors. Such nanoparticles could help physicians distinguish between healthy and sick cells. “If a tumor is painted in a different color, if it’s fluorescent, then you can excise only what you need to,” Baneyx says.

The Center is home to 85 researchers from 15 departments who focus on nanotechnology applications for biotechnology, material sciences, photonics and other fields. “This cross-fertilization is very important when you bring people with very different interests together,” Baneyx says. “The interface is really where you’re going to have growth.”

Today, the UW is a national leader in nanotechnology research. The interdisciplinary Center for Nanotechnology was created in 1997 to address the development and application of nanotechnology. In 2001, the UW established the first nanotechnology Ph.D. program in the country. To date, 19 students have received degrees, and another 46 are in the process of completing their degrees. The Center’s resources are available to University departments as well as companies and academic institutions.
The UW’s nanotechnology efforts have been supported by both public sources, such as the National Science Foundation, and private funding. Baneyx is the first holder of the Charles W.H. Matthaei Professorship in Chemical Engineering, established by Charles Matthaei (’43), chairman of Roman Meal Company in Tacoma, and his wife, Helen (’46).

At the UW, Matthaei earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, long before nanotechnology was a buzzword. He’s excited about its potential, especially in terms of healthcare. “With nanotechnology,” Matthaei says, “you’re actually able to see things that back in the day we could only hypothesize about.”

For more on the Center for Nanotechnology, visit www.nano.washington.edu.

Return to Fall 2006 Campaign Newsletter