Down the tubes

US researchers are using the principle of molecular self-assembly to build nanoscale structures with specific dimensions and chemical properties. The resulting nanotubes could find applications in molecular wiring and other components for nanometer-sized electronic devices, new smart materials, and in novel drug-delivery systems.

Inspired by nature's own building blocks, Hicham Fenniri of Purdue University, has used the same chemical principles that make DNA strands link together to create tiny tubular structures. "The beauty of this is that, by designing the molecules that make up the system, we have perfect control over every part of the system," explains Fenniri, "We not only dictate how the molecule behaves, but we also can control the dimensions and chemical properties of the resulting nanotube." This is not so easy at the moment with the well-known carbon nanotubes, which spun out of fullerene research.