Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: London Travel – in Miniature! - The BNC creates the London NanotubeTM, the smallest map of the London Underground

Home > Press > London Travel – in Miniature! - The BNC creates the London NanotubeTM, the smallest map of the London Underground

Abstract:
Researchers at Bio Nano Consulting (BNC), a specialist bio-nanotechnology product development consultancy, have produced a miniaturized version of the London tube map, measuring only 2x3 mm - about the size of a pinhead. The map was etched using specialised lasers by Dr Richard Winkle, a BNC researcher at Imperial College London, whilst testing the capabilities of an Oxford Lasers micromachining system. The ‘London Nanotube' was aptly named as nanotubes are an essential building block for nanotechnology. The incredible precision required to produce the London Nanotube highlights the ability of the BNC to provide extremely fine detailed work on an exceptionally small scale.

London Travel – in Miniature! - The BNC creates the London NanotubeTM, the smallest map of the London Underground

London, UK | Posted on February 11th, 2009

Dr Mike Fisher, Business development Director of Bio Nano Consulting commented, "The successful creation of the London Nanotube demonstrates the vast capabilities of the BNC. Producing such intricate detail on such a small scale reflects the immense knowledge and expertise of BNC scientists, which is transferable to a number of nano-scale projects across industry, such as the manufacture of microfluidic systems." He continued, "This version of the London Nanotube is not strictly on the nanoscale, so we are taking on this challenge. Using our state-of-the-art micro and nanofabrication equipment, we believe we can shrink the tube map another 100 times, making it invisible to the naked eye."

The London Nanotube will be on display on the BNC exhibition stand at the Nano 4 Life conference on 11th February. Run by BNC on behalf of the NanoKTN (Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network), this one-day conference will explore key areas where nanotechnology offers opportunities to advance healthcare provision from speakers from GSK, AstraZeneca and GE Healthcare.

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About Bio Nano Consulting (BNC)
The BNC is a specialist research and development consultancy operating in the convergent field of bionanotechnology. A joint venture of Imperial College London and University College London, the BNC is funded through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) with additional support from the London Development Agency (LDA).

Along with its partner organisation, the National Physical Laboratory, the BNC offers a service to the biomedical and healthcare industries in microsystems and nanotechnology. This encompasses design, 3-D modelling and visualisation, rapid prototyping, and characterisation.

About NanoKTN:

The NanoKTN facilitates the transfer of knowledge and experience between industry and research, offering companies dealing in small-scale technology access to information on new processes, patents and funding as well as keeping up-to-date with industry regulation. The four broad areas that the NanoKTN focuses on are: Promoting and facilitating knowledge exchange, supporting the growth of UK capabilities, raising awareness of Nanotechnology, and providing thought leadership and input to UK policy and strategy.

About Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs):

KTNs (www.ktnetworks.co.uk) have been set up by government, industry and academia to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between industry and the science base. They bring together diverse organisations and provide activities and initiatives that promote the exchange of knowledge and the stimulation of innovation in these communities.

The first KTNs were set up in 2005 and the network continues to grow. They are active in sectors, technologies and market-based areas and they interact strongly with the government’s Technology Programme and overall technology strategy.

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