University of Plymouth

There are three distinct strands to the work within Plymouth relating to nanotechnology.

The Centre for Research in Information Storage Technology (CRIST), in conjunction with global businesses such as Sony, is developing leading edge memory and nanotechnologies. There are research projects on magnetic disk drives, magnetic tape storage systems, magnetic random access solid state memories and magneto-optical memories.

Nanotechnology is also at the heart of some of the most exciting work being undertaken at the Peninsula Medical School.

The Clinical Microvascular Research Group is internationally renowned for its work investigating the normal function of the smallest human blood vessels vital to provide nutrients and remove waste products from tissues. Situated in a custom-built physiology centre, this group harnesses a considerable number of platform technologies. These include: laser Doppler fluximetry; capillary microscopy; measurement of dynamic capillary pressure and wave form analysis; application of pharmacological agents by iontophoresis and microinjection; and assessment of the permeability of the microcirculation using computerised capillary filtration co-efficient measurements.

The Electron Microscope Centre is a modern, well equipped imaging and analysis laboratory housing three scanning electron microscopes and a 120Kv transmission instrument. With comprehensive digital imaging and image analysis capability together with the latest Oxford Instruments EDS microanalysis system for materials characterisation, the facility is widely used by advanced engineering companies including those in the semiconductor and aerospace sectors.