US Patent 8049106 - Semiconductor nanowire network for a solar cell

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8049106.html

This patent comes from research conducted at the University of Florida and teaches a way to use semiconductor nanowires to form high area contact interfaces to improve the efficiency of solar cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. A solar cell comprising an active layer, the active layer comprising:

a first layer comprising a first composition;

a second layer comprising a second composition; and

a composite layer disposed between said first and said second layer, said composite layer comprising an interpenetrated network of a third composition and a fourth composition,

wherein the third composition extends from said first layer to said second layer throughout a thickness of said composite layer, and said fourth composition extends from said second layer to said first layer through said third composition throughout said thickness of said composite layer,

wherein at least one of said third composition and said fourth composition comprises a plurality of semiconducting nanowires, wherein said semiconducting nanowires comprise InP, Si, GaAs or GaN.

US Patent 7908908 - Identifying biointeractive nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7908908.html

This patent from the University of Florida Research Foundation proposes a method of rapid screening and isolation of nanostructures that exhibit unique properties in biological systems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of screening for biointeractive nanostructures comprising:

providing a plurality of nanostructure candidates on a substrate; and

interacting said nanostructure candidates with a SPM probe comprising a cantilever unit that comprises a lever portion and a probe portion provided at a free end of said lever portion, said probe portion comprising one or more living cells adhered thereto;

wherein a nanostructure candidate exhibiting adhesion to said probe is identified as a biointeractive nanostructure.

US Patent 7754173 - Rare earth oxide nanoplates

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7754173.html

This patent from the University of Florida Research Foundation teaches a new type of nanomaterial based on Gd2O3 nanocrystals having a thickness approaching the lower limit of crystal growth. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition of matter, comprising

a plurality of rare earth oxide nanocrystals,

wherein each of said rare earth oxide nanocrystals is in the form of a nanoplate, and

wherein said plurality of rare earth oxide nanocrystals has a size distribution within a standard deviation of less than 10%.

US Patent 7638137 - Contact lens including nanoparticle drug delivery system

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638137.html

Eye drops have previously been used for drug delivery for diseases related to the eye but produce poor penetration through the cornea. This patent from the University of Florida instead teaches a nanoencapsulation system for applying medication using a contact lens. Claim 1 reads:

1. A drug delivery system comprising a contact lens having dispersed therein as nanoparticles having a particle size less than about 50 nm, an ophthalmic drug nanoencapsulated in a material from which said ophthalmic drug is capable of diffusion into and migration through said contact lens and into the post-lens tear film when said contact lens is placed on the eye, said nanoparticles being dispersed within said contact lens in an amount such that said lens remains substantially optically transparent.