Nanomaterials have long been promoted as breakthrough technologies, offering solutions for everything from targeted drug delivery to advanced batteries. But not every promising material makes it past the lab.
Despite strong early results, some nanomaterials have struggled to meet the demands of real-world use, whether due to cost, manufacturing challenges, health concerns, or limited performance outside controlled settings.
This article looks at five such cases: materials that drew attention, raised expectations, and then stalled, at least for now.
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Self-Fueled Liquid Metal Nanomaterial Mollusk
In 2015, researchers reported a self-powered motor made from liquid metal alloys, designed to mimic soft-bodied locomotion. Published in Advanced Materials, the system used a gallium-based alloy and aluminum fuel to generate autonomous motion in alkaline solutions such as sodium hydroxide. The motor achieved movement speeds around 5 cm/s and operated for over an hour without external energy input.1
Although the concept was explored for use in microfluidic pumps and soft robotic systems, it has not progressed beyond early-stage experimentation. Several technical challenges limited its broader applicability.
The system's dependence on specific chemical environments, the accumulation of hydrogen bubbles, and the degradation of aluminum fuel led to inconsistent performance and limited operational lifespan. Integration with neutral or physiological environments remains unresolved.
Research into liquid metal nanomaterials continues, particularly for applications in stretchable electronics and actuation systems. However, the self-fueled approach described here has not advanced toward commercial development, due largely to scalability and reliability constraints. It remains an active area of academic research with potential for future adaptation in controlled settings.
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Are Graphene–Gold Nanohybrids Ready for Clinical Use?
In 2017, researchers published a study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces detailing a hybrid nanomaterial composed of graphene oxide (GO) and gold nanostars (AuNS), developed for potential use in therapeutic "nanopatches."2
Despite these promising in vitro results, no commercial applications of the GO–AuNS nanopatch have emerged. Concerns around long-term biocompatibility and potential cytotoxicity have limited its progression, especially given the persistence of graphene derivatives in biological systems.
Moreover, producing these hybrid materials at scale remains cost-intensive and technically complex, particularly when precise surface functionalization is required for medical use.
A related initiative, the “Nanject” project, launched in 2013, aimed to develop magnetic polymeric nanopatches for vaccine delivery. While it generated early academic interest, it has yet to transition into any form of commercial development, largely due to similar concerns over cost, regulatory acceptance, and manufacturing scalability.
While research in this area continues, especially around improving material safety and integration with established treatment protocols, the GO–AuNS nanopatch remains a concept with unresolved barriers to clinical translation.
Molybdenum Disulfide: Strong Lab Results, Slow Commercial Uptake
Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has attracted significant attention as a two-dimensional material, particularly for use in transistors, batteries, sensors, and biomedical applications. Its semiconducting properties and atomically thin structure make it a candidate for use where graphene falls short, particularly in digital electronics and optoelectronics.3
However, despite strong academic interest, MoS₂ has seen limited commercial deployment. A key challenge lies in material quality: top-down synthesis techniques such as ball milling or liquid exfoliation often produce nanosheets with inconsistent thickness and lateral size, affecting performance and reproducibility.
Moreover, MoS₂ can exhibit limited colloidal stability in aqueous environments, leading to rapid aggregation or precipitation—a problem for biomedical and environmental applications.
Toxicity is another concern. While MoS₂ is generally considered less reactive than other nanomaterials, long-term exposure and biocompatibility studies remain limited, especially for large-scale or in vivo use.
Ongoing research is focused on improving synthesis methods, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and scalable wet-chemical approaches, to produce higher-quality materials with greater consistency. While the fundamental properties of MoS₂ remain promising, its transition to reliable, scalable, and safe commercial use is still in progress.3
Want a more in-depth look? → Read next: Is Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) a Serious Rival to Graphene?
Have Fullerenes Reached Their Commercial Limit?
Fullerenes are carbon molecules shaped into hollow cages, such as the well-known C₆₀. They gained early attention for their mechanical strength, electron affinity, and potential in drug delivery, photovoltaics, and composite materials. Despite this, their commercial impact has been relatively limited compared to other nanomaterials.
One major barrier is solubility. Due to their hydrophobic nature, fullerenes tend to aggregate in aqueous environments, complicating their use in biomedical contexts where dispersion stability is critical.
Their environmental persistence and lack of biodegradability have also raised concerns about long-term ecological and health effects, particularly with respect to oxidative stress and potential neurotoxicity—areas where toxicological data remain incomplete.
Additionally, large-scale production of high-purity fullerenes remains expensive and inefficient, which has discouraged commercial uptake. Most applications today are confined to niche uses in cosmetics, lubricants, or high-end composites, rather than widespread industrial or medical technologies.4
Further progress in surface functionalization, safer formulations, and scalable synthesis methods could help reinvigorate fullerene research. For now, however, their practical use remains limited relative to the early expectations.
Nanodiamonds: Technically Promising, Commercially Elusive
Nanodiamonds have been under investigation since the early 1990s for their mechanical strength, chemical stability, and potential biocompatibility. They’ve been explored for targeted drug delivery, imaging, and as additives in lubricants and composites. Their surface can be chemically modified, making them adaptable to a range of applications.5
Even so, their use beyond the lab remains limited. Functionalization processes can trigger immune or inflammatory responses, and producing nanodiamonds with consistent surface chemistry at scale is still a challenge. Environmental concerns have also been raised, particularly regarding the release of ultrafine particles and their potential accumulation in ecosystems.
Manufacturing consistency is another issue. Producing nanodiamonds with reliable size, purity, and performance characteristics has proven difficult, slowing down standardization efforts for clinical or industrial use.
Research into more reliable production methods and safer surface modifications is ongoing. Nanodiamonds remain a candidate for future technologies—especially in medicine and tribology—but significant hurdles must be addressed before they can be widely adopted.
What These Setbacks Teach Us About Innovation in Nanotechnology
Each of these nanomaterials reflects the complex path from laboratory research to commercial use. Promising results alone aren’t enough—materials must also be scalable, safe, cost-effective, and compatible with existing systems.
These examples highlight why even well-funded, high-profile innovations can stall, and why understanding those roadblocks is essential to moving the field forward.
To see where progress is being made, and how nanotechnology is already shaping the future of medicine, watch:
The Nanotech Breakthroughs Paving the Future of Healthcare
References and Further Reading
- Zhang, J. et. al. (2015). Self‐fueled biomimetic liquid metal mollusk. Advanced Materials, 27(16), 2648-2655. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201405438
- Nergiz, S. et. al. (2014). Multifunctional hybrid nanopatches of graphene oxide and gold nanostars for ultraefficient photothermal cancer therapy. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 6(18), 16395-16402. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/am504795d
- Xu, Z. et. al. (2020). A critical review on the applications and potential risks of emerging MoS2 nanomaterials. Journal of hazardous materials, 399, 123057. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123057
- Malhotra, N. et. al. (2021). An Update Report on the Biosafety and Potential Toxicity of Fullerene‐Based Nanomaterials toward Aquatic Animals. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021(1), 7995223. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7995223
- Singh, D., & Ray, S. (2023). A short appraisal of nanodiamonds in drug delivery and targeting: Recent advancements. Frontiers in Nanotechnology, 5, 1259648. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnano.2023.1259648
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