The College of Engineering at Drexel Univeristy in Philadelphia have developed a new method for manufacturing nanobrushes, tiny dirt-repellent structures which coat objects such as eyeglass lenses, artificial joints and medical devices. The new technique, which involves growing and then dissolving a two-dimensional sheet of polymer crystals, allows for greater precision and a faster application process. Drexel’s Professor Christopher Li said: “We believe that our discovery of a new way to make polymer brushes is a significant advance in the field and will enable use of the brushes in exciting new ways.”