Nanoscale manipulation

[badhorsey]

I've seen some impressive mini-artworks (Barack Obama's face made from nanotubes, mosaics of blood cells).

How is matter manipulated on these scales? In the case of the latter, how does one nudge individual cells around?

I'm aware that this is a MASSIVE topic and I'm not expecting a full answer; but some pointers or suggested areas of research would be very useful.

[fo3nix]

It's nothing too spectacular, just the technique is very hard to do right, because you have to be very steady and move very small amounts.

Have a look into topics like AFM (Atomic Force Microscope).

If you wanted to make a picture of a face in mud, you'd probably use a stick to make the grooves, or shift stones around. It's just the same thing, just very much smaller.

(Without going into too much physics!)

[beso]

Some nano engineering is self organising. Thed right template materials are provided and when the chemicals are introduced they simply grow in place.