1 EXHIBIT 23.3 [LETTERHEAD OF MCANDREWS, HELD & MALLOY, LTD.] November 3, 1997 Robert W. Cross, President and Chief Executive Officer Nanophase Technologies Corporation 453 Commerce Street Burr Ridge, Illinois 60521 Re: Form S-1 Registration Statement Our File Nanophase/71297 We hereby consent to be named as an expert in the "Legal Matters" and "Experts" sections of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Nanophase Technologies Corporation. Very truly yours, /s/ ROBERT W. FIESELER --------------------------- Robert W. Fieseler