The innovative technology was jointly developed by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), the Jefferson Lab of the U.S. Department of Energy, and NASA Langley Research Center. As per the deal, BNNT LLC bought the intellectual property rights to synthesize BNNTs (Boron Nitride Nanotubes) used for commercial and scientific research.
BNNTs were first manufactured in 1995. Since then, they have been provided only in small amounts to other research laboratories. BNNT LLC plans to use sophisticated methods for increasing present production rates of BNNTs by a factor of 100.
BNNTs have a structure analogous to that of carbon nanotubes. These powerful versatile nanotubes demonstrate exotic properties that are useful in the research and commercial industry. They can be used to manufacture ceramic and polymer composites to produce a new range of aerospace components, batteries, thin coatings, armor, and dentistry products. They find use in fire retardant cabling, radiation shielding, electrical insulation, energy harvesting, sensors and robotics. Their biomedical applications include cancer treatment, and bone and nerve tissue regeneration.
BNNTs demonstrate piezoelectricity, which means they generate electricity due to pressure. They offer protection against ultraviolet and neutron radiation and can withstand extreme temperatures in the range of up to 800°C. NASA believes that BNNTs’ energy harvesting quality enables safer and longer aerospace mission by delivering auxiliary power for health monitoring systems and electronic devices.
According to Catharine Fay, BNNT Program Manager at NASA Langley Research Center, this technology will not only be used for the synthesis of BNNTs, but could also be used to produce other nanomaterials that are critical for mission applications.
Source: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/releases/2012/12-031.html
El blog de nanotecnología y materiales avanzados de la Universidad de las Américas Puebla
jueves, 3 de mayo de 2012
Telas que cosechan energía
Los científicos están investigando el desarrollo de tejidos que captan energía, con nanotecnología incorporada que utiliza la energía cinética de los movimientos del usuario y la convierte en electricidad para alimentar dispositivos electrónicos. Estos tejidos serían una ayuda evidente para los excursionistas y los soldados, pudiendo dar electricidad a los teléfonos móviles, reproductores de MP3, luces nocturnas, etc. Los científicos están investigando también de qué forma estos tejidos que captan energía podrían convertir las vibraciones de baja frecuencia en electricidad, utilizando nanocables entrelazados con las fibras del tejido para no alterar el aspecto de la ropa.
Investigadores de Georgia Tech, dirigidos por el profesor de ciencias de los materiales Zhong Lin Wang, han fabricado una fibra flexible recubierta con nanocables de óxido de zinc que puede convertir la energía mecánica en electricidad. Los investigadores afirman que las fibras deberían ser capaces de recoger cualquier tipo de vibración o movimiento para elaboración de corriente eléctrica. Los nanocables de óxido de zinc chapados en oro, con unos 3,5 micrómetros de alto cada uno, se cultivan en una fibra polimérica flexible y se frotan contra otros nanocables no tratados, que se doblan y generan corriente. Los hilos obtenidos de las fibras podrían dar lugar a tejidos que conviertan los movimientos del cuerpo en corriente eléctrica. El desarrollo podría dar lugar a camisetas y zapatos que proporcionen electricidad a los iPods y los implantes médicos; cortinas que generen energía cuando se muevan con el viento; y tiendas de campaña capaces de dar energía a los dispositivos electrónicos portátiles. Según Wang, el tejido es eficiente y barato de producir.
Cetemmsa es otra empresa que supervisa proyectos de investigación relacionados con el uso de sensores en la ropa y los accesorios deportivos, algunos de los cuales pretenden ofrecer a los deportistas profesionales en el nuevo año. La compañía espera desarrollar una amplia gama de dispositivos electrónicos que se pueden integrar en la ropa y que podrían ser interesantes para los atletas, incluidos los monitores del ritmo cardíaco, la tecnología de refrigeración y soluciones de iluminación de bajo consumo.
Fuente: http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/energy-harvesting-fabrics-00001899.asp?sessionid=1
Investigadores de Georgia Tech, dirigidos por el profesor de ciencias de los materiales Zhong Lin Wang, han fabricado una fibra flexible recubierta con nanocables de óxido de zinc que puede convertir la energía mecánica en electricidad. Los investigadores afirman que las fibras deberían ser capaces de recoger cualquier tipo de vibración o movimiento para elaboración de corriente eléctrica. Los nanocables de óxido de zinc chapados en oro, con unos 3,5 micrómetros de alto cada uno, se cultivan en una fibra polimérica flexible y se frotan contra otros nanocables no tratados, que se doblan y generan corriente. Los hilos obtenidos de las fibras podrían dar lugar a tejidos que conviertan los movimientos del cuerpo en corriente eléctrica. El desarrollo podría dar lugar a camisetas y zapatos que proporcionen electricidad a los iPods y los implantes médicos; cortinas que generen energía cuando se muevan con el viento; y tiendas de campaña capaces de dar energía a los dispositivos electrónicos portátiles. Según Wang, el tejido es eficiente y barato de producir.
Cetemmsa es otra empresa que supervisa proyectos de investigación relacionados con el uso de sensores en la ropa y los accesorios deportivos, algunos de los cuales pretenden ofrecer a los deportistas profesionales en el nuevo año. La compañía espera desarrollar una amplia gama de dispositivos electrónicos que se pueden integrar en la ropa y que podrían ser interesantes para los atletas, incluidos los monitores del ritmo cardíaco, la tecnología de refrigeración y soluciones de iluminación de bajo consumo.
Fuente: http://www.energyharvestingjournal.com/articles/energy-harvesting-fabrics-00001899.asp?sessionid=1
La Nano y la prevención del SIDA
El SIDA la enfermedad del siglo pasada, aun cuando ya controlada sigue latente en algunos países y en muchas personas aún.
La India y Australia se unieron en una investigación colaborativa sobre el uso de la nanotecnología en las energías renovables y la planificación familiar.
Según el Dr. S Bandyopadhyay, profesor asociado y especialista en nanotecnología de la Facultad de Ciencias de los Materiales y Tecnología de la Universidad de New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, la investigación colaborativa ha comenzado dentro del programa Australia IndiaScience Research Funding (AISRF), en el que ambos gobiernos invertirán 50 millones de dólares australianos en cinco años (un millón anual de dólares australianos).
La investigación colaborativa entre los dos países ha comenzado por aumentar la estabilidad térmica y la conductividad de los nanotubos de carbono (CNT) utilizando diferentes polímeros.
Las nanopartículas también tienen un gran potencial en los métodos de planificación familiar, incluyendo la prevención de enfermedades de transmisión sexual como el VIH / SIDA.
Fuente: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-24/varanasi/28085410_1_collaborative-research-nanotechnology-cnt
La India y Australia se unieron en una investigación colaborativa sobre el uso de la nanotecnología en las energías renovables y la planificación familiar.
Según el Dr. S Bandyopadhyay, profesor asociado y especialista en nanotecnología de la Facultad de Ciencias de los Materiales y Tecnología de la Universidad de New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, la investigación colaborativa ha comenzado dentro del programa Australia IndiaScience Research Funding (AISRF), en el que ambos gobiernos invertirán 50 millones de dólares australianos en cinco años (un millón anual de dólares australianos).
La investigación colaborativa entre los dos países ha comenzado por aumentar la estabilidad térmica y la conductividad de los nanotubos de carbono (CNT) utilizando diferentes polímeros.
Las nanopartículas también tienen un gran potencial en los métodos de planificación familiar, incluyendo la prevención de enfermedades de transmisión sexual como el VIH / SIDA.
Fuente: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-24/varanasi/28085410_1_collaborative-research-nanotechnology-cnt
Low-cost DNA Sequencing Device Using Nanopores
A team of researchers from the Yale University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed nanopores with a radio-frequency electric field that can trap segments of biomolecules such as DNA.
This technique for high-speed genomic sequencing device shows promise in bringing down the cost of human genome sequencing. This work is part of an initiative by the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute to promote research on reducing the cost of human genome sequencing.
The research team has reported its hypothesis, computation and experimental results in a paper titled ‘Tunable Aqueous Virtual Micropore,’ published in the journal, Small. The team demonstrated that a charged nano or micro particle like a DNA segment can be trapped in an aqueous virtual pore. The water enabled a stable environment to maintain the integrity of DNA, while the virtual walls let the DNA to traverse the nanopore without interplaying with physical walls.
They were able to manipulate the stability and size of a virtual nanopore by applying external electric fields. This was not possible with a physical nanopore. Later, they formed the aqueous nanopore embedded in water on the basis of a linear Paul trap that detains particles in the presence of an oscillating electric field. It also experimentally demonstrated the trapping functionality of the aqueous nanopore by proving water’s capability in stabilizing trapping mechanisms.
Project Director Predrag Krstic informed that since a single DNA polymer is passed through a synthetic nanopore, the team reads electric signals that detect DNA bases by physically detecting single molecules. If the low-cost technique becomes achievable, then genomic sequencing can be utilized in daily clinical treatments, Krstic concluded.
Source: http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20120424-00
This technique for high-speed genomic sequencing device shows promise in bringing down the cost of human genome sequencing. This work is part of an initiative by the National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute to promote research on reducing the cost of human genome sequencing.
The research team has reported its hypothesis, computation and experimental results in a paper titled ‘Tunable Aqueous Virtual Micropore,’ published in the journal, Small. The team demonstrated that a charged nano or micro particle like a DNA segment can be trapped in an aqueous virtual pore. The water enabled a stable environment to maintain the integrity of DNA, while the virtual walls let the DNA to traverse the nanopore without interplaying with physical walls.
They were able to manipulate the stability and size of a virtual nanopore by applying external electric fields. This was not possible with a physical nanopore. Later, they formed the aqueous nanopore embedded in water on the basis of a linear Paul trap that detains particles in the presence of an oscillating electric field. It also experimentally demonstrated the trapping functionality of the aqueous nanopore by proving water’s capability in stabilizing trapping mechanisms.
Project Director Predrag Krstic informed that since a single DNA polymer is passed through a synthetic nanopore, the team reads electric signals that detect DNA bases by physically detecting single molecules. If the low-cost technique becomes achievable, then genomic sequencing can be utilized in daily clinical treatments, Krstic concluded.
Source: http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20120424-00
Wound healing and anti-aging aplications for Chitosan nanoparticles
Chitosan is a naturally available biodegradable and non-toxic polysaccharide, which can stop infection in wounds and improve the wound-healing process by promoting the growth of skin cells. It has also been assessed as an additive for use in antimicrobial textiles for producing clothes for healthcare and other professionals.
Chitosan nanoparticles have demonstrated efficient antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. These materials find applications as a wound-healing material to prevent opportunistic infection and promote wound healing.
The research team utilized an ionic gelation process and sodium tripolyphosphate for producing their chitosan nanoparticles. In the ionic gelation process, bonds are formed between polymer strands by a cross-linking process. Under these conditions, the ionic gelation process eliminates the requirement for toxic chemicals or complicated preparative chemistry. Chitosan nanoparticles can also be produced in the presence of antimicrobial agents such as silver or copper ions. The team’s initial test results demonstrate the improved antimicrobial activity of the composite materials against two representative bacteria types.
The knowledge of the inhibition mechanism of the chiston nanoparticles against bacteria will be helpful in designing high-efficient antibacterial agents. The research team has also showed the skin regenerative properties of the chiston nanoparticles when materials were tested on skin cell keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the laboratory, paving the way to develop anti-aging skin care products.
Source : http://www.inderscience.com
Chitosan nanoparticles have demonstrated efficient antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. These materials find applications as a wound-healing material to prevent opportunistic infection and promote wound healing.
The research team utilized an ionic gelation process and sodium tripolyphosphate for producing their chitosan nanoparticles. In the ionic gelation process, bonds are formed between polymer strands by a cross-linking process. Under these conditions, the ionic gelation process eliminates the requirement for toxic chemicals or complicated preparative chemistry. Chitosan nanoparticles can also be produced in the presence of antimicrobial agents such as silver or copper ions. The team’s initial test results demonstrate the improved antimicrobial activity of the composite materials against two representative bacteria types.
The knowledge of the inhibition mechanism of the chiston nanoparticles against bacteria will be helpful in designing high-efficient antibacterial agents. The research team has also showed the skin regenerative properties of the chiston nanoparticles when materials were tested on skin cell keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the laboratory, paving the way to develop anti-aging skin care products.
Source : http://www.inderscience.com
Handle with Care, a new way of manipulating delicate nanoparticles
Scientists routinely trap and move nanoparticles in a solution with "optical tweezers"-a laser focused to a very small point. The tiny dot of laser light creates a strong electric field, or potential well, that attracts particles to the center of the beam. Although the particles are attracted into the field, the molecules of the fluid they are suspended in tend to push them out of the well. This effect only gets worse as particle size decreases because the laser's influence over a particle's movement gets weaker as the particle gets smaller. One can always turn up the power of the laser to generate a stronger electric field, but doing that can fry the nanoparticles too quickly to do anything meaningful with them-if it can hold them at all.
NIST researchers' new approach uses a control and feedback system that nudges the nanoparticle only when needed, lowering the average intensity of the beam and increasing the lifetime of the nanoparticle while reducing its tendency to wander. According to Thomas LeBrun, they do this by turning off the laser when the nanoparticle reaches the center and by constantly tracking the particle and moving the tweezers as the particle moves.
"You can think of it like attracting moths in the dark with a flashlight," says LeBrun. "A moth is naturally attracted to the flashlight beam and will follow it even as the moth flutters around apparently at random. We follow the fluttering particle with our flashlight beam as the particle is pushed around by the neighboring molecules in the fluid. We make the light brighter when it gets too far off course, and we turn the light off when it is where we want it to be. This lets us maximize the time that the nanoparticle is under our control while minimizing the time that the beam is on, increasing the particle's lifetime in the trap."
Using this method at constant average beam power, 100-nanometer gold particles remained trapped 26 times longer than had been seen in previous experiments. Silica particles 350 nanometers in diameter lasted 22 times longer, but with the average beam power reduced by 33 percent. LeBrun says that their approach should be able to be combined with other techniques to trap and hold even smaller nanoparticles for extended periods without damaging them.
Source: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div683/tweezers-050212.cfm
NIST researchers' new approach uses a control and feedback system that nudges the nanoparticle only when needed, lowering the average intensity of the beam and increasing the lifetime of the nanoparticle while reducing its tendency to wander. According to Thomas LeBrun, they do this by turning off the laser when the nanoparticle reaches the center and by constantly tracking the particle and moving the tweezers as the particle moves.
"You can think of it like attracting moths in the dark with a flashlight," says LeBrun. "A moth is naturally attracted to the flashlight beam and will follow it even as the moth flutters around apparently at random. We follow the fluttering particle with our flashlight beam as the particle is pushed around by the neighboring molecules in the fluid. We make the light brighter when it gets too far off course, and we turn the light off when it is where we want it to be. This lets us maximize the time that the nanoparticle is under our control while minimizing the time that the beam is on, increasing the particle's lifetime in the trap."
Using this method at constant average beam power, 100-nanometer gold particles remained trapped 26 times longer than had been seen in previous experiments. Silica particles 350 nanometers in diameter lasted 22 times longer, but with the average beam power reduced by 33 percent. LeBrun says that their approach should be able to be combined with other techniques to trap and hold even smaller nanoparticles for extended periods without damaging them.
Source: http://www.nist.gov/pml/div683/tweezers-050212.cfm
New Dental anti-bacterial Composite
Scientists using nanotechnology at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry have created the first cavity-filling composite that kills harmful bacteria and regenerates tooth structure lost to bacterial decay.
Rather than just limiting decay with conventional fillings, the new composite is a revolutionary dental weapon to control harmful bacteria, which co-exist in the natural colony of microorganisms in the mouth, says professor Huakun Xu.
"Tooth decay means that the mineral content in the tooth has been dissolved by the organic acids secreted by bacteria residing in biofilms or plaques on the tooth surface. These organisms convert carbohydrates to acids that decrease the minerals in the tooth structure," says Xu, director of the Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering in the School's Department of Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry.
The researchers also have built antibacterial agents into primer used first by dentists to prepare a drilled-out cavity and into adhesives that dentists spread into the cavity to make a filling stick tight to the tissue of the tooth. "The reason we want to get the antibacterial agents also into primers and adhesives is that these are the first things that cover the internal surfaces of the tooth cavity and flow into tiny dental tubules inside the tooth," says Xu. The main reason for failures in tooth restorations, says Xu, is secondary caries or decay at the restoration margins. Applying the new primer and adhesive will kill the residual bacteria, he says.
Fillings made from the School of Dentistry's new nanocomposite, with antibacterial primer and antibacterial adhesive, should last longer than the typical five to 10 years. Xu says a key component of the new nanocomposite is calcium phosphate nanoparticles that regenerate tooth minerals. The antibacterial component has a base of quaternary ammonium and silver nanoparticles along with a high pH, also, the alkaline pH limits acid production by tooth bacteria.
"The bottom line is we are continuing to improve these materials and making them stronger in their antibacterial and remineralizing capacities as well as increasing their longevity," Xu says.
Source: Unversity of Maryland http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/
Rather than just limiting decay with conventional fillings, the new composite is a revolutionary dental weapon to control harmful bacteria, which co-exist in the natural colony of microorganisms in the mouth, says professor Huakun Xu.
"Tooth decay means that the mineral content in the tooth has been dissolved by the organic acids secreted by bacteria residing in biofilms or plaques on the tooth surface. These organisms convert carbohydrates to acids that decrease the minerals in the tooth structure," says Xu, director of the Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering in the School's Department of Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry.
The researchers also have built antibacterial agents into primer used first by dentists to prepare a drilled-out cavity and into adhesives that dentists spread into the cavity to make a filling stick tight to the tissue of the tooth. "The reason we want to get the antibacterial agents also into primers and adhesives is that these are the first things that cover the internal surfaces of the tooth cavity and flow into tiny dental tubules inside the tooth," says Xu. The main reason for failures in tooth restorations, says Xu, is secondary caries or decay at the restoration margins. Applying the new primer and adhesive will kill the residual bacteria, he says.
Fillings made from the School of Dentistry's new nanocomposite, with antibacterial primer and antibacterial adhesive, should last longer than the typical five to 10 years. Xu says a key component of the new nanocomposite is calcium phosphate nanoparticles that regenerate tooth minerals. The antibacterial component has a base of quaternary ammonium and silver nanoparticles along with a high pH, also, the alkaline pH limits acid production by tooth bacteria.
"The bottom line is we are continuing to improve these materials and making them stronger in their antibacterial and remineralizing capacities as well as increasing their longevity," Xu says.
Source: Unversity of Maryland http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/
Tiny 3-D Chips
MIT researchers have developed a MEMS device that allows 3-D sensing on only one chip.
Commonly, two dimensional MEMS devices are manufactured for detecting acceleration processes. Generally, researchers thought that devising three dimensional MEMS involves costly and complicated processes to merge many devices with accurate orientation.
Many researchers attempted to develop three dimensional devices using polymers. These devices were fabricated using lithography and were used in cogs, micro-turbines and small gears.
A postdoctoral researcher from Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fabio Fachin said that silicon, due to its resistance to temperature and durability, can be replaced to polymers. However, he added that the fabrication process is difficult in silicon.
For fabrication, the engineers used a deep reactive ion etching method. Using this method, two dimensional structures are carved into a wafer. Even this method produces only a partial 3-D configuration, because the structures rise over the surface of the chip. Further, the MEMS engineers fabricated the cantilevers or small two-dimensional bridges over the surface of the chip. Finally, with high accuracy, a little force was employed to fix the bridge into the structure.
The team used a residual stress, to overcome the difficulty in the final step of the process. In every bridge structure lays a residual stress even after the disappearance of the applied force. Fachin’s group of researchers followed a previous study, which elaborates about microbeam configurations and formed equational relationship between the residual stress and the flexibility and geometry of a thin material. These calculations were used to modify the bridges to produce the required shape. This analytical tool was used to configure three dimensional devices.
An Associate Professor in aeronautics and astronautics of MIT, Brian Wardle and
Stefan Nikles from MEMSIC co worked with Fachin to develop three dimensional devices.
Source: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/three-dimensional-microchips-0228.html
Commonly, two dimensional MEMS devices are manufactured for detecting acceleration processes. Generally, researchers thought that devising three dimensional MEMS involves costly and complicated processes to merge many devices with accurate orientation.
Many researchers attempted to develop three dimensional devices using polymers. These devices were fabricated using lithography and were used in cogs, micro-turbines and small gears.
A postdoctoral researcher from Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Fabio Fachin said that silicon, due to its resistance to temperature and durability, can be replaced to polymers. However, he added that the fabrication process is difficult in silicon.
For fabrication, the engineers used a deep reactive ion etching method. Using this method, two dimensional structures are carved into a wafer. Even this method produces only a partial 3-D configuration, because the structures rise over the surface of the chip. Further, the MEMS engineers fabricated the cantilevers or small two-dimensional bridges over the surface of the chip. Finally, with high accuracy, a little force was employed to fix the bridge into the structure.
The team used a residual stress, to overcome the difficulty in the final step of the process. In every bridge structure lays a residual stress even after the disappearance of the applied force. Fachin’s group of researchers followed a previous study, which elaborates about microbeam configurations and formed equational relationship between the residual stress and the flexibility and geometry of a thin material. These calculations were used to modify the bridges to produce the required shape. This analytical tool was used to configure three dimensional devices.
An Associate Professor in aeronautics and astronautics of MIT, Brian Wardle and
Stefan Nikles from MEMSIC co worked with Fachin to develop three dimensional devices.
Source: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/three-dimensional-microchips-0228.html
Nanopartículas para tratar tumores de manera no invasiva.
Sotiris E. Pratsinis, profesor de la ETH en Zurich en Suiza, ha sido un investigador visitante desde enero del año en curso en la Uniersität Duisbur-Essen (UDE) y desempeña investigación en nanopartículas.
Pratsinis ha seleccionado la UDE junto con el equipo de investigacion del Dr Markus, profesor de tecnología de procesamiento de nanopartículas en el Institut für Verbrennung und Gasdynamik. El ganó el premio de investigación de la fundación Alexander Von Humboldt, claro, junto con el premio monetario de 60,000.00 euros, y también ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar en proyectos específicos en universidades de Alemania.
En la ETH en Zurich, Pratsinis se enfoca en la síntesis de combustión de nanomateriales, tecnología de partículas y transferencia de masas. En la UDE, su área de enfoque es conducir estudios de simulaciones por revestimiento en fase gaseosa de las nanoparticulas, esto para entender el mecanismo de enlace y la influencia de las condiciones de síntesis en sus propiedades generales, asi como caracteristicas y propiedades en aplicaciones.
El equipo de Pratsinis ha reconocido la eficiencia de nanopartículas en el proceso de sanación mediante un bio-detector inventado en 2010. El sensor fue producido a partir de cerámicas mixtas sintetizadas por fuego depositadas directamente en electrodos de oro. Este sensor es capaz de detectar diabetes, esto midiendo el contenido de acetona en las exhalaciones del paciente. La eficiencia de entrega del fármaco de las nanopartículas depende de como sean revestidas. Estudios conducidos en la ETH en Zurich demostraron la capacidad de las nanopartículas de detectar células cancerígenas. Pronto, las nanopartículas puede que sean enlazadas a las células cancerígenas, para después destruir dichas células usando radiación electromagnética, ademas, abriendo así el camino para destruir tumores de una forma no invasiva.
Fuente: http://www.uni-due.de/en/index.php
Pratsinis ha seleccionado la UDE junto con el equipo de investigacion del Dr Markus, profesor de tecnología de procesamiento de nanopartículas en el Institut für Verbrennung und Gasdynamik. El ganó el premio de investigación de la fundación Alexander Von Humboldt, claro, junto con el premio monetario de 60,000.00 euros, y también ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar en proyectos específicos en universidades de Alemania.
En la ETH en Zurich, Pratsinis se enfoca en la síntesis de combustión de nanomateriales, tecnología de partículas y transferencia de masas. En la UDE, su área de enfoque es conducir estudios de simulaciones por revestimiento en fase gaseosa de las nanoparticulas, esto para entender el mecanismo de enlace y la influencia de las condiciones de síntesis en sus propiedades generales, asi como caracteristicas y propiedades en aplicaciones.
El equipo de Pratsinis ha reconocido la eficiencia de nanopartículas en el proceso de sanación mediante un bio-detector inventado en 2010. El sensor fue producido a partir de cerámicas mixtas sintetizadas por fuego depositadas directamente en electrodos de oro. Este sensor es capaz de detectar diabetes, esto midiendo el contenido de acetona en las exhalaciones del paciente. La eficiencia de entrega del fármaco de las nanopartículas depende de como sean revestidas. Estudios conducidos en la ETH en Zurich demostraron la capacidad de las nanopartículas de detectar células cancerígenas. Pronto, las nanopartículas puede que sean enlazadas a las células cancerígenas, para después destruir dichas células usando radiación electromagnética, ademas, abriendo así el camino para destruir tumores de una forma no invasiva.
Fuente: http://www.uni-due.de/en/index.php
Nanoparticle Formulation Revives Abandoned Cancer Drug
Wortmannin is a drug that was highly promising as a cancer drug, but its successful preclinical studies did not translate into clinical efficacy because of challenges such as high toxicity, low stability and low solubility (unable to be dissolved in blood).
Andrew Z. Wang, MD, study senior author, says, "Drug development is a difficult and expensive process. For a cancer drug to make it to clinical use, it not only has to be effective against cancer cells, but also needs to have low toxicity, good stability and good solubility.
Many promising drugs such as wortmannin failed clinical development because they failed one or more of these requirements. Nanoparticle drug delivery is a breakthrough technology and has the ability to overcome these limitations. Our study is a proof of principle to demonstrate that nanoparticles can renew the clinical potential of many of these 'abandoned' and 'forgotten' drugs.
"We found that the nanoparticle formulation of wortmannin decreased toxicity and increased stability, solubility and effectiveness. Additionally, nanoparticle wortmannin can improve the efficacy of radiotherapy dramatically and is more effective than the most commonly utilized chemotherapeutics."
Wang explains, "Most research has focused on established drugs. However, there is a large number of these 'forgotten' drugs that can be revived and re-evaluated using nanoparticle drug delivery. These drugs can provide new targets and offer new strategies that previously didn't exist."
The team will now focus on further development of the nanoparticle wortmannin as well as look into developing nanoparticle formulation of other abandoned drugs.
Source: http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=24784
Andrew Z. Wang, MD, study senior author, says, "Drug development is a difficult and expensive process. For a cancer drug to make it to clinical use, it not only has to be effective against cancer cells, but also needs to have low toxicity, good stability and good solubility.
Many promising drugs such as wortmannin failed clinical development because they failed one or more of these requirements. Nanoparticle drug delivery is a breakthrough technology and has the ability to overcome these limitations. Our study is a proof of principle to demonstrate that nanoparticles can renew the clinical potential of many of these 'abandoned' and 'forgotten' drugs.
"We found that the nanoparticle formulation of wortmannin decreased toxicity and increased stability, solubility and effectiveness. Additionally, nanoparticle wortmannin can improve the efficacy of radiotherapy dramatically and is more effective than the most commonly utilized chemotherapeutics."
Wang explains, "Most research has focused on established drugs. However, there is a large number of these 'forgotten' drugs that can be revived and re-evaluated using nanoparticle drug delivery. These drugs can provide new targets and offer new strategies that previously didn't exist."
The team will now focus on further development of the nanoparticle wortmannin as well as look into developing nanoparticle formulation of other abandoned drugs.
Source: http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=24784
Nano en armas rusas
Mike Treder, antiguo director del instituto de para la ética de tecnologías emergente, hace la siguiente observación en el blog de Centro de Nanotecnología Responsable:
El Complejo Militar Ruso aplica con éxito la nanotecnología en la producción de armas y materiales de guerra, según informó el vicepresidente del gobierno, Serguei Ivanov.
Ivanov señaló que este campo de la ciencia puede cambiar radicalmente las características de la guerra y añadió que financiaría en su totalidad el trabajo del Complejo Militar Ruso.
Recientemente, el director del Centro de Nanotecnología del Instituto de Energía de Moscú, Andrei Alexeyenko, afirmó que esta especialidad puede destruir, “de forma inteligente”, objetivos móviles, incluidos tanques de combate.
Alexeyenko explicó que se pueden utilizar los dispositivos de menos de un milímetro para formar una nube de cualquier tamaño y poder de destrucción.
El canal de televisión ruso añadió que Moscú está invirtiendo más de 1.100 millones de dólares en el desarrollo de la nanotecnología para hacerse con el liderazgo en el mercado internacional.
Largo tiempo se ha pensado en las implicaciones toxicológicas de la nanotecnología, sin embargo, es prudente pensar antes del daño que estas partículas hacia nosotros. Como nosotros en nuestro eterno y arrogante egoísmo, utilizaremos estas nuevas tecnologías para hacernos daño. Los rusos unos de los primeros en comentar algo, sin embargo, no me sorprendería que E.U.A, China y otros países más, pudieran dar este mismo tipo de aseveraciones, o hasta unas mas peligrosas.
El Complejo Militar Ruso aplica con éxito la nanotecnología en la producción de armas y materiales de guerra, según informó el vicepresidente del gobierno, Serguei Ivanov.
Ivanov señaló que este campo de la ciencia puede cambiar radicalmente las características de la guerra y añadió que financiaría en su totalidad el trabajo del Complejo Militar Ruso.
Recientemente, el director del Centro de Nanotecnología del Instituto de Energía de Moscú, Andrei Alexeyenko, afirmó que esta especialidad puede destruir, “de forma inteligente”, objetivos móviles, incluidos tanques de combate.
Alexeyenko explicó que se pueden utilizar los dispositivos de menos de un milímetro para formar una nube de cualquier tamaño y poder de destrucción.
El canal de televisión ruso añadió que Moscú está invirtiendo más de 1.100 millones de dólares en el desarrollo de la nanotecnología para hacerse con el liderazgo en el mercado internacional.
Largo tiempo se ha pensado en las implicaciones toxicológicas de la nanotecnología, sin embargo, es prudente pensar antes del daño que estas partículas hacia nosotros. Como nosotros en nuestro eterno y arrogante egoísmo, utilizaremos estas nuevas tecnologías para hacernos daño. Los rusos unos de los primeros en comentar algo, sin embargo, no me sorprendería que E.U.A, China y otros países más, pudieran dar este mismo tipo de aseveraciones, o hasta unas mas peligrosas.
¡Nanoestructuras esféricas que se autoensamblan!
Nicola Armaroli y sus colaboradores del CNR-ISOF, en Bolonia (Italia), y Davide Bonifazi y sus colegas de la Universidad de Trieste (Italia) y la Universidad de Namur (Bélgica), han mostrado que las moléculas pi-conjugadas que disponen de sitios de enlace complementarios para el hidrógeno se pueden autorganizar en nanoestructuras complejas, que parecen sistemas micelares naturales.
Se sabe que la naturaleza crea espectaculares nanoarquitecturas por medio de combinaciones supramoleculares. Con frecuencia se utilizan enlaces de hidrógeno complementarios.Estos enlaces permiten, también, modificar el tamaño y la forma de las nanopartículas. Los enlaces de hidrógeno complementarios promueven la autorganización de las nanopartículas en conjuntos uniformes y permiten, también, que se produzca un cambio morfológico de nanopartícula a vesícula.
Armaroli ha mostrado también que la nanoagrupación se puede invertir con temperatura, lo que sugiere posibles aplicaciones de estas vesículas en la administración molecular.
‘El objetivo final de este trabajo es crear una biblioteca de nanoarquitecturas, que puedan tener posibles aplicaciones como portadores de fármacos en la formación de imágenes biológicas y en dispositivos optoelectrónicos’, señala Armaroli.
No obstante, Armaroli reconoce que uno de los principales retos que hay que superar consiste en lograr diseñar nanoestructuras con la funcionalidad molecular deseada, sin comprometer características clave como la estabilidad química y la fotoluminiscencia.
Publicación Original: Nicola Armaroli et al., Chem. Commun. 2009.
Se sabe que la naturaleza crea espectaculares nanoarquitecturas por medio de combinaciones supramoleculares. Con frecuencia se utilizan enlaces de hidrógeno complementarios.Estos enlaces permiten, también, modificar el tamaño y la forma de las nanopartículas. Los enlaces de hidrógeno complementarios promueven la autorganización de las nanopartículas en conjuntos uniformes y permiten, también, que se produzca un cambio morfológico de nanopartícula a vesícula.
Armaroli ha mostrado también que la nanoagrupación se puede invertir con temperatura, lo que sugiere posibles aplicaciones de estas vesículas en la administración molecular.
‘El objetivo final de este trabajo es crear una biblioteca de nanoarquitecturas, que puedan tener posibles aplicaciones como portadores de fármacos en la formación de imágenes biológicas y en dispositivos optoelectrónicos’, señala Armaroli.
No obstante, Armaroli reconoce que uno de los principales retos que hay que superar consiste en lograr diseñar nanoestructuras con la funcionalidad molecular deseada, sin comprometer características clave como la estabilidad química y la fotoluminiscencia.
Publicación Original: Nicola Armaroli et al., Chem. Commun. 2009.
Grafeno a grafano por métodos quimicos
Un equipo internacional de investigación ha transformado, con éxito, grafeno (láminas de carbono con tan solo una capa de átomos de grosor) en su equivalente hidrogenado: el grafano. Los científicos, del Reino Unido, Rusia y los Países Bajos, señalaron que las propiedades electrónicas aislantes del grafano complementan la conductividad del grafeno, potenciando las perspectivas de la nanoelectrónica basada en el grafeno y las tecnologías de combustible hidrógeno.
Este trabajo es el primero en mostrar que se puede utilizar un enfoque químico para confeccionar a medida las propiedades de un nanomaterial como el grafeno, con el fin de adaptarlo a una aplicación concreta, señala Andre Geim, parte del equipo de la Universidad de Manchester. El equipo utilizó un flujo de átomos de hidrógeno para convertir grafeno en grafano de forma reversible.
Fuente: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/January/29010902.asp
Este trabajo es el primero en mostrar que se puede utilizar un enfoque químico para confeccionar a medida las propiedades de un nanomaterial como el grafeno, con el fin de adaptarlo a una aplicación concreta, señala Andre Geim, parte del equipo de la Universidad de Manchester. El equipo utilizó un flujo de átomos de hidrógeno para convertir grafeno en grafano de forma reversible.
Fuente: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2009/January/29010902.asp
New Guide for Research On Multiblock Polymers Emerges
Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating sequences of
monomers. When more than one monomer type is present and the dissimilar
monomers are organized and chemically bound into "blocks," the resulting
multiblock polymers can serve as the basis for a multitude of
materials, to be used in applications as diverse as tennis shoes and
solar cells. Since the genesis of polymer science in the 1950's, when
scientists had only limited numbers of monomers, and, methods to choose
from in creating multiblock polymers, the field has expanded. Scientists
may now create materials using monomers from a variety of sources, from
petroleum to renewable feedstocks such as sugar or cellulose.
"The Pandora's box is that you have so many monomers that you can put
together and in so many block sequences," said Fredrickson, a professor
of chemical engineering, explaining that the properties will vary
according to sequence and by virtue of the interactions among the
blocks. Because multiblock copolymers can "self-assemble" into
nanometer-sized domains, these materials can exhibit remarkable
combinations of properties, such as soft, strong, and elastic -- as in
tennis shoe soles or skateboard wheels. For higher-tech applications,
the researchers are currently partnering with the company Intel to
develop multiblock polymers that will enable patterning of
microelectronic devices at finer scales and lower cost.
"It is a counting problem," said Fredrickson, referring to the potential for millions of different polymers that could be created with today's chemistry, a number that increases by leaps and bounds for every new block and monomer species added to the selection.
"Our simulation methods for predicting the self-assembled structures of
multiblock polymers are quite advanced, and we are getting better at
relating those nano-structures to the properties of the material," said
Fredrickson. "Multiblock polymers are extremely versatile -- there is
enormous latitude of design freedom, and it's very promising in terms of
developing materials with truly unique properties."
F. S. Bates, M. A. Hillmyer, T. P. Lodge, C. M. Bates, K. T. Delaney, G. H. Fredrickson. Multiblock Polymers: Panacea or Pandora's Box? Science, 2012; 336 (6080): 434 DOI: 10.1126/science.1215368
miércoles, 2 de mayo de 2012
Sodium Sensing in Neurons with a Dendrimer-Based Nanoprobe
Fluorescence imaging is widely used in
biomedical sciences for a large spec- trum of applications ranging from the
morphological analysis of anatomical struc- tures to time-resolved measurements
of intracellular molecular events.
It enables noninvasive probing
of biological processes with high spatial resolution in ex vivo tissue
preparations as well as in whole organisms.
A powerful application of this
technique is the ability to monitor in real- time the complex intracellular fluxes
of ions and metabolites that underlie many essen- tial physiological functions.
But some ions such as Cl-, Na+, K+ are
difficult to measure. Sodium imaging, in particular, is an attrac- tive way of
assessing many fundamental cellular processes, from the transport of small
molecules through epithelial barriers to the integration of complex signals in
the brain, that depend on the transmembrane Na+ gradient. However, the poor
characteristics of available Na+ probes have rendered Na+ imaging an uneasy task. Many strategyes
have been developed, but they are limited in the size of the cell that can be
sensed.
Dendrimers are branched poly-
mers with well-defined sizes and geometry. After several layers of branching,
they make spheres that contain solvent-filled cavities. These structural
features endow them with the ability to encapsulate small guest molecules and
act as nanocontainers. Dendrimer nanocontainers have been extensively used for
drug and gene delivery applications. However, this property has not been used
in molecular imaging yet. In this study, they ested whether a Naþ dye such as CG could be encapsulated in
a dendrimer in order to prolong its intracellular half- life while maintaining
its Naþ response characteristics.They
also assessed whether a Naþ nanoprobe built on this principle could be used to
probe cell functions in thick tissue preparations without disturbing baseline
physiological parameters.
They obtained a sensitive
molecule, that can sense even small concentrations of Na+.
To read more about this work,
search in ACS:
Lamy, Christophe; Sallin,
Oliver. Sodium sensing in Neurons
with a dendrimer-based nanoprobe. ACS NANO Vol 6. No 2. 1176-1187. 2012.
martes, 1 de mayo de 2012
Nano-Enhanced Hybrid Armor
SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc. a leader in SWCNT's production its contributing in the enhancement and enforcement of creating a new armor, with less weight more mobility and with a improved resistance to impact, this for body and vehicle armor.
It've been tested against the most powerful small weapons, “Once it has passed testing, the armor will provide U.S. military and law enforcement personnel better, lighter and less costly armor than has been available before,” explains Kyle Kissell Ph.D, and RSI’s Technical Advisor. “NanoRidge selected SWeNT’s SMW100 after evaluating many different products and believes that its characteristics and commercial scalability will meet the needs of our nation’s protectors while saving lives.”
It've been tested against the most powerful small weapons, “Once it has passed testing, the armor will provide U.S. military and law enforcement personnel better, lighter and less costly armor than has been available before,” explains Kyle Kissell Ph.D, and RSI’s Technical Advisor. “NanoRidge selected SWeNT’s SMW100 after evaluating many different products and believes that its characteristics and commercial scalability will meet the needs of our nation’s protectors while saving lives.”
Source: DefenseReview.com (http://s.tt/13fjN)
Alien nanotechnology
Many reports claim Earth has been visited by intelligent extraterrestrials, but no solid evidence has come forth. It appears that some of the people that dwell on this planet are either nuts or something very strange is going on.
If earth is being used as a type of intergalactic documentary by extraterrestrials, one can imagine that a type of Star Trek Prime Directive is in place. So technological ideas should be thought up by Homo sapiens and not given by some alien race.
This is a very questionable site its a personal webpage with no real sources or fundamental sources, but if you like conspirational theories and ufo's its a "good" opinion about this
for more information follow this link
If earth is being used as a type of intergalactic documentary by extraterrestrials, one can imagine that a type of Star Trek Prime Directive is in place. So technological ideas should be thought up by Homo sapiens and not given by some alien race.
This is a very questionable site its a personal webpage with no real sources or fundamental sources, but if you like conspirational theories and ufo's its a "good" opinion about this
for more information follow this link
Nanotubes sniff out rotting fruit, your dorm room might be next
Jewel-like Nanowires Pretty As Well As Efficient
Engineers at Stanford University have found a way to add these delicate, bulbous decorations to nanowires that are about 1/1000th the width of a human hair. The decorations are could be important to creating more efficient batteries, solar cells and other nanotechnology-enabled inventions in the future. Several research groups have come up with different ways to add tiny hairs, branches, bumps and folds to nanowires. But the new Stanford method is simple, works for wires made of many different materials and loads up the wires with an extra dose of decorations, according to a paper the researchers published April 11 in the journal Nano Letters.
for more information follow this link
for more information follow this link
Microreactor speeds nanotech particle production by 500 times
Engineers at Oregon State University have discovered a new method to speed the production rate of nanoparticles by 500 times, an advance that could play an important role in making nanotechnology products more commercially practical.
The approach uses an arrayed microchannel reactor and a "laminated architecture" in which many sheets, each with thousands of microchannels in them, are stacked in parallel to provide a high volume of production and excellent control of the processes involved.
Applications could be possible in improved sensors, medical imaging, electronics, and even solar energy or biomedical uses when the same strategy is applied to abundant materials such as copper, zinc or tin.
A patent has been applied for, university officials say. The work, just published in the journal Nanotechnology, was done in the research group of Brian Paul, a professor in the OSU School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
For mor information follow this link
the link for more information in the source its down but its saying that this information comes from the university of oregon then it should be real information if it wasn't it could involve legal problems with the publisher of the article
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