Category Archives: Nano Medicine

Public release date: 29-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 619-525-6268 (March 23-28, San Diego Press Center) 202-872-6042

Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 619-525-6268 (March 23-28, San Diego Press Center) 202-872-6293 American Chemical Society

SAN DIEGO, March 29, 2012 To the ranks of horses, donkeys, camels and other animals that have served humanity as pack animals or beasts of burden, scientists are now enlisting bacteria to ferry nano-medicine cargos throughout the human body. They reported on progress in developing these "backpacking" bacteria so small that a million would fit on the head of a pin here today at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.

"Cargo-carrying bacteria may be an answer to a major roadblock in using nano-medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat disease," David H. Gracias, Ph.D., leader of the research team said. Gracias explained that nanotechnology is the engineering of ultra-small machines and other devices. These devices generally lack practical self-sustaining motors to move particles of medication, sensors and other material to diseased parts of the body. So why not attach such cargo to bacteria, which have self-propulsion systems, and have them hike around the human body?

"Currently, it is hard to engineer microparticles or nanoparticles capable of self-propelled motion in well-defined trajectories under biologically relevant conditions," Gracias said. He is with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. "Bacteria can do this easily, and we have established that bacteria can carry cargo."

In addition, bacteria can respond to specific biochemical signals in ways that make it possible to steer them to desired parts of the body. Once there, bacteria can settle down, deposit their cargo and grow naturally. Bacteria already live all over the body, particularly in the large intestine, with bacterial cells outnumbering human cells 10-to-1. Despite their popular reputation as disease-causers, there are bacteria in the human body, especially in the intestinal tract, that are not harmful, and the backpackers fall into that category.

Gracias' bacteria don't really carry little nylon or canvas backpacks. Their "backpacks" are micro- or nano-sized molecules or devices that have useful optical, electrical, magnetic, electrical or medicinal properties. The cargos that the team tested also varied in size, shape and material. So far, the team has loaded beads, nanowires and lithographically fabricated nanostructures onto bacteria.

Other scientists are seeking to enlist bacteria in transporting nano-cargo. They already have established, for instance, that large numbers of bacteria so-called "bacterial carpets" can move tiny objects. Gracias' research focuses on attaching one piece of cargo to an individual bacterium, rather than many bacteria to much larger cargo. The bacteria, termed "biohybrid devices," can still move freely, even with the cargo stuck to them.

"This is very early-stage exploratory research to try and enable new functionalities for medicine at the micro- and nanoscale by leveraging traits from bacteria," explained Gracias. "Our next steps would be to test the feasibility of the backpacking bacteria for diagnosing and treating disease in laboratory experiments. If that proves possible, we would move on to tests in laboratory mice. This could take a few years to complete."

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'Backpacking' bacteria

The University of Miamis biomedical nanotechnology institute got a little closer to finding a cure for blindness and diabetes and improving cancer treatment, thanks to a $7.5 million donation announced Tuesday.

The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation provided the donation. The institute will be renamed in honor of the foundation, which has donated $38 million to medical research and scholarships since 1992, said Kim Greene, the centers executive director.

We think that nanotechnology is on the leading edge of science and medicine, and can literally change peoples lives and upgrade the technology that we currently use for things such as blindness and chemotherapy, Greene said.

Biomedical nanotechnology research involves working with everyday materials such as carbon, but on a nano-scale which is less than one-millionth of a millimeter in size in order to treat and cure medical conditions.

Its extremely small. In fact its getting to the size of molecules, said Dr. Richard J. Cote, director of the institute.

The foundations donation will go in part toward building a clean room in which nano machines and nano devices can be built.

Were talking about something that is much, much cleaner than an operating room in which there is no dust whatsoever, said Cote. Because, you can imagine, when youre working on a very small scale, a piece of dust is like a boulder.

The donation also allows the institute to conduct new research for which there isnt much supporting research making it hard to get funding from more common sources such as the government, Cote said.

The facility, now named the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute, has been around for about three years. It brings together investigators from UMs Miller School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering, and several university departments.

The institute needs to have expertise from a variety of disciplines in order to be comprehensive, Cote said.

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University of Miami’s nanotechnology institute gets $7.5 million donation

It's the largest of events for the smallest of sciences.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will host Nano Days, part of a nationwide festival of nanoscience education programs, from Saturday, March 24, through Sunday, April 1.

Nano Days is organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), and takes place throughout the United States this weekend. This community-based event is billed as the largest public outreach effort in nanoscale informal science education and involves science museums, research centers, and universities from Puerto Rico to Alaska.

A range of exciting Nano Days programs demonstrate the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale, examine tools used by nanoscientists, showcase nano materials with spectacular promise, and invite discussion of technology and society, program organizers said.

Locally, Granite Staters can visit the discovery center to make some of their own nanomaterials using scotch-tape, investigate super thin materials used in solar cell technology, and change the color of a butterfly's wings.

Other activities will include an I Spy Nano game, a look at nano gold, investigations of the properties of sunblock, and the reasons for the rainbow of colors produced by thin film.

At the nanoscale the scale of atoms and molecules many common materials exhibit unusual properties.

Our ability to manipulate matter at this size enables innovations that weren't possible before, program organizers said.

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing research and development in medicine, computer technology, new materials, food, energy, and other areas. Nano will affect our economy, environment, and our personal lives.

Some scientists think that future nanotechnologies and materials could transform our lives as much as cars, personal computers, or the internet.

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Discovery Center takes part in nationwide science festival

Paragon Innovations Helps Diabetics Cut the (Refrigerator) Cord, with Design of New Temperature Control Device

Say goodbye to coolers and ice packs. Available this summer from Kewl Innovations, amazing nano-technology-driven device will keep medicine temps consistent for days.

Paragon has been instrumental in the design of Kewls new product, which is scheduled to hit the market this summer. The small, lightweight device can control and monitor the temperature of medications over several days, making travel easier than ever. With a single charge, the device can ensure medicine is properly refrigerated without a gel pack, ice chest or other bulky and unreliable cooling methods.

Paragon is working with Kewl to leverage several advanced methodologies in the new product, which relies on nanotechnology, advanced software and long-lasting rechargeable batteries.

The development of this product presented a unique challenge. Providing accurate, long-lasting temperature control in a small, portable device requires expertise across multiple engineering disciplines, said Tom Borger, president and chief executive officer for Kewl Innovations, Inc., which is headquartered in Richardson. Paragon attacked this complex problem and is helping us create a product we are excited to take to the marketplace.

The Kewl product will represent a breakthrough in consumer healthcare. It will be the first time a single product has solved three significant problems for individuals who rely upon insulin and similar medications: long-term temperature control, portability in a small format, and extended battery life over several days.

Were always happy to help clients solve their engineering challenges, but this product from Kewl Innovations is particularly exciting, said Michael Wilkinson, chief executive officer for Paragon. With a single device, patients who once felt tethered to their homes and their refrigerators will be given the freedom to travel, without worrying about their medication or their schedule.

About Paragon Innovations A leading engineering and product development services provider, Paragon Innovations, Inc., specializes in medical devices, video displays and portable wireless devices. Founded in 1990, Paragon Innovations has worked with Fortune 500 companies, as well as startup ventures, to provide turn-key electrical, mechanical and industrial design engineering services from concept development to market launch. The company is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.paragoninnovations.com.

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Paragon Innovations Helps Diabetics Cut the (Refrigerator) Cord, with Design of New Temperature Control Device

WEST HOLLYWWOOD, Calif., March16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Today, the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics announced the 2012 recipients of the organization's prestigious Pioneers in Medicine, Technology, and Healthcare Policy Awards. The Society will honor each recipient at the Brain Mapping Foundation's Gala on June 1, 2012 as part of their 9th Annual World Congress in Toronto, Canada.

This year, the Society has selected Andres Lozano from the University of Toronto, Antonio Desalles from the University of California, Los Angeles and George Paxinos from the University of New South Wales to each receive a Pioneer in Medicine Award.The trio is on the forefront of Neuromodulation and Stereotactic-Radiosurgery. Their work has contributed to the understanding of the human brain and enabled scientists and surgeons across the globe to better treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease.

The Pioneer in Medicine Award is presented to individuals who have significantly contributed to scientific advancements in the fields of medicine and image guided therapy through a multi-disciplinary approach. Their groundbreaking contributions have led to the development of state-of- the-art technology.

George Paxinos has pioneered stereotaxic (3D) mapping in animal models, which enabled neuroscientists and neurosurgeons around the globe to learn more about the basic science of the brain and push conventional boundaries in clinical neuroscience. Antonio Desalles has contributed significantly to the frameless stereotactic radiosurgery technology and broken new grounds in the use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Andres Lozano is highly regarded as one of the authorities in the field of DBS. He has broken new grounds in treatment of Depression, Obesity and Alzheimer Diseases using DBS.

"These scientists truly have advanced our understanding about the brain in a fundamental ways; their work has significantly contributed to introduction of new therapies for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease, Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders," states Babak Kateb, Founding Chairman of the Board of SBMT and President of Brain Mapping Foundation, and Director of National Center for Nano-Bio-Electronics, Research Scientist, Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, CA, USA.

The Pioneer in Healthcare Policy Award is presented to lawmakers who have demonstrated visionary policies laws that have contributed to the advancement of science, technology, education, and medicine. The past recipient of this prestigious award include Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (2011), Senator Harry Reid (2010), Senator Ted Kennedy and Madam Speaker Pelosi (2009) and Governor Schwarzenegger (2008).

This year Canadian MP, the Honorable Kirsty Duncan, will receive the Pioneer in Healthcare Policy Award for creating legislations, which has impacted research funding and better healthcare delivery in Canada. Her legislative work contributed significantly support for patients with neurological disorders in Canada and global collaboration in this area in order to expedite introduction of new therapies.

"Not only do her sound healthcare policies impact millions of people in Canada, they also provide a model for present and future generations. We are truly honored to recognize one of the best advocates of brain research in Canada," states Mike Chen, President of SBMT and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at City of Hope National Comprehensive Cancer Center, CA, USA.

Kevin Lobo, Orthopedics Group President from Stryker Corporation, will be accepting a Pioneer in Technology Development from the Society on behalf of the Stryker Corporation, which has contributed to introduction of new devices, technologies and significantly contributed to therapies of neurological disorders. The Pioneer in Technology Award is presented to trailblazing companies and their CEOs/presidents who have facilitated the development of pioneering technologies through interdisciplinary approaches that have impacted diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare delivery in unprecedented ways.

"The awards committee has been impressed with pioneering work done by Stryker Corporation to address health disparities. We hope Stryker continues its contribution to the field and support game-changing medical research with cutting edge technology that could one day turn into restorative solutions for patient with neurological disorders," said Shouleh Nikzad, member of the board of directors of SBMT and Brain Mapping Foundation, Co-chair of the Award Committee, and Lead, Advanced UV/Vis/NIR Detector Arrays and Imaging Systems, and Nanoscience Group, Strategic Initiative on Gigapixel Focal Plane Arrays, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, CA, USA.

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Top Scientists from US, Canada, and Australia, Member of the Canadian Parliament and Stryker Executive to be Honored ...

Printing three dimensional objects with incredibly fine details is now possible using two-photon lithography. With this technology, tiny structures on a nanometer scale can be fabricated.

Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) have made a breakthrough in speeding up this printing technique: Their high-precision-3D-printer is claimed to be orders of magnitude faster than similar devices, as this video shows.

The scientists say that this achievement enables new application areas, such as in medicine. The 3D printer uses a liquid resin, which is hardened at precisely the correct spots by a focused laser beam. The focal point of the laser beam is guided through the resin by movable mirrors and leaves behind a hardened line of solid polymer, just a few hundred nanometers wide.

This high resolution enables the creation of intricately structured sculptures as tiny as a grain of sand. Until now, this technique used to be quite slow, says Professor Jrgen Stampfl from the Institute of Materials Science and Technology at the TU Vienna. The typical printing speed used to be measured in millimeters per second but now our device can print five meters in one second.

In two-photon lithography, this is a world record achievement.

Jan Torgersen, also working at the TU Vienna, continues, This amazing progress was made possible by combining several new ideas. It was crucial to improve the steering mechanism of the mirrors.

The mirrors are continuously in motion during the printing process. The acceleration and deceleration-periods have to be tuned precisely to achieve high-resolution results at the record-breaking speed.

Photoactive molecules harden resin

Torgersen adds that 3D-printing is not all about mechanics: Chemists had a crucial role to play in this project too. The resin contains molecules that are activated by the laser light, which induce a chain reaction in other components of the resin, the monomers, and turn them into a solid.

These initiator molecules are only activated if they absorb precisely two photons of the laser beam at once and this only happens in the center of the laser beam, where the intensity is highest.

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‘World beating’ 3D printer enables nano-precision