NEWSWORTHY
Nano spending adjustment
According to Cientific, governments will be spending nearly $10 billion on nanotechnology research in 2009, but despite this huge figure government spending has begun to slow down. Spending will only grow by 9.3% from 2008-2012 compared with the 130% increase witnessed from 2004-2008. Countries are now emphasizing the importance of application-driven research in this emerging field.
See NanoTech Wire, May 1, 2009.
Portable x-ray
Researchers from the Advanced Defect-Characterization Research Group, the
Research Institute of Instrumentation Frontier of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), In cooperation with Dialight Japan Co., Ltd. and Life Technology Research Institute, Inc., has developed practical portable X-ray sources with a cold-cathode electron source using carbon nanostructures.
See Nanowerk, April 24, 2009.
Diabetes alert
Chinese researchers from Nankai U in Tianjin have developed polymer nanoparticles that can release insulin in response to changes in glucose concentration, creating a potential treatment for diabetes.
See Chemistry World, May 7, 2009.
STD alert
Researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have now designed a unique method for inducing immunity to chlamydia infection. The findings could accelerate progress toward the development of a vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Their study described the use of a novel vaccine platform that utilizes an engineered nanoparticle delivery system.
See Eureka Alert, April 29, 2009 and PLoS ONE, April 30 ,2009.
NIOSH updates on workplace safety
The document, Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology, reiterates the agency's recommendation that employers take measures to control occupational exposure in the manufacture and industrial use of engineered nanomaterials.
See Risk and Insurance, May 4, 2009 and NIOSH
New vaccines
Liquidia Technologies presented data at the National Foundation of Infectious Disease (NFID) Annual Meeting which supports new insight into a technology that could provide more safe and effective vaccines for a wide variety of diseases. Results of the study show that the desired immune response elicited by a vaccine can be enhanced up to 10-fold when the vaccine protein is linked to nano-particles of a particular size and shape.
See Press Release, April 28 2009.
More cancer and gold
Researchers at MIT claim to have developed tiny gold particles that can home in on tumors, and then, by absorbing energy from near-infrared light and emitting it as heat, destroy tumors with minimal side effects.
See MIT News, May 4, 2009.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Aussies push for nano lableling
The Minister for Science and Medical Research for the NSW Government will push for national mandatory labeling of nano-sized particles used in workplaces and improved testing facilities to assess the safety of new nanomaterials.
See Sydney Morning News, May 5, 2009.
STAPH infections targeted
Researchers at Yeshiva U have combined their revolutionary new drug-delivery system involving biocompatible nanoparticles with a powerful antimicrobial agent to treat potentially deadly drug-resistant staph infections in mice.
See Press Release and April 30, 2009 and Journal of Investigative Dermatology, April 23, 2009.
INTEL And Saudis sign agreement
Intel and King Abdul-Aziz City of Science and Technology (KACST), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a collaborative research agreement to establish CENA, a world-class Center of Excellence in Nano-manufacturing Applications.
See AMEInfo, April 27, 2009.
Using nano to combat drug resistance
Researchers at Northeastern U combine two different anticancer agents in one nanoscale construct, providing a one-two punch that can prove lethal to such resistant cells. The nanoemulsion entraps both paclitaxel and curcumin.
See NCI News, April 2009 and Molecular Pharmaceutics, March 11, 2009.
Nano and bladder regeneration
Brown U researcher are using nanotechnology is in regenerative medicine, particularly by creating nanometer pores and associated nanometer surface features to improve bladder tissue growth while inhibiting bladder calcium stone formation, which is a common disease affecting 5.2% of adults in the US with a high rate of recurrence.
See NanotechWeb, April 23, 2009.
EU student outreach
NANOYOU will design and undertake a communication and outreach program in nanotechnology (NT) aimed at European youth. The project will reach 11-18 year olds through school programs to take place in at least 20 EU Member States and Associated States. Additional programs aimed at young adults aged 19-25 will be offered in science centers.
See ZSI Release, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
SEPARATING THE HYPE AND THE BUZZ - Wednesday, April 15, 2009
BREAKTHROUGH
Nanoscale rings
Researchers at Cal Tech and Berkeley report a direct catalytic route for making nanoscale rings with potential applications in drug delivery and organic photovoltaic devices.
See C&EN, April 20, 2009 and J Am Chem Soc.
Nanoparticle thin films
Researchers at MIT have used capillary condensation to functionalize inorganic nanoparticle coatings that could be used to make transparent thin films for applications like imaging devices and memory storage. The technique also bypasses the need for toxic, co-solvents during processing.
See NanotechWeb, April 24, 2009.
NEWSWORTHY
Australian trade union demand nano-registry
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling for a mandatory national register of who is importing, manufacturing, supplying and selling nanomaterials.
See Sydney Morning News, April 13, 2009.
Printable electronics
Researchers from ETH Zurich report a new technique that uses flame spray synthesis in combination with a simple in-situ functionalization step to synthesize graphene coated copper nanoparticles which are air-stable and can be easily handled at ambient conditions.
See Nanowerk, April 24, 2009.
Flexible batteries using viruses
Researchers at MIT use viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a battery, the cathode and anode. The virus was coaxed into binding with iron phosphate and then carbon nanotubes to create a highly conductive material. While the prototype battery is currently the size of a coin, the scientists believe it can be scaled and be used to create flexible batteries that can take the shape of their container, which is perfect for mobile or small devices.
See BBC News, April 2, 2009.
Solar cells using diatoms
Researchers at OSU and Portland State U have created a new way to make "dye-sensitized" solar cells using diatoms, in which photons bounce around like they were in a pinball machine, striking these dyes and producing electricity. This technology may be slightly more expensive than some existing approaches to make dye-sensitized solar cells, but can potentially triple the electrical output.
See Science Daily, April 9, 2009.
Solar advances using reisdue
Researcher from Northeastern U and NIST discovered, serendipitously, that a residue of a process used to build arrays of titania nanotubes-a residue that wasn't even noticed before this-plays an important role in improving the performance of the nanotubes in solar cells that produce hydrogen gas from water. By controlling the deposition of potassium on the surface of the nanotubes, engineers can achieve significant energy savings in a promising new alternate energy system.
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
Gas storage
Researchers at the Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences report using molecular dynamics to model the behavior of a lock and fill nanocapsule. The closed-cage design could offer a safe and effective way of storing gases such as methane under normal conditions.
See NanotechWeb, March 17, 2009.
Oil from algae
Researchers from Ames and Iowa State U. reportedly developed "nanofarming" technology that safely harvests oil from the algae so the pond-based "crop" can keep on producing.
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
Nano-aviation
Researchers from Canada’s FP Innovations have unveiled plans for a factory that will use nanotechnology to extract cellulose from wood and use it to form composite materials for airplanes.
See Blog Wired, April 24, 2009
LISTERIA sensor
Researchers from Purdue and IIT are reporting development of a new biosensor for use in a faster, more sensitive test for detecting the deadliest strain of Listeria food poisoning bacteria.
See Nanowerk, April 22, 2009
and
Analytical Chemsitry, March 24, 2009.
Silver working group
The Silver Institute and the Silver Research Consortium announced the formation of the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG). The SNWG is an industry effort intended to foster the collection of data on silver nanotechnology in order to advance the science and public understanding of the beneficial uses of silver nanoparticles in a wide-range of consumer and industrial products
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
EU “No data, no market"
The European Parliament's environment committee this week adopted a report by Swedish Green MEP Carl Schlyter which calls for tighter controls on nanotechnology, including the application of the 'no data, no market' principle contained in the REACH Directive. The own-initiative, non-binding report calls for products containing nanotechnology which are already on the market to be withdrawn until safety assessments can be made.
See EuroActiv, April 2, 2009.
EU finds PPPs for green revolution 2
€1.2 billion will be earmarked for R&D as part of the Factories for the Future programme; €1 billion will be dedicated to researching energy efficient buildings; and the much-vaunted Green Car Initiative is worth a total of €5 billion. The first calls for research projects linked to these PPPs are expected in July 2009, with the Commission keen to see the first projects underway in spring 2010.
See EuChemMS Brussels News Update, May 2009.
Russia investing in Canadian nano
According to Canwest News Service, a state-owned Russian venture capital fund is poised to pump millions of dollars into Canada's fledgling nanotechnology industry. The fund is RUSNANO and is one of the largest technology capital funds on the planet.
See Nanowerk, April 13, 2009.
Clinical study announced
NanoBio Corp. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the Phase 1 clinical study of NB-1008, a seasonal influenza vaccine administered via a nasal dropper.
See Nanowerk, April 24, 2009.
Cancer and gold nanorods
Researcher at U Missouri announced a systematic investigation on the design and development of targeted gold nanorods. A recent result of this work has been the design of a novel peptide-based nanovector for carrying drug payloads to cancer sites.
See Nanowerk, April 15, 2009 and Nano Letters, April 7, 2009
Melanoma research using gold nanospheres
UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and the Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston reported using hollow gold nanospheres to enhance the cell-killing effects of photothermal ablation. The researchers equipped the nanospheres with a protein fragment that targets melanoma cells while avoiding healthy skin cells. When exposed to near-infrared light, which penetrates deeply through the skin, the nanospheres heat up and destroy the cancer cells.
See NanotechWeb. April 24, 2009.
Breast cancer biomarkers
Researchers at Duke U have demonstrated multiplexed detection of breast cancer biomarkers using structures dubbed "molecular sentinel" (MS) nanoprobes.
See NanotechWeb, May 19, 2009.and Nanotechnology. February 11, 2009.
Orthopedics and dentistry drug delivery
Titanium dioxide nanotubes might be incorporated into orthopaedic or dental implants to deliver drugs in a local area over a period of several weeks. So say researchers at the universities of California, San Francisco, and Pennsylvania State who have shown that the nanotubes can release albumin, a large protein molecule, as well as sirolimus and paclitaxel, common small molecule drugs.
See NanotechWeb, April 3, 2009.
Nanogenerators
Researchers at Georgia Tech and U Wisconsin-Madison announced an advance in nanogenerators. Nanoscale generators can turn ambient mechanical energy--vibrations, fluid flow, and even biological movement—into a power source. Now researchers have combined a nanogenerator with a solar cell to create an integrated mechanical- and solar-energy-harvesting device.
See Technology Review, April 9, 2009.
NCSU battery research
Researchers from North Carolina State University are using an industrially viable electrospinning technique and subsequent carbonization processes to fabricate porous carbon nanofibres (PCNFs). These prepared PCNFs can provide fast lithium charge/discharge kinetics.
See NanotechWeb, April 24, 2009 and Nanotechnology.
Chemical sensors
Imperial College researchers announced developments in metallic nanostructure sensing involving a device that could be tailored to detect different chemicals by decorating the nanostructure surface with specific 'molecular traps' that bind the chosen target molecules. Once bound, the target molecules would change the colors that the device absorbs and scatters, alerting the sensor to their presence.
See Science Daily, April 13, 2009.
No more painful injections
The end of deep, painful vaccine injections is in sight. One of the first widespread applications of nanotechnology in medicine could be a painless, needle-free vaccine "nanopatch" being developed by Australian scientists.
See Sydney Morning News, April 23, 2009
Indian nano degree
Maitreyi College, Delhi University, will be offering a full-time postgraduate diploma in nanotechnology from this academic year.
See The Times of India, April 6, 2009.
Nanoscale rings
Researchers at Cal Tech and Berkeley report a direct catalytic route for making nanoscale rings with potential applications in drug delivery and organic photovoltaic devices.
See C&EN, April 20, 2009 and J Am Chem Soc.
Nanoparticle thin films
Researchers at MIT have used capillary condensation to functionalize inorganic nanoparticle coatings that could be used to make transparent thin films for applications like imaging devices and memory storage. The technique also bypasses the need for toxic, co-solvents during processing.
See NanotechWeb, April 24, 2009.
NEWSWORTHY
Australian trade union demand nano-registry
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling for a mandatory national register of who is importing, manufacturing, supplying and selling nanomaterials.
See Sydney Morning News, April 13, 2009.
Printable electronics
Researchers from ETH Zurich report a new technique that uses flame spray synthesis in combination with a simple in-situ functionalization step to synthesize graphene coated copper nanoparticles which are air-stable and can be easily handled at ambient conditions.
See Nanowerk, April 24, 2009.
Flexible batteries using viruses
Researchers at MIT use viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a battery, the cathode and anode. The virus was coaxed into binding with iron phosphate and then carbon nanotubes to create a highly conductive material. While the prototype battery is currently the size of a coin, the scientists believe it can be scaled and be used to create flexible batteries that can take the shape of their container, which is perfect for mobile or small devices.
See BBC News, April 2, 2009.
Solar cells using diatoms
Researchers at OSU and Portland State U have created a new way to make "dye-sensitized" solar cells using diatoms, in which photons bounce around like they were in a pinball machine, striking these dyes and producing electricity. This technology may be slightly more expensive than some existing approaches to make dye-sensitized solar cells, but can potentially triple the electrical output.
See Science Daily, April 9, 2009.
Solar advances using reisdue
Researcher from Northeastern U and NIST discovered, serendipitously, that a residue of a process used to build arrays of titania nanotubes-a residue that wasn't even noticed before this-plays an important role in improving the performance of the nanotubes in solar cells that produce hydrogen gas from water. By controlling the deposition of potassium on the surface of the nanotubes, engineers can achieve significant energy savings in a promising new alternate energy system.
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
Gas storage
Researchers at the Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences report using molecular dynamics to model the behavior of a lock and fill nanocapsule. The closed-cage design could offer a safe and effective way of storing gases such as methane under normal conditions.
See NanotechWeb, March 17, 2009.
Oil from algae
Researchers from Ames and Iowa State U. reportedly developed "nanofarming" technology that safely harvests oil from the algae so the pond-based "crop" can keep on producing.
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
Nano-aviation
Researchers from Canada’s FP Innovations have unveiled plans for a factory that will use nanotechnology to extract cellulose from wood and use it to form composite materials for airplanes.
See Blog Wired, April 24, 2009
LISTERIA sensor
Researchers from Purdue and IIT are reporting development of a new biosensor for use in a faster, more sensitive test for detecting the deadliest strain of Listeria food poisoning bacteria.
See Nanowerk, April 22, 2009
and
Analytical Chemsitry, March 24, 2009.
Silver working group
The Silver Institute and the Silver Research Consortium announced the formation of the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG). The SNWG is an industry effort intended to foster the collection of data on silver nanotechnology in order to advance the science and public understanding of the beneficial uses of silver nanoparticles in a wide-range of consumer and industrial products
See AtoZ Nano, April 24, 2009.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
EU “No data, no market"
The European Parliament's environment committee this week adopted a report by Swedish Green MEP Carl Schlyter which calls for tighter controls on nanotechnology, including the application of the 'no data, no market' principle contained in the REACH Directive. The own-initiative, non-binding report calls for products containing nanotechnology which are already on the market to be withdrawn until safety assessments can be made.
See EuroActiv, April 2, 2009.
EU finds PPPs for green revolution 2
€1.2 billion will be earmarked for R&D as part of the Factories for the Future programme; €1 billion will be dedicated to researching energy efficient buildings; and the much-vaunted Green Car Initiative is worth a total of €5 billion. The first calls for research projects linked to these PPPs are expected in July 2009, with the Commission keen to see the first projects underway in spring 2010.
See EuChemMS Brussels News Update, May 2009.
Russia investing in Canadian nano
According to Canwest News Service, a state-owned Russian venture capital fund is poised to pump millions of dollars into Canada's fledgling nanotechnology industry. The fund is RUSNANO and is one of the largest technology capital funds on the planet.
See Nanowerk, April 13, 2009.
Clinical study announced
NanoBio Corp. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the Phase 1 clinical study of NB-1008, a seasonal influenza vaccine administered via a nasal dropper.
See Nanowerk, April 24, 2009.
Cancer and gold nanorods
Researcher at U Missouri announced a systematic investigation on the design and development of targeted gold nanorods. A recent result of this work has been the design of a novel peptide-based nanovector for carrying drug payloads to cancer sites.
See Nanowerk, April 15, 2009 and Nano Letters, April 7, 2009
Melanoma research using gold nanospheres
UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and the Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston reported using hollow gold nanospheres to enhance the cell-killing effects of photothermal ablation. The researchers equipped the nanospheres with a protein fragment that targets melanoma cells while avoiding healthy skin cells. When exposed to near-infrared light, which penetrates deeply through the skin, the nanospheres heat up and destroy the cancer cells.
See NanotechWeb. April 24, 2009.
Breast cancer biomarkers
Researchers at Duke U have demonstrated multiplexed detection of breast cancer biomarkers using structures dubbed "molecular sentinel" (MS) nanoprobes.
See NanotechWeb, May 19, 2009.and Nanotechnology. February 11, 2009.
Orthopedics and dentistry drug delivery
Titanium dioxide nanotubes might be incorporated into orthopaedic or dental implants to deliver drugs in a local area over a period of several weeks. So say researchers at the universities of California, San Francisco, and Pennsylvania State who have shown that the nanotubes can release albumin, a large protein molecule, as well as sirolimus and paclitaxel, common small molecule drugs.
See NanotechWeb, April 3, 2009.
Nanogenerators
Researchers at Georgia Tech and U Wisconsin-Madison announced an advance in nanogenerators. Nanoscale generators can turn ambient mechanical energy--vibrations, fluid flow, and even biological movement—into a power source. Now researchers have combined a nanogenerator with a solar cell to create an integrated mechanical- and solar-energy-harvesting device.
See Technology Review, April 9, 2009.
NCSU battery research
Researchers from North Carolina State University are using an industrially viable electrospinning technique and subsequent carbonization processes to fabricate porous carbon nanofibres (PCNFs). These prepared PCNFs can provide fast lithium charge/discharge kinetics.
See NanotechWeb, April 24, 2009 and Nanotechnology.
Chemical sensors
Imperial College researchers announced developments in metallic nanostructure sensing involving a device that could be tailored to detect different chemicals by decorating the nanostructure surface with specific 'molecular traps' that bind the chosen target molecules. Once bound, the target molecules would change the colors that the device absorbs and scatters, alerting the sensor to their presence.
See Science Daily, April 13, 2009.
No more painful injections
The end of deep, painful vaccine injections is in sight. One of the first widespread applications of nanotechnology in medicine could be a painless, needle-free vaccine "nanopatch" being developed by Australian scientists.
See Sydney Morning News, April 23, 2009
Indian nano degree
Maitreyi College, Delhi University, will be offering a full-time postgraduate diploma in nanotechnology from this academic year.
See The Times of India, April 6, 2009.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
SEPARATING THE HYPE AND THE BUZZ - Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Toxicity testing quandary
U. Minnesota and U. British Columbia researchers reported if all existing nanomaterials were to be tested for toxicity, it would cost U.S. industries between $249 million and $1.18 billion, but the testing could take as long as 53 years at current levels of investment. Does this mean we need a bigger investment in toxicity testing or find new ways to test nanomaterials or both? (See ES&T DOI 10.1021/es802388s) See ACS Publications.
New way to test for inhalation
Scientists at the University of Bern and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich designed a sealed glove box system where nanoparticles are simultaneously made in aerosol form and then deposited onto lung tissue cells. See RSC.
Green nanomaterials
Researchers are creating green nanomaterials, with an eye toward their hazards as well as cleanup potentials and pitfalls. (See ES&T, 43:5, 2009, 1247-1249) See ACS Publications.
Cancer gene therapy
Cancer Research UK scientists have for the first time developed a treatment that transports 'tumor busting' genes selectively to cancer cells (mice study). See Cancer Research UK .
More cancer gene therapy
U London School of Pharmacy reports a way to switch off cancer-causing genes and trigger cell death. It is based on nanotubes used to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) directly into the tumor mass, which it is hoped will have a significant impact in the battle against lung cancer. See Pharmacy Europe.
Pesticide applications
Cornell U researchers how found a way to apply pesticides by encapsulating them in biodegradable nanofibers, which keeps then intact until needed and minimizes loss to drift or being washed away from the plants they are intended to protect. See Cornell Chronicle.
GATES foundation and NSF
The Gates Foundation money will be used to bring in researchers from around the world, particularly developing countries. The new program is called BREAD, Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development. NSF Program Director Deborah Delmer said it will cast a wide net for new ideas and approaches to common problems like poor soil quality, crops that spoil during storage and plant strains that wilt in today's heat — and may fare even worse as climate change raises the planet's temperature. See The Seattle Times.
FDA – Texas consortium announced
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of a nanotechnology initiative in collaboration with the eight Texas academic institutions that make up the Houston-based Alliance for NanoHealth. (These include Rice U, the U of Texas, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.) See Technology Review.
EU cosmetics regulations in the horizon
Parliament approved an update of EU legislation on cosmetics when it votes on a first-reading agreement thrashed out between EP and Council representatives. The basic aim of the new regulation is to remove legal uncertainties and inconsistencies, while increasing the safety of cosmetics. Parliament's amendments add further improvements, especially regarding the claims companies make for their products and the safety of nanomaterials used in cosmetics. See European Parliament.
Sunscreens allegations
U Toledo researchers found nano-titanium dioxide used in personal care products reduced biological roles of bacteria after less than an hour of exposure. Utah State U and U Utah researchers found beneficial soil bacteria cannot tolerate silver, copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Both presented at ACS meeting in Salt Lake City. See Environmental Health News.
HONORABLE MENTION
Paper for electronic devices
Kyoto University researchers made transparent paper from nanosized cellulose fibers (renewable) as alternative to glass and polymers in electronic devices. Findings were presented at the Salt Lake ACS meeting. See C & EN.
EU nanofood concern
In a legislative report dealing with an update of the EU rules on novel foods, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to interdict the placing on the market of food derived from cloned animals and their descendants. MEPs also want food being produced by nanotechnology processes to undergo a specific risk assessment before being approved for use and be labeled. See European Parliament.
Saudis new nano company
Saudis open the Saudi Nanotechnology Company. According to chairman Prince Bader Bin Saud said the firm would provide the Kingdom with a means of keeping pace with worldwide developments in nanotechnology, rather than it having to rely on foreign research. See Arabian Business.
HYPE alert
Check the Mental Floss website, for How to Destroy Civilization with Nanotechnology" directed by Ransom Riggs. WIRED Science reports: Several teams of social scientists are hard at work, trying to answer that question, and movies like this could turn their world upside down. Nice rhetoric but hardly. See Wired Science.
Tunneling nanotubes
Glowing infectious proteins called prions move through a network of mouse brain cells linked by tunneling nanotubes. Experiments are revealing that the tiny threads ferry both beneficial and harmful cargo between cells. See Science News.
China's nano-speakers
Tsinghua U. used a slim film of see-through plastic to transform almost any surface into an auditorium. It is made from nanocarbon tubes which, when heated, make the air around them vibrate, producing the sound. See Guardian.co.uk.
Nanolub
NanoLub has produced a nanotechnology-based (tungsten disulfide)lubricant which can enhance compression efficiency and a reduction of over 5% in fuel consumption of the vehicles. See A to Z Nano.
U. Minnesota and U. British Columbia researchers reported if all existing nanomaterials were to be tested for toxicity, it would cost U.S. industries between $249 million and $1.18 billion, but the testing could take as long as 53 years at current levels of investment. Does this mean we need a bigger investment in toxicity testing or find new ways to test nanomaterials or both? (See ES&T DOI 10.1021/es802388s) See ACS Publications.
New way to test for inhalation
Scientists at the University of Bern and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich designed a sealed glove box system where nanoparticles are simultaneously made in aerosol form and then deposited onto lung tissue cells. See RSC.
Green nanomaterials
Researchers are creating green nanomaterials, with an eye toward their hazards as well as cleanup potentials and pitfalls. (See ES&T, 43:5, 2009, 1247-1249) See ACS Publications.
Cancer gene therapy
Cancer Research UK scientists have for the first time developed a treatment that transports 'tumor busting' genes selectively to cancer cells (mice study). See Cancer Research UK .
More cancer gene therapy
U London School of Pharmacy reports a way to switch off cancer-causing genes and trigger cell death. It is based on nanotubes used to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) directly into the tumor mass, which it is hoped will have a significant impact in the battle against lung cancer. See Pharmacy Europe.
Pesticide applications
Cornell U researchers how found a way to apply pesticides by encapsulating them in biodegradable nanofibers, which keeps then intact until needed and minimizes loss to drift or being washed away from the plants they are intended to protect. See Cornell Chronicle.
GATES foundation and NSF
The Gates Foundation money will be used to bring in researchers from around the world, particularly developing countries. The new program is called BREAD, Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development. NSF Program Director Deborah Delmer said it will cast a wide net for new ideas and approaches to common problems like poor soil quality, crops that spoil during storage and plant strains that wilt in today's heat — and may fare even worse as climate change raises the planet's temperature. See The Seattle Times.
FDA – Texas consortium announced
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of a nanotechnology initiative in collaboration with the eight Texas academic institutions that make up the Houston-based Alliance for NanoHealth. (These include Rice U, the U of Texas, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.) See Technology Review.
EU cosmetics regulations in the horizon
Parliament approved an update of EU legislation on cosmetics when it votes on a first-reading agreement thrashed out between EP and Council representatives. The basic aim of the new regulation is to remove legal uncertainties and inconsistencies, while increasing the safety of cosmetics. Parliament's amendments add further improvements, especially regarding the claims companies make for their products and the safety of nanomaterials used in cosmetics. See European Parliament.
Sunscreens allegations
U Toledo researchers found nano-titanium dioxide used in personal care products reduced biological roles of bacteria after less than an hour of exposure. Utah State U and U Utah researchers found beneficial soil bacteria cannot tolerate silver, copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Both presented at ACS meeting in Salt Lake City. See Environmental Health News.
HONORABLE MENTION
Paper for electronic devices
Kyoto University researchers made transparent paper from nanosized cellulose fibers (renewable) as alternative to glass and polymers in electronic devices. Findings were presented at the Salt Lake ACS meeting. See C & EN.
EU nanofood concern
In a legislative report dealing with an update of the EU rules on novel foods, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to interdict the placing on the market of food derived from cloned animals and their descendants. MEPs also want food being produced by nanotechnology processes to undergo a specific risk assessment before being approved for use and be labeled. See European Parliament.
Saudis new nano company
Saudis open the Saudi Nanotechnology Company. According to chairman Prince Bader Bin Saud said the firm would provide the Kingdom with a means of keeping pace with worldwide developments in nanotechnology, rather than it having to rely on foreign research. See Arabian Business.
HYPE alert
Check the Mental Floss website, for How to Destroy Civilization with Nanotechnology" directed by Ransom Riggs. WIRED Science reports: Several teams of social scientists are hard at work, trying to answer that question, and movies like this could turn their world upside down. Nice rhetoric but hardly. See Wired Science.
Tunneling nanotubes
Glowing infectious proteins called prions move through a network of mouse brain cells linked by tunneling nanotubes. Experiments are revealing that the tiny threads ferry both beneficial and harmful cargo between cells. See Science News.
China's nano-speakers
Tsinghua U. used a slim film of see-through plastic to transform almost any surface into an auditorium. It is made from nanocarbon tubes which, when heated, make the air around them vibrate, producing the sound. See Guardian.co.uk.
Nanolub
NanoLub has produced a nanotechnology-based (tungsten disulfide)lubricant which can enhance compression efficiency and a reduction of over 5% in fuel consumption of the vehicles. See A to Z Nano.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Separating the Hype and the Buzz-- Tuesday, March 17, 2009
NEWSWORTHY
Nano biofuels
QuantumSphere, Inc. today announced that it was awarded a research grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a process using nanocatalysts to convert biomass into biofuels. See Nanowerk.
EFSA Nanofood report
The European Food Safety Authority has concluded its assessment of the potential risks of nanotechnologies for food and feed, stating that a cautious, case-by-case approach is needed as many uncertainties remain over its safe use. See FoodNavigator.
Japanese guidelines
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment released guidelines on March 10, 2009, with the intent of reducing the risk of environmental harm from nanomaterials. See Merid.
Russia takes action on nanosafety
The Russian agency for Health and Consumer Rights and the Russian Corporation for Nanotechnologies signed an agreement to provide mutual systematic, scientific and technical support in validation and confirmation of nanoproducts safety, implementation of nanotechnologies and creation of nanotechnological production. See A to Z Nano.
Emission based energy
Very interesting piece on turning emissions of Co2 into using carbon nanotubes. U. Messina team describes the process in length. See European Commission.
Nano methane
A Penn State team wants to use captures CO2 to produce methane. The process involves used arrays of nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes. See A to Z nano.
Nano solar
Researchers at Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta have engineered an approach that is leading to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). See A to Z nano.
Nano-ethanol
A Iowa State University researchers are working to produce clean, renewable energy by developing a new, low-emissions burner and a new catalyst for ethanol production using carbon based nanoparticles. See Nanowerk.
Impact of toxicity testing
Interesting article on the costs of toxicity testing for regulation. “for the United States that costs for testing existing nanoparticles ranges from $249 million for optimistic assumptions about nanoparticle hazards (i.e., they are primarily safe and mainly require simpler screening assays) to $1.18 billion for a more comprehensive precautionary approach”. See Environmental Science & Technology.
FDA initiative in nanomedicine
The FDA announced the creation of a nanotechnology initiative in collaboration with the eight Texas academic institutions that make up the Houston-based Alliance for NanoHealth. The FDA's announcement describes the initiative's goal as "to help speed development of safe and effective medical products.” This is something worth watching. See Technology Review.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Africa - Japan effort
South Africa and Japan discussing cooperation on biosciences, energy, climate change, space science, astronomy and nanotechnology. See All Africa.
OECD vision paper
The Business and Industry Advisory Committee's Expert Group on Nanotechnology recently issued a "vision paper" with the above title, with the goal of identifying "strategic priorities from the perspective of the OECD Business Community. See the Responsible Development of Nanotechnology report.
Life cycle study
Ohio State researchers completed a study on the life cycle energetic implications of carbon nanofiber reinforced polymer nanocomposite materials. See Environmental Science & Technology.
Nano rainmaking
Researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have discovered a novel one dimensional ice chain structure built from pentagons that may prove to be a step toward the development of new materials which can be used to seed clouds and cause rain. See Nanowerk.
Nano aids treatment?
Hungary’s Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. announced its DermaVir Patch, a nanomedicine grounded treatment for HIV/AIDS. "Proof of concept" for the immunological and antiviral activities of Genetic Immunity's product was demonstrated in infected macaques, some of them with advanced stages of AIDS. See CNN.
Plant uptake
Clemson team reporting on research studying the uptake of nanoparticles by rice plants. See Nanowerk.
Nano-plumbing
Duke U. engineers demonstrate carbon buckyballs may be able to keep the nation's water pipes clear in the same way clot-busting drugs prevent arteries from clogging up. See Physorg.com.
Airplane safety
MIT team argues nanocarbon tubes stitched together to produce aerospace materials could make airplane skins and other products some 10 times stronger at a nominal increase in cost. See Nanotech Now.
Green nano
Interesting ES&T article on the promises of green nanotechnology.
Regulation dissertation
Hansen’s dissertation (from DTU) is available for download. I have been watching Steffan’s work for some time now. He is a bright young mind in the nano SEIN field.
Biomass to produce carbontube
Japanese team developed a new method for producing ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles from lignin. See Nanowerk.
Nano biofuels
QuantumSphere, Inc. today announced that it was awarded a research grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a process using nanocatalysts to convert biomass into biofuels. See Nanowerk.
EFSA Nanofood report
The European Food Safety Authority has concluded its assessment of the potential risks of nanotechnologies for food and feed, stating that a cautious, case-by-case approach is needed as many uncertainties remain over its safe use. See FoodNavigator.
Japanese guidelines
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment released guidelines on March 10, 2009, with the intent of reducing the risk of environmental harm from nanomaterials. See Merid.
Russia takes action on nanosafety
The Russian agency for Health and Consumer Rights and the Russian Corporation for Nanotechnologies signed an agreement to provide mutual systematic, scientific and technical support in validation and confirmation of nanoproducts safety, implementation of nanotechnologies and creation of nanotechnological production. See A to Z Nano.
Emission based energy
Very interesting piece on turning emissions of Co2 into using carbon nanotubes. U. Messina team describes the process in length. See European Commission.
Nano methane
A Penn State team wants to use captures CO2 to produce methane. The process involves used arrays of nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes. See A to Z nano.
Nano solar
Researchers at Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and the University of Alberta have engineered an approach that is leading to improved performance of plastic solar cells (hybrid organic solar cells). See A to Z nano.
Nano-ethanol
A Iowa State University researchers are working to produce clean, renewable energy by developing a new, low-emissions burner and a new catalyst for ethanol production using carbon based nanoparticles. See Nanowerk.
Impact of toxicity testing
Interesting article on the costs of toxicity testing for regulation. “for the United States that costs for testing existing nanoparticles ranges from $249 million for optimistic assumptions about nanoparticle hazards (i.e., they are primarily safe and mainly require simpler screening assays) to $1.18 billion for a more comprehensive precautionary approach”. See Environmental Science & Technology.
FDA initiative in nanomedicine
The FDA announced the creation of a nanotechnology initiative in collaboration with the eight Texas academic institutions that make up the Houston-based Alliance for NanoHealth. The FDA's announcement describes the initiative's goal as "to help speed development of safe and effective medical products.” This is something worth watching. See Technology Review.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Africa - Japan effort
South Africa and Japan discussing cooperation on biosciences, energy, climate change, space science, astronomy and nanotechnology. See All Africa.
OECD vision paper
The Business and Industry Advisory Committee's Expert Group on Nanotechnology recently issued a "vision paper" with the above title, with the goal of identifying "strategic priorities from the perspective of the OECD Business Community. See the Responsible Development of Nanotechnology report.
Life cycle study
Ohio State researchers completed a study on the life cycle energetic implications of carbon nanofiber reinforced polymer nanocomposite materials. See Environmental Science & Technology.
Nano rainmaking
Researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have discovered a novel one dimensional ice chain structure built from pentagons that may prove to be a step toward the development of new materials which can be used to seed clouds and cause rain. See Nanowerk.
Nano aids treatment?
Hungary’s Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc. announced its DermaVir Patch, a nanomedicine grounded treatment for HIV/AIDS. "Proof of concept" for the immunological and antiviral activities of Genetic Immunity's product was demonstrated in infected macaques, some of them with advanced stages of AIDS. See CNN.
Plant uptake
Clemson team reporting on research studying the uptake of nanoparticles by rice plants. See Nanowerk.
Nano-plumbing
Duke U. engineers demonstrate carbon buckyballs may be able to keep the nation's water pipes clear in the same way clot-busting drugs prevent arteries from clogging up. See Physorg.com.
Airplane safety
MIT team argues nanocarbon tubes stitched together to produce aerospace materials could make airplane skins and other products some 10 times stronger at a nominal increase in cost. See Nanotech Now.
Green nano
Interesting ES&T article on the promises of green nanotechnology.
Regulation dissertation
Hansen’s dissertation (from DTU) is available for download. I have been watching Steffan’s work for some time now. He is a bright young mind in the nano SEIN field.
Biomass to produce carbontube
Japanese team developed a new method for producing ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles from lignin. See Nanowerk.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Nano News Update is Launched!
This blog will frequently assess and report news concerning breakthroughs and honorable mentions concerning all things "nano". Check back frequently as we will be continuously updating the page.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
