Posts Tagged ‘Nano scale technologies/sciences’
Bio, Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people, Olympic, Paralympic, Pistorius, Sport, Sports
In Ableism, Bionic, Disabled People, nano on May 20, 2008 at 10:31 pm
in SCRIPT-ed – A Journal of Law, Technology & Society
Gregor Wolbring, pp.139-160
Oscar Pistorius is a Paralympic bionic leg runner and record holder in the 100, 200, and 400 meters who wants to compete in the Olympics. This paper provides an analysis of a) his case; b) the impact of his case on the Olympics, the Paralympics and other –lympics and the relationships between the –lympics; c) the impact on other international and national sports; d) the applicability of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. It situates the evaluation of the Pistorius case within the broader doping discourse and the reality that new and emerging science and technology products increasingly generate internal and external human bodily enhancements that go beyond the species-typical, enabling more and more a culture of increasing demand for, and acceptance of modifications of the human body (structure, function, abilities) beyond its species-typical boundaries and the emergence of new social concepts such as transhumanism and the transhumanisation of ableism.
online open access here
Technorati Tags: Technology, Politics, Sports, Pistorius
Human Rights, Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences, Olympics, Paralympics, Pistorius, Sport, Sports
In Bionic, Disabled People, nano on May 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm
In a unanimous ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Friday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius will have a chance to represent South Africa at the Beijing Olympics this summer.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Ableism, Disabled People, nano on May 15, 2008 at 12:39 am
Nanotechnology: Ethics and Society (Perspectives in Nanotechnology) (Paperback)
by Deb Bennett-Woods (Author)
description here
I have a little piece in there called “Nanoscale sciences and technology and the framework of Ableism:”
Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on May 15, 2008 at 12:24 am
my April 30 2008 column here
Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS Disabled people, Olympics, Paralympics, Pistorius, Sport, Sports
In Bionic, Disabled People, nano on May 15, 2008 at 12:22 am
in SCRIPT-ed – A Journal of Law, Technology & Society
Gregor Wolbring, pp.139-160
Oscar Pistorius is a Paralympic bionic leg runner and record holder in the 100, 200, and 400 meters who wants to compete in the Olympics. This paper provides an analysis of a) his case; b) the impact of his case on the Olympics, the Paralympics and other –lympics and the relationships between the –lympics; c) the impact on other international and national sports; d) the applicability of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. It situates the evaluation of the Pistorius case within the broader doping discourse and the reality that new and emerging science and technology products increasingly generate internal and external human bodily enhancements that go beyond the species-typical, enabling more and more a culture of increasing demand for, and acceptance of modifications of the human body (structure, function, abilities) beyond its species-typical boundaries and the emergence of new social concepts such as transhumanism and the transhumanisation of ableism.
online open access here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on May 7, 2008 at 3:10 am
Segmented “nanoworms” composed of magnetic iron oxide and coated with a polymer are able to find and attach to tumors. (Credit: Ji-Ho Park, UCSD)
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) – Scientists at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and MIT have developed nanometer-sized “nanoworms” that can cruise through the bloodstream without significant interference from the body’s immune defense system and-like tiny anti-cancer missiles-home in on tumors.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 4, 2008 at 12:19 am
by Center for Nanotechnology in Society Arizona State University
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Aging, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 21, 2008 at 3:38 am
* Nano-Engineered Plastic [April 15, 2008]
* Nano Architecture and Construction
[March 30, 2008 - published by Healthwrights]
* Anti-Aging, Longevity and Immortality Technology [March 15, 2008]
* Nanotoxicology
[February 29, 2008 - published by Healthwrights]
* Nano South Africa [February 15, 2008]
* Nano Cosmetics, Sunscreen and Personal Care
[January 30, 2008 - published by Healthwrights]
* Nano-Aerospace [January 15, 2008]
access here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 21, 2008 at 3:35 am
(Nanowerk News) Finland is a forerunner in nanotechnology, and the fast-growing field has already produced strong results. The 70 million euro Tekes FinNano programme, currently in its third year, has launched companies and new business throughout the country. Applications of nanotechnology are in widespread use in the key areas of Finnish industry.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 21, 2008 at 3:25 am
Dutch but in short A group of environmental and consumer organisations in the Netherlands wants to start a political lobby for improving environmental regulations and labelling nanotechnology. more
Infotech, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 21, 2008 at 3:09 am
The new material, a superlattice, which has a multilayer structure composed of alternating atomically thin layers of two different oxides (PbTiO3 and SrTiO3), possesses properties radically different to either of the two materials by themselves. These new properties are a direct consequence of the artificially layered structure and are driven by interactions at the atomic scale at the interfaces between the layers.
“Besides the immediate applications that could be generated by this nanomaterial, this discovery opens a completely new field of investigation and the possibility of new functional materials based on a new concept: interface engineering on the atomic scale,” said Dr. Dawber.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 21, 2008 at 3:07 am
(Nanowerk News) Representatives of authorities from Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany discussed at TÜV SÜD Industry Service GmbH in Munich the current state of voluntary safety measures in nanotechnology risk management. CENARIOS®, the world`s first certifiable, nanospecific risk management and monitoring system was also presented to the authorities and discussed.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 3, 2008 at 4:11 am
Mar 24, 2008
In their study, Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA) notes the success of nanotechnology commercialization in the healthcare and electronics section will bolster revenues for all products incorporating nanoscale technologies over the next decade. The GIA’s report also looks at government spending in nanotechnology research and development–from 2006 to 2010, Japan will be the world leader in this category, providing about $6 Billion US for nanotech R&D. The US is not too far behind with a projected $5.6 Billion US dedicated to nanotech R&D, followed by the European Union at about $4.6 Billion US for the same period.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on April 3, 2008 at 4:08 am
David Y.H. Pui, Chaolong Qi, Nick Stanley, Günter Oberdörster, and Andrew Maynard
doi:10.1289/ehp.11169 (available at http://dx.doi.org/) Online 26 March 2008
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/11169/11169.pdf
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Airborne nanoparticles from vehicle emissions have been associated with adverse effects in people with pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, and toxicological studies have shown that nanoparticles can be more hazardous than their larger scale counterparts. Re-circulating air filtration in automobiles and houses may provide a low-cost solution to reducing exposures in many cases, thus reducing possible health risks.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effectiveness of re-circulating air filtration on reducing exposure to incidental and intentionally produced airborne nanoparticles under two scenarios: while driving in traffic, and while generating nanomaterials using gas phase synthesis.
METHODS: We tested the re-circulating air filtration in two commercial vehicles when driving in traffic, as well as in a non-ventilation room with a nanoparticle generator, simulating a nanomaterial production facility. We also measured the time-resolved aerosol size distribution during the in-car recirculation to investigate how re-circulating air filtration impacts on particles of different sizes. A recirculation model was developed to describe the aerosol concentration change during recirculation.
RESULTS: The use of inexpensive low-efficiency filters in recirculation systems is shown to reduce nanoparticle concentrations to below levels found in a typical office within three minutes while driving through heavy traffic, and within twenty minutes in a simulated nanomaterial production facility.
CONCLUSIONS: Development and application of this technology could lead to significant reductions in airborne nanoparticle exposure, reducing possible risks to health and providing solutions to generating nanomaterials safely.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 3, 2008 at 4:04 am
Nano Silver Cleanser is not a soap, it’s a revolution. Unlike any other cleanser available, Nano Silver Cleanser employs technology and the best of nature to transform the experience of skincare.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on March 22, 2008 at 4:33 am
Nanotechnology researcher Ted Sargent Canada has been awarded a $10 million dollar grant from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia – an international graduate-level research university set to open in September 2009 He works on developing nanotechnology products that use the infrared rays of the sun.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 9, 2008 at 11:45 pm
NIOSH, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health posted on its website an updated version of its strategic plan for reseach in nanotechnology through the year 2012.
The agency is accepting public comments on the document Research Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research: Filling the Knowledge Gaps until June 1, 2008.
more here
and here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on February 28, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Chemical & Engineering News – February 27, 2008
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Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 18, 2008 at 1:48 am
Co-Sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies In partnership with Arizona State University and Burdock Group
February 28-29, 2008
Program Description
Nanotechnology was incorporated into more than $50 billion in manufactured goods last year, according to Lux Research. By 2014, the market will grow to $2.6 trillion. By 2011, over $15 billion in nano-enabled drugs and therapeutics will be sold—up from more than $3 billion in 2006. And industry experts project that nanotechnology will be incorporated into $20 billion worth of consumer food products by 2010.
Yet, despite this rapid commercialization, no nano-specific regulation exists anywhere in the world. Most regulatory agencies remain in an information-gathering mode—lacking the legal and scientific tools, information and resources they need to adequately oversee exponential nanotechnology market growth.
Now, for the first time, you’ll get to meet all the top officials from these government departments in one place and learn of their plans for regulating food and drug nanotech products. You’ll hear what’s really happening in Europe and Asia, on Wall Street, in the corridors of major corporations, in the more advanced laboratories, at forward-thinking universities and in the halls of Congress.
And you’ll also get the answers to those questions you’ve been talking to your colleagues about for the last several months:
* How is FDA going to implement its Nanotechnology Task Force Report?
* How is OSHA going to deal with nanotech issues in the workplace?
* Is Congress ready to act on nanotechnology if federal regulators don’t?
* What first and second generation nanotechnology products are already on the market, and what’s to come?
* Do Europe and Asia approach nanotechnology safety and oversight differently
than the United States?
* When it comes to nanotechnology, should size make a regulatory difference?
see
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 18, 2008 at 1:27 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Synthetic Biology
In nano on February 16, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Abstract Nanotechnology involves the production,
manipulation and use of materials ranging in size
from less than a micron to that of individual atoms.
Although nanomaterials may be synthesized using
chemical approaches, it is now possible to include the
use of biological materials. In this review, we
critically assess the role of microorganisms and
plants in the synthesis of nanoparticles.
J Nanopart Res (2008) 10:507–517
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 13, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 9, 2008 at 11:03 pm
This is a conference being held at George Washington Law School here in Washington on February 12, 2008 on approaches to nanotechnology environmental governance. Attendance is free. The morning session features several speakers on issues surrounding the environmental regulation and governance of nanotechnology. The afternoon session is a panel discussion focusing on the issue of whether it is possible or desirable to merge existing approaches to create a comprehensive environmental governance regime for nanotechnology.
morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 9, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Voluntary EPA program criticized for not giving agency the data it needs to regulate nanoscale materials
Env Sci & Tech
Also appeared in print Feb. 4, 2008, p. 10
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 9, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society
Enhanced Cellular Mobility Guided by TiO2 Nanotube Surfaces
Karla S. Brammer, Seunghan Oh, John O. Gallagher, and Sungho Jin*
Materials Science & Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
ASAP Nano Lett., ASAP Article, 10.1021/nl072572o
Web Release Date: February 6, 2008
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 9, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, Synthetic Biology
In nano on February 9, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Over the next decade, TU Delft will invest €10m derived from its assets in the new department, which will form part of the university’s Kavli Institute of Nanoscience. The Kavli Foundation will also donate $5m (€3.4m).
The new department will explore the full spectrum from nanoscience to cell biology to synthetic biology to create gene regulation systems, artificial biomolecules and nanoparticles that can be deployed within the cell.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on February 5, 2008 at 3:10 am
The new cell technology combines nanoparticles and organic dyes that can be produced in any number of colors and designs.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Toxicology
In nano on February 1, 2008 at 9:53 pm
seehere
PAS 130 Guidance on the labelling of manufactured nanoparticles and products containing manufactured nanoparticles
PAS 131 Terminology for medical, health and personal care applications of nanotechnologies
PAS 132 Terminology for the bio-nano interface
PAS 133 Terminology for nanoscale measurement and instrumentation
PAS 134 Terminology for carbon nanostructures
PAS 135 Terminology for nanofabrication
PAS 136 Terminology for nanomaterials
Guidance:
PD 6699-1 Nanotechnologies – Part 1. Good practice guide for specifying manufactured nanomaterials
PD 6699-2 Nanotechnologies – Part 2. Guide to safe handling and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Toxicology
In Health, nano on January 29, 2008 at 6:03 pm
EU nanotechnology R&D in the field of health and environmental impact of nanoparticles
Compiled by Pilar Aguar and Jose Juan Murcia Nicolas
Unit G4 Nano and converging Sciences and Technologies
European Commission, Research DG
Version: 28 January 08
seehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Toxicology
In Animal, nano on January 26, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Tilman Butz; Tilo Reinert; Teresa Pinheiro; Philippe Moretto; Jan Pallon; Arpad Zoltan Kiss; Jerzy Stachura; Wojciech Dabros; Zbigniew Stachura; ; Janusz Lekki; Malgorzata Lekka; Janos Hunyadi; Tamas Biro; Michael Sticherling; Luc Van Vaeck here
Law, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:57 pm
which would include nano…
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:50 pm
a few interesting things morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Nanobioelectronics, a new interdisciplinary science is rapidly growing. The new developing discipline provides opportunities of research by combining nanoelectronics and molecular biology. The new discipline provides the study of charge transports in biological molecules. morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:19 pm
NIOSH is soliciting comments on the Draft Current Intelligence Bulletin entitled “Interim Guidance on Medical Screening of Workers Potentially Exposed to Engineered Nanomaterials”. Written comments can be submitted through February 15, 08. Oral comments can be provided at the public meeting which will be held on January 30, 08 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The meeting is limited to 80 people. Those wishing to attend the meeting must notify NIOSH no later than January 18, 07. Anyone wishing to provide oral comments must notify NIOSH no later than January 11, 08.
FEDERAL REGISTER – December 12
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NOTICES – Meetings: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health- Workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles; medical screening, 70598-70599 [E7-24047]
see
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:15 pm
A White House panel expressed concern Tuesday (Jan. 
that fiscal 2008
funding is lacking for research on the environmental, health and safety
implications of nanotechnology. Members of the President’s Council on
Science and Technology (PCAST) said they may prepare a document
expressing their disappointment in the funding Congress set aside for
the American Competitiveness Initiative
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 15, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Environmental Science & Technology just released a 5 page document on “The Challenge of Regulating Nanomaterials”.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 17, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 17, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 17, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 17, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 17, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 30, 2007 at 8:05 pm
from Nanowerk
(Nanowerk News) The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) have issued a memo to the heads of executive departments and federal agencies titled “Principles for Nanotechnology Environmental, Health, and Safety Oversight” (pdf download, 80 KB):
Nanotechnology is built on recent scientific advances that allow us to see, measure, and control matter at the scale of atoms and molecules. Such capabilities are enabling development of a variety of new products and processes with novel and potentially transformational characteristics. Advances in nanotechnology already are leading to applications in fields ranging from energy and environment to electronics and medicine. Realizing the benefits of nanotechnology will require not only research and development, but also appropriate oversight.
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) led a multi-agency consensus-based process to develop a set of principles, shown below, to guide the development and implementation of policies for nanotechnology environmental, health and safety oversight at the agency level. This document is intended to summarize generally applicable principles relevant to such oversight for nanotechnology by the Federal government.
Federal agencies that have regulatory responsibilities, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, must implement sound policies to protect public health and the environment. In addition, agencies that perform nanotechnology research and development or that use nanotechnology in accomplishing their mission must provide appropriate oversight. These Federal agencies should follow the following principles as they develop policies for environmental, health, and safety oversight related to nanotechnology.
Principles for Nanotechnology Environmental, Health, and Safety Oversight
Purpose: Federal oversight approaches should be cognizant of the potential benefits of nanotechnology, including health, economic and environmental benefits, while recognizing uncertainties surrounding the evolving science and technology. The purpose of considering environmental, health and safety oversight approaches in the context of nanotechnology is to protect human health and the environment.
Current Understanding: The Federal government’s current understanding is that existing statutory authorities are adequate to address oversight of nanotechnology and its applications. As with any developing area, as new information becomes available the Federal government will adapt or develop additional oversight approaches, as necessary, to address the area of nanotechnology.
Information Development: Adequate information should be developed with respect to the effects of nanomaterials on human health and the environment. To the extent practicable and respecting confidential information (e.g. Confidential Business Information (CBI)), this information should be developed in an open and transparent manner by stakeholders, including the Federal government and developers of nanomaterials.
Risk Assessment and Risk Management: The Federal government should use standard oversight approaches to assess risks and benefits, and manage risks, considering safety, health and environmental impacts, and exposure mitigation. As experience is gained, these approaches can be refined. The Federal government should strive to reach an appropriate level of consistency in risk assessment and management approaches across the government.
International: Recognizing the global efforts to develop nanotechnology, the Federal government should proactively promote international cooperation. The Federal government should encourage coordinated and collaborative health and environmental research and test data development across the international community. The Federal government should also promote access to information across the international community. These efforts will allow the Federal government to contribute to, and take advantage of, risk assessment and risk management approaches, as appropriate, across the international community.
Regulatory Path Forward: In light of the “Purpose” of oversight as described above, the Federal government should consider the following, to the extent permitted by law and where applicable, in establishing environmental, health, and safety regulations for nanotechnology:
# Regulation should focus where need exists and where scientific information supports action (e.g. targeted to specific groups and classes of materials instead of a “one-sizefits- all” approach);
# Decisions should be based on the best reasonably obtainable scientific, technical, economic, and other information;
# Where possible, regulatory approaches should enable rather than hinder innovation;
# Regulatory approaches should be performance based to the extent feasible and provide predictability and flexibility in the face of evolving science and technology;
# Benefits of regulation should justify their costs;
# Regulations should be developed in an open and transparent manner; and
# Regulations and guidance should consider established requirements and guidance such as the following:
# Executive Order 12866 – Regulatory Planning and Review. Federal Register Vol. 58, No. 190, Monday, October 4, 1993, 51735-51744, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/eo12866.pdf;
# Information Quality Act (Sec. 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for FY 2001, Pub. L. No. 106-554); Information Quality Guidelines: OMB (2002) Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies (2002), 67 Fed. Reg. 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002) [hereinafter Information Quality Guidelines], available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/reproducible2.pdf;
# National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995. Public Law 104-113, available at http://standards.gov/standards_gov/nttaa.cfm;
# Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119, Transmittal Memorandum, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Standards (02/10/1998), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a119/a119.html;
# OMB Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (December 16, 2004, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-03.pdf;
# OMB Bulletin No. 07-02 (M-07-07), Issuance of OMB’s “Final Bulletin for Agency Good Guidance Practices” (January 18, 2007), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2007/m07-07.pdf; and
# OMB/OSTP Memorandum: M-07-24, Updated Principles for Risk Analysis (September 19, 2007), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2007/m07-24.pdf
Source: OSTP/CEQ
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 23, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 22, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 21, 2007 at 1:16 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 5, 2007 at 1:37 pm
THe report is in Swedish but there is a english summary
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on November 3, 2007 at 10:44 pm
(Nanowerk News) Applied Nanoscience Inc. (ANI) (PINKSHEETS: APNN) today announced that it has achieved highly successful test results for its proprietary silver nanoparticle formulation against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The challenge produced a >99.99% reduction (4+log) in two minutes when coated on filter media and directly introducing the challenge organism. Testing was conducted at an independent, nationally recognized BSL-3 laboratory.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 31, 2007 at 12:58 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 26, 2007 at 4:33 pm
> If you cannot view the rest of this email, go to http://www.nanotechproject.org/file_download/222 to read the full release.
> The Nano tech Future: A Conversation with Mihail Roco
> Friday, November 9 2007 – 12:30 – 1:30 P.M.
> Woodrow Wilson Center – sponsored by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
>
> It is hard to discuss the future of nanotechnology without talking about or with Mike Roco, the key architect of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)-America’s $8 billion investment in the science and engineering research expected to revolutionize technology and industry.
>
> Nanotechnology refers to the emerging science of manufacturing materials that are measured in nanometers, usually at the 1-100 nanometers scale. The head of a pin is 1 million nanometers wide. By 2014, Lux Research estimates that $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology, or about 15 percent of global output.
>
> What was Dr. Roco’s vision in 2000 at the start of the NNI? What are his expectations for nanotechnology’s many promises-in medicine, sustainable energy, and electronics? What challenges does nanotechnology pose for the future, particularly as it reaches toward third and fourth generation development-in guided molecular assembly, 3D networking, robotics, supra-molecules, molecules by design, and evolutionary systems? Robert Service, nanotechnology reporter at Science magazine, will interview Dr. Roco about these topics and more.
>
> speaker: Dr. Mihail Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology, National Science Foundation
>
> interviewer: Robert F. Service, Correspondent, Science
>
> moderator: David Rejeski, Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
>
> Webcast LIVE at www.wilsoncenter.org/nano/
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 21, 2007 at 2:55 am
The World Nanotechnology Market (2006)
(Nanowerk News) With nanotechnology industry advancing rapidly RNCOS released a report titled “The World Nanotechnology Market (2006)”, provides an updated and detailed overview of the Nanotechnology market worldwide. The report provides an updated and detailed overview of the Nanotechnology market worldwide. It examines the emerging trends in the industry and provides exclusive forecasts- product wise and application wise. It includes the snapshots of different players in the industry, R&D spending in various countries and studies the patents in this technology.
see here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 21, 2007 at 2:51 am
The state of environmental, health, and safety research of engineered nanoparticles gets a critical exam
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 21, 2007 at 2:46 am
A University of Arkansas researcher and his colleagues have found a novel way to “look” at atomic orbitals, and have directly shown for the first time that they change substantially when interacting at the interface of a ferromagnet and a high-temperature superconductor.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 21, 2007 at 2:45 am
Researchers in California today report development of the world’s first working radio system that receives radio waves wirelessly and converts them to sound signals through a nano-sized detector made of carbon nanotubes.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on October 21, 2007 at 2:43 am
Harvard chemists have built a new wire out of photosensitive materials that is hundreds of times smaller than a human hair. The wire not only carries electricity to be used in vanishingly small circuits, but generates power as well.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 13, 2007 at 12:41 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 13, 2007 at 12:39 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Security/Surveillance, Weapons/Military
In Animal, Health, nano on October 13, 2007 at 12:38 am
see here
2007
Nanoparticles for European Industry II
Investing in Medical Nanotechnologies II
One-day Course: ‘What is Nanomedicine?’
Public Debate: Nanomedicine
2008
Nanotechnology for Security and Crime Prevention III
Albert Franks Memorial Lecture: Micro and Nano Technologies for Food
Nanotechnology and Smart Textiles for Industry, Healthcare and Fashion
Nanotechnology: A Contributor to Reducing Animal Experiments?
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 13, 2007 at 12:34 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on October 13, 2007 at 12:27 am
Northwestern University researchers have shown that nanodiamonds — much like the carbon structure as that of a sparkling 14 karat diamond but on a much smaller scale — are very effective at delivering chemotherapy drugs to cells without the negative effects associated with current drug delivery agents.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 30, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 30, 2007 at 12:03 am
European NanOSH Conference – Nanotechnologies: A Critical Area in
Occupational Safety and Health
3-5 December 2007, Marina Congress Center, Helsinki, Finland see updates
on programme at http://www.ttl.fi/euronanosh
Deadline for early registration on 15 October 2007
The EuroNanOSH Conference will discuss global safety issues surrounding
nanoparticles and nanotechnologies, in occupational safety and health in
particular; and will provide insight into future actions for assuring
the safety, and thereby the future success of nanotechnologies. The
Conference is arranged by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
in collaboration with the TEKES – Finnish Funding Agency for Technology
and Innovation and VTT Technical Research Center in Finland. In
addition, the Conference is supported by the ISPESL – National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Prevention in Italy, and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in USA.
Welcome to the EuroNanOSH Conference!
EuroNanOSH Secretariat
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Leila Ahlström
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland
Email: euronanosh@ttl.fi
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In Health, nano on September 27, 2007 at 1:25 am
The Institute of Nanotechnology is organising a public engagement evening ‘Nanomedicine…hype? Or a real revolution in healthcare?’ on the 28th November at the Royal College of Surgeons of London. This free event offers an opportunity to the general public to share their thoughts with industrial leaders, nanotechnologists and politicians.
In the interest of openness and public engagement this panel discussion and public debate, which will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons from 18.30hrs–20.30hrs on 28th November 2007, is free of charge and open to all. Places are limited and, therefore, early registration is recommended. For more information and to register please visit http://www.nano.org.uk/events/ionevents.htm or contact Tiju Joseph, tiju.joseph@nano.org.uk, on +44(0)141 330 8734.
The event is organised in conjunction with the ‘Investing in Medical Nanotechnologies II’, conference and exhibition to be held at the Royal College of Surgeons on the 28th and 29th November 2007, http://nanomednet.org/conference07.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 20, 2007 at 1:08 am
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In Health, nano on September 20, 2007 at 12:55 am
In a white paper, ‘Pharma Futurology: Joined Up Healthcare, 2016 and beyond’, BT’s pharmaceutical division brings its expertise in connecting people and businesses to create a big-picture outlook for the industry. The research reveals expected technology inspired changes that threaten pharmaceutical companies with isolation from an increasingly patient-centric healthcare community.
morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 20, 2007 at 12:52 am
Swiss scientists have created a nanoparticle vaccine that delivers vaccines more effectively, with fewer side effects and at a lower cost.
morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on September 20, 2007 at 12:50 am
Scientists are working to produce cheap, sustainable solar energy by imitating nature. Nanotechnology researchers like California Institute of Technology professor Nate Lewis are exploring nanoscale materials that mimic the architecture of grass and photosynthesis to capture and store the sun’s energy.
morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 15, 2007 at 1:06 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Weapons/Military
In nano on September 12, 2007 at 1:08 pm
It contains about seven tons of high explosives compared with more than eight for the Moab but is four times more powerful because it uses a new type of explosives developed with the use of nanotechnology,more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 11, 2007 at 2:21 pm
When: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Where: Toronto , ON CANADA
Environment Canada / Health Canada multi-stakeholder is holding a workshop regarding a Proposed Regulatory Framework for Nanomaterials under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The purpose of the stakeholder workshop is to gather comments on the suggested approach to developing a regulatory framework.
The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Toronto between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. At the workshop, comments will be gathered from participating stakeholders through discussion groups and plenary sessions. All stakeholders will be invited to provide additional comments in writing in the weeks following the meeting.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2007 at 3:21 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2007 at 3:13 am
Antitrust Division
seehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 7, 2007 at 3:09 am
Pollution Prevention through Nanotechnology Conference: September 25-26, 2007
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2007 at 3:06 am
see here
It asks for comments on the issue of nanoparticles
Infotech, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2007 at 2:49 am
Houston’s Rice University and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University announced on Sept. 4 an initiative dubbed, The Institute for Sustainable Nanoelectronics, morehere
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on August 22, 2007 at 3:40 pm
A NEW REPORT by the 30-member-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development catalogs the growing number of initiatives under way in industrialized countries to address the health and environmental safety implications of manufactured nanomaterials.
Courtesy of Delina Lyon/Rice University
Risks of nanomaterials are still largely unknown. Shown is Delina Lyon, a Rice University researcher who studies the impact of buckyball aggregates on ecosystems.
The 77-page document summarizes information on current developments provided by delegations that participated in the second meeting of OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials, held this past April in Berlin.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on August 22, 2007 at 3:38 pm
A new analysis of by-products discharged to the environment during production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) — expected to become the basis of multibillion-dollar industries in the 21st Century — has identified cancer-causing compounds, air pollutants, and other substances of concern, researchers reported here today at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on August 22, 2007 at 3:36 pm
The initial members of the nano-engineering partnership are Intel, Exxon Mobil, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Corning, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Proctor and Gamble, the University of Wisconsin, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of California at Davis, the University of Florida, Yale, Harvard, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Illinois, Rice, Notre Dame, the University of New Mexico and Harvey Mudd College. more here
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on August 22, 2007 at 3:10 pm
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug 21, 2007 – A new report from Cientifica Ltd., “The Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Market”, identifies who is positioned to be the “winners” and “losers” in the drug delivery market as new nanoparticles and nanostructured delivery techniques begin replacing existing polymer therapeutics that currently dominate the market.
The report, available at www.cientifica.com, projects that the total market for nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery will rise to $26 billion by 2012 from its current size of $3.39 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate of 37%.
But this is just the beginning; the market could steeply rise after 2012, reaching potentially $220 billion by 2015 for these nano-enabled compounds.
see more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on August 16, 2007 at 12:55 am
1) Report by Friend of the Earth “Nanoparticles and Sunscreens: A Consumer Guide for Avoiding Nano Sunscreens”
see here and and here
2) Nanowerk write up UCSB researcher reacts to report on nanotechnology sunscreen threat
see here
3) Nanoparticles in Your Sunscreen: Too Hot To Handle? at bits.blogs.nytimes
here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on August 14, 2007 at 8:33 pm
A sample of the new nanocomposite paper developed by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Infused with carbon nanotubes, the paper can be used to create ultra-thin, flexible batteries and energy storage devices for next-generation electronics and implantable medical equipment. Credit: Rensselaer/Victor Pushparaj
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on August 10, 2007 at 7:21 pm
New methods offer precise control of polymeric micelles
Bethany Halford
CONTROLLING THE FORMATION of complex polymeric nanostructures is no easy task. As the polymer molecules self-assemble, they tend to form particles in an unruly mess of different shapes and sizes. Two new advances offer scientists the ability to tailor these properties, thereby offering nanostructure design strategies that could be useful for a number of applications, including drug delivery and nanolithography (Science 2007, 317, 644 and 647).
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on August 1, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Today, Mike Honda (D-San Jose) introduced HR 3235, the Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities (NANO) Act, comprehensive legislation for nanotech development in the US.
mre here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on July 31, 2007 at 3:55 am
An initiative to develop a Responsible NanoCode’ for businesses working with nanotechnologies has been launched by the Royal Society, Insight Investment, the Nanotechnology Industries Association and the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network today.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Water
In nano on July 31, 2007 at 3:45 am
(Nanowerk News) Nalco and Keystone Nano, a nanotechnology development company in State College, Pennsylvania, have formed a joint venture company, NanoSpecialties, LLC. The venture will conduct research and development of nanotechnology that allows for more precise application of various Nalco water and process treatments.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Weapons/Military
In nano on July 31, 2007 at 3:44 am
(Nanowerk News) The Department of Defense has awarded $1.6 million to the Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B) at Clemson University for the development of an implantable biochip that could relay vital health information if a soldier is wounded in battle or a civilian is hurt in an accident.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on July 25, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Now, a federal task force concludes that products using nanoparticles don’t necessarily need SPECIAL labeling to alert consumers.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on July 22, 2007 at 4:01 pm
CONSULTATION PAPER
Summary:
Nanosciences and nanotechnologies are enabling technologies, more and more pervasive
in potentially all technological fields and expected to bring substantial benefits across
many sectors, such as chemistry, material sciences, health and energy just to name a few.
Industry and research are increasingly using them and some nano-products are already
being mass-produced.
Knowledge gaps remain concerning the exposure risks associated with nanomaterials
and nanotechnologies. Considered as the next strategic technology, confidence in its
safety and consequently public acceptance are preconditions for the application and
commercialisation of nanotechnology-based products. The development and use of
nanotechnologies should not be unbalanced or left to chance.
Research has a key role to play in this context. On the one hand it develops new
technologies for application in industry and throughout society and on the other hand it
investigates the potential risks and establishes the appropriate measures to take.
In order to promote safe and responsible nanotechnology research and pave the way to
its safe and responsible application and use, the European Commission is planning to
adopt a voluntary Code of Conduct for Responsible Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Research (“the Code of Conduct”). This Code of Conduct would take the form of a
European Commission Recommendation and would invite the Member States, industry,
universities, funding organisations, researchers and other interested parties to follow its
principles. The Commission itself would follow these principles in its own action under
the Community research policy.
This consultation aims to provide input to the drafting of the Code of Conduct.
Contributions are expected from a broad cross-section of European society, including
the scientific community, industry, civil society, policy-makers, media and the general
public.
The consultation process will be open from Thursday 19 July 2007 up to 21 September
2007. See the consultation form on SINAPSE:
http://europa.eu/sinapse/directaccess/science-and-society/public-debates/nano-recommendation/
“http://ec.europa.eu/research/consultations/pdf/nano-consultation_en.pdf”>more here
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, Synthetic Biology
In nano on July 13, 2007 at 3:00 pm
According to George Church at Harvard Medical School in Boston, who has devised a complete blueprint for a synthetic cell, an investment of around $10 million would be enough to turn the “bottom-up” dream into reality. “Our approach doesn’t require any super new technology,” he says.
more here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on July 13, 2007 at 4:01 am
more here
Susanna Hornig Priest, Ph.D.
and
Victoria Kramer, Doctoral Student
College of Mass Communications and Information Studies
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29108
Email contact: susannapriest@yahoo.com
Bio, Human Rights, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, Renewable Energy/Energy in general, Synthetic Biology, Water, Weapons/Military
In Disabled People, Health, nano on June 30, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 29, 2007 at 5:32 pm
U.S. scientists said attaching polymeric nanoparticles to red blood cells might become a new way to deliver drugs.
more here
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS Disabled people
In Health, nano on June 26, 2007 at 4:50 am
President’s Council on Bioethics Meeting, session on nanotechnology
When: Friday, June 29, 2007, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m
Where: Hay-Adams Hotel, 16th & H Streets NW, Washington DC
see also here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 16, 2007 at 2:43 am
Technology foresight
The NIA is working closely with regulators and policy makers to realise the full potential of nanotechnology and secure the full economic and societal benefits through identifying and roadmapping unique areas of potential competitive advantage using nanotechnology.
NIA Forecast of Emerging Technologies
Introduction
The support of an ongoing advancement of nanotechnology research, development and commercialisation is central to the NIA’s role as a key-contact point between regulators and policy makers on one hand and the growing nanotechnology industries on the other; through identifying and forecasting unique areas of potential competitive advantage using nanotechnology, the NIA helps to secure the full economic and societal benefits of this exiting field of emerging technologies.
The NIA Forecast of Emerging Technologies provides a purely industry-led forecast, which makes exclusive use of data obtained from the industrial members of the NIA, thereby delivering a clear outline of the industrial development path for nanotechnology and its advancement over the next 15 years into more complex nanomaterials, structures and systems. The forecast examines the existing opinion of the economic potential for nanotechnologies and provides a 2020-view of the emerging technologies’ impact…..
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 15, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The UK Government’s leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences
Strategy see here
the new advisors blog
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 15, 2007 at 1:21 pm
MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian government has set up a state council for nanotechnology, to be chaired by Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, the government’s press service said Thursday.
The resolution on the formation of the new body, which will ensure interaction between government, business and scientists in the implementation of the state policy in the spheres of nanotechnology and nano-industry,…
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 10, 2007 at 4:04 pm
http://www.nanoart21.org/
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, Synthetic Biology
In nano on June 8, 2007 at 12:47 pm
The European Commission is supporting the Integrated Project PACE in its Future Emerging Technologies program that will create the foundation for a new generation of embedded IT using programmable, self-assembling artificial cells.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 7, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Source: ITAR-TASS
Author: n/a
6/6/2007
A draft law has been submitted to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, authorizing the creation of a state-run nanotechnology corporation that will “seek to implement scientific, technological and innovation policies, and facilitate the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in Russia, the development of innovative infrastructure, and the implementation of nanotechnology and nanoindustry projects”.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 6, 2007 at 1:13 pm
The working party, proposed by the U.S. delegation during an October 2005 meeting in Paris, was formed in March by the 30-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The party is part of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy, which addresses issues such as research financing, innovation, intellectual property rights and international science cooperation.
The party’s mission is to advise the OECD on nanotech issues and promote cooperation among participating countries on policy issues of science, technology and innovation related to responsible nanotechnology development. According to Robert Rudnitsky, a physicist in the Office of Space and Advanced Technology at the U.S. Department of State and chair of the working party, the initial program of work targets specific activities:
see more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 5, 2007 at 6:45 pm
A paper (“Agriculture and food workers question nanotechnologies. The IUF resolution”; , authored by Guillermo Foladori and Noela Invernizzi, with a detailed discussion of the IUF resolution can be found on the website of the Latin American Nanotechnology & Society Network. The resolution on nanotechnology (in Spanish) is posted on the UITA website.
from nanowerk
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on June 4, 2007 at 12:21 am
The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session on Monday, June 25, 2007, in Arlington, VA. The PCAST subcommittee on nanotechnology has convened representative experts from academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to provide an overview of nanotechnology applications and implications. The PCAST subcommittee is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on applications of nanotechnology, with specific examples of nanotechnology-based innovation and commercialization across a range of products and industries. The PCAST also is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on the environmental, health, and safety implications of nanotechnology from a range of perspectives. The presentations are intended to inform, in part, the Council’s review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative and assessment of progress towards realizing the benefits of nanotechnology advances.
Additional information and the final agenda will be posted at the PCAST web site at: http://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html, where interested participants may also register.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 31, 2007 at 12:13 am
(Nanowerk News) In March, CIELAP, the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, held a one-day workshop in Toronto to explore policy considerations for nanotechnology. Along with additional research, this workshop provided the basis for CIELAP to develop a proposed Canadian Nanotechnology Policy framework (pdf download, 672 KB)
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on May 31, 2007 at 12:10 am
Neurotechnology Industry Report Says Revenues Grew 10% to $120.5 Billion in 2006; U.S. Economic Impact of Brain-related Illness Reached $1 Trillion
Specific findings from the Neurotechnology Industry 2007 Report include:
• Brain-related illnesses afflict more than two billion people worldwide
• The worldwide economic burden of this problem has reached more than $2 trillion per year; more than $1 trillion in the U.S. alone
• 2006 venture capital investment in neurotechnology rose 7.5% to $1.666 billion
• Neurotech industry revenues rose 10% in 2006 to $120.5 billion; this includes neuropharmaceutical revenues of $101 billion, neurodevice revenues of $4.5 billion, neurodiagnostic revenues of $15 billion
• The Neurotech Index of publicly-traded neurotechnology companies was up 53% from its December 31, 2003 conception to March 31, 2006, outpacing the NASDAQ Biotech Index which gained 7% during the same period
Neurotechnology is still very much a frontier industry. In the past year we’ve reached some important milestones, including formation of NIO, the first industry organization devoted to the specific needs of neurotechnology companies. 2006 was also a tremendous year of growth for the industry, and 2007 looks to continue this trend so as technologies improve and our collective body of knowledge grows. Countless opportunities exist as visionary researchers tackle the complexities of brain-related health and visionary companies, organizations and policy makers address the complexities of bringing those discoveries to the billions of people suffering from brain-related illnesses.
more at source
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on May 31, 2007 at 12:00 am
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 16:15
Tel Aviv (Israel) – Two scientists from the Tel-Aviv University have
shown that information can be stored in live neurons. The research
results provide a new way to help understand how our brain learns and
store information, but also indicate that a “cyborg-like integration of
living material into memory chips” could become a reality in the
foreseeable future.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 30, 2007 at 11:52 pm
In the end of 2006 the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) staged the first nationwide Consumer Conference on Nanotechnology in order to find out what requirements informed consumers want use of this technology to meet. The Conference served as a forum for a group of 16 individuals to acquire broad insight into the opportunities and risks of nanotechnology in a multi-phase process. The group mainly focused on the use of nanotechnology in foods, cosmetics and textiles. After a public expert hearing the group proceeded to the consumer vote. The consumer vote was publicly handed over to representatives of politics, associations and authorities as the outcome of the Consumer Conference.
We are pleased to present you now the English translation of the consumer vote:
http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/245/bfr_consumer_conference_on_nanotechnology_in_foods_cosmetics_and_textiles.pdf
Yours sincerely
René Zimmer
——————————————
Dr. René Zimmer
Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR)
Thielallee 88-92
14195 Berlin
Email: r.zimmer@bfr.bund.de
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 30, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Scientists from Institute of Biophysics and Nanosystems Research (IBN), Austrian Academy of Sciences and of Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA report the study of “Tuning Curvature and Stability of Monoolein Bilayers by Designer Lipid-Like Peptide Surfactants” in the May 30th issue of the online, open-access journal PLoS ONE. Their findings not only help us to understand the basic science of how lipid-like peptides interact with lipid molecules, but also may provide new strategies for the encapsulation and the delivery of biological active materials. They detailed their findings in the report on the impact of integrating short surfactant-like designer peptides in lipidic nanostructures.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 30, 2007 at 11:45 pm
University of Alberta research team has combined two fields of study in nanotechnology to create a third field that the researchers believe will lead to revolutionary advances in computer electronics, among many other areas.
Dr. Abdulhakem Elezzabi and his colleagues have applied plasmonics principles to spintronics technology and created a novel way to control the quantum state of an electron’s spin.
The new technology, which the researchers call spinplasmonics, may be used to create incredibly efficient electron spin-based photonic devices, which in turn may be used to build, for example, computers with extraordinary capacities.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 18, 2007 at 11:27 pm
A report for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
May 2007 Report here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on May 18, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Optical isomers of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) now can be sorted from one another for the first time, thanks to a pair of chiral diporphyrin “tweezers” developed by researchers in Japan (Nat. Nanotechnol., DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2007.142). Commercially available SWNTs usually are a jumble of nanotubes of various lengths and diameters, and this lack of uniformity can make product development difficult. Nanotubes also possess a helical twist-either right- or left-handed-that gives them optical activity. Using one or the other of the chiral diporphyrin molecules, a group led by Xiaobin Peng and Naoki Komatsu of Shiga University of Medical Science was able to separate the optical isomers. The sorting process takes advantage of the diporphyrins’ affinity to bind more tightly to one of the two helices (one diporphyrin shown). The researchers suspended the SWNTs and a chiral diporphyrin in methanol, followed by sonication and centrifugation. The resulting supernatant liquid is enriched with the preferred diporphyrin-SWNT complex. The diporphyrin is easily washed away, leaving behind the SWNT isomer.
more at source
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Health, nano on April 30, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Neurodiversity, Neuroenhancement, Neurodisease, and Neurobusiness see here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on April 24, 2007 at 12:24 am
more at source
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Nanoparticles
3.1. Nanoparticles containing metals
3.2. Fluorescent nanoparticles and nanoparticles containing drugs
4. Cell death induced by nanoparticles
4.1. Nanoparticle properties and interactions with cells
4.2. Types of cell death and roles of individual organelles
5. Mechanisms involved in nanoparticle-induced cell death
5.1. ROS generation and nanoparticle-induced cell death
5.2. Metals and cell death
6. Nanoparticles: prospects and perils
7. References
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on April 24, 2007 at 12:13 am
more at source
my comment
Although the Cientifica paper might inflate the numbers what I find more astonishing is that by 2015 80% of the sales are suppose to be in the pharma healthcare sector up from 2% today.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on April 24, 2007 at 12:07 am
Science Daily — Tissue studies indicate that nanoparticles, engineered materials about a billionth of a meter in size, could damage DNA and lead to cancer, according to research presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 16, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Chemical & Engineering News April 9, 2007 Volume 85, Number 15 p. 15-21
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on April 16, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Interesting
a) The nanomaterials boom is over and future growth opportunities in the nanotechnology sector will lie in pharmaceutical and healthcare applications of nanotechnologies, according to a new report from Cientifica.
b) It suggest that bottom up design might come after 2010
c)Highest growth rates will be in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, accounting 80% of the 2015 US$ 1.5 trillion market
That is in particular interesting as so far its only making up 2% in 2007 when you look at their pie chart
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Weapons/Military
In nano on April 15, 2007 at 11:21 pm
New Laws of Robotics proposed for US kill-bots
By Lewis Page
Published Friday 13th April 2007 17:05 GMT
A new set of laws has been proposed to govern operations by killer
robots. The ideas were floated by John S Canning, an engineer at the
Naval Surface Warfare Centre, Dahlgren Division – an American
weapons-research and test establishment. Mr Canning’s “Concept of
Operations for Armed Autonomous Systems” presentation can be downloaded
here (pdf) (http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2006disruptive_tech/canning.pdf).
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 15, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Nanotechnology:The Future is Coming Sooner Than You Think
A JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE STUDY
Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Ranking Member
Joint Economic Committee
433 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-226-3234
Fax: 202-226-3950
Internet Address:
http://www.house.gov/jec/
Abstract
Enhanced abilities to understand and manipulate matter at the molecular and atomic levels
promise a wave of significant new technologies over the next five decades. Dramatic
breakthroughs will occur in dive
rse areas such as medicine, communications, computing,
energy, and robotics. These changes will generate large amounts of wealth and force
wrenching changes in existing markets and institutions.
This paper discusses the range of sciences currently covered by nanotechnology. It begins
with a description of what nanotechnology is and how it relates to previous scientific
advances. It then describes the most likely future development of different technologies in a
variety of fields. The paper also reviews the government’s current nanotechnology policy
and makes some suggestions for improvement.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on April 3, 2007 at 1:57 am
the report here
The UK government has failed to fund adequate research into potential risks posed by developing nanotechnology, a report by leading advisors has warned.
BBC take here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on March 27, 2007 at 1:49 am
more here
Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
USA
March 2007
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 27, 2007 at 1:27 am
HOUSTON, March 22 (UPI) — U.S. scientists have started an online journal that offers citations and links to articles about environmental and health effects of nanotechnology.
The nanotechnology coalition that launched the first online database of scientific findings related to the benefits and risks of nanomaterials Thursday launched the Virtual Journal of Nanotechnology Environment, Health & Safety.
The journal is available at icon.rice.edu/virtualjournal.cfm.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 14, 2007 at 1:59 am
the report can be found here
the write up from the nanotechnology law report blog
New Report Warns of Nanotechnology Risks in Cosmetics
By Tim Cahill:
On February 20, 2007, the Investor Environmental Health Network (“IEHN”) issued a report entitled “Beneath the Skin: Hidden Liabilities, Market Risk and Drivers of Change in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Industry.” IEHN represents 20 investment organizations with $22 billion under management that are seeking to ensure that the companies they invest in are taking appropriate steps to reduce risks associated with the toxic chemicals used in their products. The IEHN’s report warns that nanotechnologies represent one of the significant health risks in the cosmetics industry and that investors in this industry must be aware that sweeping changes are likely to occur in this market. The report describes the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) current oversight of cosmetics as a “a porous and ill-defined regulatory framework” and cites to the fact that “cosmetics are generally exempt from pre-market review” as a major limitation in the FDA’s ability to regulate cosmetics. As a result, the report recommends that cosmetics manufacturers take independent steps to monitor the safety of their products in order to avoid potential liability and gain a competitive advantage by increasing their brand trust.
The IEHN’s report is certainly not the first to blast the FDA’s ability to regulate the use of nanotechnologies in cosmetics. In an October 2006 report by former FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Michael R. Taylor, entitled “Regulating the Products of Nanotechnology: Does FDA Have the Tools It Needs?,” the FDA’s lack of oversight of cosmetics was identified as an area that must be addressed in order for the FDA to adequately monitor the safety of cosmetics containing nanotechnologies, particularly since cosmetic products with nanomaterials are reaching the marketplace faster than many other products regulated by the FDA. The IEHN’s report recommends greater self-regulation by cosmetics manufacturers, but the FDA could impose stricter regulations in this area in the near future. The FDA is in the process of evaluating its ability to effectively regulate the use of nanomaterials in FDA-regulated products, and it has been reported that the agency will issue its findings in July 2007. How the FDA addresses cosmetics with nanomaterials will be one area to watch closely.
Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Disabled People, Health, nano on March 14, 2007 at 1:37 am
If you can’t wait until next year to get your hands on a Project Epoc EEG cap, never fear: a German company called g.tec (Guger Technologies) is now offering the world’s first commercially available brain computer interface (BCI).
more at source
Human Rights, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Disabled People, nano on March 11, 2007 at 10:42 pm
JASON RIIS
New York University – Stern School of Business
JOSEPH P. SIMMONS
Yale School of Management
GEOFFREY P. GOODWIN
Princeton University – Department of Psychology March 1, 2007
Abstract:
Four studies examined young healthy individuals’ willingness to take drugs intended to enhance various social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. We found that people were much more reluctant to enhance traits believed to be highly fundamental to the self (e.g., social comfort) than traits considered less fundamental (e.g., concentration ability). Moral acceptability of a trait enhancement strongly predicted people’s desire to legalize those enhancements, but not their willingness to take those enhancements. Ad taglines that framed enhancements as enabling rather than enhancing the fundamental self increased people’s interest in a fundamental enhancement, and eliminated the preference for non-fundamental over fundamental enhancements.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 10, 2007 at 12:43 am
OSHA Update
Inside OSHA recently reported that OSHA does not anticipate regulating nanotechnology in 2008 because of continued uncertainty regarding whether nanotechnology poses any health risks. The publication indicated OSHA is still “working with NIOSH on identifying the hazards of nanotechnology.” Inside OSHA, Feb. 18, 2007, Vol. 14, No. 4.
see source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 9, 2007 at 2:08 am
see more at source
and this article
Article citation: Beatriz Julián-López, J. Mater. Chem., 2007, DOI: 10.1039/b615951f
——————————————————————————–
Mesoporous maghemite–organosilica microspheres: a promising route towards multifunctional platforms for smart diagnosis and therapy
Beatriz Julián-López, Cédric Boissière, Corinne Chanéac, David Grosso, Sebastien Vasseur, Sylvain Miraux, Etienne Duguet and Clément Sanchez
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on March 9, 2007 at 2:04 am
pub Feb 2007
see source
The report “The World Nanotechnology Market (2006)”, provides an updated and detailed overview of the Nanotechnology market worldwide. It examines the emerging trends in the industry and provides exclusive forecasts- product wise and application wise. It includes the snapshots of different players in the industry, R&D spending in various countries and studies the patents in this technology.
Key Findings
– Market Size of the Nanoelectronics totaled to US$ 1,827 Million in 2005 and is forecasted
to reach US$ 4,219 Million by the year 2010.
- Nanofood market will soar with a CAGR 30.94% from 2006 to 2010 and will attain a market
value of US$ 20.40 Billion by 2010.
- The market for textiles using Nanotechnology will cross US$ 13.6 Billion mark by 2007. By
2012, the market is expected to reach US$ 115 Billion.
- US market for Nanotech tools is projected to increase by nearly 30% per year through 2008
to US$ 900 Million, and then triple again to US$ 2.7 Billion in 2013.
– US has the largest share of global investment in Nanotechnology. The US market had a
share of 28% in 2005, followed by Japanese market with about 24% share. The western
European market also had a quarter of the market share with major investment in countries
like Germany, UK and France. Other countries like China, South Korea, Canada and
Australia held the rest of the share.
Key Issues Addressed
– Global outlook of Nanotechnology market.
– Analysis of Nanotechnology market by various products and application areas, their market
and growth prospects.
– Key drivers, growth opportunities and challenges for Nanotechnology.
– Update on the recent developments in Nanotechnology.
– Snapshots of the key players in Nanotechnology.
Key Players Analyzed
This section provides the overview about the prominent players in the field of Nanotechnology like Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., Angstorm Medica, Aspen Aerogel, Cabot Corporation, Degussa Advanced Nanomaterials, General Nanotechnology, Nanomagnetics Limited, Nanospectra Biosciences, Quantum Dot Corporation and Zyvex Corporation.
Research Methodology
Information Sources
The information on Nanotechnology has been sourced from various means like books, newspapers, trade journals and white papers, industry portals, government agencies, trade associations, by monitoring Industry news and developments and access to more than 3000 paid databases.
Analysis Method
Ratio Analysis, Historical Trend Analysis, Linear Regression Analysis using software tools, Judgmental Forecasting and Cause and Effect Analysis.
List of Figures:
Figure 2-1: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Market (in Billion $), 2005, 2010E & 2015E
Figure 2-2: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanotechnology Industry Segmentation by
Applications (%), 2015
Figure 2-3: US & Worldwide – Start-up Companies in Nanotechnology Industry (in Units), 2005
Figure 3-1: Worldwide – R&D Expenditure (%), 2005
Figure 3-2: Worldwide – Nanotechnology R&D Expenditure (in Billion US$), 2004 & 2005
Figure 3-3: Worldwide – Government Expenditure by Region (%), 2005
Figure 3-4: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Patent Trends (in Numbers), 2000-2005
Figure 3-5: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Patents by Country (%), 2003
Figure 3-6: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanomaterials Consumption (in Billion US$), 2006-2010
Figure 3-7: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanocomposite Market (in Million US$), 2006-2011
Figure 3-8: Worldwide – Nanocomposites Market by Application Area (%), 2005
Figure 3-9: Worldwide – Nanocomposites Consumption by Types (%), 2005
Figure 3-10: Worldwide – Forecast for Inorganic Nanoporous & Microporous Adsorbents
Market (in Million US$), 2006-2009
Figure 3-11: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanomagnetic Materials and Devices Market (in
Billion US$), 2006-2009
Figure 3-12: Worldwide – Nanomagnetic Products Market in Industrial Applications (in Million
US$) 2003, 2004 & 2009E
Figure 3-13: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanopatterning Market (in Million US$), 2006-2010
Figure 3-14: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanocatalysts Market (in Billion US$), 2006-2009
Figure 3-15: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanofilms Market (in Million US$), 2006-2008
Figure 3-16: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanosensor Market (in Million US$), 2006-2009
Figure 3-17: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Investment Share (%), 2005
Figure 3-18: US – Nanotechnology Funding by Source (%), 2005
Figure 3-19: US – Federal Government Direct Funding (in Million US$), 2000-2005
Figure 3-20: US – Nanotech Tools Market (in Million US$), 2002, 2008E & 2013E
Figure 3-21: Canada – Number of Research Related Staff at National Institute of
Nanotechnology (2006-2008)
Figure 3-22: Europe – Expenditure on Nanotechnology (in Million US$), 2005 & 2006
Figure 3-23: Europe – Public Funding (in Million US$), 2004
Figure 3-24: Europe – R&D Infrastructure by Activity (in Numbers), 2005
Figure 3-25: Asia – Government Nanotechnology Spending by Country (in Million US$), 2005
Figure 3-26: Japan – Government Budget for Nanotechnology (in Million US$), 2001-2005
Figure 3-27: Japan – Nanotechnology Funding Agencies and National Research Institutes, 2006
Figure 3-28: China – Nanotechnology Market (in Billion US$), 2005, 2010E & 2015E
Figure 3-29: Taiwan – Forecast for Nanoscience Production Value (in Billion US$), 2006-2012
Figure 3-30: Worldwide – MEMS Materials Market (in Million US$), 2005
Figure 3-31: Worldwide – Forecast for Textile Products Market using Nanotechnologies (in
Billion US$), 2007-2012
Figure 3-32: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanoelectronics Market (in Billion US$), 2007, 2011
& 2015
Figure 3-33: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanomaterials Market (in Million US$), 2006-2010
Figure 3-34: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanotools and Equipment Market Size (in Million
US$), 2006-2010
Figure 3-35: Worldwide – Market for Nanotechnology in Life-Sciences (in Million US$),
2004, 2005 & 2010E
Figure 3-36: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Market in Automotive Sector (in Million
US$), 2000-2005
Figure 3-37: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanotechnology Market in Automotive Sector (in
Billion US$), 2006-2015
Figure 3-38: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanotechnology Market for Consumer Products (in
Billion US$), 2006-2010
Figure 3-39: Worldwide – Nanofood Market (in Billion US$), 2003 & 2005
Figure 3-40: Worldwide – Forecast for Nanofood Market (in Billion US$), 2006-2010
List of Tables:
Table 3-1: Worldwide – Corporate Expenditure by Region (in Billion US$), 2005
Table 3-2: Worldwide – Nanotechnology Startup Companies, 2005
Table 3-3: Worldwide – National Policies for Nanotechnology by Country
Table 3-4: Worldwide – Nanopatterning Tool, Template and Consumable Market by
Technology (in Million US$), 2004, 2005 & 2010E
Table 3-5: US – Budget for Nanotechnology (in Million US$), 2001, 2005 & 2006
Table 3-6: US – National Nanotechnology Initiative Investments into Nanotechnology
by Component Areas (in Million US$), 2006 & 2007
Table 3-7: Canada – Nanotechnology Developments by Provinces, 2006
Table 3-8: Germany – Nanotechnology Research Centers, 2005
Table 3-9: Germany – Nanotechnology Projects Public Funding (in Million US$), 2002-2005
Table 3-10: France – Nanotechnology Developments (1999-2002 & 2005)
Table 3-11: France – Nanotechnology Research Centers, 2005
Table 3-12: Netherlands – Nanotechnology Research Centers, 2005
Table 3-13: UK – Nanotechnology Research Centers, 2005
Table 3-14: Japan – Key Nanotechnology Financers, 2006
Table 3-15: Japan – Nanobio Projects Funding by Category (in Million US$), 2005
Table 3-16: South Korea – Nanotechnology Investment Plan (in Million US$), 2001-2004,
2005-2007 & 2008-2010
Table 3-17: Application Areas for Nanomaterials
Table 3-18: Application Areas for Nanotools and Equipments
Table 4-1: Government Support for Nanotechnology (in Million £)
Table 4-2: Public Perception on Nanotechnology, 2005
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on March 9, 2007 at 1:57 am
Stratfor, a global intelligence consultancy, just released new predictions for global industry regulations, including nanotechnology. Even though their analyses severely underestimate the importance of country-specific communication and opinion environments, one aspect of their argument is well taken. Regulations in Europe or other G8 countries will directly impact regulatory efforts (or attempts to avoid regulations) in the U.S.
More at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on March 9, 2007 at 1:55 am
The U.S. press is just now picking up on the story that ran about a week ago in Europe (see nanopublic posting from March 3, 2007).
8/03/2007 – A Swiss firm is offering the first process risk management and safety certification for pharma companies working with nanoparticles and technologies.
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 9, 2007 at 1:51 am
BUFFALO, N.Y., March 8 U.S. scientists have developed an unusual nano-centered drug delivery system in which the drug itself acts as the delivery vehicle.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on March 9, 2007 at 1:50 am
Apr 19, 2007 – Apr 21, 2007
San Servolo, Venice, Veneto Italy
[Italy]
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on March 8, 2007 at 3:56 am
Monday, March 05, 2007
Carbon nanotubes could help make nanoparticle-based solar cells more efficient and practical.
By Kevin Bullis
Researchers at University of Notre Dame, in Indiana, have demonstrated a way to significantly improve the efficiency of solar cells made using low-cost, readily available materials, including a chemical commonly used in paints. The researchers added single-walled carbon nanotubes to a film made of titanium-dioxide nanoparticles, doubling the efficiency of converting ultraviolet light into electrons when compared with the performance of the nanoparticles alone. The solar cells could be used to make hydrogen for fuel cells directly from water or for producing electricity. Titanium oxide is a main ingredient in white paint.
More at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on March 8, 2007 at 3:54 am
Office of External Communications
Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2007
Contact: Lisa Merkl
713.743.8192 (office)
713.605.1757 (pager)
lkmerkl@uh.edu
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A photo of a demo of this procedure for staging and treating breast cancer is available on the Web at http://www.uh.edu/admin/media/nr/2007/02feb/abrazdeikisph.html.
PROBE TO DETECT SPREAD OF BREAST CANCER CO-DEVELOPED BY UH SCIENTIST
Device to Locate Magnetic Nanoparticles in Lymph Nodes
HOUSTON, March 5, 2007 – High-temperature superconductors hold the key to a handheld tool for surgeons that promises to be more accurate, cost-effective and safer than existing methods for staging and treating various cancers, including breast cancer.
Audrius Brazdeikis, research assistant professor of physics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Houston, and Quentin Pankhurst, a professor of physics from the University College of London (UCL), have developed a novel detection procedure combining nanotechnology and advanced magnetic sensing based on high-temperature superconductors. Their innovation will enable surgeons to more effectively locate the sentinel lymph node – the first lymph node to which a tumor’s metastasizing cancer cells will drain.
The researchers produced an ultrasensitive magnetic probe to detect minuscule magnetic fields in the body. The probe is a supersensitive magnetometer – an instrument used to track the presence of clinically introduced magnetic nanoparticles. During breast cancer surgery, a surgeon will inject a magnetic nanoparticle dye, already approved as an imaging contrast agent by the Food and Drug Administration, into the tumor or into tissues surrounding the tumor.
Receiving a $250,000 grant to be used from 2004 to 2006 from the United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry under the UK-Texas Bioscience Collaboration Initiative, Brazdeikis and Pankhurst were required to show “proof of concept” by building a device and showing it worked. An ethics committee in the UK since has approved the detection procedure for a clinical trial of women undergoing breast cancer surgery at University College Hospital, London.
Dr. Michael Douek, a London surgeon who specializes in breast surgery and is a senior lecturer at UCL, is overseeing the trial and used the probe for the first time in surgery in December. Douek, who visited Houston recently in preparation for the testing, said that the ethics committee gave the hospital permission to use the probe in 10 surgeries and that after a review of those procedures, the number could increase to 100.
“We expect to start new clinical trials in Japan and Europe before the end of 2007,” Brazdeikis said. “Our technology will be extensively validated by different surgeons in various countries.”
Brazdeikis, who heads the Biomedical Imaging Group at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH (TcSUH), said a goal of the grant was to commercialize biomedical technology developed at universities through collaborative research. He and Pankhurst, deputy director of the London Centre for Nanotechnology, have formed a medical devices company – Endomagnetics Inc. – to bring their technology to the marketplace and patented the probe.
“The company plans to roll out the production of the technology in 2008,” Brazdeikis said. “We hope that in the next two to three years practice assisted with our new probe will become more widely adopted by surgeons.”
Endomagnetics also already has garnered recognition from such key world figures as England’s Prince Andrew, his country’s special representative for international trade and investment, who highlighted new technology developed by the nanotechnology industry at the Nano-TX ’06 conference in Dallas. He cited the UH-UCL collaboration and Endomagnetics’ as an “exciting example of the early stages of this kind of progress.”
“The partnership has resulted in a technology used to locate lymph nodes for the staging and treatment of various forms of cancer, including breast cancers and melanomas, and some of the more disfiguring and demoralizing forms of cancer,” he said, according to a transcript of his remarks.
“Although the technology has potential for use in the staging and treatment of other cancers, including lung and prostate cancer, the instrument needs to be customized for the type of surgery,” said Douek, who has advised the researchers from the beginning of the probe’s development. “We went through a whole series of different probes during the course of a year. I was interested in being part of the project because of my interest in magnetic resonance imaging. This is an extension of that technology.”
A surgeon holds the probe, which incorporates two sets of coils connected to a sensor. One set of coils magnetizes the magnetic particles, and the second detects the magnetic response from those particles. The sensor, known as an HTS SQUID (or high-temperature superconducting quantum interference device) is located in a cryogenic vessel on a cart and is submerged in liquid nitrogen that cools the sensor to 77 K, equivalent to -320.5 F. The system uses custom-built electronics and software on a laptop computer to give the surgeon visual and audio feedback while tracking the magnetic nanoparticles in the body.
“When breast cancer is diagnosed, and a tumor has been located, a critically important issue is whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body – a process that occurs via the transport of metastatic cancer cells through the lymphatic system,” Brazdeikis said. “The surgeon looks for lymph nodes close to the cancer. They are not easy to find. The probe is a tool for the surgeon to use during the surgery to locate the sentinel lymph node.”
Existing practice calls for a breast cancer patient to receive two preoperative injections – a radioactive isotope and a blue dye – eight to 12 hours before surgery, frequently requiring hospitalization the night before the operation. Later, in the operating room, the surgeon uses a handheld gamma probe, aided by the visual observation of the dye, to locate the lymph node with the highest radioactivity.
“Surgeons have a very small window of opportunity to locate the lymphatic nodes that the cancer drains into,” Brazdeikis said. “Our technology offers unprecedented quality and value of care benefits to patients, doctors and hospital administrators over existing procedures.”
The UH-UCL technology allows a surgeon to administer one injection – the magnetic dye that takes only 10 to 15 minutes to work – and eliminates the need for a nuclear medicine practitioner to inject the radioactive material. A patient thus may not have to be hospitalized while waiting, and the technology eliminates unnecessary patient and surgeon exposure to radioactivity.
“We introduce a paradigm-shifting new technology for the staging and treatment of breast and other forms of cancer,” Brazdeikis said. “It will be very appealing for surgeons to take this technology into their practice.”
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.
About the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
The UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, with nearly 400 faculty members and approximately 4,000 students, offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the natural sciences, computational sciences and mathematics. Faculty members in the departments of biology and biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, geosciences, mathematics and physics have internationally recognized collaborative research programs in association with UH interdisciplinary research centers, Texas Medical Center institutions and national laboratories.
To receive UH science news via e-mail, visit www.uh.edu/admin/media/sciencelist.html.
For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Weapons/Military
In nano on March 4, 2007 at 12:30 am
Nanowerk News) Last Wednesday, a new report came out from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), dryly titled “Defense Science Board 2006 Summer Study on 21st Century Strategic Technology Vectors” (pdf download, 1.1 MB).
see more at source
Human Rights, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Disabled People, Health, nano on March 3, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Nanotechnology has the potential to generate “enormous” health benefits for the more than five billion people living in the developing world, according to a leading professor of medicine.
more at source
My comment: Its much too simple as its outlined in the article more drugs more technology do not good as such if the societal framework (not just related to businesses) is changed. But that does not just mean to direct more tech research priorities towards the needs of the poor. It also means to look at whether new research is actually needed and whether existing tech and sciences can deal with the problem. We have today drugs sciences and technologies who do not reach the people in need. Further more often social changes are much more effective in fighting diseases and preventing the increase of people with a given disease and to make the lives of the poor better than just producing more drugs or technologies.
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS Disabled people
In Disabled People, Health, nano on March 3, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Here’s how nano research might pave the way to the development of artificial retinas based on photosensitive nanoparticles:
The world’s first direct electrical link between nerve cells and photovoltaic nanoparticle films has been achieved by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) and the University of Michigan. The development opens the door to applying the unique properties of nanoparticles to a wide variety of light-stimulated nerve-signaling devices — including the possible development of a nanoparticle-based artificial retina.
Nanoparticles are artificially created bits of matter not much bigger than individual atoms. Their behavior is controlled by the same forces that shape molecules; they also exhibit the bizarre effects associated with quantum mechanics. Scientists can exploit these characteristics to custom-build new materials “from the bottom up” with characteristics such as compatibility with living cells and the ability to turn light into tiny electrical currents that can produce responses in nerves.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 26, 2007 at 12:39 am
from TNTlog
Africa, here we come!
Posted by Tim on 25 Feb 2007 at 6:17 pm under Events, Nanotech, Africa
We’ve been running the World Nano-Economic Congress (WNEC) series of events continuously since 2003 all around the world: Washington DC, London, Dublin, Singapore, and Mumbai. Developed by my colleague Dexter Johnson who also runs our VIP Events for corporate clients, this has established the WNEC event as the only truly global nanotechnology conference.
Now we are adding a new continent to our list: Africa. The WNEC will hold its first African continent event in Pretoria, South Africa: The World Nano-Economic Congress South Africa.
The reason for bringing the WNEC to South Africa is the same as the reasons why we ran successful events in Dublin, Singapore and Mumbai: South Africa is quickly developing into one of the fastest growing nanotechnology hubs in the world. This rapid development is fueled in part by last year’s launching of the South African National Nanotechnology Strategy, which earmarked R450 million ($61.6 million) to be spent on infrastructure and research over the next three years (Cientifica has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa and CSIR to run the event).
But it is also based on South Africa’s industrial base of mining, textiles, and chemicals all of which have something to gain from employing nanotechnology and many of the major tool companies, such as FEI, have set up offices in the country to support this new growth.
If nanotechnology is going to have an impact in Africa, it will start in South Africa. If you want to be a part of that movement, attending the WNEC South Africa would be a very good place to start.
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Sustainable Nanotech
Posted by Tim on 25 Feb 2007 at 6:04 pm under Products, Publications, Health & Safety, Nanotech
Energy WhitepaperOne of the great breakthroughs we expected from nanotechnology was abundant clean energy, and the plentiful supply of funds diverted towards companies such as Konarka and Nanosolar (and previously Nanosys) indicated that there was plenty ofopportunities in that sector. With the coming mania for Cleantech, we decided to take a look at nanotech and energy in a new report and white paper.
As usual the aim of the study was not to simply create another long list of applications of nanotechnologies that could or might have some impact on the energy sector, but to try to understand what applications will be coming onto the market in the next seven years and to make a realistic assessment of their impact.
Fuel Cell Powered Laptop
We took a rather conservative view as most applications of nanotechnologies in this sector are running a few years late. If you have followed nanotech for a while, you may remember that NEC developed direct methanol fuel cells based on nanohorns back in 2001 and were supposed to have them on the market by 2004/5.
They haven’t been heard of since then (maybe concerns about airline security and current restrictions on liquids were the death knell for the half litre of methanol attached to the back of the laptop), and a historical analysis of forecasts for fuel cell use in general shows a history of wildly overoptimistic predictions.
The results were quite surprising. It turns out that many of the overhyped applications such as thin film solar or fuel cells will have relatively little impact between now and 2015, with solid state lighting, nanocomposite materials and aerogels used in insulation and the increasing use of fuel borne catalysts being the major winners. In fact, we predicy energy saving technologies to account for 77% of the energy related applications of nanotechnologies by 2014, up from 62% today.
(nano)Energy Market in 2014
Another interesting fact to emerge from the analysis was that 75% of the nanotech applications will be in the automotive sector, covering everything from using composites to save weight, catalysts to burn fuel more efficiently, and of course the use of fuel cells and hydrogen storage materials once they start to hit the market around 2010.
So overall, the smart money is on saving energy rather than generating it, at least that is where the money will be for the next five years.
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We’ve Moved!
Posted by admin on 25 Feb 2007 at 4:45 pm under Uncategorized
Regular readers may be wondering where TNTlog went for the past few days. The answer is right here. The main Cientifica site has also been upgraded to Web 2.0 making it easier for users to find the information they need. There may be a few bedding in issues, if you find any feel free to let us know.
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Newton, Einstein and Drexler
Posted by Tim on 09 Feb 2007 at 2:28 pm under US & Canada, Unmitigated Hype, Publications
Hypebole of the week has to go to web based publishers WOWIO who have just republished the web version of Engines Of Creation which has been kicking around on the Foresight site for ages.
Ray Kurzweil, whon is beter known these days for taking obscene quantities of vitamins and claiming that the singularity is near – yes, here it comes, just around the corner, hold on, it will be here in a few minutes, or years, maybe, I promise -puts down his acai berries long enough to trumpet
“Some seminal works stand out like beacons in the history of science. Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica and Watson and Crick’s A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid come quickly to mind. In recent decades we can add Eric Drexler’s Engines of Creation which established the revolutionary new field of nanotechnology.”
We had a quick check and couldn’t find it on the Wowio site, and yes, we did check both the science fiction & fanatasy and the science categories.
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Nanoscientists Swinging From the Lamposts of Paris?
Posted by Tim on 01 Feb 2007 at 11:03 am under Europe, Products, Events, Health & Safety, Nanotech
The public enagement bug has spread to France, with a recent Citizen’s conference on nanosciences and nanotechnologies.
We have commented before about the value of these exercises. While it is good to engage ‘citizens’ in debates about technologies that may affect their future, it is hard to make rational decisions based on facts if those facts are not well understood. We have already been through this with organic produce, which far from significantly improving anyone’s health simply allows supermarkets to charge 50% more for essentially the same product and ancreasing numbers of manufacturers are attracted by the fat margins.
The French study put its finger on the core of the paradox, that people want to make the right decision but don’t have the right information or ability to do so, with the finding that “current information on the issue is elitist and reserved to specialists.” Oner has to wonder whether that also applies to the whole of science and technology – is anything that requires a PhD elitist and should we follow the example of Pol Pot and remove all intellectuals?
But seriously, society and business functions as an interlinked collection of individual specialists, and a nanoscientist is no more elitist that a garage mechanic. So while public consultation is a great idea, in the end you need a scientific elite to make the scientific decisions, a bureaucratic elite to implement them and a financial elite to fund them.
The panels’ final conclusions seem to recognise this, and were no different to those of any other public engagement exercise, that they were more or less in favour of nanotechnologies, provided that suitable controls were in place (not disregarding ethics in favour of profits, environmental controls etc.) and that the regional and national government should make sure that they get a decent slice of any economic benefits.
So, not much new, but we couldn’t resist following the lead of Euractive and popping a sensationalist headline on this.
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Academics Shocked To Find General Public Ignorant Of Nanotech
Posted by Tim on 23 Jan 2007 at 8:49 am under US & Canada, Publications, Nanotech
Another new report manages to astound the nanoworld with the news that the General Public is only vaguely aware of nanotechnology.
What seems to be lost in all the clamour to engage the public in debates about emerging technologies is that much of the general public is only vaguely aware of most of science and engineering – asking how a lightbulb or a steam engine works can produce some dismaying results.
Perhaps a fertile subject for future social scientists to study would be why anyone thinks that the public should show any more interest in nanotech than in electrical engineering or nuclear physics?
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I Hung My Head And Wept
Posted by Tim on 19 Jan 2007 at 3:11 pm under Finance, Asia, Nanotech
One of our white papers last year looked at how long it takes for anyone to get hold of nanotech funding, and how easy it is to announce major programs and then hang onto the money. This will be familiar to anyone who has spent much time working on EU Framework programs where the bureaucratic overhead can seem to take up more effrt than the science, but the Indian Government seems to have taken this to an extreme level.
An article in the Hindu entitled “Scientific research in India is hampered by a growing inability to spend budgetary allocations fully” highlights the obstacles scientists have to negotiate to get their hands on funding. This is particularly embarrassing, given India’s nanotech friendly president and as the Hindu noted:
One may be tempted to ask what prompted the President to make such a remark now. It is quite likely that, having looked at the 2005-06 expenditure figures, he must have discovered, to his utter despair, that the Rs.200 crores allocated for the national Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Mission (Nano Mission), of which he was the prime moving force, had to be surrendered entirely unspent. The total amount unspent by the DST is 14.68 per cent of the total allocation in the 2005-06 budget, and the Nano Mission alone accounts for 12 per cent.
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Those Atoms Are Dangerous
Posted by Tim on 16 Jan 2007 at 8:34 am under Social and Ethical, Health & Safety, Nanotech
The winner of ETCs competition to design a nanohazard symbol was due to be announced yesterday, but in the meantime, a gallery of almost 500 entries is available here.
Many of the entries are based around the theme that atoms are dangerous (perhaps they should be banned forthwith?) but my particular favourite is the entry below based on the warning sign for old people crossing the road, although perhaps roads are more likely to be the real hazard than dipping your stick into a puddle of grey goo.
sign106d_20070103_133121.gif
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Nanomission Demo Now Available For Free Download
Posted by Tim on 09 Jan 2007 at 4:09 pm under Europe, Products, Publications, Nanotech
nanomission-logo3-flat.png
While the rest of the world was taking a few weeks off over Xmas, the elves in PlayGens’ grotto were busy putting the finishing touches to the nanomedicine module of Nanomission. If you ever wondered what nanomedicine would really look like then you can download the demo here.
While it’s a cracking good game, there is as serious side to it and you will learn quite a bit about the nanoworld such as
1. Dispelling the myth of small mechanical robots in the body.
Much of the early ideas about nanotechnology were based on the idea that simple mechanical structures could be built at the nanoscale using atoms as building blocks. These structures would, in theory, be able to operate very quickly and with high precision. However, many of the proposed devices would not actually work on this scale as chemical forces, viscosity and Brownian motion are the dominant forces in the nanoworld, rather than friction and gravity which we all are more accustomed to in our daily lives.
As a result, designing any machine to operate inside the body requires a rather different approach from simply shrinking a submarine to the size of a pinhead as happened in the film “Fantastic Voyage.” If we were somehow able to do this, then the occupants of the craft would be reduced to the size of a few cells, and result in the loss of almost all of their neurons.
2. Learning from nature when designing nanomedicine.
Rather than reducing our world to the nanoscale, many scientists are now realizing that the best nanotechnologist is in fact Mother Nature. Through three billion years of evolution, life has evolved a huge array of complex devices such as DNA, viruses and cells which allow us to store data and repair our damaged parts. Someone who loses a finger is still able to function normally, but pulling a leg off a chip inside your computer could result in the whole machine becoming useless. As a result, scientists are now learning from nature’s nanotech to design devices that work in a similar, but far simpler way. Rather than introducing new machines such as submarines and robots, scientists are mimicking nature for delivery of new anti cancer drugs by the use of structures such as vesicles which move with a flagella rather than a propeller (which is what bacteria do owing to the viscosity of liquids on this scale) or by locking the toxic materials inside an outwardly benign structure that does not trigger the body’s immune systems, keeping the drug from harming healthy cells until the payload is delivered.
3. Being inside the human body.
The human body is a hostile place for things that shouldn’t be there. The body is very sensitive to anything that it sees as a foreign body and deals with them very efficiently. One of the biggest challenges for drug manufacturers is to deliver compounds to the site where they are needed without the immune system or the body’s other defense mechanisms neutralizing or altering the compound.
4. How nanomedicine may be used to cure cancer.
There are hundreds of different types of cancer, so an overall cure is not likely anytime soon, but nanomedicine will allow more effective treatment of many types of cancer by targeting compounds more effectively. The reason why a number of very effective anti cancer compounds cannot be used is because they will also kill healthy cells or they may be altered by the human body before they get to where they are needed, so scientists are finding ways of wrapping them up inside other structures, in this case vesicles, and only releasing them at the site of the cancer.
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Mapping UK Nanotech
Posted by Tim on 09 Jan 2007 at 3:39 pm under Europe, Publications, Nanotech
The new version of the UK’s Industrial Map OF UK Micro and NanoTechnology has just been released, profiling 643 companies which “are either exclusively or partly, manufacturing or developing products based on micro and nanotechnology or offering services in this field.”
The conclusion that “as a consequence, micro and nanotechnologies are contributing to company turnover in excess of £90 billion and employing 400,000 people within the UK” would indicate that either a) most of the companies listed are in the micro domain or b) that the inclusion of large companies such as BNFL who have a small program with Leeds University on uranium nanoparticles (if they could somehow involve GMO’s the program would scandalize every environmental group on the planet!) has skewed the data somewhat.
Overall its a useful bit of work, although the inclusion of law firms and anyone who wants to add a gratuitous nano to their description means that it fails to paint a true picture of the situation, and a lot more work needs to be done before drawing any conclusions about the health, or otherwise, of the UKs MNT sector.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 23, 2007 at 3:44 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 23, 2007 at 3:42 am
http://www2.umt.edu/ethics/debating_science/nanotech.html
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 18, 2007 at 3:33 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 15, 2007 at 2:34 am
Numbers of edge atoms dictate physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles
Mitch Jacoby
What a difference a few atoms can make.
Tiny variations in the numbers of atoms along the edges of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles can profoundly influence the crystal’s atomic-scale structure and coordination, electronic properties, and other characteristics, researchers in Denmark have shown. The findings may lead to improvements in MoS2-based desulfurization catalysts for fuel cleanup and to advanced lubricants and other applications.
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 15, 2007 at 2:32 am
Gold spheres, bestowed with valency, are strung together in polymer-like chain
Bethany Halford
Image Title © Science 2007
Coated gold nanoparticles strung together via linker molecules.
Using a little topology and a few thiol ligands, materials scientists have managed to corral a gold nanoparticle’s thousands of atoms and make them behave like one divalent atom (Science 2007, 315, 358).
Transformed from a multivalent mass to tidy two-handled building blocks, the nanoparticles can then be hooked together into a tiny string of golden beads. “It’s the nanoscale equivalent of a polymer,” says Francesco Stellacci, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who spearheaded the research.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 15, 2007 at 2:31 am
Functionalized carbon nanotubes are taken up by cells via a possible universal mechanism
Michael Freemantle
The uptake of functionalized carbon nanotubes by living cells does not depend on cell type or on the nature of the chemical moieties grafted onto the tubes, according to a new study (Nat. Nanotechnol., DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2006.209). The research also provides evidence that nanotubes act like nanoneedles when they penetrate cell membranes.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on February 14, 2007 at 3:32 am
Nanowerk News) A simple enzyme-based biofuel cell has been made by a team of Japanese scientists (“Fructose/dioxygen biofuel cell based on direct electron transfer-type bioelectrocatalysis”).
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 14, 2007 at 3:31 am
“Two recent articles on a South African wine website and a UK newspaper shed light on what the large food manufacturers are planning to do with food. Its mostly based on nano-encapsulation technology that will make nanotechnology engineered foods a reality –
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Water
In nano on February 3, 2007 at 12:39 am
Technology Overview
Demand for Clean Water Drives Advances in Water and Wastewater Treatment
With the rising need for clean water and subsequent increase in generation of wastewater, it has become mandatory to treat wastewater in order to obtain high-quality pure water. Nanotechnology is generally used in areas where there is a need for attacking the molecular level of the substances. “Various forms of nanotechnology such as, nanomembranes and nanoporous zeolites are being used for the treatment of water and wastewater,” according to the analyst of the study. “Though the pace of advancement of nanotechnology has been slow with respect to water and wastewater treatment, industrialists are researching various kinds of nanotechnology to effectively treat water and wastewater.”
The primary motive for wastewater treatment is that less than 1 percent of the world’s water is suitable for drinking while the remaining is brackish. As a result, there is a growing need for fresh and clean water especially for drinking purposes. This escalates the need for technologies that produce high quality water after treatment that do not cause any detrimental effect to human beings or the environment. Utilizing nanotechnology for water and wastewater treatment would certainly make previously unusable water sources such as brackish water, seawater, and other wastewater as an available source of water supply.
Multiple Benefits of Nanotechnology Encourages Widespread Uptake in Water and Wastewater Treatment
The quality of water that is obtained after the adoption of nanotechnology is well within the requirements of agencies such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It has been determined that these nano-based filters are able to achieve 99.95 percent efficiency, when compared to conventional technologies. As a result, the water or effluent that is obtained after the treatment could be reused for various domestic and industrial applications.
Nanotechnology even removes protozoan cysts, oocysts, and helminth ova and in some cases bacteria and viruses from the water. “Nanotechnology also provides more effective alternatives to the treatment of contaminants such as mercury, arsenic, and perchlorate,” explains the analyst. “As the impact of these contaminants on humans is gradually realized, it has become increasingly essential to monitor them at trace levels, which is impossible with conventional treatment methods.”
see source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 3, 2007 at 12:35 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on February 2, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Center for Technology Assessment, TA Swiss, Know Your Nano! publifocus Nanotechnology, Health and the Environment, http://www.ta-swiss.ch/a/nano_pfna/2006_TAP8_IB_Nanotechnologien_e.pdf, 2006 -
Bio, Human Rights, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Disabled People, Health, nano on January 12, 2007 at 11:08 pm
IHEU- Appignani Humanist
Center for Bioethics and
Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
present
Human Rights for the 21st Century:
Rights of the Person to Technological Self-Determination
New York City
May 11-13, 2007
Cocktail Reception: Friday May 11, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: TBD
Conference: Saturday May 12 and Sunday May 13, 9:00 am – 3:45 pm
Location: 777 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York City, NY 10017
The 2007 conference “Human Rights for the 21st Century: Rights of the Person to Technological Self-Determination” will focus on (a) human rights in the context of bodily autonomy as well as reproductive and cognitive liberties, (b) emerging biotechnologies which may contribute to the exercise of such rights, and (c) challenges to the essentialist ideas of human identity underlying some human rights discourse.
The conference will address the various roles of emerging technologies and other products of scientific progress in today’s society, as well as their implications for the pursuit of bioethics. Potential topics to be considered include nanotechnology in medical treatment, novel vaccines against addictive behaviors, Internet-enabled social networking and engineering, designer genetic engineering, novel transplantable tissue and organ generation, neuroscience and its application to medical advances, as well as reproductive science and women’s rights. The conference intends to provide an open forum for interaction between various stakeholders in this debate, including those representing public, private, and international sectors.
These topics will be addressed through paper presentations and panel discussions. The deadline for the submission of papers is March 20, 2007. Accepted papers will be peer-reviewed and considered for publication in the Journal of Evolution and Technology (http://jetpress.org). Virtual registrations will be also available for those unable to attend the Conference who still wish to submit a paper for review and possible publication.
———————————————————————
Registration for presenters and early registrants is $50, payable by May 1, 2007.
Registration fee includes attendance at the two-day conference.
Cocktail reception: $15 extra.
The conference fee for students who attend is $25, for the general public (after May 1) $75.
The address for the submission of papers, registration fees (by check, payable to “IHEU”) or inquiries:
IHEU
P.O. Box 4104 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10162
Phone: (212) 687 3324 analita@iheu.org
Or by Paypal (online) to
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/rights2007
Registration forms and other details will be posted on:
http://www.iheu.org/bioethics and at http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/rights2007
———————————————————-
Accommodation packages are available, on a first-come-first-serve basis, from the Pickwick Hotel, E 51st Street and Second Avenue. Tel: 212 355 0300, e-mail: info@pickwickarms.com.
Fifteen hotel rooms have been booked at Millenium UN Plaza Hotel New York, United Nations Plaza, 44th Street between First and Second Avenues, New York,NY, USA 10017-3575 Tel: 212 758 1234 fax: 212 702 5051 reservation: 866 866 8086 email: unplaza@mhrmail.com. Please quote Conference name when booking.
———————————————————-
The IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics focuses on raising awareness of bioethical issues confronting the international community and developing and implementing an international program for lobbying. The Center is a new initiative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. IHEU holds a special consultative status with ECOSOC at the United Nations, a general consultative status with UNICEF and the Council of Europe as well as operational relations with UNESCO in Paris.
The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies examines the social implications of technological progress, promoting public policies that distribute the benefits and reduce the risks of accelerating innovation. The IEET is chaired by Dr. Nick Bostrom of Oxford University, and served by Dr. James Hughes of Trinity College (Hartford CT) as its Executive Director. The thirteen Fellows of the IEET span expertise from nanotechnology, neurotechnology, biotechnology and information science to bioethics, philosophy and health policy. The IEET publishes the Journal of Evolution and Technology (jetpress.org) and hosts the Changesurfer podcast.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 12, 2007 at 6:32 pm
The new version of the UK’s Industrial Map OF UK Micro and NanoTechnology has just been released, profiling 643 companies which “are either exclusively or partly, manufacturing or developing products based on micro and nanotechnology or offering services in this field.”
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm
PlayGens’ grotto were busy putting the finishing touches to the nanomedicine module of Nanomission.
more at source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 11, 2007 at 12:04 am
(Nanowerk News) A one day conference in London/UK next week will examine a wide spectrum of new scientific developments taking place in the fight against crime. The latest discoveries and advances will be discussed, from anti-terrorism laser technology with the potential to revolutionise airport security to the latest research discoveries in nanoforensics.
The event “Nanotechnology for Security and Crime Prevention” is organized by the Institute of Nanotechnology and will take place on January 18, 2007 at the Royal Society.
Topics will include:
– The Importance of Nanotechnology in Crime Control: Promises and Pitfalls
– Nanomaterials for Detection and Decontamination
– Wireless, Passive and Sensitive MEMS Detector of Chemical or Bio Materials in the Environment
– Nanotechnology Enabled Solutions for Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Security
– Anti-Counterfeiting Technologies: Physical Unclonable Function
– Single Molecule Analysis on a Hand-held Electrical Nanopore Device
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 11, 2007 at 12:02 am
Is China poised to become the world’s nanotech superpower, or is this prediction hyperbole? What is China’s comparative advantage in the high-tech sector, and how is it exploiting this advantage in nanotechnology? Will China’s investment in nanotechnology pay off? And how will the United States respond to China’s growing nanotechnology capacity–with competition, cooperation, or both?
These questions are the topic of an event and live webcast on Tuesday, February 6th at 3:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars ( www.wilsoncenter.org/directions ).
*** Webcast LIVE at www.wilsoncenter.org ***
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 11, 2007 at 12:00 am
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) (January 9, 2007)
Bangkok (dpa) – Thailand will play host next week to a major nanotechnology seminar that is expected to draw more than 300 scientists to Bangkok to discuss trends in the relatively new field, organizers said on Tuesday.
It will be the second such seminar organized in Asia by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Nano Technology Council (IEEE-NTC), said Wiwat Tanthaphanichkul, director of Thailand’s National Nanotechnology Centre (NanoTech).
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 7, 2007 at 5:48 pm
New fabric developed by the U.S. Air Force uses nanotechnology that “both kills bacteria, and forces liquids to bead and run off.” The scientists have used the fabric to create UNDERWEAR and t-shirts, and believe it will “revolutionize” the sports apparal industry.
More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on January 6, 2007 at 3:13 pm
MUMBAI: Dabur Pharma Ltd has announced the launch of Nanoxel-a novel drug delivery system for the widely used anti-cancer drug Paclitaxel. This nanoscale drug delivery system is India’s first indigenously developed nanotechnology based chemotherapy agent. “We are very excited to launch the first nanoparticle drug delivery system outside of the United States”, said Dr Anand Burman, Chairman of the company.
More at Source
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on January 5, 2007 at 6:49 pm
(Nanowerk News) The EU’s largest ever funding programme for research and technological development, the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), was launched on January 1, 2007.
With a total budget of €50.521 billion (approx. US$66 billion), FP7 will run for of seven years. An additional €2.7 billion has been earmarked for the Euratom programme on nuclear research, which will run for five years. EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik hailed the FP7’s approval as ‘great day’ for European Science. ‘In financial terms, this is a major improvement over the last framework programme. In real terms, there are 40 per cent more funds on average per year,’ he said.
FP7 will aim to build on the accomplishments of the previous research framework programme, and will be implemented through four specific programmes. The ‘Cooperation’ programme will support research cooperation in a number of key thematic areas. ‘Ideas’ will fund investigator-driven research through a newly created European Research Council (ERC). The ‘People’ programme will support training and researchers’ career development, while ‘Capacities’ will fund the coordination and development of research infrastructure, regional research clusters, international cooperation and closer ties between science and society.
Featuring simpler instruments and streamlined procedures for funding and participation, FP7 should facilitate the greater participation by and cooperation between universities, research centres, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and companies on a broad range of research areas. In doing so, the new programme should make headway on the goal of creating a European Research Area (ERA) – the equivalent of a ‘common market’ for research – to become the world’s leading research area.
Under FP7, a €3.5 billion portion of the budget will go to nanotechnology.
Currently there are 5 calls for proposals for nanoscience and nanotechnology under FP7.
Source: Cordis
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 30, 2006 at 8:08 pm
….The most prevalent nanomaterial in consumer products is nanosilver, used as a germ-killer. Nanosilver is found in at least 47 products – nearly double the number from just eight months ago, according to the Wilson Center.
Samsung sells a washing machine that releases nanosilver ions during the wash and rinse cycles to kill germs. Sharper Image is marketing nanosilver-treated slippers, socks that reduce germs and odors, and nanosilver food storage containers that keep food fresher longer. And Motorola recently began marketing two “germ-free” cell phones coated in nanosilver.
Last month, the EPA announced that it plans to regulate only nanosilver products that claim to kill germs, ignoring those companies that couch their marketing claims in less obvious language. In a recent letter to the agency, the Natural Resources Defense Council urged the EPA to review all consumer products containing nanosilver and require manufacturers to register such products as a pesticide…..
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 29, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 29, 2006 at 11:17 pm
A strategic plan and more resources for risk research are needed now in order to ensure safe nano-workplaces today and in the future. That is the conclusion of Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Chief Science Advisor Andrew Maynard in a new article, “Nanotechnology and Safety” just released by Cleanroom Technology magazine. The article is available in the magazine’s December 2006 / January 2007 issue and is freely available online: http://www.cleanroom-technology.co.uk
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 20, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Self-assembled nanotubes that conduct current when illuminated take us one step closer to cheap molecular photonic devices.
Read More at Source
Infotech, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on December 20, 2006 at 5:58 pm
Physicists at The University of Nottingham are to use refrigerators made from light that can cool atoms to the lowest temperature in the Universe to develop the next generation of ultra-small electronic devices.
Read more at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 20, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Infotech, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on December 16, 2006 at 3:01 am
new column by me is out
http://www.innovationwatch.com/choiceisyours/choiceisyours.2006.12.15.htm
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on December 13, 2006 at 1:15 am
A controversial theory that explains the molecular mechanism which gives our sense of smell razor-sharp precision has been given a boost thanks to a study by a team of UCL researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN).
Read More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 12, 2006 at 1:31 am
SAN FRANCISCO – The use of subatomic materials as microscopic building blocks for thousands of consumer products has turned into a big business so quickly that few are monitoring the so-called nanotechnology’s effects on health and the environment.
So Berkeley intends to be the first city to step into the breach and attempt to regulate the nascent but fast-growing industry.
The City Council is expected Tuesday to amend its hazardous materials law to compel researchers and manufacturers to report what nanotechnology materials they are working with and how they are handling the tiny particles.
Read More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on December 12, 2006 at 1:29 am
(Nanowerk News) Two of the hot-button fields of scientific study — nanotechnology and solar energy — are being combined by a team of Arizona State University researchers in an effort to find a cheap source of household energy for the nation’s future.
The team headed by Stuart Lindsey, director of the Center for Single Molecule Biophysics at the Arizona Biodesign Institute; Rudy Diaz, associate professor of electrical engineering; and chemistry professor Devens Gust, have received a $1.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to explore creation of infinitesimal nanoscale devices on the molecular level that can convert sunlight into electric current.
The idea is to try to overcome the major problem of photovoltaic solar energy — its relative inefficiency, which makes the cost of electricity produced by solar cells four times greater than electricity produced by nuclear or fossil fuels.
“If it works, there is a potential to bring the fabrication cost down to a very small amount,” Lindsey said.
That’s a big “if,” Lindsey admits. He said the idea of using nano-structures to convert sunlight into electricity is still theoretical. But the fact that the NSF is willing to fund research indicates an increasing interest in the concept by the scientific community, he said.
Red More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 10, 2006 at 1:41 am
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 8, 2006 at 10:27 pm
ASTM International Committee E56 on Nanotechnology has approved its first standard, E 2456, Terminology for Nanotechnology. The new standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E56.01 on Terminology and Nomenclature. Because of the great need for a terminology document that is globally recognized and because of the cooperation of several organizations in making the document a reality, Terminology E 2456 will be available free of charge from the ASTM International Web site.
Read More at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In nano on December 8, 2006 at 7:42 am
Artificial muscles made from carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger than human muscles.
Read more at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on December 6, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Nanowerk News) The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), will hold a public meeting on January 4, 2007, to receive input on research needs related to the environmental, health, and safety aspects of engineered nanoscale materials.
Read more at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 6, 2006 at 4:23 am
Read here which is chapter 5 of the
A Matter of Size: Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Committee to Review the National Nanotechnology Initiative, National Research Council
This free PDF was downloaded from:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11752.html
ISBN: 0-309-66138-2, 200 pages, 7 x 10, (2006)
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In Health, nano on December 5, 2006 at 4:22 am
The National Institutes of Health awarded the team $7 million over five years to study the use of a nanomotor, a microscopic biological machine, for potential use in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis B and influenza.
Read more at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on December 4, 2006 at 1:51 am
RIYADH, 25 November 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah donated SR36 million [about US$9.6 million] to the three leading universities in the Kingdom for research studies in nanotechnology, Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 30, 2006 at 1:27 am
While the first reported fullerenes and nanotube structures were composed of carbon, it was soon recognized that a plethora of comparable inorganic candidates should also exist. A rich assortment of IF (inorganic fullerene-like structures, or IF for short) nanostructures have been synthesized, and are finding practical uses in tribology, photonics, batteries, and catalysis.
Read more at Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on November 24, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Nanowerk reports
that the German branch of Friends of the Earth (BUND) is calling for Samsung to withdraw from the market its washing machine using silver nanoparticles:
Link to source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 24, 2006 at 10:41 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 23, 2006 at 11:02 pm
A type of nanotechnology used in a wide range of consumer products to kill germs will be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of a change in federal policy.
The EPA said Wednesday its decision will require manufacturers that use bacteria-killing particles of silver to provide scientific evidence that they won’t harm waterways or public health.
Environmentalists and others are concerned that nanosilver may be killing helpful bacteria and aquatic organisms as it enters the environment when discarded and may even pose a risk to humans. Nanosilver is used to kill germs in shoe liners, food-storage containers, air fresheners, washing machines and other products.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 18, 2006 at 12:22 am
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has given the green light for Israel to set up a special office to develop a nanotechnology arsenal.
Yediot Aharonot said that Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres had been told to choose 15 top thinkers to focus on developing futuristic weaponry. The 15 would be selected from within the security establishment, the world of hi-tech and academia.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 15, 2006 at 1:25 pm
14/11/2006 – A new ink leverages nanotechnology to detect the presence of oxygen in food packages, giving a warning that the product is no longer safe to eat.
The ink can be used by processors as another way of assuring wary consumers that their products are protected against faulty packaging and tampering. Once oxygen enters a food package, either accidentally or by tampering, the ink changes colour, warning the consumer that the food is no longer safe to eat.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on November 14, 2006 at 1:05 pm
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Link to Source All major powers are making efforts to research and develop nanotechnology- based materials and systems for military use. Asian and European countries, with the exception of Sweden (Swedish Defence Nanotechnology Programme), do not run dedicated programs for defense nanotechnology research. Rather, they integrate several nanotechnology-related projects within their traditional defense-research structures, e.g., as materials research, electronic devices research, or bio-chemical protection research. Not so the U.S. military. Stressing continued technological superiority as its main strategic advantage, it is determined to exploit nanotechnology for future military use and it certainly wants to be No. 1 in this area. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is a major investor, spending well over 30% of all federal investment dollars in nanotechnology. Of the $352m spent on nanotech by the DoD in 2005, $1m, or roughly 0.25%, went into research dealing with potential health and environmental risks. In 2006, estimated DoD nanotechnology expenditures will be $436m – but the risk-related research stays at $1m.
Annual DoD investment in nanotechnology; 2006 estimated. (Source data: DoD “Defense Nanotechnology Research and Development Programs”, May 8, 2006)
Proposed and actively pursued military nanotech programs cover a wide range of applications to improve the performance of existing systems and materials and allow new ones. The main areas of research deal with explosives (their chemical composition as well as their containment); bio and medicine (for both injury treatment and performance enhancement); biological and chemical sensors; electronics for computing and information; power generation and storage; structural materials for ground, air and naval vehicles; coatings; filters; and fabrics.
Structure of the DoD Nanotechnology Program
In the mid-1990s the DoD identified nanotechnology as one of six “Strategic Research Areas” (the other five being bioengineering sciences, human performance sciences, information dominance, multifunction materials, propulsion and energetic sciences). The DoD nanotechnology program is grouped into seven program component areas (PCAs), which mirror the PCAs of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI):
* PCA 1: fundamental nanoscale phenomena and processes
* PCA 2: nanomaterials
* PCA 3: nanoscale devices and systems
* PCA 4: instrumentation research, metrology, and standards for nanotechnology
* PCA 5: nanomanufacturing
* PCA 6: major research facilities and instrumentation acquisition
* PCA 7: societal dimensions
About half of the DoD’s nanotech investment goes to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), with the rest roughly evenly split between Army, Navy and Air Force. Besides DARPA, the major agencies leading the effort are the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). In addition, the DoD established a Defense University Research Initiative on NanoTechnology (DURINT). The DURINT program is intended to enhance U.S. universities’ capabilities to perform basic science and engineering research and related education in nanotechnology critical to national defense.
Most of the DoD dollars spent to date have gone into basic research and engineering. Insofar as these engineering and materials aspects of military nanotechnology incorporate engineered nanomaterials, there are near-term issues that need to be discussed and resolved: the potential toxicity of such materials (which applies to all engineered nanomaterials, not just those for military use), their impact on humans and the environment, and if and how release of such nanomaterials into the environment through military use could exceed release from non-military uses.
While very active in developing nanotech applications, the military is much more passive in assessing the risks and is content to monitor what other agencies do. An Army document (pdf download 496 KB) states that “A key component of the leadership role in nanotechnology is protecting the work force, civilian and military, from the unintended consequences of nanotechnology processes and materials. The Army should take an active role in drafting environmental, safety, and occupational health guidelines for nanomaterials to ensure contractors follow best environmental practices in the development, manufacture, and application of the new technology.” However, this “active role” appears not yet to have materialized.
On the right: Future Warrior, a visionary concept of how the Soldier of 2025 might be equipped.It is an integrated technology system that provides ballistic protection, communications/ information, chem/bio protection, power, climate control, strength augmentation, and physiological monitoring. Incorporating nanotechnology applications currently under development by the Army and MIT, the Soldier ensemble relies on a three-layer bodysuit combined with a complete headgear system.(Source: MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies)
A spokesman for the U.S. Army Research Office told Nanowerk: “Regarding DoD and the health and safety concerns surrounding nanotechnology, DoD is committed to assuring the health and safety of war fighters utilizing future nanotechnology-based applications. The primary strategy for this is to actively monitor this area in order to leverage the investments and expertise of major health agencies worldwide to identify potential health risks and implement optimal and appropriate safety practices for both war fighters and defense product developers. By partnering with and relying upon agencies such as NIH (National Institutes of Health), EPA, and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), who are the true experts with such matters, we believe we will be able to rapidly and accurately address these concerns while simultaneously avoiding duplicative efforts.”
Military Nanotech Risk Factors Go Beyond Civilian Risk
Some of the military-motivated research could clearly have a positive impact on everyday life (e.g., more powerful batteries, bio and chemical sensors to detect pollutants, filters to remove nanoscale pollutants and toxins, smart fabrics). Others not only pose the same potential risk that commercially used engineered nanomaterials do, for instance during production, but, due to their intended area of use, could have a greater chance of reaching and affecting the environment. Two examples:
1) Military activities often result in stuff being blown up. Blasts by high-tech weaponry could release toxic nanoparticles (which already is the case with depleted uranium munitions) as well as large quantities of nanoengineered particles contained in both munitions and defensive weapons systems and armors (e.g., coatings could release particles into the environment, especially during weapons impact).
2) Large-scale use of nanotech sensors could have an impact on the environment when these sensors start to degrade and engineered nanoparticles leak into the soil.
Of considerable concern is the question to what degree military nanotech could lead to destabilization (when one military power develops a technology that others cannot effectively defend against) and undermine arms-control agreements like the Biological Weapons Convention. A NATO study group states that “the potential for nanotech-driven innovations in chemical and biological weapons are particularly disquieting as they can considerably enhance the delivery mechanisms of agents or toxic substances. The ability of nanoparticles to penetrate the human body and its cells could make biological and chemical warfare much more feasible, easier to manage and to direct against specific groups or individuals.”
Other, longer-term risk factors arise from hotly debated concepts dealing with molecular assembly and self-replicating nanomachinery or from societal issues such as the potential destabilization posed by military nanotechnology applications (e.g., What will be the impact of omnipresent sensor nets and autonomous fighting systems? What are the ethical implications of non-medical implants in soldiers?).
Some examples
Here are current and near-term (from today until 2010) projects that will incorporate “free” engineered nanoparticles, i.e., where at some stage in production or use individual nanoparticles of a substance are present (compiled from public information on various DoD websites):
1. Field-responsive particles impregnated in microchannels, fibers, and foam packages to be used as load-transfer devices to remove/relieve skeletal loads (e.g., for built-in splints) (ISN – Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies)
2. Thin films made of carbon nanotubes that can be deposited onto surfaces for electrically active coatings (Naval Research Laboratory – NRL)
3. Quantum dots for sensors (NRL)
4. Advanced coatings containing polymer nanocomposites (DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and AHPCRC – Army High Performance Computing Research Center)
5. Nanocomposites and engineered nanoparticles for high-energy munitions (ICB – Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies)
6. Bio-molecular motors (DARPA)
7. Polymeric and nanostructured materials for biological and chemical sensors (NRL)
8. Nanometallics for armaments (Army Research Laboratory – ARL)
9. Energy-absorbing nanomaterials (ISN)
10. Nanostructured magnetic materials for controlled adhesives (DARPA and AHPCRC) and as transduction mechanism for monitoring and controlling biological activity at the cellular and, ultimately, single-molecule level (DARPA)
11. Self Decontaminating Surfaces exploiting surface structures of nanomaterials (DARPA)
12. Nanowires and carbon nanotubes for nanoelectronics (NRL)
13. Neural-electronic interfaces for visual, auditory and motor prostheses implanted into the body (DARPA, NRL)
14. Gold nanocluster-based sensors and electronics (NRL)
15. Incorporating carbon nanotubes into continuous high-strength and high-stiffness structural carbon fiber (DARPA)
16. Energy-absorbing and mechanically active nanomaterials in clothing and body armor that will be part of the future soldier’s battlesuit (ISN)
This list is far from exhaustive. More visionary applications and materials such as performance- enhancing nanoengineered protheses and bio-engineered weapons are conceptually feasible but are unlikely to see realization within the next 10-15 years.
By Michael Berger, Copyright 2006 Nanowerk LLC
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Water
In nano on November 13, 2006 at 12:46 am
Eye on Israel Link to original article
A business opportunity for you! Israeli nano centers receive 230 million USD of funding:
In addition to matching funds, the Israeli government will also provide over $8 million for nanotech-related equipment purchases and for advanced research projects in water treatment using nanotechnology.The triangle donation matching program will give preference to research in areas considered to have the strongest potential for Israeli breakthroughs: nanomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanoelectronics, and nanotech for applications in water treatment and alternative energy.
You can download the complete press-release from the Israeli’s National Nanotechnology Initiative here. The map of the Nano-biotech industry is provided by d&a hi-tech information here. A very complete compendium and links to Nano Industries and companies in Israel is available here.
Nano scale technologies/sciences, Water
In nano on November 7, 2006 at 3:21 am
Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science today announced they have developed a new reverse osmosis (RO) membrane that promises to reduce the cost of seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation.
Reverse osmosis desalination uses extremely high pressure to force saline or polluted waters through the pores of a semi-permeable membrane. Water molecules under pressure pass through these pores, but salt ions and other impurities cannot, resulting in highly purified water.
The new membrane, developed by civil and environmental engineering assistant professor Eric Hoek and his research team, uses a uniquely cross-linked matrix of polymers and engineered nanoparticles designed to draw in water ions but repel nearly all contaminants. These new membranes are structured at the nanoscale (the width of human hair is approximately 100,000 nanometers) to create molecular tunnels through which water flows more easily than contaminants.
Unlike the current class of commercial RO membranes, which simply filter water through a dense polymer film, Hoek’s membrane contains specially synthesized nanoparticles dispersed throughout the polymer — known as a nanocomposite material.
“The nanoparticles are designed to attract water and are highly porous, soaking up water like a sponge, while repelling dissolved salts and other impurities,” Hoek said. “The water-loving nanoparticles embedded in our membrane also repel organics and bacteria, which tend to clog up conventional membranes over time.”
With these improvements, less energy is needed to pump water through the membranes. Because they repel particles that might ordinarily stick to the surface, the new membranes foul more slowly than conventional ones. The result is a water purification process that is just as effective as current methods but more energy efficient and potentially much less expensive. Initial tests suggest the new membranes have up to twice the productivity — or consume 50 percent less energy — reducing the total expense of desalinated water by as much as 25 percent.
“The need for a sustainable, affordable supply of clean water is a key priority for our nation’s future and especially for that of California — the fifth largest economy in the world,” Hoek said. “It is essential that we reduce the overall cost of desalination — including energy demand and
environmental issues — before a major draught occurs and we lack the ability to efficiently and effectively increase our water supply.”
A critical limitation of current RO membranes is that they are easily fouled — bacteria and other particles build up on the surface and clog it. This fouling results in higher energy demands on the pumping system and leads to costly cleanup and replacement of membranes. Viable alternative desalination technologies are few, though population growth, over-consumption and pollution of the available fresh water supply make desalination and water reuse ever more attractive alternatives.
With his new membrane, Hoek hopes to address the key challenges that limit more widespread use of RO membrane technology by making the process more robust and efficient.
“I think the biggest mistake we can make in the field of water treatment is to assume that reverse osmosis technology is mature and that there is nothing more to be gained from fundamental research,” Hoek said. “We still have a long way to go to fully explore and develop this technology, especially with the exciting new materials that can be created through nanotechnology.
Hoek is working with NanoH2O, LLP, an early-stage partnership, to develop his patent-pending nanocomposite membrane technology into a new class of low-energy, fouling-resistant membranes for desalination and water reuse. He anticipates the new membranes will be commercially available within the next year or two.
“We as a nation thought we had enough water, so a decision was made in the 1970s to stop funding desalination research,” Hoek said. “Now, 30 years later, there is renewed interest because we realize that not only are we running out of fresh water, but the current technology is limited, we lack implementation experience and we are running out of time. I hope the discovery of new nanotechnologies like our membrane will continue to generate interest in desalination research at both fundamental and applied levels.”
The first viable reverse osmosis membrane was developed and patented by UCLA Engineering researchers in the 1960s.
The school also is home to the Water Technology Research Center, founded in 2005, which seeks to advance the state of desalination technology and to train the next generation of desalination experts. Hoek co-founded the center with UCLA chemical engineering professor and center director Yoram Cohen. Hoek also collaborates with UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on November 6, 2006 at 11:58 pm
[Date: 2006-11-06]
‘We are going to make sure in Germany, that scientifically excellent results in nanotechnology are turned faster and more efficiently into the products of tomorrow,’ said German Minister for Education and Research, Annette Schavan, as she launched the ‘Nano-initiative action plan 2010′ on 6 November.
The action plan is intended to provide a single framework for action that goes beyond individual government departments, and which brings together goals and plans for nanotechnology. The initial focus will be on future fields, the creation of better framework conditions, responsible use of the technology and a comprehensive dialogue with the public.
‘This is one of the most promising technology fields with a huge market potential,’ said Ms Schavan.
According to the Ministry of Education and Research, Germany leads in nanotechnology in Europe. This leadership can be measured in terms of research and development (R&D) expenditure and the number of companies and research institutes engaged with nanotechnology.
In the past year, Germany invested around €310 million in nano R&D. For 2006, and this figure is expected to reach €330 million for 2006. Some 600 companies are already involved in the development and use of nanotechnology products, employing around 50,000 people. The ministry predicts that many more jobs are yet to be created, particularly in start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). A boom in market potential is also predicted – over €1 billion by 2015, according to the German ministry.
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For further information, please visit:
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on November 3, 2006 at 3:14 am
A new nanotechnology-based treatment developed by researchers at the University of Texas’s Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas could double the effectiveness of cancer drugs without increasing side effects, while allowing doctors to see immediately whether the treatment is working.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, Renewable Energy/Energy in general
In nano on November 1, 2006 at 9:48 pm
A Virginia-based startup called Luna nanoWorks is nearing commercialization of a novel version of buckyballs–soccerball-shaped carbon molecules–that the company says could improve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lead to high-efficiency solar cells. Each buckyball is made of 80 carbon atoms with metal-nitride clusters trapped inside, creating a nanomaterial with novel electronic, optical, and magnetic properties.
Link to source
Luna Nanoworks
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 30, 2006 at 10:16 pm
The use of carbon nanotubes in ultrafast computers and other electronic devices has been stymied because batches of the material contain nanotubes with varying electronic properties. One nanotube is semiconducting, while the next is conducting. Now Northwestern University researchers have developed a reliable and potentially practical way to sort through this mess, segregating nanotubes into precisely the types needed for high-performance electronics. The advance could speed progress toward nanotube computers and has many nearer-term applications, including high-definition displays, devices for nanotoxicity testing, and solar cells.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 29, 2006 at 6:43 pm
By Jon Van
October 29, 2006
The impact is one of perception
Just as it’s getting traction spawning new companies and products, the hot nanotechnology sector is running into a roadblock at the U.S. Patent Office.
As the time it takes to process patent applications now averages almost four years, double the time it took in 2004, nanotech entrepreneurs are beginning to worry that their ability to raise money to develop products may be stifled.
‘Clearly there’s a danger,’ said Stephen Maebius, a partner in the Foley & Lardner law firm, of the patent application backlog. ‘If you cross a threshold and it’s taking too long, potential financial backers wonder if what you have is patentable or not.’
Maebius, along with Vahe Mamikunian, an analyst with Lux Research, co-authored a recent report that noted that nanotech-related patent applications have grown by an average 20 percent over the past few years, compared to just 2 percent average growth in general applications. The number of patents issued also grew by 20 percent a year until 2005, when they increased by only 4 percent, the report found.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Uncategorized on October 28, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Researchers at the Coleraine campus have developed a unique microscope that uses ion guns to manipulate specimens right down to the very atoms and molecules.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 27, 2006 at 1:27 am
NanoSight supply unique instruments for particle analysis in the sub-500nm region.
Wide Ranging Applications
The NANOSIGHT System is proven on a wide range of applications:
* Most hard nano-particles
* Virus samples
* Pigments in inks and paints
* Single DNA molecules
* Metal oxides in magnetic storage media
* Precursor chemicals for wafer fabrication
* Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes
* Fuel additives
* Cosmetics and personal care products
* Foodstuffs
* Ceramics
* Ferritin molecules
* Polymers, emulsions and colloids
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In nano on October 25, 2006 at 11:52 pm
DNA switch developed to interface living organisms with computers
(Nanowerk News) Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have developed an electronic switch based on DNA – a world-first bio-nanotechnology breakthrough that provides the foundation for the interface between living organisms and the computer world….
The new technology is called a ‘nanoactuator’ (shown in the image above) or a molecular dynamo. The device is invisible to the naked eye – about one thousandth of a strand of human hair.
The DNA switch has been developed by British Molecular Biotechnology expert Dr Keith Firman at the University of Portsmouth working in collaboration with other European researchers.
Dr Firman and his international team have been awarded a €2 million (£1.36m) European Commission grant under its New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) initiative to further develop this ground-breaking new technology.
But the DNA switch has immediate practical applications in toxin detection, and could be used in a biodefence role as a biological sensor to detect airborne pathogens.
The future applications are also considerable, including molecular scale mechanical devices for interfacing to computer-controlled artificial limbs.
‘The possibilities are very exciting. The nanoactuator we have developed can be used as a communicator between the biological and silicon worlds,’ Dr Firman said.
‘I could see it providing an interface between muscle and external devices, but it has to be pointed out that such an application is still 20 or 30 years away.’
The molecular switch comprises of a strand of DNA anchored in a miniscule channel of a microchip, a magnetic bead, and a biological motor powered by the naturally occurring energy source found in living cells, adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
These elements working together create a dynamo effect which in turn generates electricity. The result is a device that emits electrical signals – signals that can be sent to a computer. The switch, therefore, links the biological world with the silicon world of electronic signals.
The nanoactuator has been patented by the University of Portsmouth, and a patent application for the basic concepts of biosensing is pending.
The nanoactuator project is part of a multinational collaboration between the University of Portsmouth, The National Physical Laboratory (UK), TU Delft (The Netherlands), CNRS/ENS (France), INESC-Portugal, EMPA (Switzerland) and IMIC (Czech Republic).
Source: University of Portsmouth
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 25, 2006 at 11:45 pm
What is the NanoMeter?
The Nanometer is a web-based tool that allows researchers and product developers (and others interested) to carry out a brief societal assessment of nanotechnological applications prior to market release.
Based on extensive research and stakeholder consultation the Nanometer presents the key findings of the Nanologue project along a limited number of guiding questions that help to rapidly assess potential societal benefits and impacts of new nanotechnology-based applications already during the proposal or research and development phase. Unlike commonly used product assessment approaches the Nanometer focuses on those topics that are dominating the societal discussion on nanotechnologies (NT), including health and environment, customer and societal benefits, product stewardship, or transparency. The topics assessed are critical to consumer and public acceptance – in a positive as well as in a negative sense.
Throughout the assessment the term “nanostructured materials” (or shorter “nanomaterials”) is used as umbrella term to capture all (engineered) nanostructures, particles, compounds etc.
By raising awareness among researchers, marketers, and other relevant business divisions the Nanometer helps to reduce the risk of NT-based products becoming a market failure due to critical but neglected societal aspects. For a more detailed list of benefits click here.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 25, 2006 at 11:39 pm
(Nanowerk News) This report provides an overview of nanotechnological improved consumer products on the market. In addition a comprehensive list of effects and innovations is evaluating what is really “nano” in todays nanotechnology products.
More and more consumer products are branded with the buzzword “nano” or nanotechnology. Are we witnessing the onset of an emerging technology or is it just a sophisticated advertisement strategy? If the is technology is true, what is the added value to certain products and does the consumer really benefit?
In general the products claiming to contain nanotechnology do indeed exploit nanoscale effects, primarily interface effects but also a few quantum effects. Interestingly, the products that proudly use the “nano” brand are only a small percentage of the number of consumer products that actually contain nanotechnologies, for instance in the microelectronics, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries.
The report focuses on consumer products emerging in various commercial sectors which claim to have nanotechnological products on the European market.
Source: Nanoforum
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 25, 2006 at 2:00 am
By Ahmed ElAmin
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24/10/2006 – The role of nanotechnology in food processing, monitoring, labelling, storage and distribution is the subject of a two day meeting that kicks off tomorrow in Amsterdam, Holland.
According to organisers of the Nano and Microtechnologies in the Food & Healthfood Industries conference, the application of nanotechnology and nanoparticles in food are emerging rapidly.
Some analysts predict that nanotechnology will be incorporated into €16.4bn worth of food products by 2010.
The Amsterdam meeting is one of a growing number of such scientific conferences worldwide, sparked by the food sector’s interest in developing new products that could provide health advantages to consumers. Scientists are looking at nanotechnology applications covering all areas of the food chain, from agricultural applications to food processing and enhancing bioavailability of nutrients.
However enthusiasm over the rate of progress and the possibilities is being tempered by concerns over possible downsides of the science of the miniscule, stated the Institute of Nanotechnology.
The conference will highlight many of the applications of nanotechnologies to the food and beverage industries in Europe.
Such applications include a broad spectrum of products from pesticides, cosmetics, medical application to packaging materials, processing technologies and novel or functional foods
Other topics being explored at the meeting are nanotechnology applications in nutrition and health foods, for rapid safety testing, and for the prevention of food borne disease.
Participants will also discuss the safety and regulatory issues related to nanotechnology, along with public awareness and understanding of the role of nanotechnology in foods.
Among the presentations Kees Eijkel of the Nano4Vitality consortium will discuss the need to increase the speed and efficiency of the commercialisation process.
“Nanotechnology introduces new chances for innovation in the food and health industries at great speed, but these chances face a long and intensive path towards full commercialisation,” he says in a synopsis of his presentation. “There is a lot of emphasis on fundamental and basic research at this time.”
Malcolm Povey, a professor of food physics at the University of Leeds will discuss techniques for the characterisation of foods using nanotechnology.
Foods are generally complex, heterogeneous systems, often containing high concentrations of naturally occurring nano-particles such as proteins.
“Production and characterisation of nano-particles in foods has hitherto been called ‘food colloid science’, so there is a wealth of experience in this area upon which nano-technology may draw upon,” he argues. “Ultrasound spectroscopy offers the best prospect for the characterisation of concentrated systems of nano-particles.”
He will also examine naturally occurring nanoparticles such as the self-assembling protein casein. He will compare ultrasound spectroscopy, dynamic and static light scattering techniques according to their relative merits for the detection and characterisation of nanoparticles in food.
Qasim Chaudhry, Defra of the Central Science Laboratory in the UK will look at the use of nanomaterials in food and food contact materials and the regulatory and consumer safety implications.
“The rapid proliferation of nanotechnology in recent years has led to an ever-increasing application of nano-scale materials in a vast array of industrial and consumer products,” he stated. “This includes a range of foods and drinks, food supplements, and food contact materials. However, such widespread use of nanomaterials, that are largely untested in terms of effects on human health and the environment, has also led to a number of uncertainties and concerns.”
Anna Tudos of Biochip Group at the Universiteit Twente in the Netherlands will look at how regularly occurring food scares and several food scandals might have been prevented through the use of food analysis techniques such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
“Food analysis can be carried out as a quality assurance measure early in the processing chain as well as later to ensure food safety,” she argues.
SPR has been gaining terrain in the area of food analysis recently. In here presentation Tudos will look at approaches and examples on microfabricated devices in combination with SPR for label-free determination of multiple components in complex matrices.
Frans Kampers, the director BioNT will look at how micro- and nanotechnology will lead to sensors and diagnostic instruments with improved sensitivity and selectivity. Such devices will allow managers to monitor food processes and assure food quality.
“These new instruments will enable much faster measurements in or near production lines by non-expert personnel,” he stated. “But micro- and nanotechnology will also result in new concepts for food production processes.”
Such examples include microsieves for separation and fractionation which can also improve emulsification processes and can result in new products like low-fat mayonnaise.
“Control of matter at the nanoscale will enable fine tuning of specific food characteristics like texture to the demands of specific target groups,” he stated. “The use of drug delivery concepts for nutrient delivery will improve the nutritional quality of food products. Nanotechnology can be used to improve packaging materials. Combined with printable electronics and low cost sensors information about the product and its quality will become readily available to consumers.”
Kjeld van Bommel of Biomade Technology Foundation will look at supramolecular gels as :novel materials for the formulation and delivery of nutraceuticals.
He will discuss Biomade’s expertise in low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs). These are small organic molecules that are capable of forming gels in aqueous media, in food oils, or in emulsions.
“Such gels of LMWGs are an attractive complement or even alternative for the polymer gels such as gelatin currently used in food and nutraceutical applications, as they possess properties generally not attainable by polymer gels,” he stated.
Mark Mansour will discuss the the emerging global regulatory framework for nanotechnology. Robert Donofrio of NSF International will discuss rapid safety testing techniques for of foods’ nanomaterials.
“Though nanotechnology brings many potential benefits to food production, such as increased shelf life and pathogen resistance, its development must be guided by appropriate safety assessments and regulation to minimise risk,” he argues. “Currently, there is no framework in place to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials. This is a concern in both the US and Europe. Additionally, it will be essential to have validated, rapid tests in place to evaluate the potential toxicity of new nanomaterials.”
Two new emerging technologies he will highlight for the toxicological assessment of nanomaterials in food applications are high content screening (HCS) and what is called the “zebrafish model”. The HCS technique evaluates the biological effects of chemical substances in in vitro cell based assays using the ArrayScan HCS Reader from Cellomics.
The Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been a prominent model vertebrate in a variety of biological disciplines. It can provide valuable developmental toxicity information. Coupled with high content screening, it could provide valuable insight into the potential toxicity of nanomaterials, he stated.
Vasco Teixeira of GRF-Functional Coatings Group at the University of Minho in Portugal will look at advanced nanotechnology thin film techniques.
In the field of nanotechnology-based thin films and coatings, new approaches using nanoscale effects can be used to design, create or model nanocoating systems with significantly optimised or enhanced properties of high interest to the food, health and biomedical industry, he stated.
“In this field of new packaging technologies, nanostructured architectures coatings such as nanocomposite films are given the unique role of enhancing food impact over the consumer’s health,” he stated. “For example, the unique properties of diamond like carbon (DLC) film, including its chemical inertness and impermeability, make it possible for new applications in food, beverage and medical market segments.”
Cees Van Rijn of Aquamarijn Micro Filtration will present nano and micro-engineering techniques for microfiltration and nanosensing applications. His topic includes the micro filtration of beverages using microsieves.
With microengineering techniques it is possible to manufacture very precise microsieves. The pores, which are well defined by photolithographic methods allow accurate separation of particles by size. The membrane thickness is usually smaller than the pore size resulting in operational process fluxes that are one to two decades higher than obtained with convential filtration methods.
He will also examine the future of nanowire sensing along the food chain. Nanowire sensing techniques look at the rapid detection of relevant biomolecules using a nanowire with a diameter comparable to the size of an individual biomolecule. The technique offers a direct, real-time detection of captured biomolecules without the usage of a fluorescent, magnetic or otherwise labeled molecule or particle.
Hans Bouwmeester of RIKILT-Institute of Food Safety at Wageningen University will cover the expected impact of nanotechnologies on industrial production.
Lynn Frewer from Wageningen University will examine consumer perspectives on food and nanotechnology.
“Nanotechnology can be used to develop new products and processes that can improve the quality of life of consumers through improved health, better sensory enjoyment of food, and reduced risk associated with food consumption — for example, reduced microbial contamination, or improved traceability of allergenic ingredients,” he stated. “However, as has already been demonstrated by the example of genetically modified foods, successful implementation and commercialisation of new technologies technology is contingent on societal acceptance of the technology overall, as consumer responses to specific applications.”
Neville Craddock of Neville Craddock Associates will present current and potential regulation of nanotechnologies in the food industry. His paper will provide a practitioner’s view of the law currently in place.
Tim Wooster of Food Science Australia will discuss the use of nanoemulsions for the beverage sector. Nanoemulsions have recently received a lot of attention from the food industry because of their high clarity, he stated.
“This may enable the addition of nanoemulsified bioactives and flavors to a beverage without a change in product appearance,” he stated. “The formation of food nanoemulsions is particularly challenging because of limitations on the type of surfactants that can be used. Approaches that have been used include microemulsion and nanoemulsion formats.”
Zahra Akbari of the department of chemical engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology will look at the potential of nanotechnology for the food packaging industry.
His presentation gathers a number of significant results where nanotechnology was satisfactorily applied to improve packaged food quality and safety by increasing the barrier properties.
“Nanotechnology will become one of the most powerful forces for innovation in the food packaging,” he stated.
One such innovation is polymer nanocomposite technology which holds the key to future advances in flexible packaging.
Companies such as Heinz, Nestlé, Unilever and Kraft are all examining the potential of nanotechnology for packaging, food safety and nutritional products.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, Synthetic Biology
In nano on October 21, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Biology via design, and print via 3-D
By Conrad de Aenlle International Herald Tribune
Published: October 20, 2006
The marvels of the information age exist mainly in two dimensions on a computer disk or monitor. In the post-information age, they are expected to be more tangible and substantial, occupying the same three-dimensional space we do.
One of the most intriguing developments anticipated by Marina Gorbis, executive director of the Institute of the Future, is “intentional biology,” or genetic, pharmaceutical or mechanical biological alteration. “We’re going to be able to design and manipulate our bodies more and more and hack into them in various ways,” she predicted.
Three pioneers in this field – Synthetic Genomics, founded by Craig Venter, a leading figure in mapping the human genome; Codon Devices; and Amyris Biotechnologies – are hacking into lower forms of life, for now, including organisms invented in their labs.
Two companies Gorbis mentioned that work on the human nervous system were Cyberkinetics, which makes neural stimulation devices, and the drug maker Memory Pharmaceuticals.
Another nascent development expected to flourish in coming decades is a three-dimensional printer that would use nanotechnology to make physical objects by dispersing molecules according to programmed patterns, much as a conventional printer sprays ink to form words and images on a page.
“You put in a formula and design for something, and the printer will etch, layer by layer, the actual three-dimensional object,” Gorbis said. She emphasized that the results would not be holographic images or other facsimiles, but actual objects, including functional electronic equipment.
She expects 3-D printers to be a fact of commercial life “definitely in the next 20 to 30 years,” but some companies, notably Z Corp. and Stratasys, are getting a head start. They make prototypical printers used in industrial design.
The big promise of 3-D printers is that they will usher in a new era of home-based manufacturing and unprecedented choice, Gorbis said. She foresees an intermediate stage in which makers of, say, cellphones invite customers to a store to create the handset of their choice on the spot. After that, she said, they may become fairly ordinary pieces of household equipment.
“This changes the way we think about materials,” she said. “You just get the chemical package and assemble it. This allows us to create light products that are highly flexible and personal.”
The marvels of the information age exist mainly in two dimensions on a computer disk or monitor. In the post-information age, they are expected to be more tangible and substantial, occupying the same three-dimensional space we do.
One of the most intriguing developments anticipated by Marina Gorbis, executive director of the Institute of the Future, is “intentional biology,” or genetic, pharmaceutical or mechanical biological alteration. “We’re going to be able to design and manipulate our bodies more and more and hack into them in various ways,” she predicted.
Three pioneers in this field – Synthetic Genomics, founded by Craig Venter, a leading figure in mapping the human genome; Codon Devices; and Amyris Biotechnologies – are hacking into lower forms of life, for now, including organisms invented in their labs.
Two companies Gorbis mentioned that work on the human nervous system were Cyberkinetics, which makes neural stimulation devices, and the drug maker Memory Pharmaceuticals.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 21, 2006 at 10:41 pm
[Date: 2006-10-20]
Link to Source
‘Science and politics do not always dance together easily,’ said Dutch MEP Dorette Corbey, speaking on the first day of the European Forum on Nanosciences in Brussels on 19 October.
When the science in question has evoked some controversy, politicians and scientists can be even less in step. But both were present at the forum, and dancing to the same tune as they examined the potential of nanoscience and nanotechnology, raising awareness of this relatively young field, and risk and risk perception.
Both scientists and politicians are dependent upon one another, and it therefore makes sense for them to work together and agree upon a common approach to nanoscience. Scientists, and particularly those in the public sector, require funding, as well as appropriate regulations, if any are put in place; governments are responsible for ensuring that their citizens are not exposed to any harm, and that opportunities to climb up the competitiveness ladder are not missed.
If the full potential of nanoscience is to be exploited however, public concerns must be taken into account, whether or not they are believed to be justified. If Europe does not address problems early on, they will come back later with more force, said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. ‘We must patiently explain [...]. Hiding things will bring even bigger problems in the future,’ he added.
This view contrasts somewhat with that of Giovanni Carrada, a science journalist. One of the lessons learned from the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) affair was that more technical information is not the answer. ‘You can never turn the general public into experts,’ he told the conference.
Mr Carrada listed other lessons learned from GMOs as: the source rather than the content of information will either win or lose the public’s trust; uncertainties must be acknowledged; citizens should be involved upstream; technologies should not be regarded as machines.
A number of speakers agreed on the importance of involving the general public in nanoscience from the beginning. ‘Initial perceptions are very difficult to change. They frame the issue for a very long time,’ said Mr Carrada. What makes this difficult with nanoscience, as highlighted from Donald Bruce of the Church of Scotland, is that the concept is still quite vague, and is therefore not attracting much interest from society. Indeed, a Eurobarometer on nanotechnology showed a very low awareness of the subject. Instead, Mr Bruce suggested communication strategies focusing on the many areas where nanoscience is developing – nanomedicine and nanotechnology for the environment, for example.
While there are still risks to be assessed in these two areas, the potential for improving quality of life is enormous. In healthcare for example, nanoscience can improve diagnosis, the monitoring of conditions, and treatment with the aid of nanosized tools.
Ruth Duncan is a Professor of Cell Biology and Drug Delivery at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, UK, and Director of the Centre for Polymer Therapeutics. She gave an introduction to what could be achieved in nanomedicine, but then referred to some of the challenges that must be addressed first. ‘We must give realistic timelines,’ she said.
Of course the new technology must be safe. In addition, researchers are under immense pressure to find effective inexpensive materials. When new materials or technologies are developed, this knowledge must be translated into a product, and exploited on the marketplace. Professor Duncan referred to a number of products that have been developed in Europe but exploited in the US. ‘We don’t want to be buying technologies back later through licensing agreements. This is far too expensive,’ she said. Part of the solution may be helping scientists to understand the needs of the manufacturing sector, she suggested.
Fragmented research efforts are also standing in the way of nanomedicine, according to Professor Duncan. She appealed for pan-European efforts and pan-European standards. More integration is also needed between disciplines, she said, calling for more inter-disciplinary conferences bringing scientists from traditionally separate disciplines together, and more degree courses on, for example, nanomedicine.
The interdisciplinary approach is also important at European level, she stressed. ‘My concern was that in earlier framework programmes, nano was in one box and health in another. We need an integrated approach,’ said Professor Duncan. She is confident that the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) provides this integrated approach.
Finally, Professor Duncan returned to the subject of communication. Scientists need to engage with the public, and interact with politicians. She lamented the fact that few MEPs attended the Forum on Nanosciences. Their absence was partly due to their heavy schedules, but partly to nano-experts not ’speaking the right language’, she said.
As debates in the media pick up speed over the risk of nanoscience on the one hand, and its potential on the other, politicians are however taking an interest. On 28 November MEPs adopted an own initiative report welcoming a Commission action plan on a safe, integrated and responsible strategy for nanosciences and nanotechnologies for the period 2005 to 2009. The report by Czech MEP Miloslav Ransdorf stresses the need to increase public investment in research as world-class infrastructure is needed if the EU is to remain competitive in nanoscience.
The report also called upon the EU to clarify the legal and business environment for new nanotechnologies, and to create a nanoscience patent monitoring system governed by the European Patent Office.
For further information on the European Forum on Nanosciences, please visit:
http://www.cost.esf.org/index.php?id=875
For further information on nanoscience and nanotechnology, please visit:
http://cordis.europa.eu/nanotechnology/
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In Health, nano on October 21, 2006 at 10:08 pm
(Nanowerk News) It is as small as the tip of a pen, but a microsensor created by University of Alberta engineers may soon make a huge difference in the lives of people recovering from hip replacement surgery.
The U of A research team has invented a wireless microsensor to monitor the bone healing process after surgery. Using nanotechnology, the researchers built a tiny device that measures the degree to which bone attaches itself to a surgical implant – a process called osseointegration – and lets doctors know when the joint needs to be replaced.
“The ability to monitor and quantify this healing process is critical to orthopedic surgeons in determining a patient’s rehabilitation progress,” said Dr. Walied Moussa, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who has a lab in the National Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology, based at the U of A. “Until now, there has been no quantitative method for assessing osseointegration.”
“This microsensor not only reduces post-operation recovery time, it will also help reduce the wait time for patients needing artificial joint implants,” he said.
The sensor will be permanently implanted with the joint and is powered kinetically – it uses the natural movement of the patient’s body as its power source. It stays dormant until a doctor asks it to start transmitting data.
Careful monitoring of how patients are healing will help them recover as quickly as possible and resume normal activities with less chance of stressing the fracture during recovery and rehabilitation. It also allows the surgeon to more accurately decide when it is safe to send patients home from the hospital with their new implants.
The device will also cut down the need for X-rays to monitor bone functionality, reducing costs and exposure to radiation. And the sensor can detect and identify bone loss before it’s even visible on a radiograph.
This research can also be applied to artificial knees, hip replacement and other joint therapy.
Earlier this year, TEC Edmonton, a joint initiative of the U of A and Edmonton Economic Development Corp., filed a provisional U.S. patent application for the work.
Moussa collaborated on this project with Dr. Edmond Lou, a research associate in the Rehabilitation and Technology Department of Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton and an adjunct professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. John Cinats, section head of orthopedics for Capital Health and associate clinical professor at the University of Alberta Hospital.
Source: University of Alberta
Link to Source of the above article
and here
Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, Renewable Energy/Energy in general, Synthetic Biology
In nano on October 20, 2006 at 4:19 am
I published a column on Nanoforestry recently
and since than other news appeared e.g. Nanocoating woodfibers results in smart paper. In the column I also dealt with the link between nano-forestry and biofuel and with the link between synthetic biology and biofuel and right after I published my nanoforestry column I saw the news item Amyris Biotechnologies Synthetic Biology Pioneer Expands Into Bioenergy Field which I mentioned in the blog here a few days ago. To be on top of things it seems one has to have ones sensors in the advances of many different sciences and technologies and be aware of the numerous applications all of these sciences and technologies go for. ..
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on October 20, 2006 at 2:56 am
By Martin LaMonica, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: October 18, 2006, 12:30 PM PT
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–Environmental and health risks stemming from nanomaterials are real and need to be addressed head on by both industry and regulatory bodies, experts said this week at a conference.
Lux Research hosted two talks Tuesday on environmental and health safety issues related to nanotechnology here at its Lux Executive Summit, which brings together business people and investors.
Speakers did not address specific hazards that could stem from nanomaterials. Rather, they recognized that there are potential risks–some involving public perceptions–and urged business people to address them early in product development, rather than as an afterthought.
Nanotechnology is the science of working with materials at the nanoscale. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. A human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.
Nanomaterials can be used in a broad range of products, from solar panels to golf balls to medicines. Lux Research earlier this year published a study that found that 148 of the world’s largest 1,331 companies have nanotechnology projects under way, with that number expected to double by 2008 and corporate R&D spending to balloon to $12 billion by then.
But even as these nanomaterials become used in commercial products, there is still not a great deal of understanding of the environmental and health safety risks, said Michael Holman, a Lux Research analyst who specializes in the area.
“We don’t know enough,” Holman said. “There is a lot of confusion that isn’t going to be resolved quickly or easily.”
Holman cited the example of fullerenes, a carbon-based molecule that is used in products such as eye cream. One test, meant to measure the impact of disposed fullerenes, found that the substance damaged the brains of largemouth bass.
Later, however, that result was disputed with some researchers arguing that fullerenes could even have a beneficial effect on those fish, he explained.
More data needed
Because of a lack of reliable data on safety issues, a panel of experts said that businesses should test for toxicity at every stage of product development. In addition, they urged companies developing new materials to work closely with federal regulatory bodies and academics.
“Environmental and health safety issues are not only part of the business cases for start-up companies, it’s fundamental to the business,” said Mark Mansour, a partner at law firm Foley & Lardner.
“I’ve seen companies go through an incredible amount of research and development and investment without consulting regulators. And then you have a business plan that doesn’t work,” he said.
Regulatory bodies in the U.S. are looking to fund further research on the health safety and environmental effects from nanomaterials. But right now there aren’t any laws or standards in place and efforts to establish them could take years.
A Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications Working Group, which includes several government agencies, is now working on a paper outlining research priorities.
One of the first tasks of this group is to define what should be considered nanomaterial, said Norris Alderson, the chairman of that working group and the associate commissioner for science at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Continued: Self-regulation in absence of guidelines…
Read more
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 20, 2006 at 2:52 am
here
more from International Council on Nanotechnology ICON here
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 16, 2006 at 2:34 am
How to direct and control the self-assembly of nanoparticles is a fundamental question in nanotechnology.
University of Michigan researchers have discovered a way to make nanocrystals in a fluid assemble into free-floating sheets the same way some protein structures form in living organisms.
“This establishes an important connection between two basic building blocks in biology and nanotechnology, that is, proteins and nanoparticles, and this is very exciting for assembling materials from the bottom up for a whole slew of applications ranging from drug delivery to energy,” said Sharon Glotzer, professor of chemical engineering and materials science and engineering.
Read more
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on October 11, 2006 at 12:38 am
10 October 2006
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, have created a liquid that stops bleeding in any tissue in a matter of seconds. It is a discovery that they claim has the potential to revolutionise surgery and emergency medicine and could even make it easier to reattach severed limbs.
Rutledge Ellis-Behnke and colleagues worked from the nanoscale, using individual amino acids to create a self-assembling peptide. It looks exactly like water but when applied directly onto injured tissue it halts bleeding. This is the first time nanotechnology has been used to control bleeding, claims Rutledge.
The remarkable discovery was made by accident during an experiment in which the liquid was used to stimulate nerve repair in the brains of rats. Ellis-Behnke’s group, whose work is focussed on central nervous system repair, found that the liquid mended the nerve cells as predicted, but caused a strange side effect.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 11, 2006 at 12:35 am
2006 has been a banner year for nanotechnology partnerships, as small companies like A123Systems and NanoMaterials Technology tied up with corporate giants like Black & Decker and BASF. But nanotechnology’s technical challenges, contorted intellectual property landscape, and multi-step value chains make selecting a partner difficult. The good news: Corporate executives can rely on objective criteria to shortlist start-ups for partnership on an industry-specific basis, according to a new report from Lux Research entitled “Ranking Nanotech Start-ups for Partnership Value.” The ranking from this report, which evaluates all 136 venture capital-backed, independently-operating nanotech start-ups worldwide, will be exclusively released at the upcoming Lux Executive Summit conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 16-17.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on October 10, 2006 at 12:42 am
Filed in archive Medical by george elvin on October 09, 2006
Nanoshells, tiny metallic spheres with silica cores, can kill cancer cells with perfect efficiency, Dr. Naomi Halas told a packed house at the Illinois Institute of Technology on Friday. In her titled talk, “When Plasmons Interact, Worlds Collide,” Dr. Halas revealed the results of experiments in which gold nanoshells were injected into mice with cancerous tumors. The nanoshells collected in the tumors due to the permeability of the tumor tissue. When intense infrared light was shone on the tumors, the nanoshells converted the light to heat–enough heat to kill the cancer cells in the tumors.
Ten days later, the tumors were gone. Mice in a control group were not so fortunate–they were all dead within ten days. 60 days after the experiments, the treated mice were completely cancer-free.
“This method is completely non-invasive,” said Dr. Halas. “There would be essentially no side effects.” Dr. Halas’ group is now filing for initial clinical human trials of the technology, and human testing could begin within 7 months.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 7, 2006 at 4:51 pm
HindustanTimes.com
India has missed out on major innovations in science but it’s trying hard to ensure that it does not lag behind in the latest revolution.
A nano-science initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) that began in 2003 has now identified and equipped research units in the country. Eminent scientist and pioneer of the nanotechnology initiative in India, Prof CNR Rao, is determined to carry forward India’s nano-tech hopes. Prof Rao heads DST’s Nanotechnology Steering Committee.
Research funding is also expected to rise. Those shortlisted for research funding reportedly include the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Madras, Pune and Benaras universities. Last year, the committee channelised Rs 20 crore in equipping identified units across the country to carry out research.
Even though facilities in universities are not good enough, India plans to have a reasonable capability for nanoscience over the next five years.
Scientific laboratories have started preparing nano materials for various applications in industrial houses and elsewhere. Over the past few years, we have been producing scientific output in the area of nanotechnology.
However, this has been very small in comparison to China and Japan, which have made large investments in this area. As for India, Prof Rao’s laboratory at JNCASR in Bangalore has been among the main contributors to the turnout.
Indian scientists have done a lot of work in the synthesis and discovery of new nano-materials. They have created four classes of inorganic nanotubes. Now, they look forward to developing expertise in nano-scale drug delivery, nano-electronics and nano-engineering with the help of industries.
Moreover, efforts are on to attract more research students and teachers into the stream through workshops, seminars and training programmes.
Time and again, President APJ Abdul Kalam has also expressed the need for greater focus on nanotechnology in the country. In fact, he has asked a team of experts to draw up a plan for increased funding for nano-research.
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 6, 2006 at 12:39 am
One of the top four nanotech articles highlighted in the first issue of Nature Nanotechnology is “Making Molecular Machines Work” by Wesley Browne and Ben Feringa. Full text of the article is free, at least for now. From the conclusions:
The exquisite solutions nature has found to control molecular motion, evident in the fascinating biological linear and rotary motors, has served as a major source of inspiration for scientists to conceptualize, design and build — using a bottom-up approach — entirely synthetic molecular machines. The desire, ultimately, to construct and control molecular machines, fuels one of the great endeavours of contemporary science. The first primitive artificial molecular motors have been constructed and it has been demonstrated that energy consumption can be used to induce controlled and unidirectional motion. Linear and rotary molecular motors have been anchored to surfaces without loss of function — a significant step towards future nanomachines and devices. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated unequivocally that both linear and rotary motors can perform work and can move objects. However, although the first applications of molecular motors to the control of other functions have been realized, the whole field is still very much in its infancy and offers ample opportunity in the design of nanomechanical devices.
Major challenges in the development of useful nanomachines remain, such as the development of fast and repetitive movement over longer time frames, directional movement along specified trajectories, integration of fully functional molecular motors in nanomachines and devices, catalytic molecular motors, systems that can transport cargo and so on. As complexity increases in these dynamic nanosystems, mastery of structure, function and communication across the traditional scientific boundaries will prove essential and indeed will serve to stimulate many areas of the synthetic, analytical and physical sciences. In view of the wide range of functions that biological motors play in nature and the role that macroscopic motors and machines play in daily life, the current limitation to the development and application of synthetic molecular machines and motors is perhaps only the imagination of the nanomotorists themselves.
Eoin Clancy of Newcastle University points out that the issue also includes a set of definitions and commentary from various nano researchers, including Eric Drexler, put together by Mauro Ferrari. Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health on October 3, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Lab-on-a-chip for heart attack detection
Program #5,021 of the Earth & Sky Radio Series
Hosts Deborah Byrd and Joel Block
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 3, 2006 at 1:34 am
Nanowerk Spotlight) Seashells are natural armor materials. Read more
The need for toughness arises because aquatic organisms are subject to fluctuating forces and impacts during motion or through interaction with a moving environment. Nacre (mother-of-pearl), the pearly internal layer of many mollusc shells, is the best example of a natural armor material that exhibits structural robustness, despite the brittle nature of their ceramic constituents. This material is composed of about 95% inorganic aragonite with only a few percent of organic biopolymer by volume. New research at the university of South Carolina reveals the toughening secrets in nacre: rotation and deformation of aragonite nanograins absorb energy in the deformation of nacre. The aragonite nanograins in nacre are not brittle but deformable. The new findings may lead to the development of ultra-tough nanocomposites, for instance for armor material, by realizing the rotation mechanism.
Super-tough and ultra-high temperature resistant materials are in critical need for applications under extreme conditions such as jet engines, power turbines, catalytic heat exchangers, military armors, aircrafts, and spacecrafts. Structural ceramics have largely failed to fulfill their promise of revolutionizing engines with strong materials that withstand very high temperature. The major problem with the use of ceramics as structural materials is their brittleness. Although many attempts have been made to increase their toughness, including incorporation of fibers, whiskers, or particles, and ZrO2 phase transformation toughening, currently available ceramics and their composites are still not as tough as metals and polymers. The brittleness of ceramic materials has not yet been overcome. It has proven difficult to solve this problem by conventional approaches.
On the other hand, Nature has evolved complex bottom-up methods for fabricating ordered nanostructured materials that often have extraordinary mechanical strength and toughness. One of the best examples is nacre. It has evolved through millions of years to a level of optimization not currently achieved in engineered composites.
This material has a brick-and-mortar-like structure with highly organized polygonal aragonite platelets of a thickness ranging from 200 to 500 nm and an edge length about 5 µm sandwiched with a 5-20 nm thick organic biopolymer interlayer, which assembles the aragonite platelets together. The combination of the soft organic biopolymer and the hard inorganic calcium carbonate produces a lamellar composite with a 2-fold increase in strength and a 1000-fold increase in toughness over its constituent materials.
Such remarkable properties have motivated many researchers to synthesize biomimetic nanocomposites that attempt to reproduce nature’s achievements and to understand the toughening and deformation mechanisms of natural nanocomposite materials.
Dr. Xiaodong Li, who heads the Nanostructures and Reliability Laboratory at the University of South Carolina, and his team have published two papers that examine the role of nanostructures in the amazing properties of nacre. In a first paper (” Nanoscale Structural and Mechanical Characterization of a Natural Nanocomposite Material: The Shell of Red Abalone”), the group reported the discovery of nanosized grains (particles) in nacre. However, the functionality of these aragonite nanograins was entirely unknown. Subsequently, many research groups asked: What roles do the nanoscale structures play in the inelasticity and toughening of nacre? Can we learn from this to produce nacre-like nanocomposites?
Read more
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 3, 2006 at 1:29 am
Insider Report
Why a newsletter about nanotechnology risks? Are we scaremongers? No; and we are not covering killer nanobots and grey goo either. Much of nanotechnology today is about producing nanoscale particles that, due to their size, have significantly more catalytic active surfaces.
We want to support a debate on the very real issues that we are facing today: the fact that engineered nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes or titanium dioxide particles are finding their way from scientists’ laboratories into commercial products and we don’t understand the risks they pose to health and environment.
Be informed about the risks of engineered nanomaterials. We separate fact from fiction and give you the knowledge you need to know and the information you can trust.
Nanorisk is a bi-monthly newsletter published by Nanowerk LLC. You have to read it if you want to be informed about what research is being done, what results are reported, what regulatory bodies are up to, what experts have to say with regard to the risk of engineered nanomaterials.
Nanorisk webpage
“Toxicology – from coal mines to nanotechnology” is one of the hot topics in the October issue of Nanorisk
(Nanowerk News) The October issue of nanoRISK looks at the emergence of nanotoxicology; nanotechnology applications in architecture; the flip side of using carbon nanomaterials for environmental pollutant removal; and numerous briefs on papers, initiatives, upcoming events and new literature.
Nanowerk’s recently launched newsletter provides a wealth of risk-related nanotechnology information, compiled in one comprehensive, easy-to-read newsletter, on scientific research, regulatory updates and informed opinion about the risks posed by engineered nanoparticles and what is being done about them. A free copy of the premier edition of the bimonthly print newsletter is available at www.nanorisk.org.
“This newsletter is not about stopping nanotechnology or scaring people,” says Michael Berger, nanoRISK editor. “It is about providing a wealth of nanotechnology information, compiled in one comprehensive, easy-to-read newsletter, on scientific research, regulatory updates and informed opinion about the risks posed by engineered nanoparticles and what is being done about them.”
nanoRISK supports the debate on a very real and immediate issue – the fact that engineered nanoparticles are already finding their way from laboratories into commercial products and yet nobody really knows the effects they could have on living beings and the environment. Current toxicological and eco-toxicological risk assessment methodologies are not suited to the potential hazards associated with engineered nanoparticles.
Contents of previous and the current issue are available on the newsletter’s website at http://www.nanorisk.org
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 1, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Committee to Review the National Nanotechnology Initiative, National Research Council released report
A Matter of Size:
Triennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative
Available here
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11752.html
On the Cientifica TNTlog for Nanotechnology one reads the following
“The triennial review of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative has just been released, and by and large it is positive. There is something in it for everyone, with the committee recommending more funding for heath and safety studies and not saying too much that would please the Drexlerites although Christine Peterson at Foresight puts a brave face on the conclusions.
Of more interest to us was the section on economic impact, and the conclusion below.
Conclusion. Currently, it is too early to gauge the economic impact of nanotechnology, which is still in very early stages of discovery and development. Moreover, any future analysis of economic impact will be hindered unless data are collected and metrics developed that will facilitate a rigorous economic analysis of economic indicators such as jobs created or individuals employed as a result of nanotechnology development. As both an enabling and a disruptive technology, nanotechnology will have effects that extend beyond one specific industry or market sector and will also be pervasive in multiple applications, a circumstance that will present additional challenges to rigorous assessment of the technology’s economic impact.
This highlights the danger of considering nanotechnology in isolation. There are many different flavours of nanotechnologies, at varying stages of maturity, and very few of these will make it to products that will be considered part of a nanotechnology sector of industry. Technologies tend to be buffeted by fashion, fear, funding opportunities and serendipity, so tracking the economic impact of the synthesis for example is almost as difficult as quantifying the economic impact of Maxwell’s equations, which could be considered as one of the key enablers for most of twentieth century technologies.
The committee makes a stab at suggesting a solution to give a broad indication of the economic impact, tracking for example “trends in nanotechnology-related intellectual property and other research outputs such as publications; the training of scientists, engineers, and technicians in nanoscience and nanotechnology; and technology transfer trends.”
This is fair enough, but it does illustrate how many of the grand claims about nanotechnologies such as the infamous trillion dollar market are easy to make, but hard to disprove.”
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on October 1, 2006 at 9:59 pm
Friday, September 29, 2006
Nanit®active: More Nature-Nano Frames from Europe
SusTech and Henkel just introduced Nanit®active, a nano-based treatment for sensitive teeth. Nanit®active is designed to create a protective layer that helps rebuild parts of the tooth’s surface.
What’s most interesting, however, is that Henkel and SusTech follow the lead of many other European firms in framing their new product along the “nano is nature” frame. Corporations in Europe, it seems, leave nothing to chance when it comes to positioning nanotech as a natural extension of traditional research. And they are determined not to repeat the mistakes of the ag biotech debate and not to lose the framing battle this time with anti-nano non-profits and interest groups.
Analogies between lotus flowers and nano umbrellas (see nano|public blog from August 18, 2006), in this case, are replaced with comparisons between Nanit®active and the natural growth of grass and seeds:
“A natural process: The growth of plants from seeds and rain is comparable to the growth of a protection layer from Nanit®active and saliva.”
Link to Source
Link to the Henkel research
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 30, 2006 at 2:26 am
Friday, September 29, 2006
How To Pin Down 55,000 Virus Particles
Nanotechnology gets a speed boost with a new tool made of thousands of pens.
By Kevin Bullis
Researchers have developed a device that uses 55,000 perfectly aligned, microscopic pens to write patterns with features the size of viruses. The tool could allow researchers to study the behavior of cells at a new rate of speed and level of detail, potentially leading to better diagnostics and treatments for diseases such as cancer.
The device builds on a technique called dip-pen nanolithography, which was first developed in 1999 by Chad Mirkin, professor of chemistry, medicine, and materials science and engineering at Northwestern University. In that system, the tip of a single atomic force microscope (AFM) probe is dipped in selected molecules, much as a quill pen would be dipped in ink. Then the molecules slip from the tip of the probe onto a surface, forming lines or dots less than 100 nanometers wide. Their size is controlled by the speed of the pen.
Because it operates at room temperature, the dip-pen tool is particularly useful for working with biological materials, such as proteins and segments of DNA that would be damaged by high-energy methods like electron beam lithography. Also, the patterns it makes can be easily programmed, making it “probably the best rapid-prototyping system for nanostructures out there,” Mirkin says.
The method addresses “one of the biggest problems in nanoscience,” according to Mirkin. “How do I get fingers small enough to manipulate something so small I can only see it with an electron microscope?” Because the tool can work at that scale “routinely,” he says, “I think it’s going to turn everything upside-down.”
So far, applications of the single-pen device, which is already being sold through NanoInk, a company based in Chicago, have been limited because of the speed of the process. “The drawback of [dip-pen nanolithography] in its early years was that it was slow if you wanted to prepare substrates that were patterned over large areas,” on the scale of a square centimeter, says Milan Mrksich, professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago (who was not involved with the work).
Mirkin and colleagues have overcome this problem by creating a massive array of pens using conventional photolithography. “The 55,000-pen array greatly accelerates the patterning rate,” Mrksich says, “increasing the throughput by orders of magnitude.” Mirkin says the pens can now write “hundreds of millions of features on a minute time-scale.”
In a paper appearing online now in the journal Angewandte Chemie, Mirkin described test runs with the array that show the complexity of the patterns that are possible. For example, he simultaneously printed 55,000 identical microscopic nickels in an area smaller than a dime. The dots outlining Jefferson’s face are each only 80 nanometers wide……
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 29, 2006 at 11:28 pm
09.26.2006, 11:14 PM
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) – China is making rapid advances in the field of nanotechnology and the US should monitor China’s progress in order to maintain a competitive edge in the cutting-edge scientific research sector, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a visiting US commerce official. China is one of the players that is gaining on us. We are wise to take a look at what they are doing that’s been successful, and see how it might apply to improve our system,’ the newspaper said, citing Robert Cresanti, undersecretary for technology at the US Department of Commerce.
Cresanti, who is in Beijing to meet with Chinese policymakers, said China’s gains were obvious.
‘We saw labs today full to the rafters with scientists and machinery. There has also been a dramatic increase in the quality and quantity of papers on nanotechnology published by Chinese scientists,’ he said.
andrew.pasek@xinhuafinance.com
Link to Source
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 28, 2006 at 7:09 pm
UK launches nanotechnology reporting scheme to “assess risks”
By Ahmed ElAmin and Kirsty Barnes
27/09/2006 – UK research organisations, biopharmaceutical and food manufacturers, along with those in other industries are been asked to voluntarily provide any information on nanotechnologies they are working on, under a programme launched this week.
The new two-year scheme is part of the UK government’s bid to assess the risks that nanotechnology may pose to the public and could eventually lead to regulations restricting applications in certain sectors.
Nanotechnology has been touted as the next revolution in many industries, including food and drug manufacturing and packaging. However, concerns are being raised over the unknown consequences of digesting or injecting nano-scale particles designed to behave in specific way in the body.
In launching the voluntary reporting scheme, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted to work toward assessing any potential risks posed by the products of nanotechnologies.
“There is currently very little information available on the potential risks that these materials may pose to the environment and human health,” Defra stated. “The scheme is designed, together with a programme of government research, to address this knowledge deficit.”
Michael Pitkethly, chairman of the UK’s Nanotechnologies Industry Association (NIA), said the scheme is important to ensuring that industry has appropriate controls in place for engineered materials at the nanoscale.
“The safety of these materials is of paramount importance to the NIA and the scheme aligns with the NIA’s advocacy of a measured and responsible approach and has our full support,” he stated.
Nanotechnology refers to the application of properties materials have at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular scale. A human hair is 80,000 nanometres (nm) wide, a red blood cell 7,000 nm wide, and a water molecule 0.3 nm wide.
Earlier this year the UK’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) – the UK government’s advisory body on science and technology policy issues – launched an independent review of its nanotechnology policy over concerns about the health and environmental risks.
The review will cover the government’s actions in the two years since their policy response to a study by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering that considered the possible health, social, ethical, safety and environmental questions that could be raised by nanotechnologies.
The CST said it plans to publish its report in spring 2007. The deadline for submissions is 2 October 2006.
The CST review also follows a report in May by the country’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), which said gaps existed in EU legislation in regulating the future uses of nanotechnology.
The gaps include those relating to particle size, the use of nano versions of already approved ingredients, and to packaging, according to the FSA’s legislative review of the food sector.
In addition Defra on 23 June completed a consultation on a proposed voluntary reporting scheme for engineered nanoscale materials.
Other regulators worldwide are also in the process of reviewing policy and regulations relating to the technology. This year Germany’s food safety risk assessment agency commissioned a study on on the risks of nanotechnological applications in food, cosmetics and other everyday items.
Incidentally, a public survey taken last year by the European Commission across the EU found widespread support for medical and industrial biotechnologies. While there is opposition in most European countries to agricultural biotechnologes, such as genetically-modified (GM) food, the European public mainly supports the development of nanotechnologies, pharmacogenetics and gene therapy, the survey found.
All three technologies “are perceived as useful to society and morally acceptable”, the Eurobarometer survey found. “Neither nanotechnology nor pharmcogenetics are perceived to be risky.”
Link to Source Drug Researcher.Com
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 28, 2006 at 7:06 pm
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Phagocytosis is a cellular phenomena that describes the process in which phagocytes (specialized cells such as macrophages) destroy viruses and foreign particles in blood. Phagocytes are an important part of the immune system. Unfortunately, phagocytes are also a major limitation for the intravenous delivery of polymeric nanoparticles. The use of such nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic agents is currently being studied as a promising method by which drugs can be effectively targeted to specific cells in the body, such as cancerous cells. Researchers at Penn State are trying to trick the body’s immune system, and increase the circulation time of nano drug carriers in the blood, with stealth drug nanoparticles that could be fabricated by self-assembling a shell on the surface of a solid drug core. This research could lead to the possibility of long term drug treatment in vivo.
Nanoparticles become recognizable to the cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), and are subsequently cleared from circulation by phagocytosis, through a process called opsonization. An opsonin is a proteinaceous molecule that acts as a binding enhancer for the process of phagocytosis. Phagocytic cells express receptors that bind opsonin molecules.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 28, 2006 at 7:04 pm
(Nanowerk News) University of Arkansas researchers have examined the mechanisms underlying the synthesis of three-dimensional nanocrystals in solution and have created a systematic method for the directed synthesis of such nanocrystals.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS
In Uncategorized on September 28, 2006 at 7:01 pm
TEchnology Review
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
A group of ethicists is getting $250,000 to ask how much we should use nanotechnology to enhance humans.
By Kevin Bullis
Should we implant future nanotech-enabled computers and actuators into soldiers to make them more effective? If nanotech can help kids do better in school, are parents obligated to provide them with it? Does it make a difference if these enhancements are implanted, rather than just worn outside the body?
Patrick Lin, director of The Nanoethics Group, James Moor at Dartmouth University, and Fritz Allhoff at Western Michigan University have been given a quarter-million dollars, in the form of a pair of grants from the National Science Foundation, to try sorting out the answers to these kinds of questions.
In a press release, Lin said, “Today, human enhancement may mean steroids or Viagra or cosmetic surgeries. But with the accelerating pace of technology, some of the more fantastic scenarios may arrive sooner than people think.”
The Nanoethics Group has previously considered subjects such as the potential environmental and health impacts of nanotech.
I’m personally looking forward to the report, especially its list of cool, hypothetical human-enhancement technologies. (U.S. cyclists are probably looking forward to it, too.)
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 19, 2006 at 10:23 am
Filed in archive Research by george elvin on September 17, 2006
If the thought of carbon nanotubes coursing through the bloodstream makes you nervous, you may want to leave the room now. Researchers at Brown University have injected a cocktail of carbon nanofibers and stem cells directly into the brains of rats. And as if that wasn’t enough, the rats had already suffered strokes. The result? The nanotube and stem cell cocktail healed neural tissue damaged by the stroke.
Here’s how it worked, as reported by Chemical & Engineering News:
Working in collaboration with researchers at Yonsei University, Seoul, Brown Professor Thomas J. Webster combined neural stem cells with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic carbon nanofibers and injected the cocktail into damaged regions of the brains of rats that had suffered a simulated stroke. After a few weeks, both types of nanofibers with stem cells promoted the growth of new neural tissue. On their own, neither nanofibers nor stem cells triggered neural tissue regeneration.
Webster attributes the mixture’s regenerative power to the fibers’ favorable interaction with laminin, a key protein for promoting stem cell differentiation into neurons. Webster also thinks the nanofibers’ ability to conduct electricity could help wire the neurons to one another.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 19, 2006 at 10:18 am
Tune in to the live webcast from the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at Woodrow Wilson Center on Sept. 19, 2006 — either TODAY or TOMORROW for most readers — at 12:30 PM Eastern time (9:30 AM Pacific): “Public Awareness of Nanotechnology: What do Americans know? Who do they trust? Major Poll Findings to be Released“.
Always a scary topic — to ask what Americans know — but the Wilson Center nanotech folks have done a new study to find out:
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 19, 2006 at 10:18 am
Tune in to the live webcast from the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at Woodrow Wilson Center on Sept. 19, 2006 — either TODAY or TOMORROW for most readers — at 12:30 PM Eastern time (9:30 AM Pacific): “Public Awareness of Nanotechnology: What do Americans know? Who do they trust? Major Poll Findings to be Released“.
Always a scary topic — to ask what Americans know — but the Wilson Center nanotech folks have done a new study to find out:
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Bio, Nano scale technologies/sciences, NBICS, NBICS Disabled people
In Health, nano on September 16, 2006 at 9:25 am
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Issue: Medical applications of nano-scale technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by delivering powerful tools for diagnosing and treating disease at the molecular level. But the current zeal for nano-enabled
medicines could divert scarce medical R&D funds away from essential health services and direct resources away from non-medical aspects of community health and wellbeing. Although nanomedicine is being touted as a solution to pressing health needs in the global South, it is being driven from the North and is designed primarily for wealthy markets. Using nano-scale technologies, the pharmaceutical industry’s ultimate goal is to make every person a patient and every patient a paying customer by “medicating” social ills with human performance enhancement (HyPE) drugs and devices. Nanoenabled HyPEs could usher in an era of two-tiered humans – Homo sapiens and Homo sapiens 2.0.
Market: As of mid-2006, 130 nanotech-based drugs and delivery systems and 125 devices or diagnostic tests are in preclinical, clinical or commercial
development. The combined market for nanoenabled medicine (drug delivery, therapeutics and diagnostics) will jump from just over $1 billion in 2005 to almost $10 billion in 2010 and the US National Science Foundation predicts
that nanotechnology will produce half of the pharmaceutical industry product line by 2015. Nanomedicine will help big pharma extend its exclusive monopoly patents on existing drug compounds and on older, under-performing drugs. Analysts suggest that nanotech-enabled medicine will increase profitability and discourage competition.
Impact: Nanomedicine may have its greatest impact in the realm of “human performance enhancement” (HyPE). Nanomedicine in combination with other new technologies will make it theoretically possible to alter the structure,
function and capabilities of human bodies and brains. In the near future, nano-enabled HyPE technologies will erase distinctions between “therapy” and “enhancement” and could change, quite literally, the definition of what it means to be healthy or human.
Reality check: Ironically, crucial questions remain about the health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials that are being used to develop nanomedicines. The nascent field of “nanotoxicology” is awash with uncertainty. Despite the fact that nano-scale products have already been commercialized (including nanomedicines), no government in the world has
developed regulations that address basic nanoscale safety issues.
Policy: Can OECD donors who have failed to deliver promised mosquito netting to malariastricken countries and who have managed to provide only one condom per adult male per annum to combat HIV/AIDS in the global
South really claim that hefty investment in new nanomedicines will pay off for poor countries? Governments urgently need broad, participatory societal and scientific, ethical, cultural, socioeconomic and environmental risk assessment to evaluate nanomedicine. Policies must be guided by the concerns of civil society and social movements, including disability rights and women’s organizations. To keep pace with technological change, an intergovernmental
framework is needed to monitor and assess the introduction of new technologies. At its next meeting in 2007, the World Health Assembly should undertake a full analysis of nanomedicine within this wider social health context.
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Uncategorized on September 11, 2006 at 9:12 am
11. Sept. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Bioactive glass is currently regarded as the most biocompatible material in the bone regeneration field because of its bioactivity, osteoconductivity (a scaffold’s ability to support cell attachment and subsequent bone matrix deposition and formation) and even osteoinductivity (a scaffold that encourages osteogenic precursor cells to differentiate into mature bone-forming cells). However, the formulation of bioactive glass has been limited to bulk, crushed powders and micronscale fibers. Now, researchers in South Korea and the UK have for the first time fabricated bioactive glass in nanofibrous form. This material, which shows excellent bioactivity, is likely to open the door to the development of new nano-structured bone regeneration materials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Materials for biomedical applications have been exploited to augment and regenerate human tissues that have been subjected to damage and diseases. Over the last decade the demands on synthetic biomaterials have increased significantly and considerable effort has been devoted to the area of biomaterials and tissue engineering.
Specifically for hard-tissue applications, such as the regeneration and repair of bones and teeth, several bioactive or bioinert materials have been used clinically. Silica-based bioglasses constitute the essential part of such bioactive materials, having already been utilized in numerous orthopedic and dental applications.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Nanowerk Spotlight) These days we are debating if nanoparticles in sunblock and toothpaste are safe. The ancient Greeks and Romans didn’t know about such things – but they already used nanotechnology in their cosmetics. A group of researchers in France showed that lead-based chemistry, which was initiated in Egypt more than 4000 years ago, could result in the synthesis of lead sulfide (PbS, galena) nanocrystals. With a diameter of about 5 nm, the appearance of these crystals is quite similar to PbS quantum dots synthesized by modern materials science techniques.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2006 at 10:02 pm
A powerful, free tool for the nanotechnology community to research and buy nanomaterials from many suppliers worldwide. The Nanomaterial Database™ currently contains 1,321 nanoparticles from 91 suppliers.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 7, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Thursday, September 7th, 2006
The cashew nut will soon have a bigger role to play – in nanotechnology…Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) — the fluid inside the shell casing of the cashew contains anacardic acids which are useful in preparing magnetic ‘nanofluid,’
Original source and text
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 6, 2006 at 1:31 am
Nanovations Pty Ltd, based in Sydney, Australia, introduces Bioni Hygienic, the first anti-bacterial and antimicrobial Nanotechnology based wall coating for hospitals, which can even destroy antibiotic resistant super bugs like the Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA.
Unlike other paint systems, where the incorporated anti bacterial function will loose its effect over time, through the evaporating of the biocides, the nano-particles used in Bioni Hygienic are solid bodies. Therefore the system’s efficiency retains its effect permanently.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 6, 2006 at 12:39 am
8/15/2006
An internal nanotechnology task force has been formed by the FDA, says acting commissioner, Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. The new task force is charged with determining regulatory approaches that encourage the continued development of innovative, safe, and effective FDA-regulated products that use nanotechnology materials.
Specifically, the task force will:
• chair a public meeting on October 10, 2006 to understand developments in nanotechnology as they pertain to FDA-regulated products,
• evaluate the effectiveness of the agency’s regulatory approaches and meet any unique challenges presented by nanotechnology,
• explore the opportunities to foster innovation using nanotechnology,
• strengthen collaborative efforts with other federal agencies involved in the Nanotechnology Initiative and foreign government regulatory bodies, industry, and consumers, and
• consider appropriate vehicles for communication with the public about the use of nanotechnology in FDA-regulated products.
The task force is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the acting commissioner by July 2007.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 5, 2006 at 3:41 pm
8/26/2006 1:50:26 AM
Researchers report the first detailed results of electric power generation with a new technique that could drive implantable medical devices, sensors and portable electronics without the need for bulky batteries or other energy sources. Instead of batteries, electricity for such devices would come, for instance, from muscle contraction or other body movements, according to Zhong Lin Wang and colleagues.
Link to Source see also Nanogenerators get their power from body movement, blood flow by George Elvin
Human Security: Food, Water, Poverty, Development, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 4, 2006 at 4:54 pm
15:35′ 04/09/2006 (GMT+7)
Like many other Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese), Nguyen Chanh Khe missed home just too much to accept the job offers being thrown his way by large US companies.
And now Vietnam is reaping the benefits of the prodigy’s return after years working in Japan and America.
His recent invention, the first carbon nanotube material in Vietnam, is a breakthrough for the hi-tech industry throughout developing nations – a success that promises to pave the way for Vietnam in the computer microchips and semiconductor world market.
R&D pays off
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been deemed “the material of the century” by scientists because of its extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties that conduct heat efficiently and can be useful in material sciences like nanotechnology, electronics and optics.
Since carbon nanotubes have such universal applications, they are costly to produce; therefore, the world market asks for about US$1,000 per gram.
Before Khe revamped the production process, plants were using a plasma chemical vapour deposition for a costly $200,000 to synthesise CNTs. But Khe’s method required just a special chemical reaction and facilities which cost only $600-700.
“I can say for sure that our CNTs have the same molecule structure to the products in the world market and are very pure but they will be much cheaper,” Khe said.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 3, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Chemists build the world’s smallest auto dealership, molecule by molecule. No toy models, these cars actually drive. The most prolific car manufacturer on the planet resides in a Rice University laboratory in Houston, where chemist James Tour and his colleagues have built one trillion trillion nanoscopic cars. The tiny four-wheeled vehicles are only four billionths of a meter wide—25,000 of them parked side by side would be about as thick as a piece of paper. Not just another nano-gimmick, Tour’s cars could one day carve tiny channels in silicon, creating more-powerful computer chips.
Although other groups have made nanocars that slip or slide across a surface, Tour’s team is the first to construct ones with actual rolling wheels. To get the cars moving, scientists either heat an atomically smooth gold roadway (the temperature difference incites the wheels to spin) or use a scanning tunneling microscope to emit a beam of electrons that drags the car along by static electricity. In the future, Tour hopes to install an active propulsion system. “What we want to do now is put an internal motor in there and drive the thing,” he says.
Several different motors are in the works, including a photon-powered version [see illustration below]. Tour is also fine-tuning new 2006 models, including a nanotruck capable of transporting molecules, such as oxygen. Before long, he says, “we’ll have a little Daytona 500.”
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 3, 2006 at 12:35 am
Center for Nano Science and Technology at Notre Dame University lists over 100 weblinks to university-based labs around the world.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 2, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 2, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 2, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Human Security: Food, Water, Poverty, Development, Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 2, 2006 at 8:45 pm
The Washington Post is reporting that US commercial supplies of long-grain rice have been contaminated with a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption.
This could lead to backlash from consumers and even nations that are often quick to tie nanotechnology in with biotechnology setbacks.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In Health, nano on September 2, 2006 at 8:39 pm
8/30/2006
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The rejuvenating
qualities of vitamin E mean it is has long been a popular choice for
anti-ageing skin care products, but likewise, it has traditionally been
a difficult compound for formulators to work with. Until now that is.
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Nano scale technologies/sciences
In nano on September 2, 2006 at 7:59 pm
