A nanotech barcode could revolutionize medical diagnostics by providing a very sensitive method of counting individual messenger RNA molecules.
A nanotech approach to overcoming the resistance of some cancer cells to radiation therapy has been successfully tested in mice.
In an application of nanotechnology to medicine, a nanotech material has been produced that self-assembles in the presence of bodily fluids into highly hydrated fibers that stop bleeding within 15 seconds.
Researchers have joined about eight nanoparticles together to make nanostructures resembling segmented worms, and find these survive many hours.
There is hope that nanotechnology in the form of silver nanoparticles will provide protection against drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals, but there is also concern that unregulated use of silver nanoparticles in commercial products will damage the environment.
We’ve received an invitation to participate in the Center for Nanotechnology in Society’s project to build and critique nanotechnology scenarios. Current topics to edit in the wiki, or you can add your own: * Barless Prisons * Bionic Eyes * Living with a Brain Chip * Disease Detector * Automated Sewer Surveillance * Engineered Tissues
Studies of how molecules are released from nanoparticles when they encounter cancer cells and of how the nanoparticles break down prematurely while circulating in the blood point toward ways to improve the nanotech delivery of therapeutic drugs into cancer cells.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a way to decrease expression of a specific gene without otherwise affecting the cell, and it therefore could be a very promising treatment for a wide variety of diseases—if it could be reliably delivered into the diseased cell cytoplasm. One possible nanotech solution to this problem takes the form of a… Continue reading Nanotechnology encapsulation delivers RNA interference agents 10-fold more effectively
To round out our week in nanotech on an upbeat note, we have Caltech professor Michael Roukes‘ podcast over at Earth & Sky: Forever Young. In addition to the podcast, and there’s more at the Power of Small television show on medical applications of nanotechnology, which also appears to use the title Forever Young. From… Continue reading Forever young with nanotechnology
The peptide nanostructure is activated by a protein-cutting enzyme found on certain cancer cells so that the activated peptide aligns the crown ethers to punch holes in the cancer cell membranes.
