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Donald Keith Roper

Donald Keith Roper, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been named associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology. IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology.

According to IEEE's website, Transactions on Nanotechnology "is devoted to the publication of manuscripts of archival value in the general area of nanotechnology, which is rapidly emerging as one of the fastest growing and most promising new technological developments for the next generation and beyond."

As associate editor, Roper will be jointly responsible for a recently announced Letters section of the journal. Letters are short, one or two page peer reviewed articles that highlight discoveries and scientific breakthroughs using a rapid peer-review mechanism. They often precede more traditional full-length papers. The publishers hope that this format will attract emerging research by authors from a broader spectrum of nanotechnology, as well as facilitate the quick dissemination of important developments.

"The letters section will feature nanoscience breakthroughs using a rapid review cycle," Roper explained. "Letters are intended to be brief but impactful announcements of a marked advance relative to state of the art in a particular field."

Roper will also be responsible for soliciting material in the field of biotechnology, initiating special and thematic issues and managing the peer review process in this area.

Editor-selected comments will be published below. No abusive material, personal attacks, profanity, spam or material of a similar nature will be considered for publication.

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Engineering Professor Selected as Associate Editor of Nanotechnology Journal - University of Arkansas Newswire

Researchers in Ohio are using skin cells and small chips to develop treatments that can repair damage from wounds, stroke, and organ failure.

Your skin cells are programmable, allowing them to be converted into other types of cells.

And now researchers have discovered how to reprogram them, making your body a potential gold mine of cells that can be used to heal wounds, treat stroke damage, and even restore function to aging organs.

A recent study published in Nature Nanotechnology describes the development of Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT), a technology that can convert an adult cell from one type to another.

The study was led by Chandan Sen, PhD, and L. James Lee, PhD, researchers at The Ohio State University. Sen and his colleagues applied the chip to the injured legs of mice, reprogramming the mices skin cells into vascular cells.

Within weeks, active blood vessels formed, saving the legs of the mice.

The technology is expected to be approved for human trials within a year.

This breakthrough in gene therapy is made possible by nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at a size at which unique properties of material emerge.

That means the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of materials are different at the atomic scale than at the larger scale were seeing on an everyday basis.

A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. A DNA molecule is 2 nanometers in diameter. Nanotechnologys scale is roughly 1 to 100 nanometers.

At the nanoscale, gold reflects colors other than what it does at the scale visible to the unaided eye. This physical property can be used in medical tests to indicate infection or disease.

Gold is yellow in color at the bulk level, but at the nanoscale level gold appears red, said Dr. Lisa Friedersdorf, director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) of the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

The NNCO coordinates the nanotechnology efforts of 20 federal government agencies.

We now have tools to enable us to fabricate and control materials at the nanoscale, Friedersdorf told Healthline. Researchers can create a nanoparticle with a payload inside to deliver a concentrated drug release directly to targeted cells, for instance. Soon well be able to identify and treat disease with precision. We could have personalized medicine and be able to target disease very carefully.

TNT works by delivering a specific biological cargo (DNA, RNA, and plasma molecules) for cell conversion to a live cell using a nanotechnology-based chip.

This cargo is delivered by briefly zapping a chip with a small electrical charge.

Nanofabrication enabled Sen and his colleagues to create a chip that can deliver a cargo of genetic code into a cell.

Think of the chip as a syringe but miniaturized, Sen told Healthline. Were shooting genetic code into cells.

The brief (one-tenth of a second) electrical charge of the postage stamp-sized device creates a pathway on the surface of the target cell that allows for the insertion of the genetic load.

Imagine the cell as a tennis ball, Sen said. If the entire surface is electrocuted, the cell is damaged and its abilities are suppressed. Our technology opens up just 2 percent of the surface of the tennis ball. We insert the active cargo into the cell through that window, and then the window closes, so there is no damage.

Cell reprogramming isnt new, but scientists have previously focused on converting primarily stem cells into other types of cells. The process took place in labs.

We disagreed with this approach, Sen said. When switching a cell in the lab, its in an artificial, sterile, and simple environment such as a petri dish. When its introduced into the body, it doesnt perform as intended.

We went upside-down. We bypassed the lab process and moved the reprogramming process to the live body, he explained.

This point-of-action capability will allow hospitals to adopt TNT sooner than if the process was limited to research facilities.

Sens teams approach was to act first, figure it out second.

There are a number of procedures and processes at play, Sen said. We dont understand all of them, but we achieved our goal. Now that weve achieved our goal, we can get into the details of how it works.

The healing of injuries by converting skin cells into vascular cells to regenerate blood vessels is one proven application of TNT.

Sens team also created nerve cells by the conversion process, injecting the newly formed neurotissue from the skin of a mouse with brain damage from stroke into its skull. The replacement rescued brain function that would otherwise have been lost.

Sen envisions additional uses for TNT, including organ recovery.

We could go into a failing organ via an endoscopic catheter with a chip to reprogram cells and restore organ function, Sen said. It doesnt have to be a skin cell. It could be excessive fat tissue.

TNT could improve our quality of life as we age, too.

Im a runner, so I have joint issues, Friedersdorf said. Nanotechnology could enable the regeneration of cartilage. Im hoping these technologies will be available when Im in need of them.

Sen and his team are currently searching for an industrial partner to manufacture chips designed to work for humans.

Then comes testing.

Ultimately, Sen hopes to drive rapid advancement in nanoscience and health.

Im a scientist, but this was inspired by the need to make an impact on health, Sen said. Our main goal is impact.

Continued here:

Nanotechnology May Be Used to Heal Wounds, Repair Organs - Healthline

nanotechnology (nn'-tk-nl'-j) The science and technology of devices and materials, such as electronic circuits or drug delivery systems, constructed on extremely small scales, as small as individual atoms and molecules. Our Living Language : Nanotechnology is the science and technology of precisely manipulating the structure of matter at the molecular level. The term nanotechnology embraces many different fields and specialties, including engineering, chemistry, electronics, and medicine, among others, but all are concerned with bringing existing technologies down to a very small scale, measured in nanometers A nanometera billionth of a meteris about the size of six carbon atoms in a row. (The prefix nano- comes from the Greek word nanos, which meant "little old man" or "dwarf.") Today, as in the past, most industrial products are created by pushing piles of millions of atoms togetherby mixing, grinding, heatinga very imprecise process. However, scientists can now pick up individual atoms to assemble them into simple structures or cause specific chemical reactions. Propellers have been attached to molecular motors, and electricity has been conducted through nanowires. Nanotubes made of carbon are being investigated for a variety of industrial and research purposes. In the future, nanotechnology may be able to harness the forces that operate at the scale of the nanometer, such as the van der Waals force, as well as changes in the quantum states of particles, for new engineering purposes. The development of nanotechnology holds out great promise of improvements in the quality of life, including new treatments for disease and greater efficiency in computer data storage and processing. For example, tiny autonomous robots, or nanobots, may one day be sent into human bodies to repair cells and cure cancers, perhaps even extending the human life span by many years. The simple devices created by nanotechnology so far have not yet approached the complexity of the envisioned nanomachines and nanobots. Some scientists even see a dark side to the technology, emphasizing the need for caution in its development, particularly in attempts to create nanobots that can replicate themselves like living organisms.

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Nanotechnology | Define Nanotechnology at Dictionary.com

Welcome to Nanotechnology Conferences

Nanotechnology ("nanotech") is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supra molecular scale. Nanotechnology as defined by size is naturally very broad, including fields of science as diverse as surface science, organic chemistry, molecular biology, semiconductor physics, micro fabrication, etc. The associated research and applications are equally diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, from developing new materials with dimensions on the nano scale to direct control of matter on the atomic scale.

To discuss the advancements in the field of nanotechnology, Conference Series Ltd Conferences has taken the initiation to gather the world class experts both from academic and industry in a common platform at itsNanotechnology Conferences.Conference Series LtdOrganizes 1000+Global EventsConference Series Ltd Organizes 1000+ Global Events Every Year across USA, Europe & Asia with support from 1000 more scientific societies and Publishes 700+ Open access journals which contains over 100000 eminent personalities, reputed scientists as editorial board and organizing committee members. The conference series website will provide you list and details about the conference organize worldwide.conference serieswebsite will provide you list and details about the conference organize worldwide.

Conference Series LtdNanotechnology conferences focus on core multidisciplinary research of the following conferences:

I was very impressed by the international scope of participants at the Chicago meeting and the quality of work presented. It speaks very highly of the organizers of this meeting as it is no small task to get medical researchers from around the world to gather at a single site for an exchange of ideas. The accommodations were wonderful and the noontime luncheons delicious. Congratulations on an exceptional conference.

Endocrinology-2014 was well organized and very well attended. The attendance exceeded the expectation. Session went on time permitting ample time for questions and answers. Doctors from all across the World attending Endocrinology 2014 has made this conference a successful event.

I enjoyed it. Everything was very well organized, and very important, members of the Conference Series LLC were always present for support and help. I greatly appreciated this. Thank you very much again. It was my great pleasure to attend Endocrinology 2014.

Thank you for organizing this conference. My husband and I really enjoyed the scientific programme, the positive international atmosphere and the welcoming spirit. We do support the aim of the Conference Series LLC. We will recommend your coming conferences to our colleagues. Best wishes and good luck with future work.

The Conference Series LLC meeting Translational Medicine 2014 has been a very great meeting providing a comprehensive view on ongoing international clinical developments and gave me the option to make a lot of novel contacts to start collaborative research with people from all over the world. Discussion directly with almost all peoples in a familial atmosphere is very fruitful as well as the venue, time frame and organization has been very convenient

This Conference was one of the best and even brilliant I have ever attended. There was very nice to have a mix between theory, basic science, sharing best practices and practical recommendations. The quality of the panels was outstanding, and I think you arranged a great cross-section of topics!

The conference in Vegas (Food Technology-2014) was well organized and I was very impressed.

I learned a lot from your conference and love to chair or co- chair a session. I will help recruit speakers to the next meeting as an organizer member of the conference committee

It was a great pleasure for me to attend the conference. It was perfectly organized, I met many nice people and listen to many valuable talks.

Thanks for your kindly help and service during the conference. The conference was very interesting and also very useful for my academic research. So I will attend the Biostatistics-2015 next year if I have time.

We would like to thank the Organizing Committee for the outstanding event. It was just excellent in all aspects. Congratulations

The ConferenceSeries-group meeting Translational Medicine 2014 has been a very great meeting providing a comprehensive view on ongoing international clinical developments and gave me the option to make a lot of novel contacts to start collaborative research with people from all over the world. Discussion directly with almost all peoples in a familial atmosphere is very fruitful as well as the venue, time frame and organization has been very convenient

This Conference was one of the best and even brilliant I have ever attended. There was very nice to have a mix between theory, basic science, sharing best practices and practical recommendations. The quality of the panels was outstanding, and I think you arranged a great cross-section of topics!

The conference in Vegas (Food Technology-2014) was well organized and I was very impressed.

I appreciate your efforts in excellence for organizing Food Technology-2014.

Thank you for your email and for your well done job in organizing the Food Technology 2014, All subjects in this conference was in depth knowledge from your good selections of international speakers and I expect 2015 conference will be in the same level of performers.

Thank you for a wonderful meeting in Baltimore. I had a great time and thought the program was really nicely put together

The recent Stem Cell Congress in Chicago, from the scientific standpoint, the highest quality and most useful of the three ConferenceSeries-sponsored conferences that I have attended. The presentations I heard were uniformly good. Id be pleased to see such meetings have a larger audience

The conference was well organized and that the opening ceremony program with Keynote lectures was very informative. I would seriously consider participating in the Sept. 2015 meeting.

Many thanks as well for organizing this very focused meetings on vaccines

Dear Endocrinology 2014 participants, it was good to be among people, who are interested in the same field, but looking down to it from different angles

Thank you so much for a memorable experience, we enjoyed our stay in the US. My wife and me keep Endocrinology 2014 firmly in our hearts.

August 31-September 01, 2017

14th International Conference on Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

March 30- 31, 2017

16th World Nano Conference

June 05-06, 2017

Nano-biotechnology-asiapacific-2017

World Congress on Regulations Of Nanotechnology

July 31-August 01, 2017

International Conference on Nanobiotechnology

July 31-August 01, 2017

6th Global Experts Meeting on Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

April 21-23, 2016

8th World Medical Nanotechnology Congress & Expo

June 08 - 09, 2016

7th World Nano Conference

June 20-21, 2016

9th Nano Congress For Next Generation

August 1-2, 2016

11th International Conference and Expo on Nanoscience and Molecular Nanotechnology

October 20-22, 2016

12th Nanotechnology Products and Summit

November 24-25, 2016

13th International Conference on Nanotek and Expo

December 05-07, 2016

Nanotechnology Congress & Expo

August 11-13, 2015

5th International Conference on Nanotek & Expo

November 16-18, 2015

3rd International Conference on Nanotek and Expo

December 02-04, 2013

Estimates of the global nanotechnology market in 2010 range from about $15.7 billion to $1 trillion. By 2016, the market may be worth more than $2.4 trillion, according to different analysts. These differences reflect not only different analytical methods and assumptions, but also different definitions of the nanotechnology market (e.g., whether to include decades-old technologies such as carbon black rubber reinforcers and photographic silver, or whether to base the market value on nanotechnology inputs alone, as opposed to the total value of products that incorporate nanotechnology).

The new title on Nanomedicine Market (Neurology, Cardiovascular, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-infective, and Oncology Applications) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019," predicts that the total nanomedicine market globally will be worth USD 177.60 billion by 2019, growing considerably from its 2012 value of USD 78.54 billion. This market is expected to achieve a compounded annual growth rate of 12.3% between 2013 and 2019.

The global market for nanotechnology products was valued at $22.9 billion in 2013 and increased to about $26 billion in 2014. This market is expected to reach about $64.2 billion by 2019; a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8% from 2014 to 2019.The global market for nanotechnology-enabled printing technology was estimated to total $14 billion in 2013. The market is expected to grow at a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% over the next five years to total $31.8 billion by 2018.

Nanomaterials 2016 is going to be held at Dubai, UAE during April 21-23, 2016 which will bring together world class professors, scientists and doctors to discuss about the current developments in the field of Nanotechnology. This International Nanomaterials conference is designed to provide diverse and current education that will keep Nanotechnology professionals to be updated with the advancements that are taking place in the field of Nanotechnology, The Conference will be organized with a theme Advances in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology.

Nano 2016 conference is scheduled during May 19-21, 2016 at Osaka, Japan. It provides a premier technical forum for reporting and learning about the latest research and development, as well as for launching new applications and technologies. This nanotechnology conference is designed with the theme Nanotechnology in honouring the past, treasuring the present and shaping the future.

Medical Nanotechnology 2016 is scheduled during June 9-11, 2016 at Dallas, USA. This nanotechnology conference provides a perfect symposium for scientists, engineers, directors of companies and students in the field of Nanotechnology to meet and share their knowledge on the theme, Nano and molecular technologies in medical theranostics.

Nano Congress 2016 will be held at Valencia, Spain during June 27-29, 2016 with the theme Exploring Advancements in Nanotechnology highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of Nanotechnology. Scientific Tracks of this nanomaterial conference designed for this conference will enable the attendees and participants to learn extremes.

Nanoscience 2016 is scheduled during September 26-28, 2016 at London, UK. This scientific gathering and nanomaterial conference guarantees that offering the thoughts and ideas will enable and secure you the theme Taking Nanotechnology to New Heights through Innovation and Collaboration. It provides a premier technical forum for reporting and learning about the latest research and development, as well as for launching new applications and technologies.

Nano Expo 2016 would be the biggest marketplace for Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials and Organic Electronics applications, products and research in Australia during Nov 10-12, 2016 at Melbourne, Australia. This scientific gathering guarantees that offering the thoughts and ideas will enable and secure you the theme Nanotechnology for renewable materials.

Nanotek 2016 will address, identify and focus Nanobiotechnology, Biomedical engineering, Applications of Nanotechnology and showcase the current research in Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites. The nanotechnology conference gathering will highlight the challenges and opportunities in both medical and commercial usage of Nanotek products. Hopefully, this expert gathering of academicians, public and private agencies will provide spotlight and new insights on these critical areas. The meeting ensures that sharing the ideas and visions will empowers and establishes you by satisfy the Nanotek Conference theme Accelerating Research and Pioneering Expansion in Nanotechnology.

Major Nanotechnology Conferences and Nanomaterial conferences around the Globe:

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Nanotechnology Conferences | Global Events | Meetings | USA ...

Nanotechnology draws its name from the prefix "nano". A nanometer is one-billionth of a metera distance equal to two to twenty atoms (depending on what type of atom) laid down next to each other. Nanotechnology refers to manipulating the structure of matter on a length scale of some small number of nanometers, interpreted by different people at different times as meaning anything from 0.1 nm (controlling the arrangement of individual atoms) to 100 nm or more (anything smaller than microtechnology). Richard Feynman was the first scientist to suggest (in 1959) that devices and materials could someday be fabricated to atomic specifications. "The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom." This concept was expanded and popularized in a 1986 book Engines of Creation by K Eric Drexler, who applied the term nanotechnology to Feynman's vision.

The term "nano-technology" had been coined in 1974 by Norio Taniguichi to describe semiconductor processes involving control on the order of a nanometer. From the mid-1980s on progress in nanometer-scale science and technology exploded, and the term nanotechnology was appropriated by researchers, media, businesses, and funding agencies to refer to any technology in which control of the structure of matter on a scale of nanometers to tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers in at least one dimension enabled unique phenomena and novel applications.

The Foresight Institute is still focused on the original meaning of the term: atomically-precise manufacturing or "molecular manufacturing". Nevertheless, incremental progress in nanometer-scale science and technology expands the toolkit that can be used to develop atomically-precise manufacturing, and provides benefits to encourage further investment in nanotechnology. A Short History of Nanotechnology An Overview of Nanotechnology Nanofactories

Nanotechnology is a group of emerging technologies in which the structure of matter is controlled at the nanometer scale, the scale of small numbers of atoms, to produce novel materials and devices that have useful and unique properties. Some of these technologies impose only limited control of structure at the nanometer scale, but they are already in use, producing useful products. They are also being further developed to produce even more sophisticated products in which the structure of matter is more precisely controlled. The Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges focus on applying these developing technologies to solving important world problems.

Foresight was founded on an interest in the capabilities that await at the end of this development process, when advanced nanotechnology will enable construction of complex systems in which each individual atom is specified and serves a designed function in the system. To read about these capabilities and their consequences: Introductions to Nanotechnology for the General Reader

Technical introductions to advanced nanotechnology have emphasized theoretical studies of what our current knowledge of physics and chemistry tells us about the kinds of systems we will eventually be able to build as our ability to control the structure of matter at the nanometer scale increases. Although the best path from current experimental abilities to building advanced systems is not yet clear, several authors have described some good possibilities. Introductions to Nanotechnology for the Technical Reader

Molecular manufacturing is the name given to the proposal that molecular machine systems will eventually be able to manufacture most objects, including large objects, from the molecule up, building complex products with atomic precision.

The proposal that advanced nanotechnology will include artificial molecular machine systems capable of building complex systems to atomic precision has been controversial within the scientific community. In general, proponents have argued from the grounds of theoretical analysis coupled with the existence of multiple plausible implementation pathways from current technology, while opponents have been unimpressed with theoretical arguments in the absence of direct experimental demonstration of crucial milestones.

This essay series includes contributions from nanotechnology thinkers offering their understanding as to why everyone should care about the potential and power of nanotechnology. Why care about nanotechnology?

Thanks to Netconcepts for their continued support. Clients include Working In NZ/AU/Nanotechnology, Discovery Educational Toys, Cabela's Hunting & Fishing, Bellacor Lighting, HomeVisions Furniture, Ecowool Sheepskin Rugs, InnSite Bed and Breakfasts, WritersNet.

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About Nanotechnology - Foresight Institute

In the news: Peer reviewed study exposes potentially hazardous nanoparticles in baby formula

New report:Nanoparticles in baby formula: Tiny new ingredients are a big concern

From the staff:Check out our digital magazine!

Nanotechnology is a powerful emerging technology for engineering nature at the atomic and molecular level. Nanoparticles are infinitesimally small, about 1000 times thinner than a human hair. At this scale, familiar substances change in ways that scientists may not expect or predict, presenting new toxicity risks. A growing body of scientific data suggests that nanoparticles can be harmful to our health and to the environment.

Nanomaterials are now being used in hundreds of consumer products, from toys to clothes to toothpaste. These new products are being commercialized largely outside of public view or debate and with few regulations to protect workers, the public and the environment.

As just one example of potential concerns, studies indicate that manufactured nanomaterials used in sunscreens have the potential to harm our health. When we shower or swim, the nanoparticles in sunscreens end up in our water systems -- these substances could damage microbes that are helpful to ecosystems and could be absorbed up the food chain from smaller to larger organisms.

Friends of the Earth is pushing policymakers in the U.S. and internationally to apply a precautionary approach to the regulation of nanotechnology by putting the health of people and the environment before corporate profits. We are also advocating for mandatory labeling of products that contain nanomaterials so that consumers can make informed decisions.

Friends of the Earth has published several groundbreaking reports on the prevalence and risks of nanomaterials to inform public debate and government solutions, and we work with a variety of partners around the world to monitor the increasing use of this technology and advance common principles for government oversight. We joined over 70 groups from six continents to endorse a guiding document called "Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials."

Nanoparticles in baby formula: Tiny new ingredients are a big concern

Unbeknownst to the general public, popular infant formulas sold throughout the United States contain infinitesimally small ingredients known as engineered nanoparticles. A growing body of scientific research demonstrates that nanoparticles pose threats to human health, raising concerns about their use in food and many other consumer products.

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Nanotechnology - Friends of the Earth

Credit: iStock

Fabrics embedded with nanowires and hydrogels could help soldiers to keep warm and comfortable in colder climates.

Some of the winter weather gear worn by the US Army was designed 30 years ago. Its heavy and can cause overheating during exertion, while also not doing a very good job of keeping the extremities from going numb.

That's problematic if soldiers have to operate weapons as soon as they land, said Paola D'Angelo, a research bioengineer at the US Armys Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Massachusetts. So we want to pursue this fundamental research to see if we can modify hand wear for that extreme cold weather.

So scientists are developing smart fabrics that heat up when powered, and can capture sweat. The work, which was presented at the 254thNational Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, is based on research from Stanford University in California. A team there embedded a network of very fine silver nanowires in cotton, and was able to heat the fabric by applying power to the wires.

DAngelo and her colleagues are working to extend the approach to other fabrics more suitable for military uniforms, including polyester and a cotton/nylon blend. By applying three volts the output of a typical watch battery to a one-inch square of fabric, they were able to raise its temperature by almost 40 degrees C.

The idea is that soldiers would be able to dial the voltage up or down to vary the amount of heat. The system would mean that uniforms could be lighter and thinner.

The researchers are also incorporating a layer of hydrogel particles made of polyethylene glycol that will absorb sweat and stop the other layers of the fabric from getting wet.

Once we have optimised the coating, we can start looking at scaling up, DAngelo told Professional Engineering. She said the fabric has been tested with up to three washes, and still works the same as unwashed fabric for most of the textiles being tested.

The process for integrating the nanowires varies depending on the type of fabric being used. Some can simply be immersed in nanowire ink for some time and let dry, she explained. Others may need a chemical process to get the fabric ready before coating the nanowires. Production of the nanowires is very simple and not as expensive as you may think, so it may be possible to mass-produce relatively easy. However, since this research is in the early stages we have not started looking into mass-production.

She is confident that the technology could have non-military uses too. I think this could ultimately be beneficial to anyone that is exposed to extreme cold weather, from researchers that work in Arctic climates to people that like to go skiing, she said.

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Nanotechnology could keep soldiers warm - Professional Engineering (subscription)

Green Panels

Solar panels have tremendous potential to provide affordable renewable energy, but many people see traditional black and blue panels as an eyesore. Architects, homeowners and city planners may be more open to the technology if they could install green panels that melt into the landscape, red panels on rooftops and white ones camouflaged as walls.

A new study published this week inApplied Physics Lettersbrings us one step closer to a future of colorful, efficientsolar panels. Researchers have developed a method for imprinting existing solar panels with silicon nanopatterns that scatter green light back toward an observer. The panels have a green appearance from most angles yet only show about a 10 percent power reduction due to the loss of absorbed green light.

Some people say why would you make solar cells less efficient? But we can make solar cells beautiful without losing too much efficiency, said Verena Neder, a researcher at AMOLF and lead author of the paper. The new method to change the color of the panels is not only easy to apply but also attractive as an architectural design element and has the potential to widen their use.

Most research on solarcellshas focused on increasing efficiency and reducing cost. Currently, the solar panels sold to consumers can ideally turn up to 22 percent of the suns light into usable energy. Colored solar panels are already on the market, but the dyes and reflective coatings that give them their color greatly reduce efficiency.

Neder and colleagues created their efficient, green solar panels through soft-imprint lithography, which works somewhat like an optical rubber stamp to imprint a dense array of silicon nanocylinders onto the cell surfaces. Each nanocylinder is about 100 nanometers wide and exhibits an electromagnetic resonance that scatters a particular wavelength of light. The geometry of the nanocylinder determines which wavelength it scatters and can be fine-tuned to change the color of the solar cell. The imprint reduces the solar panelsefficiencyby about 2 percent.

In principle, this technique is easily scalable for fabrication technology, said Albert Polman, a scientific group leader at AMOLF and senior author on the paper. You can use a rubber stamp the size of a solar panel that in one step, can print the whole panel full of these little, exactly defined nanoparticles.

Unlike existing colored solar panels, the nanopatterns give a consistent appearance from different angles. The structure we made is not very sensitive to the angle of observation, so even if you look at it from a wide angle, it still appears green, Neder said.

The nanopatterns also could be useful in makingtandem solar cells, which stack several layers, each designed to absorb certain parts of the spectrum, to achieve efficiencies of greater than 30 percent.

Next, the researchers are designing imprints to create red and bluesolar cells. Once they master these three colors, the primary colors oflight, they can create any color, potentially even white. You have to combine different nanoparticles, and if they get very close to each other they can interact and that will affect thecolor, Polman said. Going to white is a really big step.

This article was provided by American Institute of Physics. Materials may have been edited for clarity and brevity.

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Nanotechnology Gives Green Energy a Green Color - Futurism - Futurism

Some good news from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency!

EPA issued a Working Guidance for its Final Nanotechnology Reporting and Record-keeping Requirements Rule, which become effective this week, on August 14, 2017. This important rule establishes one-time reporting and record-keeping requirements for certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale.

In early January 2017 EPA issued the Final Rule with many improvements that we had asked for in our public comments to the EPA docket (see my earlier blog for a summary).

EPA closed the loophole in the proposed rule that would have exempted nanoclays, zinc oxide, and nanocellulose from reporting requirements. This means EPA and the public will now have more information to make informed regulatory decisions about these materials.

EPA rejected industry arguments for a volume cut off below which no reporting would have been required. Such a threshold may have exempted many nanomaterials which are, of course, notoriously low volume due to their extremely small size.

EPA rejected industrys request to exempt naturally occurring nanomaterials from reporting requirements.

EPA closed the loophole that would have exempted chemical substances manufactured as part of a film on a surface.

Maybe most importantly, EPA rejected all industry argument that EPA does not have the authority to issue this rule. EPA asserted its authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a).

This ruleparticularly with the above improvementsis a win for scientific transparency and public disclosure. However, it is not regulations or restrictions. Therefore, EPA must use the information it collects under this rule to inform policies that will protect human health and the environment from harmful exposures to these small-sized chemicals.

More about the rule is on EPAs website. See my earlier blog on the loopholes.

EPA first started working on this rule in 2009, and, although the Rule has moved slowly through the regulatory process, nanotechnology has not. In the last decade (since 2005) EPA has received and reviewed over160 applicationsfor new nanomaterials, including the carbon nanotubes that look and act much like asbestos (seereportby U Mass Lowell, 2014).

Nanoscale chemicals (nanomaterials) are in products from all commercial sectors ranging from sports equipment to agrochemicals to clothing. Increased concern for potential health and environmental impacts of chemicals, including nanomaterials, in consumer products is driving demand for greater transparency regarding potential risks. To that end, we published the results of our research using the GreenScreen hazard assessment method to show both hazards and data gaps for conventional silver and nanosilver approved by EPA for commercial uses (Sass et al 2016). The ability to conduct hazard assessments like the GreenScreens we published depends on reliable and publicly available information. EPAs Rule is an important tool to gather relevant data on nanomaterials to inform hazard assessment, regulatory decisions, and industrial product design and development.

NCI National Cancer Institute

Senior Scientist, Health program

Link:

EPA Rule on Nanotechnology Reporting Is Good News - Natural Resources Defense Council

August 15, 2017

Space travel can cause a lot of stress on the human body as the change in gravity, radiation and other factors creates a hostile environment. While much is known about how different parts of the body react in space, how lungs are affected by spaceflight has received little attention until now, say researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Houston Methodist Research Institute.

That will change, though, once their research project, which aims to grow lungs in space, reaches the International Space Station. UTMB and HMRI researchers say what they learn from the study could have real implications for astronauts, as well as those still on Earth, and could lead to future therapeutics.

"We know a lot about what happens in space to bones, muscle, the heart and the immune system, but nobody knows much about what happens to the lungs," said Joan Nichols, a professor of Internal Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, and associate director for research and operations for the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB. "We know that there are some problems with lungs in space flight, but that hasn't been closely looked into. We hope to find out how lung cells react to the change in gravity and the extreme space environment, and then that can help us protect astronauts in space, as well as the lungs of regular people here on Earth."

This investigation represents the third of four collaborative projects currently active at the HMRI's Center for Space Nanomedicine. The center, directed by Alessandro Grattoni, chairman and associate professor of the Department of Nanomedicine at HMRI, focuses on the investigation of nanotechnology-based strategies for medicine on Earth and in space. The research is supported by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, NASA and HMRI.

Scientists from UTMB and HMRI prepared bioreactor pouches that include lung progenitor and stem cells and pieces of lung scaffolding. The scaffolding is the collagen and elastin frame on which lung cells grow. Space X successfully launched the payload containing these pouches Aug. 14 on its 12th Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-12) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is expected to arrive at the International Space Station Aug. 16. Once on the ISS, the cells are expected to grow on the scaffold in a retrofitted bioreactor.

Once the lung cells have returned to Earth, researchers will look for the development of fibrosis, the structure of the tissues and the response of immune cells, among other changes and damage that could occur to the lung cells. Lung injuries have been found to accelerate in space, and it is through close study of those cells that therapeutics hopefully could be developed.

Nichols and Dr. Joaquin Cortiella, a professor and director of the Lab of Tissue Engineering and Organ Regeneration at UTMB, have successfully grown lungs in their lab in Galveston, but now they will see if astronauts can do the same in zero gravity. Jason Sakamoto, affiliate professor and former co-chair of the Department of Nanomedicine at HMRI, has applied his novel organ decellularization process and nanotechnology-based delivery systems to support this overall lung regeneration effort.

"We have experience working with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space to study our nanotechnologies in action on the International Space Station," Grattoni said. "However, we are extremely excited to be a part of this clinical study, since it may play a pivotal role in how we approach future space travel in terms of preserving astronaut health. What we learn during this fundamental experiment could lead to science-fiction-like medical advancements, where organ regeneration becomes a reality in both deep space and here on Earth."

Researchers at HMRI will take the results from UTMB and work on developing therapeutics that could help astronauts, as well as people on Earth.

"This exploration will provide fundamental insight for the collaborative development of cell-based therapies for autoimmune diseases, hormone deficiencies and other issues," Grattoni said.

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Lungs in space: research project could lead to new lung therapeutics - Phys.Org

Solar panels have tremendous potential to provide affordable renewable energy, but many people see traditional black and blue panels as an eyesore. Architects, homeowners and city planners may be more open to the technology if they could install green panels that melt into the landscape, red panels on rooftops and white ones camouflaged as walls.

A new study published this week in Applied Physics Letters ("Efficient colored silicon solar modules using integrated resonant dielectric nanoscatterers"), brings us one step closer to a future of colorful, efficient solar panels.

Researchers have developed a method for imprinting existing solar panels with silicon nanopatterns that scatter green light back toward an observer. The panels have a green appearance from most angles yet only show about a 10 percent power reduction due to the loss of absorbed green light.

Left: The nanopatterned module appears green, independent of the angle. Right: Schematic of silicon nanoscatterer arrays on top of a sapphire cover slide, integrated into a commonly used solar panel design. ( AIP)

"Some people say 'why would you make solar cells less efficient?' But we can make solar cells beautiful without losing too much efficiency," said Verena Neder, a researcher at AMOLF and lead author of the paper. "The new method to change the color of the panels is not only easy to apply but also attractive as an architectural design element and has the potential to widen their use."

Most research on solar cells has focused on increasing efficiency and reducing cost. Currently, the solar panels sold to consumers can ideally turn up to 22 percent of the sun's light into usable energy. Colored solar panels are already on the market, but the dyes and reflective coatings that give them their color greatly reduce efficiency.

Neder and colleagues created their efficient, green solar panels through soft-imprint lithography, which works somewhat like an optical rubber stamp to imprint a dense array of silicon nanocylinders onto the cell surfaces. Each nanocylinder is about 100 nanometers wide and exhibits an electromagnetic resonance that scatters a particular wavelength of light. The geometry of the nanocylinder determines which wavelength it scatters and can be fine-tuned to change the color of the solar cell. The imprint reduces the solar panel's efficiency by about 2 percent.

"In principle, this technique is easily scalable for fabrication technology," said Albert Polman, a scientific group leader at AMOLF and senior author on the paper. "You can use a rubber stamp the size of a solar panel that in one step, can print the whole panel full of these little, exactly defined nanoparticles."

Unlike existing colored solar panels, the nanopatterns give a consistent appearance from different angles. "The structure we made is not very sensitive to the angle of observation, so even if you look at it from a wide angle, it still appears green," Neder said.

The nanopatterns also could be useful in making tandem solar cells, which stack several layers, each designed to absorb certain parts of the spectrum, to achieve efficiencies of greater than 30 percent.

Next, the researchers are designing imprints to create red and blue solar cells. Once they master these three colors, the primary colors of light, they can create any color, potentially even white. "You have to combine different nanoparticles, and if they get very close to each other they can interact and that will affect the color," Polman said. "Going to white is a really big step."

Link:

Nanotechnology Gives Green Energy a Green Color - I-Connect007

Green Panels

Solar panels have tremendous potential to provide affordable renewable energy, but many people see traditional black and blue panels as an eyesore. Architects, homeowners and city planners may be more open to the technology if they could install green panels that melt into the landscape, red panels on rooftops and white ones camouflaged as walls.

A new study published this week inApplied Physics Lettersbrings us one step closer to a future of colorful, efficientsolar panels. Researchers have developed a method for imprinting existing solar panels with silicon nanopatterns that scatter green light back toward an observer. The panels have a green appearance from most angles yet only show about a 10 percent power reduction due to the loss of absorbed green light.

Some people say why would you make solar cells less efficient? But we can make solar cells beautiful without losing too much efficiency, said Verena Neder, a researcher at AMOLF and lead author of the paper. The new method to change the color of the panels is not only easy to apply but also attractive as an architectural design element and has the potential to widen their use.

Most research on solarcellshas focused on increasing efficiency and reducing cost. Currently, the solar panels sold to consumers can ideally turn up to 22 percent of the suns light into usable energy. Colored solar panels are already on the market, but the dyes and reflective coatings that give them their color greatly reduce efficiency.

Neder and colleagues created their efficient, green solar panels through soft-imprint lithography, which works somewhat like an optical rubber stamp to imprint a dense array of silicon nanocylinders onto the cell surfaces. Each nanocylinder is about 100 nanometers wide and exhibits an electromagnetic resonance that scatters a particular wavelength of light. The geometry of the nanocylinder determines which wavelength it scatters and can be fine-tuned to change the color of the solar cell. The imprint reduces the solar panelsefficiencyby about 2 percent.

In principle, this technique is easily scalable for fabrication technology, said Albert Polman, a scientific group leader at AMOLF and senior author on the paper. You can use a rubber stamp the size of a solar panel that in one step, can print the whole panel full of these little, exactly defined nanoparticles.

Unlike existing colored solar panels, the nanopatterns give a consistent appearance from different angles. The structure we made is not very sensitive to the angle of observation, so even if you look at it from a wide angle, it still appears green, Neder said.

The nanopatterns also could be useful in makingtandem solar cells, which stack several layers, each designed to absorb certain parts of the spectrum, to achieve efficiencies of greater than 30 percent.

Next, the researchers are designing imprints to create red and bluesolar cells. Once they master these three colors, the primary colors oflight, they can create any color, potentially even white. You have to combine different nanoparticles, and if they get very close to each other they can interact and that will affect thecolor, Polman said. Going to white is a really big step.

This article was provided by American Institute of Physics. Materials may have been edited for clarity and brevity.

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Nanotechnology Gives Green Energy a Green Color - Futurism

Home > Nanotechnology Columns > Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. > EC Publishes NanoData Landscape Compilation Reports

Abstract: On June 8, 2017, the European Commission (EC) published eight NanoData Landscape Compilation reports.

August 16th, 2017

On June 8, 2017, the European Commission (EC) published eight NanoData Landscape Compilation reports. See https://publications.europa.eu/en/search-results?p_p_id=portal2012searchExecutor_WAR_portal2012portlet_INSTANCE_q8EzsBteHybf&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&queryText=NanoData+landscape+compilation&facet.collection=EULex,EUPub,EUWebPage,EUSummariesOfLegislation&language=en&startRow=1&resultsPerPage=10&SEARCH_TYPE=SIMPLE& The EC states that the reports offer a snapshot of the environment for nanotechnology in different application fields:

- NanoData Landscape Compilation: Health: This report offers a snapshot of the status of the environment for nanotechnology in the context of health. Analysis of that environment, trends in the data, and the effects of European policies and actions on health nanotechnology will be reported in the NanoData Health Impact Assessment and are therefore not included in this report; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Manufacturing: This report offers an overview of policies and programs for nanotechnology manufacturing in the European Union (EU), publications, patenting, research and innovation, industry, products and markets, and the wider environment; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Information and Communication Technologies: This report offers a snapshot of the environment for nanotechnology in the context of information and communication technologies (ICT). It gives an overview of policies and programs for nanotechnology and ICT in the EU, publications, patenting, research and innovation, industry, products and markets, and the wider environment; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Transport: Transport is defined here as a sector based on vehicles for transporting people and/or goods via the air, rail, road, water, and space, and is here divided into two main areas, vehicles and infrastructure. The industry generates about five percent of European employment and seven percent of European gross domestic product (GDP). Transport is also responsible for the emission of nearly 25 percent of greenhouse gases in the EU, however; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Energy: Nanotechnology has the potential to contribute to energy sustainability by reducing consumption, improving the infrastructure for energy generation, transmission, and use, and offering new methods for energy production. To achieve this, the field of nanotechnology and energy needs to have a solid research base; routes for new developments in energy technology to be further advanced and commercialized; and a market open to nanotechnology energy products, in the context of appropriate regulation and standards. The European Energy Strategy is seeking to tackle that challenge through measures to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gases. This report looks, from a research, development and deployment (market) perspective, at the role of nanotechnology in achieving those energy goals and at the overall landscape in Europe for nanotechnology and energy; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Construction: This report offers a snapshot of the status of the environment for nanotechnology in the context of construction. The construction industry covers the building, maintaining, and repairing of buildings and infrastructures for living, working, and transport, including providing materials for those purposes. The sector is a major consumer of raw materials, chemicals, energy and intermediate products such as electrical equipment, as well as services; - NanoData Landscape Compilation: Environment: This report offers a snapshot of the status of nanotechnology in the context of the environment. Nanotechnology is one of the emerging technologies that can help to prevent or remediate environmental degradation and improve monitoring (direct effect), or lead to reduced energy and resource consumption (indirect effect). Introducing new substances, such as nanomaterials and nanoparticles with unknown characteristics, into the environment may have negative environmental and health effects, however. Aspects of nanotechnology both for and in the environment are covered in this report; and NanoData Landscape Compilation: Photonics: Nanoscale effects impact on photonics, e.g., in the surface quality of waveguides and optical fibers. The focus here remains as closely as possible on photonics as it relates to nanotechnology, e.g., where nanotechnology enhances photonics and vice versa.

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EC Publishes NanoData Landscape Compilation Reports - Nanotechnology News

By Kerry Taylor-SmithAug 15 2017

Solar panels are attractive in terms of offering an alternative to the air-polluting fossil fuels which satisfy nearly 80% of the worlds energy demands, but they are not very attractive to look at.

However, the shiny blue and black panels littered across the landscape could become less of an eyesore, and blend in more with their surroundings thanks to new research from AMOLF - a research laboratory of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.

Scientists at the Amsterdam-based institute have developed a method for imprinting existing solar panels with silicon nanoparticles that scatter green light back to an observer. The panels have a green appearance from most angles, and show only a 10% power reduction due to the loss of absorbed green light.

It is hoped this step will make solar panels a more attractive technology to Architects, homeowners and to City Planners, as such installations could melt into the landscape, as could red panels on roofs, and white ones disguised as walls.

Some people say why would you make solar cells less efficient? But we can make solar cells beautiful without losing too much efficiency. The new method to change the colour of the panels is not only easy to apply but also attractive as an architectural design element and has the potential to widen their use.

Verena Neder, a Researcher in Photonic Materials at AMOLF and Lead Author of the Paper Published in Applied Physical Letters

Most research on solar cells focusses on increasing their efficiency and reducing costs; those currently sold to consumers ideally convert up to 22% of the suns light into usable energy. And while colored solar panels are on the market, the dyes and reflective coatings used to give them their color massively reduce their efficiency.

Neder and her colleagues were able to create their efficient green solar panels through soft-imprint lithography which works a bit like an optical rubber stamp to print a dense array of silicon nanocylinders onto the surface of the cell. Each nanocylinder is approximately 100 nanometers wide slightly smaller than the diameter of the HIV virus and exhibits an electromagnetic resonance that scatters a particular wavelength of light.

The geometry of the nanocylinder determines which wavelength it scatters and can easily be fine-tuned to change the color of the solar cells. The imprint reduces the solar panels efficiency by about 2%.

In principle, this technique is easily scalable for fabrication technology. You can use a rubber stamp the size of a solar panel that in one step can print the whole panel full of these little, exactly defined nanoparticles.

Professor Albert Polman, a Scientific Group Leader in Photonic Materials at AMOLF and Senior Author on the Paper

Unlike existing colored solar panels, the nanopatterns give a consistent appearance from different angles, The structure we made is not very sensitive to the angle of observation, so even if you look at it from a wide angle, it still appears green, Neder said.

The nanopatterns also could be useful in constructing tandem solar cells, which stack several layers, each designed to absorb certain parts of the spectrum, to achieve efficiencies of greater than 30%.

Next, the Researchers aim to design imprints to create red and blue solar cells. Once they master these three colors - the primary colors of light - they can create any color, potentially even white.

You have to combine different nanoparticles, and if they get very close to each other they can interact and that will affect the color. Going to white is a really big step.

Professor Albert Polman, a Scientific Group Leader in Photonic Materials at AMOLF and Senior Author on the Paper

Image Credit:

VioNet/Shutterstock.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

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Nanotechnology makes Solar Panels Beautiful - AZoCleantech.com - AZoCleantech

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis recently developed a test that uses nanotechnology to quickly detect the Zika virus in blood.

Current Zika test requires the refrigeration of a blood sample in order to shop it to a medical center or laboratory. The recently developed tests results can be determined in minutes and does not require refrigeration.

The technology has not yet been produced for use in a medical situation, but the researchers tested blood samples from four people who were infected with Zika and five who did not. The test did not return any false positives.

With this test, results will be clear before the patient leaves the clinic, allowing immediate counseling and access to treatment, Jeremiah J. Morrissey, a research professor of anesthesiology who worked on the project, said.

The test uses protein made by Zika virus attached to tiny gold nanorods mounted on paper. The paper is coated with protective nanocrystals that enable the diagnostic nanorods to be shipped and stored without refrigeration before use.

To use the test, medical professionals wash the paper with slightly acidic water to remove the nanocrystals and then apply a drop of the patients blood. Blood that has been infected with the Zika virus contains immunoglobulins that react with the protein.

The nanorods will change slightly in color. This change can currently only be detected with a spectrophotometer, but the researchers are working to make it visible to the naked eye.

The researchers say similar strategies may be able to be used to detect other infectious diseases.

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Researchers develop nanotechnology test for Zika virus - Homeland Preparedness News

One of my favorite mad scientists sent me a link recently to a very important IEEE paper from Stanford. Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) have managed to observe in real time the growth of nanocrystalline superlattices and report that they can grow impressively in only a few seconds rather than the days or weeks they were formerly thought to take. What this means for you and me is future manufacturing on an atomic scale with whole new types of materials we cant even imagine today.

Whats strange about this is not that these developments are happening but that they took so long to be discovered because my mad scientist has been telling me for over a decade that it was coming.

You see the effect just noticed by SLAC was first observed in the late 1980s by Soviet scientists coating optics for spy satellites. The main scientist involved then is no longer alive but his work lives quietly on and my somewhat smug buddy has been using it to build sheets of cheap graphene in his microwave oven ever since.

No, I dont know why my friend hasnt chosen to exploit this commercially but I swear he first mentioned it to me at least a decade ago and maybe longer. Hes been waiting decades for someone else to figure it out.

Whats important now is that this effect is real and will allow vast quantities of nano materials to be quickly manufactured. In his graphene experiment, which involved vacuum deposition controlled by an audio oscillator, my friend could lay down billions of precisely positioned carbon atoms per second.

This means a major change in the way well actually use nano materials. When I first wrote about nano technology in the early 1990s we were talking mainly about tiny machines that would eat cholesterol plaque out of your arteries. Another possibility I wrote about was using little machines in an elemental aqueous soup to toil away eventually producing a replica 1957 Studebaker Gold Hawk complete with a full tank of gasoline. This was totally possible but an expert at the time warned me the actual additive manufacturing process for the car would probably take at least a thousand years.

But now the future is a lot closer and it looks more like well be building things pretty much the old way but from superior (absolutely perfect) materials. Imagine practical room temperature superconductors because they are coming.

Heres what my friend predicts for 2027:

Remember you heard it here third!

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A nanotechnology overnight sensation 30 years in the making! - BetaNews

A test which rapidly detects the presence of Zika virus in blood has been developed by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.

Current Zika testing means a blood sample needs to be refrigerated and shipped to a medical center or laboratory, delaying diagnosis and possible treatment. The new technology has not yet been produced for use in medical situations, but the tests results can be determined in minutes.

Not only that, but the materials required for the test do not require refrigeration and may be applicable in testing for other emerging infectious diseases.

One of the reasons such a test is needed, researchers say, is that often people infected with Zika dont know theyre infected. Even though symptoms include fever, joint pain, muscle pain and rash, many people dont feel ill after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Testing is especially vital for pregnant women because Zika infection can cause congenital Zika syndrome, which contributes to several neurologic problems in the fetus or newborn infant.

Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine and the School of Engineering & Applied Science tested blood samples taken from four people who had been infected with Zika virus and compared it to blood from five people known not to have the virus.

Blood from Zika-infected patients tested positive, but blood from Zika-negative controls did not. The assay produced no false-positive results.

Zika infection is often either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The most effective way to diagnose the disease is not to wait for people to develop symptoms but to do population screening,

said Evan D. Kharasch, MD, PhD, who is one of the studys three senior investigators. The strategy requires inexpensive, easy-to-use and easy-to-transport tests.

Qisheng Jiang (left) works with senior author Jerry Morrissey, PhD. Credit: James Byard

Kharasch collaborated with Srikanth Singamaneni, PhD, an associate professor of mechanical engineering & materials science, and Jeremiah J. Morrissey, PhD, a research professor of anesthesiology, to create the test. It uses gold nanorods mounted on paper to detect Zika infection within a few minutes.

If an assay requires electricity and refrigeration, it defeats the purpose of developing something to use in a resource-limited setting, especially in tropical areas of the world, said Singamaneni. We wanted to make the test immune from variations in temperature and humidity.

The test takes advantage of a protein produced by the Zika virus that causes an immune response in infected individuals.

The protein is attached to tiny gold nanorods mounted on a piece of paper. The paper then is completely covered with tiny, protective nanocrystals. The nanocrystals allow the diagnostic nanorods to be shipped and stored without refrigeration prior to use.

To use the test, a technician rinses the paper with slightly acidic water, removing the protective crystals and exposing the protein mounted on the nanorods. Then, a drop of the patients blood is applied. If the patient has come into contact with the virus, the blood will contain immunoglobulins that react with the protein.

Nanorods are a type of nanoscale object. Each of their dimensions range from 1100 nm. The researchers estimate that the cost of the gold used in each test would be 10 to 15 cents.

Were taking advantage of the fact that patients mount an immune attack against this viral protein, said Morrissey. The immunoglobulins persist in the blood for a few months, and when they come into contact with the gold nanorods, the nanorods undergo a slight color change that can be detected with a hand-held spectrophotometer.

As other infectious diseases emerge around the world, similar ideas could potentially be used to create tests to detect the presence of viruses that may become problematic, the researchers suggest.

Top Image: Maurizio De Angelis, Wellcome Images

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New Rapid Zika Virus Blood Test Uses Nanotechnology - ReliaWire

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May be possible to use approach with other emerging infectious diseases

A Washington University researcher holds a piece of paper coated with tiny gold nanorods that can be used to test blood for Zika virus. If a patient whose blood is being tested has come into contact with Zika virus, the blood will contain substances that react with a protein coating the nanorods. The test paper doesn't need to be refrigerated, and test results are available in about 15 minutes.

Washington University in St. Louis researchers have developed a test that quickly detects the presence of Zika virus in blood.

Currently, testing for Zika requires that a blood sample be refrigerated and shipped to a medical center or laboratory, delaying diagnosis and possible treatment. Although the new proof-of-concept technology has yet to be produced for use in medical situations, the tests results can be determined in minutes. Further, the materials required for the test do not require refrigeration and may be applicable in testing for other emerging infectious diseases.

Findings from the small study from Washington University School of Medicine and the School of Engineering & Applied Science is available online in the journal Advanced Biosystems.

The researchers tested blood samples taken from four people who had been infected with Zika virus and compared it to blood from five people known not to have the virus. Blood from Zika-infected patients tested positive, but blood from Zika-negative controls did not. The assay produced no false-positive results.

Among the reasons such a test is needed, according to the researchers, is that many people infected with Zika dont know theyre infected. Although symptoms include fever, joint pain, muscle pain and rash, many people dont feel ill after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Testing is particularly important for pregnant women because Zika infection can cause congenital Zika syndrome, which contributes to several neurologic problems in the fetus or newborn infant.

Zika infection is often either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, said Evan D. Kharasch, MD, PhD, one of the studys three senior investigators. The most effective way to diagnose the disease is not to wait for people to develop symptoms but to do population screening.

That strategy requires inexpensive, easy-to-use and easy-to-transport tests. Kharasch, the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology, collaborated with Srikanth Singamaneni, PhD, an associate professor of mechanical engineering & materials science, and Jeremiah J. Morrissey, PhD, a research professor of anesthesiology, to create the test, which uses gold nanorods mounted on paper to detect Zika infection within a few minutes.

If an assay requires electricity and refrigeration, it defeats the purpose of developing something to use in a resource-limited setting, especially in tropical areas of the world, said Singamaneni. We wanted to make the test immune from variations in temperature and humidity.

The test relies on a protein made by Zika virus that causes an immune response in infected individuals. The protein is attached to tiny gold nanorods mounted on a piece of paper. The paper then is completely covered with tiny, protective nanocrystals. The nanocrystals allow the diagnostic nanorods to be shipped and stored without refrigeration prior to use.

To use the test, a technician rinses the paper with slightly acidic water, removing the protective crystals and exposing the protein mounted on the nanorods. Then, a drop of the patients blood is applied. If the patient has come into contact with the virus, the blood will contain immunoglobulins that react with the protein.

Were taking advantage of the fact that patients mount an immune attack against this viral protein, said Morrissey. The immunoglobulins persist in the blood for a few months, and when they come into contact with the gold nanorods, the nanorods undergo a slight color change that can be detected with a hand-held spectrophotometer.

With this test, results will be clear before the patient leaves the clinic, allowing immediate counseling and access to treatment.

The color change cannot be seen with the naked eye, but the scientists are working to change that. Theyre also working on developing ways to use saliva rather than blood.

Although the test uses gold, the nanorods are very small. The researchers estimate that the cost of the gold used in one of the assays would be 10 to 15 cents.

As other infectious diseases emerge around the world, similar strategies potentially could be used to develop tests to detect the presence of viruses that may become problematic, according to the researchers.

First author and engineering doctoral student Qisheng Jiang (left) works with senior author Jerry Morrissey, PhD, on a test to detect Zika virus with gold nanorods mounted on a small piece of paper.

Jiang Q, Chandar YJ, Cao S, Kharasch ED, Singamaneni S, Morrissey JJ. Rapid, point-of-care, paper-based plasmonic biosensor for Zika virus diagnosis. Advanced Biosystems, published online Aug. 10, 2017.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, grant numbers CBET1254399 and CBET1512043. Additional funding was provided by the Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis.

Washington University School of Medicines 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked seventh in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Test uses nanotechnology to quickly diagnose Zika virus ... - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Representative Image (Reuters)

Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have developed a nanotechnology-based test that can quickly detect the presence of the Zika virus in the blood, an advance that may also be applicable to other emerging infectious diseases. Currently, testing for Zika requires that a blood sample be refrigerated and shipped to a medical centre or laboratory, delaying diagnosis and possible treatment. The new test, however, relies on a protein made by the Zika virus that causes an immune response in infected individuals, which is then attached to tiny gold nanorods mounted on a piece of paper. The paper then is completely covered with tiny, protective nanocrystals. The nanocrystals allow the diagnostic nanorods to be shipped and stored without refrigeration prior to use, the researchers said.If an assay requires electricity and refrigeration, it defeats the purpose of developing something to use in a resource-limited setting, especially in tropical areas of the world, said Srikanth Singamaneni, Associate Professor at the Washington University in St. Louis. We wanted to make the test immune from variations in temperature and humidity, Singamaneni added.When a drop of the patients blood is applied on the paper mounted on the nanorods, the immunoglobulins in the blood will react with the protein if the patient has come into contact with the virus and demonstrate a colour change.

The immunoglobulins persist in the blood for a few months, and when they come into contact with the gold nanorods, the nanorods undergo a slight colour change that can be detected with a hand-held spectrophotometer, explained Jeremiah J. Morrissey, Professor at the varsity. With this test, results will be clear before the patient leaves the clinic, allowing immediate counselling and access to treatment, he added in the paper detailed in the journal Advanced Biosystems. As other infectious diseases emerge around the world, similar strategies potentially could be used to develop tests to detect the presence of viruses that may become problematic, the researchers said.

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Nanotechnology-based test can quickly diagnose Zika virus - Financial Express

The 2000s have seen the beginnings of the applications of nanotechnology in commercial products, although most applications are limited to the bulk use of passive nanomaterials. Examples include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen, cosmetics and some food products; silver nanoparticles in food packaging, clothing, disinfectants and household appliances such as Silver Nano; carbon nanotubes for stain-resistant textiles; and cerium oxide as a fuel catalyst.[1] As of March 10, 2011, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies estimated that over 1300 manufacturer-identified nanotech products are publicly available, with new ones hitting the market at a pace of 34 per week.[2]

Nanotechnology is being used in developing countries to help treat disease and prevent health issues. The umbrella term for this kind of nanotechnology is Nanomedicine.

Nanotechnology is also being applied to or developed for application to a variety of industrial and purification processes. Purification and environmental cleanup applications include the desalination of water, water filtration, wastewater treatment, groundwater treatment, and other nanoremediation. In industry, applications may include construction materials, military goods, and nano-machining of nano-wires, nano-rods, few layers of graphene,[3] etc. Also, recently a new field arisen from the root of Nanotechnology is called Nanobiotechnology. Nanobiotechnology is the biology-based, application-oriented frontier area of research in the hybrid discipline of Nanoscience and biotechnology with an equivalent contribution.[4]

Scientists at the Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory while attempting to create a nanotechnology based catalyst-mediated series of chemical reactions to turn CO2 into a usable fuel have discovered a process to turn the Carbon dioxide into ethanol, which will serve as a way forward to climate change by both decreasing CO2 in the atmosphere and using the ethanol (CH3CH2OH) as an additive to fuels to increase efficiency and thereby decrease consumption. Reportedly it is also related that the process is cheap in cost and efficient in functioning.[5]Morgan McCorkle, Communications (October 12, 2016). "Nano-spike catalysts convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol". Oak Pridge National Laboratory. Retrieved October 18, 2016.

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Applications of nanotechnology - Wikipedia