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Category Archives: Nanotechnology

Silver Nanoparticles May Harm Humans and Wildlife

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Microscopic bits of silver, known as nanoparticles, now appear as an anti-microbial ingredient in a wide variety of consumer products.

However, a growing body of evidence tarnishes silver nanoparticles' reputation. Studies published this year documented unhealthy reactions in human intestinal cells and aquatic algae after exposure to silver nanoparticles, reported Inside Science.

Photos: How Nanotech Can Make a Better You

Manufacturers now use silver nanoparticles in everything from skin creams to little black dresses to food containers. Commercial aliases for the nanoparticles include colloidal silver and nanosilver.

In 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed registration of a pesticide containing silver nanoparticles. Consumers may benefit from the silver specks ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms, including disease-causing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, according to numerous studies.

However, silver nanoparticles might harm more than microorganisms. Inside Science pointed to two recent studies that suggested nanosilver can be harmful.

Nanoparticle Safety Still Unknown

In a study from January, algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) reacted negatively to nanosilver. The algaes rates of photosynthesis and levels of ATP, an energy storage and transport molecule, plummeted after exposure. The algae then mounted a defensive response to cleanse itself of the nanosilver and fight damage caused by the particles. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the results.

Silver nanoparticles' tiny size allows them to enter parts of living things bodies that other molecules cant reach. The other study mentioned by Inside Science and published in February by ACS Nano, found that human intestinal cells reacted negatively to silver nanoparticles of different sizes.

Smaller particles (20 nanometers) could enter cells and directly damaged the internal workings, while larger particles (100 nanometers) acted indirectly by influencing protein production and enzyme activity.

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Silver Nanoparticles May Harm Humans and Wildlife

OMICS Groups Nanotechnology International Conference to Challenge the Old Frontiers

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Los Angeles,CA (PRWEB) April 01, 2014

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Srinubabu. G, MD of OMICS Publishing Group has said that International Conference Nanotek-2014 would be focusing the Nanoscience and its applications in a brighter shade by prominently exposing its uses in the fields of nanotechnology, pharmaceutics, nanomedicine and materials science. He said that the Nanotechnologys potentiality in delivering ecofriendly pharmaceutical products and host friendly drug delivery systems will be explored to the extent possible to empower the communities.

Eminent Nobel Laureate Prof. Harold Kroto of the Florida State University, USA delivers his valuable keynote address on Carbon in Nano and Outer Space and he has given the welcome message for the Nanotek-2014 as "Recent exciting developments in our understanding of nanostructured materials promise paradigm shifting advances in device applications and meetings such as Nanotek 2014 facilitate the cross-disciplinary research which will be needed to overcome the major technical hurdles if this promise is to be realised."

Reputed personalities in the field of Nanoscience & Technology including Prof. Haruo Sugi of Teikyo University, Japan, Prof. Claudio Nicolini from The Fondazione Elba-Nicolini, Italy, Prof. Fatih M. Uckun of University of Southern California, USA, and Prof. Julia Y. Ljubimova of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA and more are playing the pivotal role as organizing committee members for this International event, anticipated to be one of the best amide the Scientific Conferences organized on Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine

Prof. Claudio Nicolini from The Fondazione Elba-Nicolini, Italy is organizing a pre-conference workshop on Structural Nanoproteomics and Prof. Ashok K. Vaseashta from International Clean Water Institution, USA organizes a workshop on NT4W-Nanotechnology for Water Generation, Contamination Detection and Purification. Asian News Channel, an Asia pacific news channel that provides 24/7 News & Feature service for Asia Pacific and Africa Region acts as a collaborator for this scientific event, while American Elements, a global manufacturer of several nonmaterial including nanoparticles, nanopowder, nanotubes, nanowire, quantum dots, submicron, -325 mesh, etc., sponsors the advertisements.

OMICS Group Nanotek-2014 aimed to cover multiple applications of nanostructures such Nanomaterials, Nanoplasmonics, Carbon Nanotubes, Nanoelectronics, Quantum dots etc and it is expected to enhance the understanding of the participants on areas like nanoparticles and improve the characterizations, clinical, medical, physical and chemical properties. It focuses on various aspects of Nanosceince & Technology, including Nanomaterials, Nanostructures, Nanomedicine, Nanodevices and Nanosensors, Materials science and Engineering, Nanoelectronics, Nanotechnology in Energy Systems, Environment, Health and Safety Issues of Nanotechnology, Recent Trends in Nanotechnology, Applications of Nanotechnology, Biomedical Engineering and Applications.

OMICS Publishing Group hosts 350 Open access, Online Science Journals and hosts more than 100 International conferences worldwide. With 30,000 strong editorial board members drawn from academics, research and industries, OMICS Group Journals publishes the best papers presented in Nanotek-2014.

The conference is expected to unveil the latest developments in this field and is intended to channelize its great potentialities in empowering the society.

Reddy S Nanotek-2014 Organizing Committee Engineering Conference 5716 Corsa Ave., Suite 110, Westlake, Los Angeles, CA 91362-7354, USA Tel: 1-650-268-9744 Fax: 1-650-618-1414 nanotek2014(at)omicsonline(dot)us

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OMICS Groups Nanotechnology International Conference to Challenge the Old Frontiers

Nano-paper filter removes viruses

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

31-Mar-2014

Contact: Albert Mihranyan albert.mihranyan@angstrom.uu.se 46-701-679-037 Uppsala University

Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University have developed a paper filter, which can remove virus particles with the efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters. The paper filter consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers, directly derived from nature.

The research was carried out in collaboration with virologists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Swedish National Veterinary Institute and is published in the Advanced Healthcare Materials journal.

Virus particles are very peculiar objects- tiny (about thousand times thinner than a human hair) yet mighty. Viruses can only replicate in living cells but once the cells become infected the viruses can turn out to be extremely pathogenic. Viruses can actively cause diseases on their own or even transform healthy cells to malignant tumors.

"Viral contamination of biotechnological products is a serious challenge for production of therapeutic proteins and vaccines. Because of the small size, virus removal is a non-trivial task, and, therefore, inexpensive and robust virus removal filters are highly demanded" says Albert Mihranyan, Associate Professor at the Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University, who heads the study.

Cellulose is one of the most common materials to produce various types of filters because it is inexpensive, disposable, inert and non-toxic. It is also mechanically strong, hydrophyllic, stable in a wide range of pH, and can withstand sterilization e.g. by autoclaving. Normal filter paper, used for chemistry, has too large pores to remove viruses.

The undergraduate student Linus Wgberg, Professor Maria Strmme, and Associate Professor Albert Mihranyan at the Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University, in collaboration with virologists Dr. Giorgi Metreveli, Eva Emmoth, and Professor Sndor Belk from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)/Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA), report a design of a paper filter which is capable of removing virus particles with the efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters. The reported paper filter, which is manufactured according to the traditional paper making processes, consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers directly derived from nature.

The discovery is a result of a decade long research on the properties of high surface area nanocellulose materials, which eventually enabled the scientists to tailor the pore size distribution of their paper precisely in the range desirable for virus filtration.

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Nano-paper filter removes viruses

Researchers Develop Nano-paper Filter that can Remove Virus Particles

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Researchers Develop Nano-paper Filter that can Remove Virus Particles

Nano-paper filter consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers. Above, illustration shows nanofibers in white and the virus particles in green.

March 31, 2014 - Researchers at the Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University have developed a paper filter, which can remove virus particles with an efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters. The paper filter consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers, directly derived from nature.

The research was carried out in collaboration with virologists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Swedish National Veterinary Institute and is published in the Advanced Healthcare Materials journal.

Virus particles are very peculiar objects- tiny (about thousand times thinner than a human hair) yet mighty. Viruses can only replicate in living cells but once the cells become infected the viruses can turn out to be extremely pathogenic. Viruses can actively cause diseases on their own or even transform healthy cells to malignant tumors.

"Viral contamination of biotechnological products is a serious challenge for production of therapeutic proteins and vaccines. Because of the small size, virus removal is a non-trivial task, and, therefore, inexpensive and robust virus removal filters are highly demanded," says Albert Mihranyan, Associate Professor at the Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University, who heads the study.

Cellulose is one of the most common materials to produce various types of filters because it is inexpensive, disposable, inert and non-toxic. It is also mechanically strong, hydrophyllic, stable in a wide range of pH, and can withstand sterilization e.g. by autoclaving. Normal filter paper, used for chemistry, has too large pores to remove viruses.

The undergraduate student Linus Wgberg, Professor Maria Strmme, and Associate Professor Albert Mihranyan at the Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Uppsala University, in collaboration with virologists Dr. Giorgi Metreveli, Eva Emmoth, and Professor Sndor Belk from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)/Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA), report a design of a paper filter which is capable of removing virus particles with the efficiency matching that of the best industrial virus filters.

The reported paper filter, which is manufactured according to the traditional paper making processes, consists of 100 percent high purity cellulose nanofibers directly derived from nature.

The discovery is a result of a decade long research on the properties of high surface area nanocellulose materials, which eventually enabled the scientists to tailor the pore size distribution of their paper precisely in the range desirable for virus filtration.

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Researchers Develop Nano-paper Filter that can Remove Virus Particles

Zydex Nanotechnology recognized as Indias Best Innovation

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Awards and accolades trail Vadodara based Zydex Industries, a high-tech research driven organization which has many first to develop solutions to its credit. Zydex nanotechnology, considered world-wide as the best & cost-effective solution to ensure potholes free roads, was recognized as Indias best Innovation by Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF).

Introduced in 2006, MIF Innovation awards is one of the largest platforms in India for recognizing path breaking innovations within the Indian business and social sector.

A distinguished Jury chaired by Dr. R A Mashelkar scrutinized a total of 258 entries in the Business Category in two rounds and arrived at Indias Best Innovations on the basis of uniqueness, impact and sustainability. Earlier a rigorous evaluation process was followed by MIFs knowledge partner Bain & Company to identify final round entries. Among other aspects, what the jury really appreciated was the fact that these products received patents in multiple countries internationally.

On receiving this award at a glittering ceremony held in Mumbai recently, Dr. Ajay Ranka, Chief Executive Officer, Zydex Industries, said, When awards and recognitions come from our home turf, its a matter of great honor and pride for Zydex family. We are extremely thrilled on winning this prestigious award. Speaking about the benefits of this technology, he further said, Our Nanotechnology is all about waterproofing soil bases, chemical bonding of bitumen to aggregates, sand, clay etc. and eliminating moisture related damages. It will bind the gravel and asphalt together about 20 times more than untreated roads enhancing load bearing strength and durability. Zydex Nanotechnology will surely revolutionize the very way in which roads are designed and built today.

Zydex has pioneered a long lasting and cost effective solution for potholes free roads.

Accredited by the Indian Road Congress, Zydex nanotechnology will not only maximize quality of Indian roads but usher in surplus funds for the government with reduced expenditure on road construction and maintenance.

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Zydex Nanotechnology recognized as Indias Best Innovation

Researchers Develop Technique to Measure Quantity, Risks of Engineered Nanomaterials Delivered to Cells

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Newswise Boston, MA Thousands of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles microscopic particles found in everyday items from cosmetics and clothing to building materials enter the market every year. Concerns about possible environmental health and safety issues of these nano-enabled products continue to grow with scientists struggling to come up with fast, cheap, and easy-to-use cellular screening systems to determine possible hazards of vast libraries of engineered nanomaterials. However, determining how much exposure to engineered nanoparticles could be unsafe for humans requires precise knowledge of the amount (dose) of nanomaterials interacting with cells and tissues such as lungs and skin.

With chemicals, this is easy to do but when it comes to nanoparticles suspended in physiological media, this is not trivial. Engineered nanoparticles in biological media interact with serum proteins and form larger agglomerates which alter both their so called effective density and active surface area and ultimately define their delivery to cell dose and bio-interactions. This behavior has tremendous implications not only in measuring the exact amount of nanomaterials interacting with cells and tissue but also in defining hazard rankings of various engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). As a result, thousands of published cellular screening assays are difficult to interpret and use for risk assessment purposes.

Scientists at the Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have discovered a fast, simple, and inexpensive method to measure the effective density of engineered nanoparticles in physiological fluids, thereby making it possible to accurately determine the amount of nanomaterials that come into contact with cells and tissue in culture.

The method, referred to as the Volumetric Centrifugation Method (VCM), will be published in the March 28, 2014 Nature Communications.

The new discovery will have a major impact on the hazard assessment of engineered nanoparticles, enabling risk assessors to perform accurate hazard rankings of nanomaterials using cellular systems. Furthermore, by measuring the composition of nanomaterial agglomerates in physiologic fluids, it will allow scientists to design more effective nano-based drug delivery systems for nanomedicine applications.

The biggest challenge we have in assessing possible health effects associated with nano exposures is deciding when something is hazardous and when it is not, based on the dose level. At low levels, the risks are probably miniscule, said senior author Philip Demokritou, associate professor of aerosol physics in the Department of Environmental Health at HSPH. The question is: At what dose level does nano-exposure become problematic? The same question applies to nano-based drugs when we test their efficiency using cellular systems. How much of the administered nano-drug will come in contact with cells and tissue? This will determine the effective dose needed for a given cellular response, Demokritou said.

Federal regulatory agencies do not require manufacturers to test engineered nanoparticles, if the original form of the bulk material has already been shown to be safe. However, there is evidence that some of these materials could be more harmful in the nanoscale a scale at which materials may penetrate cells and bypass biological barriers more easily and exhibit unique physical, chemical, and biological properties compared to larger size particles. Nanotoxicologists are struggling to develop fast and cheap toxicological screening cellular assays to cope with the influx of vast forms of engineered nanomaterials and avoid laborious and expensive animal testing. However, this effort has been held back due to the lack of a simple-to-use, fast, method to measure the dose-response relationships and possible toxicological implications. While biological responses are fairly easy to measure, scientists are struggling to develop a fast method to assess the exact amount or dose of nanomaterials coming in contact with cells in biological media.

Dosimetric considerations are too complicated to consider in nano-bio assessments, but too important to ignore, Demokritou said. Comparisons of biological responses to nano-exposures usually rely on guesstimates based on properties measured in the dry powder form (e.g., mass, surface area, and density), without taking into account particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions in biological media. When suspended in fluids, nanoparticles typically form agglomerates that include large amounts of the suspending fluid, and that therefore have effective densities much lower than that of dry material. This greatly influences the particle delivery to cells, and reduces the surface area available for interactions with cells, said Glen DeLoid, research associate in the Department of Environmental Health, one of the two lead authors of the study. The VCM method will help nanobiologists and regulators to resolve conflicting in vitro cellular toxicity data that have been reported in the literature for various nanomaterials. These disparities likely result from lack of or inaccurate dosimetric considerations in nano-bio interactions in a cellular screening system, said Joel Cohen, doctoral student at HSPH and one of the two lead authors of the study.

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Researchers Develop Technique to Measure Quantity, Risks of Engineered Nanomaterials Delivered to Cells

Nanofilm Announces Antibacterial Eyewear Cleaner That Kills Germs for Up to Five Days

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Valley View, OH (PRWEB) March 27, 2014

Nanofilm, a maker of specialty optical coatings and cleaners, announces the development of a unique nanotechnology-based liquid treatment for eyewear that cleans the surface, kills bacteria on contact, and retains the bactericidal property for up to five days after a single application. The simple spray-and-wipe formula is effective on all components of the eyewear frames, lenses and nosepads.

Nanofilm tested the efficacy of the treatment against Staphylococcus Aureus, a bacteria commonly found on the human skin. One application was sufficient to kill 99.99% of the bacteria on initial contact and continued to kill 99.99% on contact for five days.

The antibacterial agent in the formulation is well-known and has been widely used in consumer products such as toothpaste and soap for more than 40 years. The long-lasting effect is achieved by utilizing nano-sized carriers to deliver and deposit the antibacterial agent onto the surface. All ingredients used in the formulation are recognized as safe to humans and the surfaces to which the liquid is applied.

We know that bacteria can transfer and reside on a wide variety of surfaces, particularly when they come in contact with the face, and Staphylococcus Aureus is one that is commonly found on the human face, said Dr. Krish Rao, President of Nanofilm. We thought it would be of interest to develop a treatment that will not only clean and sanitize the eyewear but also provide long-lasting antibacterial performance.

Nanofilm collaborated with a partner company that is an expert in the field of bio-nanotechnology for use in drug delivery systems and consumer products. The product as formulated is still early in its developmental cycle, but test results confirm its efficacy using only ingredients recognized as safe, noted Dr. Rao. Right now we are engaged in assessing the interest in the market and building partnerships with optical companies to bring this to commercialization as quickly as possible.

This new nanotechnology-enabled approach opens up the potential of delivering a variety of performance-enhancing ingredients to surfaces. Nanofilm is exploring the possibility of similar anti-bacterial treatments for personal electronics like smartphones and tablets, as well as retail touchscreens like ATMs.

About Nanofilm Nanofilm, Ltd. is a Valley View, Ohio, private company that develops nano-layer coatings, nano-based cleaners, and nano-composite products. Nanofilms products for the professional eyecare market center around its unique eyewear cleaning and de-fogging products. For information about Nanofilm products, please visit http://www.nanofilmproducts.com.

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Nanofilm Announces Antibacterial Eyewear Cleaner That Kills Germs for Up to Five Days

The promise and peril of nanotechnology

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3 hours ago by Renee Cho, Earth Institute, Columbia University Computer-rendered view inside a carbon nanotube. Credit: Geoff Hutchison

Scientists at Northwestern University have found a way to detect metastatic breast cancer by arranging strands of DNA into spherical shapes and using them to cover a tiny particle of gold, creating a "nano-flare" that lights up only when it finds breast cancer cells. At MIT, researchers are trying to boost the photosynthetic capacity of plants by embedding tiny tubes of carbon called nanotubes into chloroplasts. They hope to eventually develop plants with the ability to monitor environmental pollution, pesticides, fungal infections, or exposure to bacterial toxins. These are just two instances of ongoing research in nanotechnology, one of the fastest growing areas of science, engineering and industry that is used in more and more consumer products each day.

Nanotechnology encompasses the production and manipulation of materials on a tiny scale measured in billionths of a meter, or nanometers. It sometimes involves layers of material just a single atom thick about 0.2 nanometers. By comparison, a human hair is 80,000 nanometers; a DNA molecule is 22.5 nm.

Nanoparticles do exist in naturein dust, forest fires, volcanoes, metals, etc. But nanotechnology generally involves engineered materials (which can include natural nanoparticles) with at least one dimension measuring 100 nm or less. At the nanoscale, the classic laws of physics no longer apply, resulting in material taking on different optical, electrical or magnetic properties than it would have in a bulkier form. This is partly because material at the nanoscale has a relatively larger surface area vis vis its volume than the same material in bulk form.

It is because nanomaterials have these altered properties that they are so useful. They can have increased capacity to conduct or resist electricity, excellent color purity, enhanced heat storage or transference ability, extra absorbability, or antibiotic properties. At the nanoscale, copper, normally opaque, becomes transparent; stable aluminum turns combustible; and gold, usually solid, becomes a liquid. Nano silver, an antibacterial, is used in bandages, socks and food packaging. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are found in sunscreen and cosmetics. Nano titanium dioxide is used in medicine capsules, nutritional supplements, food additives, skin creams, and toothpaste; and in foods like coconut and yogurt as a whitener.

Nanotechnology involves the creation of nanostructures like carbon-based graphene (a sheet of carbon atoms 1 atom thick) or carbon nanotubes (a tube of carbon atoms), which are excellent conductors of electricity; as well as the use of nanoparticles that are combined with other materials to optimize certain characteristics.

Scientists working in nanotechnology usually use molecules as building blocks. As an example, they may make something partly out of silicon, combined with an organic molecule and some nano widgets to produce a multifaceted nanostructure unlike anything found in nature, explained James Yardley, managing director of Columbia University's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. The choice of materials often depends on the area of research. Electronics researchers, for instance, often work with silicon or carbon; biotechnology researchers work with larger organic molecules; and materials researchers might utilize iron, steel or chromium.

Columbia's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, one of the first nanoscale science and engineering centers established by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, focuses its research on electronics. Scientists here, pioneers in research on graphene (the strongest material known to man per unit weight), are figuring out how to use it to replace silicon, essential in semiconductors and many electronic products. They are using it to develop applications for solar cells, touchscreens and sensors. The center is also working with carbon nanotubes, which are enabling the development of new electronic devices; and building photovoltaic devices on the nanoscale to make them much more efficient.

Every day, scientists are coming up with new applications for nanotechnology. An international nano research center has created a nanofiber mesh that can remove toxins from the blood, which could eliminate the need for dialysis for kidney failure patients. Swiss researchers recently succeeded in producing uniform antimony nanocrystals, which can store a large number of lithium and sodium ions, and could one day be used to produce high-energy-density batteries.

In the future, nanotechnology is expected to make communication and information technologies faster and cheaper, and create super-hard materials. In medicine, nanomaterials will be used as tiny sensors to detect disease or as chips to monitor bodily processes, for implants, and as drug delivery systems that can target specific cells. Nanomaterials will be able to filter pollutants from the environment or remove them from waste effluents. Nanotechnology will benefit space exploration by making lighter-weight vehicles and smaller robotic systems possible. Nano detectors of chemical and biological agents will improve national security. Some scientists predict that one day, they will be able to create programmable nanomatter whose properties can be controlled or altered.

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The promise and peril of nanotechnology

NanoMalaysia Eyes To Contribute One Per Cent Of GNI For Nanotechnology

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- NanoMalaysia Bhd is looking at jumpstarting nanotechnology development to enable it to contribute one per cent to Malaysia's gross national income (GNI) by 2020, said Chief Executive Officer, Rezal Khairi Ahmad.

"The company would use four sectors -- electronic devices and systems; energy and environment; food and agriculture; and, healthcare, medicine and wellness -- to achieve the target, which would be equivalent to RM15 to RM17 billion then," he said.

Rezal said this at the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) here Monday.

Also present were Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Deputy Secretary General (Science), Zulkifli Mohamed Hashim, who represented the minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, and UTP Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim.

Under the pact, the parties are set to play significant roles in the development and roll-out of thermal management for light-emitting diode industry in Malaysia.

Rezal said the collaboration aimed to exploit UTP's technology know-how by forming general framework for new business development with potential business partners of new invention and/or innovation of nanotechnology product, through various commercialisation processes.

Abdul Rahim said the MOU marked an important milestone for UTP's journey towards becoming an international recognised higher learning institution.

Earlier, Zulkifli Mohamed Hashim said NanoMalaysia-UTP partnership marked an important occasion for both parties and MOSTI, in conjunction with 'MOSTI Commercialisation Year 2014'.

-- BERNAMA

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NanoMalaysia Eyes To Contribute One Per Cent Of GNI For Nanotechnology


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