There is a growing body of research on using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other nanomaterials in neural engineering. Scientists are already exploring the feasibility of using CNTs to probe neural activity. With this research comes the need to develop a unified approach when assessing the toxicity of CNT in neurons. However, a complex picture emerges from the reported data: is it feasible to develop CNT-based devices as drug delivery vectors? Ultimately, are soluble CNT neurotoxic, and, if yes, to what degree? Given the often conflicting results of research reports on the biocompatibility of soluble CNT when administered to neurons in the central nervous system, a review article helps to clarify which aspects (technical or methodological) of these studies may be responsible for their heterogeneous conclusions.
Quantum computing breakthrough in the creation of massive numbers of entangled qubits
Olivier Pfister, a professor of physics in the University of Virginia's College of Arts and Sciences, has just published findings demonstrating a breakthrough in the creation of massive numbers of entangled qubits, more precisely a multilevel variant thereof called Qmodes.
Nanoparticles working in harmony
A team of researchers from MIT, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) has designed a new type of delivery system in which a first wave of nanoparticles hones in on the tumor, then calls in a much larger second wave that dispenses the cancer drug. This communication between nanoparticles, enabled by the body's own biochemistry, boosted drug delivery to tumors by more than 40-fold in a mouse study.
Polymeric nanoparticles attack head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer, the sixth most common cancer in the world, has remained one of the more difficult malignancies to treat, and even when treatment is successful, patients suffer severely from the available therapies. Now, researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a tumor-targeted nanoparticle that delivers high doses of anticancer agents directly to head and neck tumors.
Nanoparticles disguised as red blood cells deliver cancer-fighting drugs
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a novel method of disguising nanoparticles as red blood cells, enabling the resulting nanoparticles to evade the body's immune system and deliver cancer-fighting drugs straight to a tumor.
Gold nanoparticles help earlier diagnosis of liver cancer
A research team reports some promising results for earlier diagnosis of liver cancer.
Graphite + water = the future of energy storage
A combination of two ordinary materials - graphite and water - could produce energy storage systems that perform on par with lithium ion batteries, but recharge in a matter of seconds and have an almost indefinite lifespan.
Conducting energy on a nanoscale
Researchers demonstrated how semiconductor nanocrystals can be doped in order to change their electronic properties and be used as conductors. This opens a world of possibilities in terms of applications of small electronic and electro-optical devices, such as diodes and photodiodes, electric components used in cellular phones, digital cameras, and solar panels.
Electricity from blood sugar
Implants that obtain their energy from blood sugar and oxygen: Dr. Sven Kerzenmacher at the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) of the University of Freiburg is researching the development of biological fuel cells with the goal of finding an inexhaustible source of power in the human body.
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Donates Microscope to UMass Labs for Worcester High School Program
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, a leading provider of microscopy solutions, announces that it recently donated a $5,000 state-of-the-art microscope for use in the UMass Labs for Worcester Area High Schools program, which allows Advanced Placement biology students from public high schools and technical schools in and around Worcester, Massachusetts to visit and learn from scientists in UMass Medical School laboratories.
Breakthrough Indentation Yield Strength Test by Nanovea
Nanovea today introduced its patent pending breakthrough method of reliably acquiring yield strength through indentation; ultimately replacing the traditional tensile testing machine for yield strength measurement.
U.S. Senate taps UCF expert for testimony on nanotechnology
University of Central Florida's Thomas O'Neal will be testifying Thursday, July 14, about the revolutionary nature of nanotechnology before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space.
SUSS MicroTec Introduces MaskTrack Pro InSync, a System for Automated Handling, Storage and Inspection of EUVL Reticles
SUSS MicroTec, a global supplier of equipment and process solutions for the semiconductor industry and related markets, launched its new MaskTrack Pro InSync - the first holistic in-fab EUVL mask management offering.
EU project tackles engineered nanomaterials risk
EU-funded scientists have developed risk assessment criteria for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) that will help support experts in making innovation and policy decisions. An outcome of the NANOHOUSE project, which is backed with EUR 2.4 million under the 'Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies' (NMP) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme, findings reveal that product design can affect the unintentional release of ENMs.
TSMC Qualifies Magma’s QCP Extractor for 28-nm Designs
QCP meets TSMC's 28-nm process requirements for via etch, multi-dimensional etch tables, contact biasing and additional via rules to ensure required support.
Carbonhagen 2011 – "increasing the carbon footprint"
Carbonhagen 2011 is a two day symposium on graphene and carbon nanotubes, jointly organised by the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen and Nano Connect Scandinavia. The symposium will cover fabrication, physical, electronic, chemical and optical properties, device integration and applications.
Hitachi partnership brings new tools and electron microscope reference center to Edmonton’s Institute of Nanotechnology
Hitachi High Technologies and Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) today opened the Hitachi Electron Microscopy Products Centre (HEMiC) and unveiled a Hitachi H-95000 environmental transmission electron microscope (E-TEM) that is the first of its kind outside of Japan.
Chemical component separation thousand-fold faster
Numerous industrial processes make use of blends. Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have studied how the external electric field affects the rate of component separation in blends composed of polymers and liquid crystals and those composed of various types of polymers.
Warwick wins GBP 1.7 million research grant to help ‘cooltronics’
The University of Warwick Department of Physics has been awarded a prestigious five-year grant to the sum of GBP 1.7 million for "Creating Silicon Based Platforms for New Technologies".
Travel Awards Available for the Pathology Informatics 2011 Conference
The Association for Pathology Informatics is awarding a limited number of stipends of $1,500 to attend the Pathology Informatics 2011 Conference at the Pittsburgh Wyndham Grand hotel in Pittsburgh. The conference will take place on October 4-7, 2011. Awardees must be residents, post-doctoral students, or fellows in accredited teaching programs. This is the premier pathology informatics conference in the country with three workshops, three discipline tracks, multiple keynote plenary lectures, 44 participating faculty members, and more than 40 exhibitors. Last year's PI-2010 presentation marked the first of these events. The conference represents a merger of two long-standing pathology informatics meetings, APIII and Lab InfoTech Summit. The application deadline for awards is August 1, 201, so those interested should apply soon. Applicants must be residents or fellows in a training program accredited by the Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). More details can be obtained at the conference web site including details about how to apply.
