Understanding the Protein Corona in Nanomedicine – Medriva

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Understanding the Protein Corona in Nanomedicine

As nanomedicine continues to expand its horizons in the field of therapeutic nucleic acid delivery and beyond, understanding the protein corona, a layer of biomolecules that forms on nanoparticles in biological fluids, is of critical importance. This protein layer plays a pivotal role in determining the safety and efficacy of nanomedicine.

A recent multi-center study involving 17 proteomics facilities underscored the significance of this layer, revealing substantial data variability. Remarkably, only 1.8% of proteins were consistently identified across these centers, indicating the need for a harmonized approach to nanoparticle protein corona analysis.

The study further illuminated the importance of standardizing procedures in protein corona analysis. The implementation of an aggregated database search with uniform parameters proved instrumental in harmonizing proteomics data, increasing the reproducibility and the percentage of consistently identified unique proteins across distinct cores.

More specifically, the study found that reduction and alkylation are crucial steps in protein corona sample processing, with the omission of these steps reducing the number of total quantified peptides by around 20%. Thus, uniform data processing pipelines can play a major role in enhancing the reproducibility of protein corona analysis.

Just like plasma proteomics, protein corona analysis faces an array of challenges, including a broad dynamic range and the presence of different protein isoforms. Furthermore, the composition of the protein corona determines how biosystems perceive nanoparticles, a factor that can lead to biased data interpretation if low-abundant genuine targets are not detected. The quality and proteome coverage of protein corona reported by core facilities can be affected by various factors, further underscoring the need for standardization across different proteomics studies.

The study also investigated the influence of database search, data extraction, processing, and analysis on observed data heterogeneity, laying the groundwork for future research to standardize and harmonize results. This is particularly important in the realm of nanomedicine, where protein-based nanoparticles show immense potential for therapeutic nucleic acid delivery, owing to their unique properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization.

Looking forward, the standardization and harmonization of protein corona data will be instrumental in overcoming barriers to effective protein nanoparticle-mediated nucleic acid delivery. It will also aid in the development of non-viral protein materials for nucleic acid delivery, and in the design of smart drug delivery systems (DDS) that specifically target pathologic tissues while minimizing off-target effects on healthy tissues.

By addressing these challenges and advancing clinical applications of nanoscale biotechnologies, we may be one step closer to realizing the full potential of nanomedicine, from insulin injections and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to monitoring oxygen levels and overcoming barriers to nanoparticle penetration into tumors.

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Understanding the Protein Corona in Nanomedicine - Medriva

Oxford and Cardiff alumni named BSNM Champion in Nanomedicine – News from Wales

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Dr. Aadarsh Mishra, 27, an alumnus of Oxford University and Cardiff University has been named as the Champion of The British Society for Nanomedicine. Aadarsh graduated with a First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering from Cardiff University in 2017.

The British Society for Nanomedicine is the primary UK nanomedicine society which aims to raise awareness of nanomedicine research while fostering collaboration with industry, academia, clinicians and the public. The Champions of the British Society for Nanomedicine act as a local ambassador for the society, and include early career researchers, lecturers, and professors.

Aadarshs research involves rheology and biomechanical modelling of agarose gels and soft tissues. In the past, agar has been used as a multifunctional encapsulating material and as a drug carrier. Aadarsh has been particularly working with agarose hydrogels and investigating their biomechanical properties as a soft tissue mimic. His work will lead to a better understanding of the agarose-tissue response in time and frequency domain. During his research, Aadarsh has mimicked heart and kidney tissues using agarose hydrogels which will have potential applications in elastography techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE), Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE). Moreover, the agarose mimicking kidney will have potential applications during lithotripsy technique (for kidney stone treatment).

Aadarsh worked with Alesi Surgical Ltd. (Cardiff) as a Research and Development (R&D) Engineer (from 2015-17) and co-invented the design electrode shield which was later filed as an international patent. At the age of 21, Aadarsh co-authored a high-impact factor paper in Nano Letters (published by American Chemical Society) where he performed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations. Aadarsh has also worked at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi) on a defence project where he was developing experimental setups for high strain rate testing. In 2014, Aadarsh pursued his research internship at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc, Bangalore) on a project related to Tribology.

Aadarsh has also published a chapter in the book Power Ultrasonics and presented his work at several international conferences such as Annual European Rheology Conference and 18th European Mechanics of Materials Conference. Aadarsh was also elected as the Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society at 19 years of age.

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Oxford and Cardiff alumni named BSNM Champion in Nanomedicine - News from Wales

Building Trust and Fostering Collaborations Key to Startup Formation – Weill Cornell Medicine Newsroom

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One of the hardest points on the translational road from bench to bedside can be the point where you have to turn over your discovery to a company youve foundeda company whose subsequent direction you wont fully control.

Its sort of your baby that youre turning over, said Dr. Ronald Crystal, chair of the Department of Genetic Medicine and the Bruce Webster Professor of Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, gene therapy pioneer and four-time startup founder. But youve got to be willing to let go of it; it takes a village to develop a new drug.

Dr. Crystal and others recounted recent entrepreneurial journeysin his case, to bring a gene therapy for refractory angina to the clinicat the seventh annual Deans Symposium onInnovation and Entrepreneurship, hosted by Enterprise Innovation on Nov. 7 in the Griffis Faculty Club. Now an established tradition, the Deans Symposium celebrates innovation and Weill Cornell Medicines entrepreneurial spirit, and showcases the institutions support for faculty and trainees who want to bring their discoveries to market to benefit a large patient population.

Dr. Robert Harrington speaks during the Dean's Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

You are part of a medical college that has a history of innovation, Dr. Robert Harrington, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine reminded attendees, citing the example of Weill Cornells Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou, developer of the Pap Smear a century ago. Dr. Harrington noted that, thanks to Weill Cornell Medicines network of programs supporting translational research, there are currently 44 active startups founded by institutional researchers, with a total of nearly $2 billion in funding, including from top-tier venture capital firms.

Dr. Krystyn Van Vliet, Cornell Universitys vice president for research and innovation, emphasized that the journey from discovery to commercialization requires much resilience and expertise, which is why a team that helps guide the harder steps of our investors is so important.

Dr. John Leonard, senior associate dean for innovation and initiatives, discussed the recent expansion of Weill Cornell Medicine Enterprise Innovations team of experts and entrepreneurial programs.

It's really important to keep in mind that our remit here, and the opportunities, are broad, Dr. Leonard said, noting that Enterprise Innovation partners with innovators to develop not only therapeutics and medical devices but also diagnostics, laboratory tools and software tools for clinical and research applications.

Dr. John Leonard

If youre working in these areas, there are opportunities to take your findings forward in different ways, said Dr. Leonard, who is also interim chair of the Weill Department of Medicine and the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Keynote speaker Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, a physician, biomedical engineer and serial inventor/entrepreneur who is the John J. and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Engineering and director of the Laboratory for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies at M.I.T., offered an appealing picture of translational success as she discussed some of her many inventions. These include a human-liver-on-a-chip device that pharma companies can use to study drug metabolism without posing risks to patients; an injectable set of nano-sensors that can be collected in urine to provide a multiplex readout of liver health as an alternative to liver biopsy; and a liver-cell-based therapy for treating liver disease.

Dr. Bhatia highlighted that now is a great time for biomedical and biotech entrepreneurs, given the advances and convergences in miniaturization, artificial intelligence, stem cell methods, genomics and other relevant, cutting-edge technologies.

She noted too that female academics, though underrepresented in startups, are getting more support and resources than ever. At M.I.T., for example, Dr. Bhatia recently helped start the Faculty Founder Initiative, which provides skilled mentorship, funding, legal advice, lab space and other resources to female faculty. She stressed that there are ways to minimize conflicts between entrepreneurship and family life, recounting how her first startup was hatched with colleagues in the hours after her youngest daughter went to bed, whereas for a subsequent venture, during the pandemic, she and her co-founders raised most of the initial funding via Zoom.

For those of you who have young families, it doesnt have to be that youre always going to dinners and getting on planesthere are all kinds of ways to do it, she said.

Dr. Bhatia also underscored that entrepreneurship tends to be easier when one doesnt go it alone.

It can be lonely and stressfulyoure doing something no ones ever done before and there are no right answers, and that can keep you up at night, she said. Its so much more fun to be on that ride with a colleague that you like and trust.

Trust, and willingness to bring others into ones circle of trust, was a theme echoed by Dr. Crystal and his colleague Albert Gianchetti, CEO of Xylocor Therapeutics, the startup now developing the angina gene therapy. In a discussion moderated by Dr. Lisa Placanica, senior managing director of Center for Technology Licensing at Weill Cornell Medicine, the scientist and seasoned pharma CEO spoke about hurdles overcome and lessons learned.

The biotech side, the business side, is like a whole different world, and you learn that the people involved on that side are really smart about that side of thingsthey may not know the things we scientists know, but we dont know the things they know, Dr. Crystal said.

The stories highlighted the key events in the science-to-startup journey: the initial high-impact scientific publication; the recognition of translational potential; the filing of patent applications and the drafting of a business plan; the acquisition of a mentor or mentors; the search for seed money and a founding CEO; the months-to-years-long hunt for that first big (Series A) investment, from venture capital investors or an established pharma company; and lastlyparticularly for therapeutic venturesthe first tests in patients.

You get better at it over time, Dr. Bhatia said. You develop a keener sense of what a company needs to make it to the next level, and at the same time your network of connections with investors and entrepreneurs is expanding.

Even so, she added, each entrepreneurial journey is different, and involves its own challenges and pitfalls.

Dr. Crystal reiterated this point during his fireside chat. I would advise the budding entrepreneurs in the audience to use the resources we have here to help you avoid some of those pitfalls, he said.

Naturally, all spoke of the satisfactionat the end of that entrepreneurial roadof being able to improve patients lives.

One of the most exciting things for me, Gianchetti said, was when we went out and interviewed patients who did very well in a trial, and they were talking about how much better they feltone asked, When can my family make an investment in this company? Because what you guys did for me was a miracle.

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Building Trust and Fostering Collaborations Key to Startup Formation - Weill Cornell Medicine Newsroom

Nano-Particles Show Promise in Treating Infectious Diseases – Mirage News

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The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of being prepared with drug interventions to contain viral outbreaks that can otherwise have devastating consequences. In preparing for the next pandemicor Disease X, there is an urgent need for versatile platform technologies that could be repurposed upon short notice, to combat infectious outbreaks.

A team of researchers, led by Assistant Professor Minh Le from the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) and Department of Pharmacology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), discovered that nano-sized particles released by cells, termed "extracellular vesicles" (EVs), can curb the viral infectivity of SARS-CoV-2its wild type and variant strainsand potentially other infectious diseases. Asst Prof Le said, "Our study showed that these cell-derived nanoparticles are effective carriers of drugs that target viral genes precisely. These EVs are therefore an efficient tool for therapeutic intervention in patients who are infected with COVID-19 or other infectious diseases."

The study, conducted in collaboration with NUS Medicine's Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) Core Facility, the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at National University of Singapore, and the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), demonstrated potent inhibition of COVID-19 infection in laboratory models using a combination of EV-based inhibition and anti-sense RNA therapy mediated by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). A versatile tool that can be applied to any gene of interest, ASOs can recognise and bind to complementary regions of target RNA molecules and induce their inhibition and degradation.

In the study, published in ACS Nano, the authors utilised human red blood cell-derived EVs to deliver ASOs to key sites infected with SARS-CoV-2, resulting in efficient suppression of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication. The researchers also discovered that EVs exhibited distinct antiviral properties, capable of inhibiting phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor-mediated pathways of viral infectiona key pathway utilised by many viruses to facilitate viral infection. These viral inhibitory mechanisms were applicable to multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Delta and Omicron strains, ensuring their broad effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The results from the study point to anti-sense RNA therapy with ASOs as a potentially effective approach that could serve to combat future viral outbreaks. The platform that was developed to deliver ASOs through EVs to target the SARS-CoV-2 viral genes can be readily applied to treat other viral infections by replacing the ASO sequences with those complementary to the target viral genes. Asst Prof Le and her graduate students Migara Jay and Gao Chang, the first authors of the study, are currently developing more potent combinations of ASOs with the help of artificial intelligence prediction models to achieve enhanced viral inhibition. This collaborative effort includes partnership with the research teams of Associate Professor Edward Chow from WisDM, NUS Medicine, and NUS Medicine's BSL3 Core Facility.

Associate Professor Justin Chu, Director of the BSL3 Core Facility at NUS Medicine, and co-author of the study, added, "This remarkable extracellular vesicle-based delivery platform technology coupled with anti-viral therapy is highly promising to combat a broad range of viruses and even Disease X." The latter is a general description for emerging and unknown infectious threats, such as novel coronaviruses. The term was used to alert and encourage the development of platform technologies, including vaccines, drug therapies and diagnostic tests, which could be quickly customised and then deployed against future epidemic and pandemic outbreaks. Assoc Prof Chu is also from the Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme at NUS Medicine.

Professor Dean Ho, Provost's Chair Professor and Director of WisDM at NUS Medicine, said, "This work brings the scalable and well-tolerated extracellular vesicle-based drug delivery platform an important step closer towards clinical validation studies."

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Nano-Particles Show Promise in Treating Infectious Diseases - Mirage News

Immunoregulatory nanomedicine for respiratory infections – Nature.com

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UNSW picks up lion’s share of Royal Society of NSW Awards – UNSW Newsroom

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Six UNSW researchers and professional staff have been recognised at the 2023 Royal Society of NSW Awards. Scientia Professor Helen Christensen has been awarded the James Cook Medal, which is the Societys highest honour. Professor Maria Kavallaris, Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Brendon Neuen, Professor Moninya Roughan and Mr Jason Antony have also received awards.

Overall, eight awards and medals, three scholarships and two service awards were announced for 2023 by the Royal Society of NSW at the 1318th Ordinary General Meeting, held at the State Library in NSW Wednesday night. The Open Lecture was delivered by UNSW Professor John Church, winner of the Societys 2022 James Cook Medal.

Interim Dean of UNSW Medicine & Health Professor Adrienne Torda applauded the UNSW winners on their success.

"I congratulate these extraordinary UNSW researchers for being recognised at the Royal Society of New South Wales Awards.Special congratulations to Helen Christensen for receiving the James Cook Medal. Helen is a truly deserving recipient as one of Australias leading mental health experts, she has made significant contributions to being able to identify and treat sufferers of this chronic disease through innovative digital treatments, Prof. Torda said.

All our winners are exceptional specialists in their fields. The annual Royal Society of NSW awards are among the oldest and most prestigious awards in Australia, and its an honour for so many of our scientists to be recognised.

UNSW Scientia Professor Helen Christensen, Board Director of the Black Dog Institute, has been awarded the James Cook Medal for outstanding contributions to science and human welfare in the Southern Hemisphere. Its the most prestigious award offered by the Royal Society of NSW.

Prof. Christensen is a leading expert on using technology to deliver evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm.

I'm very honoured to receive this prestigious medal. The work I do, alongside my colleagues, is all about making life better for those in our community facing mental health struggles. The Royal Societys award recognises that using science is one of the best ways to solve the tough problems we're dealing with today, Prof. Christensen said.

Read more: UNSW researchers awarded $10m in health funding

UNSW researchers have received the James Cook Medal nine of the last 10 times the medal has been awarded.

Professor Moninya Roughan. Photo: UNSW.

Professor Moninya Roughan from UNSW Science has been awarded the Clarke Medal for distinguished research in the natural sciences, conducted in Australia and its territories, in the fields of botany, zoology, and geology.

Prof. Roughan is an authority on the dynamics of the East Australian Current, ocean observationand prediction systems and their application to understanding western boundary currents and continental shelf processes. She leads the Coastal and Regional Oceanography Lab at UNSW.

I am truly humbled and deeply grateful to be the recipient of this prestigious award. This recognition is not just a reflection of my individual efforts but a testament to the collaborative spirit of the scientific community and every breakthrough stands on the shoulders of those who came before me. I am fortunate to have been guided by mentors, inspired by colleagues, and supported by my dedicated research team at UNSW, Prof. Roughan said.

"I believe that the truest achievement is in the positive impact my research has on the world and I hope that this recognition inspires future generations to explore the limitless possibilities in the ocean sciences and foster environmental stewardship."

Professor Maria Kavallaris. Photo: UNSW.

Professor Maria Kavallaris from UNSW Medicine & Health received the Walter Burfitt Award, for distinguished research in any area of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences and Technologies.

Prof. Kavallaris leads the Tumour Biology and Targeting Group at the Childrens Cancer Institute and is the founding co-director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine at UNSW. She has made seminal contributions to understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in cancer biology andis best known for identifying how tumour cells become resistant to commonly used chemotherapydrugs and how drug resistance can be reversed.

Read more:New treatment approach to selectively target cancer cells: study

Her studies have identified how some tumours can grow and spread in the body, and she has applied this knowledge towards the development of advanced diagnostics and therapeutics using nanotechnology.

I've dedicated my life to understanding and identifying effective treatments for cancer because I believe that everyone deserves a chance to survive. This award is a reminder that our work is making a difference, and it inspires me to continue pushing forward. This award is not just for me; it's for all the past and present brilliant students and researchers who I have had the honour of mentoring and working with, Prof. Kavallaris said.

Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey. Photo: UNSW.

Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey from UNSW Science has received the inaugural Award in the Social and Behavioural Sciences, which is for distinguished research in any area of the social and behavioural sciences including psychology, economics, management, and related disciplines.

Read more:Chef's kiss: brain-friendly cake shines light on cognitive decline

Prof. Ansteys research programs focus on cognitive resilience in ageing as well as prevention of dementia. She has developed new methods to assess risk of cognitive decline and dementia as well as non-pharmacological interventions to reduce these risks. Another focus of her work is on older driver safety and in this field, she has also developed and validated risk assessment tools and interventions.

I am excited and honoured to receive this inaugural award from the Royal Society of NSW and would like to thank my colleagues and team with whom Ive worked for many years, Prof. Anstey said.

Cognitive health is central to ageing well and I look forward to continuing to expand our knowledge in this field.

Dr Brendon Neuen from the George Institute of Global Health an affiliate of UNSW has been awarded the inaugural Ida Browne Early Career Medal. The Medal is awarded for contributions to knowledge and society in Australia or its territories by an individual from 05 years post-PhD or equivalent.

Dr Neuen is a nephrologist and Director of the Kidney Trials Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital. He is recognised for his expertise in cardio-renal-metabolic medicine. His work has directly informed more than 25 major international and national guidelines, position papers and scientific statements about optimal care for people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

I am delighted and honoured to be the inaugural recipient of the Ida Browne Medal from the Royal Society of NSW. My work would not be possible without the generosity of patients and thededicationofstudy teams and investigatorswho made large-scale internationalclinical trialsa reality, Dr Neuen said.

I feel a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that this recognitionis translated intoa long and impactful career in clinical trialsthat improves the lives of people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease worldwide."

Jason Antony. Photo: UNSW

Mr Jason Antony from the Industrial Relations Research Group atUNSW Canberra has received the Royal Society of New South Wales Citation, for significant contributions to the Society.

Since 2016, Mr Antony has been indispensable in the production of fifteen issues of the Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society, and as editor and producer, of 28 issues of the Bulletin from 2020 to 2023.

Helping produce the Royal Societys Journal & Proceedings and Bulletinis a rewarding and enriching experience, Mr Antony said.

When a venerable institution recognises one'scontributions formally, it fills life with vim, vigour, and a renewed sense of purpose. I am immensely grateful to the Society, and to the myriad ofwise, wonderful people who have provided guidance and nurtured my skills over the years.

Read more about the Royal Society of NSW Awards 2023.

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UNSW picks up lion's share of Royal Society of NSW Awards - UNSW Newsroom

NOT-AR-23-022: Request for Information on Themes for the NIAMS … – National Institutes of Health (.gov)

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Request for Information on Themes for the NIAMS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) supports research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research; and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases. NIAMS is updating its Strategic Plan to help guide the research, training, and information dissemination programs it supports between fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The new Plan will focus on cross-cutting thematic research opportunities that position the Institute to make a difference in the lives of all Americans.Because public input is a crucial step in this effort, the Institute issued a Request for Information (NOT-AR-22-023) and hosted a meeting attended by approximately 160 researchers, patient representatives, and staff from other Federal entities to gain insight into topics that could be included in the new Strategic Plan.

Through this Request for Information, NIAMS invites feedback from researchers in academia and industry, health care professionals, patient advocates and health advocacy organizations, scientific or professional organizations, Federal agencies, and other interested members of the public on the Institutes distillation of the input received to date. Professional societies and patient organizations are strongly encouraged to submit a single response that reflects the views of their entire membership.

Please provide your perspective on the following potential cross-cutting themes, examples, and bold aspirations. NIAMS is particularly interested in suggestions for additional or alternative:

Examples:

Bold Aspirations:

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Note: Efforts to identify and reduce health disparities and provide all Americans with equitable access to clinical and epidemiologic studies and healthcare should be considered for NIAMS-funded research projects whenever possible.

Examples:

Bold Aspirations:

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Note: Consistent with the note under Health disparities and health equity, studies of lifestyle factors and environmental exposures should include efforts to identify and reduce health disparities and provide all Americans with equitable access to clinical and epidemiologic studies and healthcare whenever possible.

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Note: Consistent with the note under Health disparities and health equity, clinical and epidemiologic research should include efforts to identify and reduce health disparities and provide all Americans with equitable access to clinical and epidemiologic studies and healthcare whenever possible.

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Note: Training and workforce efforts are essential for the pursuit of all cross-cutting thematic research areas in the new NIAMS Strategic Plan.

Examples:

Bold Aspiration:

Examples:

Bold Aspirations:

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically at https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=654a7bc81e7ccb6f7d03d792.

Responses must be received by Monday, January 1, 2024.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Do not include any proprietary, classified, confidential, trade secret, or sensitive information in your response. The responses will be reviewed by NIAMS staff, leadership, and Advisory Council members. Individual feedback will not be provided to any respondent. NIAMS will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion and will not provide comments to any respondents submission. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.The Government reserves the right to use any submitted information on public NIH websites, in reports, in summaries of the state of the science, in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s), or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation, grant, or cooperative agreement, or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the NIH, or individual NIH Institutes and Centers to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. The Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Governments use of such information. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Governments use of such information.

We look forward to your input and hope that you will share this RFI document with your colleagues.

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NOT-AR-23-022: Request for Information on Themes for the NIAMS ... - National Institutes of Health (.gov)

The effects of exposure to O2- and HOCl-nanobubble water on … – Nature.com

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Clinical parameters of the participants

Table 1 shows clinical parameter of the participants. The median age was 53.5years (Interquartile range (IQR) 45.868.0), and the median number of teeth was 25.5 (IQR 23.028.0). Of the total number of 153 periodontal sites, the median number of pockets less than 3mm was 123.50 (IQR 101.80147.00), the median number of pockets 4mm was 16 (IQR 3.7528.25), and the median number of pockets greater than 5mm was 1.5 (IQR 0.008.00).

In this study, salivary microbiota composition of 16 patients was studied based on the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The samples provided 2,092,625 quality reads corresponding to the V3V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, which were subsequently assigned to 308 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on~97% sequence similarity. We investigated the changes of alpha-diversity due to exposure to NBW. In observed features, O2-NBW and HOCl-NBW tended to decrease alpha-diversity relative to the control; however, the differences were not significant (P=0.85). Shannon index also did not show significant differences (P=0.79) (Supplementary Fig.1). Figure1 shows the scatter diagram of beta-diversity based on Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). In the Unweighted UniFraq distance, there was no significant difference between control and O2-NBW (P=0.168) or between control and HOCl-NBW (P=0.916) (Fig.1A). Similarly, there was no significant difference between control and O2-NBW or HOCl-NBW at the Weighted UniFrac distance (Fig.1B, P=0.521; P=0.828, respectively).

Beta-diversity of unweighted UniFraq distance (A) and weighted UniFraq distance (B). Colored dots indicate individual sample groups: Black: Control; red: O2-NBW; green: HOCl-NBW. Colored circles indicate groups exposed to NBW; Black: Control; Red: O2-NBW; Green: HOCl-NBW.

Supplementary Fig.2 shows the relative frequencies of the different salivary bacteria. The bacterial genera, based on detection in 1% or more of the total population of the salivary microbiome, were composed of 71 OTUs (frequency>0.001) (Supplementary Fig.2A). Specifically, 14 major genera including Prevotella, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Neisseria, Haemophilus, Leptotrichia, Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium, Rothia, Graulicatella, Alloprevotella, Campylobacter, Atopobium, Saccharibacteria (TM7) [G-1] were detected. In similar analyses, bacterial species that were detected in 1% and more of the salivary microbiome, constituted 166 OTUs (frequence>0.001) and included 25 major species, namely Prevotella melaninogenica, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Streptococcus salivarius, Neisseria spp., Porphyromonas pasteri, Veillonella dispar, Streptococcus spp., Rothia mucilaginosa, Fusobacterium periodonticum, Veillonella atypica, Leptotrichia sp. HMT417, Prevotella pallens, Veillonella parvula, Veillonella rogosae, Prevotella spp., Granulicatella adiacens, Leptotrichia sp. HMT221, Streptococcus parasanguinis clade411, Neisseria subflava, Prevotella sp. HMT313, Prevotella salivae, Campylobacter concisus, Leptotrichia sp. HMT215, Saccharibacteria (TM7) [G-1] bacterium HMT352, Atopobium parvulum.

We next investigated the relative abundance in the control and exposed groups by bacterial genera. Repeat measures ANOVA for the 14 bacterial genera with detection rates greater than 1% showed that only the genus Porphyromonas had a significant association among the three groups. Multiple testing also revealed significant associations between control and O2-NBW (P=0.044) and between control and HOCl-NBW (P=0.007) in the genus Porphyromonas (Table 2). Also, we investigated the relative abundance in the control and exposed groups by bacterial species. Repeated measures analysis of variance for the 25 bacterial species with detection rates greater than 1% showed that only P. pasteri was significantly associated among the three groups (P=0.008). Multiple testing also showed a significant reduction (1.066%) in P. pasteri (P=0.028) between control and HOCl-NBW (Table 3).

Figure2 shows the results of the hierarchical cluster analysis by Wards method based on the results of the PCoA, which revealed two subclusters in terms of both Unweighted UniFraq distance (Fig.2A) and Weighted UniFraq distance (Fig.2B). In Fig.2A, CL1 and CL2 were formed, with CL1 having 10 subjects and CL2 having 6 subjects. In Fig.2B, CL3 and CL4 were formed, with CL3 comprising 9 subjects and CL4 7 subjects.

Results of cluster analysis of relative abundance in oral microbiome (N=16). (A) Unweighted cluster. (B) Weighted cluster. Stratified cluster analyses were performed according to the Ward method based on the results of PCoA. Numbers indicate sample ID. Clustering was performed using the Ward method with Euclidian Distance.

Supplementary Fig.3 shows the results of the principal coordinates analysis of the Unweighted UniFraq distance (A, B), and the Weighted UniFrac distance (C, D). Supplementary Fig.3A shows the results between Control and O2-NBW, and Supplementary Fig.3B shows the results between Control and HOCl-NBW. In Supplementary Fig.3A, there was no significant difference between the two groups in CL1 (P=0.536), while in CL2 there was a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.033). On the other hand, in Supplementary Fig.3B, there was no significant difference between CL1 and CL2.

In contrast, Supplementary Fig.3C,D show the results of the principal coordinates analysis of the Weighted UniFraq distance. Supplementary Fig.3C shows the results for control and O2-NBW, and Supplementary Fig.3D shows the results for control and HOCl-NBW. There were no significant differences between the two groups for both CL3 and CL4 in Supplementary Fig.3C,D.

We investigated the relative abundance of bacterial genera in CL1 and CL2 in the Unweighted cluster; no bacterial genera were significantly different in both CL1 and CL2. Also, in bacterial species, no bacterial species were found to have a significant difference between CL1 and CL2 (Supplementary Table 1).

On the other hand, in the relative abundance of bacterial genera in CL3 in the weighted clusters, the only significant reduction (1.186%) between Control and HOCl-NBW was observed in the genus Porphyromonas (Table 4). However, no bacterial genus showed significant differences in CL4. In the relative abundance of bacterial species, only P. pasteri showed significant reduction (0.921%) among the bacterial species in the CL3. On the other hand, no significant differences were found among the bacterial species in the CL4 (Table 5).

Tables 6 and 7 show the clinical parameters of the subjects according to cluster. Table 6 shows the Unweighted results; the categories that showed significant differences between CL1 and CL2 were the number of probing pocket depth (PD)s less than 3mm, the number of PDs 4mm, and the number of PDs greater than 5mm. No significant differences were found in the other categories. Table 7 shows the weighted results, where the category that showed a significant difference between CL3 and CL4 was the number of PDs of 4mm. No significant differences were found in the other categories.

Figure3 shows a scatter plot between PD values and difference in relative abundance in CL3 (N=9), the cluster where a significant association between Control and HOCl-NBW was observed in Tables 4 and 5. As shown in Fig.3B, t=2.45 at PD=4mm, indicating that the higher the number of PD=4mm, the higher the effect of HOCl-NBW exposure on P. pasteri. On the other hand, no significant association was found for PD=3mm or less and PD=5mm or more. These results suggest that relative abundance of P. pasteri is associated with clinical signs of early stage of periodontitis.

Scatter plots and correlation coefficient tests in CL3 group (N=9). Spearmans rank correlation coefficient. Alternative hypothesis: true is greater than 0. The significance level was set at alpha=0.05. (A) Spearmans rank correlation coefficient0.0667 (P=0.58). (B) Spearmans rank correlation coefficient 0.653 (P=0.028). (C) Spearmans rank correlation coefficient 0.131(P=0.37).

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Monoclonal Antibodies Market Size Worth USD 572.62 Billion in … – GlobeNewswire

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Vancouver, Nov. 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global monoclonal antibodies market size was USD 204.42 billion in 2022 and is expected to register a revenue CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period. The global monoclonal antibodies market is poised for significant growth, driven by factors such as the rising adoption of personalized medicine, expanding regulatory approvals for monoclonal antibodies, and continuous technological advancements in biotechnology and immunology. These factors, along with the increasing prevalence of cancer and infectious diseases, are contributing to a surge in demand for effective and targeted monoclonal antibody-based therapies. The market witnessed substantial developments in 2022, with major players actively contributing to advancements in monoclonal antibody-based treatments. Notably, GlaxoSmithKline plc. (GSK) and iTeos Therapeutics announced a promising partnership for the development and commercialization of EOS-448, an anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody, showcasing the potential for next-generation immuno-oncology therapies.

Despite the positive trajectory, challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on manufacturing processes, higher associated manufacturing costs, and a shortage of skilled professionals have hindered revenue growth. Recent safety concerns and FDA cautionary messages regarding specific monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 treatment, especially in light of the omicron variant, have added complexity to the market dynamics.

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MAJOR COMPANIES and Market Share Analysis

The global monoclonal antibodies market is fairly fragmented, with many large and medium-sized players accounting for the majority of market revenue. Major players are deploying various strategies, entering mergers & acquisitions, strategic agreements & contracts, developing, testing, and introducing more effective monoclonal antibodies solutions. Some major players included in the global monoclonal antibodies market report are:

Strategic Development

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For the purpose of this report, Emergen Research has segmented the global monoclonal antibodies market on the basis of source, indication, production type, end-use, and region:

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Single Use/Disposable Endoscopy Market By Product (Endoscope, Visualization Systems, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Insufflator), By Application (Bronchoscopy, Urologic Endoscopy, Arthroscopy, GI endoscopy, ENT Endoscopy, Others), By End-use (Hospitals, Healthcare Centers, Clinics), and By Region Forecast to 2028

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Veterinary Ultrasound Market, By Type [Two-Dimensional (2D), Three-Dimensional/Four Dimensional (3D/4D), and Doppler], By Product, By Technology, By Animal Type, By Application, By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030

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Monoclonal Antibodies Market Size Worth USD 572.62 Billion in ... - GlobeNewswire

Brain Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Are Processed as … – Slashdot

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Traumatic memories had their own neural mechanism, brain scans showed, which may help explain their vivid and intrusive nature. From a report: At the root of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a memory that cannot be controlled. It may intrude on everyday activity, thrusting a person into the middle of a horrifying event, or surface as night terrors or flashbacks. Decades of treatment of military veterans and sexual assault survivors have left little doubt that traumatic memories function differently from other memories. A group of researchers at Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai set out to find empirical evidence of those differences.

The team conducted brain scans of 28 people with PTSD while they listened to recorded narrations of their own memories. Some of the recorded memories were neutral, some were simply "sad," and some were traumatic. The brain scans found clear differences, the researchers reported in a paper published on Thursday in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The people listening to the sad memories, which often involved the death of a family member, showed consistently high engagement of the hippocampus, part of the brain that organizes and contextualizes memories. When the same people listened to their traumatic memories -- of sexual assaults, fires, school shootings and terrorist attacks -- the hippocampus was not involved.

[...] Indeed, the authors conclude in the paper, "traumatic memories are not experienced as memories as such," but as "fragments of prior events, subjugating the present moment." The traumatic memories appeared to engage a different area of the brain -- the posterior cingulate cortex, or P.C.C., which is usually involved in internally directed thought, like introspection or daydreaming. The more severe the person's PTSD symptoms were, the more activity appeared in the P.C.C. What is striking about this finding is that the P.C.C. is not known as a memory region, but one that is engaged with "processing of internal experience," Dr. Schiller said.

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Brain Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Are Processed as ... - Slashdot

Nanotechnology – Wikipedia

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Field of applied science addressing the control of matter on atomic and (supra)molecular scales

Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for fabrication of macroscale products, also now referred to as molecular nanotechnology.[1][2] A more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which defined nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. This definition reflects the fact that quantum mechanical effects are important at this quantum-realm scale, and so the definition shifted from a particular technological goal to a research category inclusive of all types of research and technologies that deal with the special properties of matter which occur below the given size threshold. It is therefore common to see the plural form "nanotechnologies" as well as "nanoscale technologies" to refer to the broad range of research and applications whose common trait is size.

Nanotechnology as defined by size is naturally broad, including fields of science as diverse as surface science, organic chemistry, molecular biology, semiconductor physics, energy storage,[3][4] engineering,[5] microfabrication,[6] and molecular engineering.[7] The associated research and applications are equally diverse, ranging from extensions of conventional device physics to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly,[8] from developing new materials with dimensions on the nanoscale to direct control of matter on the atomic scale.

Scientists currently debate the future implications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications, such as in nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, biomaterials energy production, and consumer products. On the other hand, nanotechnology raises many of the same issues as any new technology, including concerns about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials,[9] and their potential effects on global economics, as well as speculation about various doomsday scenarios. These concerns have led to a debate among advocacy groups and governments on whether special regulation of nanotechnology is warranted.

The concepts that seeded nanotechnology were first discussed in 1959 by renowned physicist Richard Feynman in his talk There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom, in which he described the possibility of synthesis via direct manipulation of atoms.

The term "nano-technology" was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974, though it was not widely known. Inspired by Feynman's concepts, K. Eric Drexler used the term "nanotechnology" in his 1986 book Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, which proposed the idea of a nanoscale "assembler" which would be able to build a copy of itself and of other items of arbitrary complexity with atomic control. Also in 1986, Drexler co-founded The Foresight Institute (with which he is no longer affiliated) to help increase public awareness and understanding of nanotechnology concepts and implications.

The emergence of nanotechnology as a field in the 1980s occurred through convergence of Drexler's theoretical and public work, which developed and popularized a conceptual framework for nanotechnology, and high-visibility experimental advances that drew additional wide-scale attention to the prospects of atomic control of matter. In the 1980s, two major breakthroughs sparked the growth of nanotechnology in the modern era. First, the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981 which provided unprecedented visualization of individual atoms and bonds, and was successfully used to manipulate individual atoms in 1989. The microscope's developers Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory received a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986.[10][11] Binnig, Quate and Gerber also invented the analogous atomic force microscope that year.

Second, fullerenes were discovered in 1985 by Harry Kroto, Richard Smalley, and Robert Curl, who together won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.[12][13] C60 was not initially described as nanotechnology; the term was used regarding subsequent work with related carbon nanotubes (sometimes called graphene tubes or Bucky tubes) which suggested potential applications for nanoscale electronics and devices. The discovery of carbon nanotubes is largely attributed to Sumio Iijima of NEC in 1991,[14] for which Iijima won the inaugural 2008 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience.

A nanolayer-base metalsemiconductor junction (MS junction) transistor was initially proposed by A. Rose in 1960, and fabricated by L. Geppert, Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng in 1962.[15] Decades later, advances in multi-gate technology enabled the scaling of metaloxidesemiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices down to nano-scale levels smaller than 20nm gate length, starting with the FinFET (fin field-effect transistor), a three-dimensional, non-planar, double-gate MOSFET. At UC Berkeley, a team of researchers including Digh Hisamoto, Chenming Hu, Tsu-Jae King Liu, Jeffrey Bokor and others fabricated FinFET devices down to a 17nm process in 1998, then 15nm in 2001, and then 10nm in 2002.[16]

In the early 2000s, the field garnered increased scientific, political, and commercial attention that led to both controversy and progress. Controversies emerged regarding the definitions and potential implications of nanotechnologies, exemplified by the Royal Society's report on nanotechnology.[17] Challenges were raised regarding the feasibility of applications envisioned by advocates of molecular nanotechnology, which culminated in a public debate between Drexler and Smalley in 2001 and 2003.[18]

Meanwhile, commercialization of products based on advancements in nanoscale technologies began emerging. These products are limited to bulk applications of nanomaterials and do not involve atomic control of matter. Some examples include the Silver Nano platform for using silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial agent, nanoparticle-based transparent sunscreens, carbon fiber strengthening using silica nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes for stain-resistant textiles.[19][20]

Governments moved to promote and fund research into nanotechnology, such as in the U.S. with the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which formalized a size-based definition of nanotechnology and established funding for research on the nanoscale, and in Europe via the European Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.

By the mid-2000s new and serious scientific attention began to flourish. Projects emerged to produce nanotechnology roadmaps[21][22] which center on atomically precise manipulation of matter and discuss existing and projected capabilities, goals, and applications.

In 2006, a team of Korean researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the National Nano Fab Center developed a 3nm MOSFET, the world's smallest nanoelectronic device. It was based on gate-all-around (GAA) FinFET technology.[23][24]

Over sixty countries created nanotechnology research and development (R&D) government programs between 2001 and 2004. Government funding was exceeded by corporate spending on nanotechnology R&D, with most of the funding coming from corporations based in the United States, Japan and Germany. The top five organizations that filed the most intellectual patents on nanotechnology R&D between 1970 and 2011 were Samsung Electronics (2,578 first patents), Nippon Steel (1,490 first patents), IBM (1,360 first patents), Toshiba (1,298 first patents) and Canon (1,162 first patents). The top five organizations that published the most scientific papers on nanotechnology research between 1970 and 2012 were the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, University of Tokyo and Osaka University.[25]

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. This covers both current work and concepts that are more advanced. In its original sense, nanotechnology refers to the projected ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to make complete, high-performance products.

One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 109, of a meter. By comparison, typical carbon-carbon bond lengths, or the spacing between these atoms in a molecule, are in the range 0.120.15 nm, and a DNA double-helix has a diameter around 2nm. On the other hand, the smallest cellular life-forms, the bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma, are around 200nm in length. By convention, nanotechnology is taken as the scale range 1 to 100 nm following the definition used by the National Nanotechnology Initiative in the US. The lower limit is set by the size of atoms (hydrogen has the smallest atoms, which are approximately a quarter of a nm kinetic diameter) since nanotechnology must build its devices from atoms and molecules. The upper limit is more or less arbitrary but is around the size below which the phenomena not observed in larger structures start to become apparent and can be made use of in the nano device.[26] These new phenomena make nanotechnology distinct from devices which are merely miniaturised versions of an equivalent macroscopic device; such devices are on a larger scale and come under the description of microtechnology.[27]

To put that scale in another context, the comparative size of a nanometer to a meter is the same as that of a marble to the size of the earth.[28] Or another way of putting it: a nanometer is the amount an average man's beard grows in the time it takes him to raise the razor to his face.[28]

Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology. In the "bottom-up" approach, materials and devices are built from molecular components which assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition.[29] In the "top-down" approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control.[30]

Areas of physics such as nanoelectronics, nanomechanics, nanophotonics and nanoionics have evolved during the last few decades to provide a basic scientific foundation of nanotechnology.

Several phenomena become pronounced as the size of the system decreases. These include statistical mechanical effects, as well as quantum mechanical effects, for example the "quantum size effect" where the electronic properties of solids are altered with great reductions in particle size. This effect does not come into play by going from macro to micro dimensions. However, quantum effects can become significant when the nanometer size range is reached, typically at distances of 100 nanometers or less, the so-called quantum realm. Additionally, a number of physical (mechanical, electrical, optical, etc.) properties change when compared to macroscopic systems. One example is the increase in surface area to volume ratio altering mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of materials. Diffusion and reactions at nanoscale, nanostructures materials and nanodevices with fast ion transport are generally referred to nanoionics. Mechanical properties of nanosystems are of interest in the nanomechanics research. The catalytic activity of nanomaterials also opens potential risks in their interaction with biomaterials.

Materials reduced to the nanoscale can show different properties compared to what they exhibit on a macroscale, enabling unique applications. For instance, opaque substances can become transparent (copper); stable materials can turn combustible (aluminium); insoluble materials may become soluble (gold). A material such as gold, which is chemically inert at normal scales, can serve as a potent chemical catalyst at nanoscales. Much of the fascination with nanotechnology stems from these quantum and surface phenomena that matter exhibits at the nanoscale.[31]

Modern synthetic chemistry has reached the point where it is possible to prepare small molecules to almost any structure. These methods are used today to manufacture a wide variety of useful chemicals such as pharmaceuticals or commercial polymers. This ability raises the question of extending this kind of control to the next-larger level, seeking methods to assemble these single molecules into supramolecular assemblies consisting of many molecules arranged in a well defined manner.

These approaches utilize the concepts of molecular self-assembly and/or supramolecular chemistry to automatically arrange themselves into some useful conformation through a bottom-up approach. The concept of molecular recognition is especially important: molecules can be designed so that a specific configuration or arrangement is favored due to non-covalent intermolecular forces. The WatsonCrick basepairing rules are a direct result of this, as is the specificity of an enzyme being targeted to a single substrate, or the specific folding of the protein itself. Thus, two or more components can be designed to be complementary and mutually attractive so that they make a more complex and useful whole.

Such bottom-up approaches should be capable of producing devices in parallel and be much cheaper than top-down methods, but could potentially be overwhelmed as the size and complexity of the desired assembly increases. Most useful structures require complex and thermodynamically unlikely arrangements of atoms. Nevertheless, there are many examples of self-assembly based on molecular recognition in biology, most notably WatsonCrick basepairing and enzyme-substrate interactions. The challenge for nanotechnology is whether these principles can be used to engineer new constructs in addition to natural ones.

Molecular nanotechnology, sometimes called molecular manufacturing, describes engineered nanosystems (nanoscale machines) operating on the molecular scale. Molecular nanotechnology is especially associated with the molecular assembler, a machine that can produce a desired structure or device atom-by-atom using the principles of mechanosynthesis. Manufacturing in the context of productive nanosystems is not related to, and should be clearly distinguished from, the conventional technologies used to manufacture nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles.

When the term "nanotechnology" was independently coined and popularized by Eric Drexler (who at the time was unaware of an earlier usage by Norio Taniguchi) it referred to a future manufacturing technology based on molecular machine systems. The premise was that molecular-scale biological analogies of traditional machine components demonstrated molecular machines were possible: by the countless examples found in biology, it is known that sophisticated, stochastically optimized biological machines can be produced.

It is hoped that developments in nanotechnology will make possible their construction by some other means, perhaps using biomimetic principles. However, Drexler and other researchers[32] have proposed that advanced nanotechnology, although perhaps initially implemented by biomimetic means, ultimately could be based on mechanical engineering principles, namely, a manufacturing technology based on the mechanical functionality of these components (such as gears, bearings, motors, and structural members) that would enable programmable, positional assembly to atomic specification.[33] The physics and engineering performance of exemplar designs were analyzed in Drexler's book Nanosystems.

In general it is very difficult to assemble devices on the atomic scale, as one has to position atoms on other atoms of comparable size and stickiness. Another view, put forth by Carlo Montemagno,[34] is that future nanosystems will be hybrids of silicon technology and biological molecular machines. Richard Smalley argued that mechanosynthesis are impossible due to the difficulties in mechanically manipulating individual molecules.

This led to an exchange of letters in the ACS publication Chemical & Engineering News in 2003.[35] Though biology clearly demonstrates that molecular machine systems are possible, non-biological molecular machines are today only in their infancy. Leaders in research on non-biological molecular machines are Dr. Alex Zettl and his colleagues at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories and UC Berkeley.[1] They have constructed at least three distinct molecular devices whose motion is controlled from the desktop with changing voltage: a nanotube nanomotor, a molecular actuator,[36] and a nanoelectromechanical relaxation oscillator.[37] See nanotube nanomotor for more examples.

An experiment indicating that positional molecular assembly is possible was performed by Ho and Lee at Cornell University in 1999. They used a scanning tunneling microscope to move an individual carbon monoxide molecule (CO) to an individual iron atom (Fe) sitting on a flat silver crystal, and chemically bound the CO to the Fe by applying a voltage.

The nanomaterials field includes subfields which develop or study materials having unique properties arising from their nanoscale dimensions.[40]

These seek to arrange smaller components into more complex assemblies.

These seek to create smaller devices by using larger ones to direct their assembly.

These seek to develop components of a desired functionality without regard to how they might be assembled.

These subfields seek to anticipate what inventions nanotechnology might yield, or attempt to propose an agenda along which inquiry might progress. These often take a big-picture view of nanotechnology, with more emphasis on its societal implications than the details of how such inventions could actually be created.

Nanomaterials can be classified in 0D, 1D, 2D and 3D nanomaterials. The dimensionality play a major role in determining the characteristic of nanomaterials including physical, chemical and biological characteristics. With the decrease in dimensionality, an increase in surface-to-volume ratio is observed. This indicate that smaller dimensional nanomaterials have higher surface area compared to 3D nanomaterials. Recently, two dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are extensively investigated for electronic, biomedical, drug delivery and biosensor applications.

There are several important modern developments. The atomic force microscope (AFM) and the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) are two early versions of scanning probes that launched nanotechnology. There are other types of scanning probe microscopy. Although conceptually similar to the scanning confocal microscope developed by Marvin Minsky in 1961 and the scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) developed by Calvin Quate and coworkers in the 1970s, newer scanning probe microscopes have much higher resolution, since they are not limited by the wavelength of sound or light.

The tip of a scanning probe can also be used to manipulate nanostructures (a process called positional assembly). Feature-oriented scanning methodology may be a promising way to implement these nanomanipulations in automatic mode.[57][58] However, this is still a slow process because of low scanning velocity of the microscope.

Various techniques of nanolithography such as optical lithography, X-ray lithography, dip pen nanolithography, electron beam lithography or nanoimprint lithography were also developed. Lithography is a top-down fabrication technique where a bulk material is reduced in size to nanoscale pattern.

Another group of nanotechnological techniques include those used for fabrication of nanotubes and nanowires, those used in semiconductor fabrication such as deep ultraviolet lithography, electron beam lithography, focused ion beam machining, nanoimprint lithography, atomic layer deposition, and molecular vapor deposition, and further including molecular self-assembly techniques such as those employing di-block copolymers. The precursors of these techniques preceded the nanotech era, and are extensions in the development of scientific advancements rather than techniques which were devised with the sole purpose of creating nanotechnology and which were results of nanotechnology research.[59]

The top-down approach anticipates nanodevices that must be built piece by piece in stages, much as manufactured items are made. Scanning probe microscopy is an important technique both for characterization and synthesis of nanomaterials. Atomic force microscopes and scanning tunneling microscopes can be used to look at surfaces and to move atoms around. By designing different tips for these microscopes, they can be used for carving out structures on surfaces and to help guide self-assembling structures. By using, for example, feature-oriented scanning approach, atoms or molecules can be moved around on a surface with scanning probe microscopy techniques.[57][58] At present, it is expensive and time-consuming for mass production but very suitable for laboratory experimentation.

In contrast, bottom-up techniques build or grow larger structures atom by atom or molecule by molecule. These techniques include chemical synthesis, self-assembly and positional assembly. Dual polarisation interferometry is one tool suitable for characterisation of self assembled thin films. Another variation of the bottom-up approach is molecular beam epitaxy or MBE. Researchers at Bell Telephone Laboratories like John R. Arthur. Alfred Y. Cho, and Art C. Gossard developed and implemented MBE as a research tool in the late 1960s and 1970s. Samples made by MBE were key to the discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effect for which the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded. MBE allows scientists to lay down atomically precise layers of atoms and, in the process, build up complex structures. Important for research on semiconductors, MBE is also widely used to make samples and devices for the newly emerging field of spintronics.

However, new therapeutic products, based on responsive nanomaterials, such as the ultradeformable, stress-sensitive Transfersome vesicles, are under development and already approved for human use in some countries.[60]

Because of the variety of potential applications (including industrial and military), governments have invested billions of dollars in nanotechnology research. Prior to 2012, the USA invested $3.7 billion using its National Nanotechnology Initiative, the European Union invested $1.2 billion, and Japan invested $750 million.[61] Over sixty countries created nanotechnology research and development (R&D) programs between 2001 and 2004. In 2012, the US and EU each invested $2.1 billion on nanotechnology research, followed by Japan with $1.2 billion. Global investment reached $7.9 billion in 2012. Government funding was exceeded by corporate R&D spending on nanotechnology research, which was $10 billion in 2012. The largest corporate R&D spenders were from the US, Japan and Germany which accounted for a combined $7.1 billion.[25]

As of August 21, 2008, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies estimates that over 800 manufacturer-identified nanotech products are publicly available, with new ones hitting the market at a pace of 34 per week.[20] The project lists all of the products in a publicly accessible online database. Most applications are limited to the use of "first generation" passive nanomaterials which includes titanium dioxide in sunscreen, cosmetics, surface coatings,[62] and some food products; Carbon allotropes used to produce gecko tape; silver in food packaging, clothing, disinfectants and household appliances; zinc oxide in sunscreens and cosmetics, surface coatings, paints and outdoor furniture varnishes; and cerium oxide as a fuel catalyst.[19]

Further applications allow tennis balls to last longer, golf balls to fly straighter, and even bowling balls to become more durable and have a harder surface. Trousers and socks have been infused with nanotechnology so that they will last longer and keep people cool in the summer. Bandages are being infused with silver nanoparticles to heal cuts faster.[63] Video game consoles and personal computers may become cheaper, faster, and contain more memory thanks to nanotechnology.[64] Also, to build structures for on chip computing with light, for example on chip optical quantum information processing, and picosecond transmission of information.[65]

Nanotechnology may have the ability to make existing medical applications cheaper and easier to use in places like the general practitioner's office and at home.[66] Cars are being manufactured with nanomaterials so they may need fewer metals and less fuel to operate in the future.[67]

Scientists are now turning to nanotechnology in an attempt to develop diesel engines with cleaner exhaust fumes. Platinum is currently used as the diesel engine catalyst in these engines. The catalyst is what cleans the exhaust fume particles. First a reduction catalyst is employed to take nitrogen atoms from NOx molecules in order to free oxygen. Next the oxidation catalyst oxidizes the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide and water.[68] Platinum is used in both the reduction and the oxidation catalysts.[69] Using platinum though, is inefficient in that it is expensive and unsustainable. Danish company InnovationsFonden invested DKK 15 million in a search for new catalyst substitutes using nanotechnology. The goal of the project, launched in the autumn of 2014, is to maximize surface area and minimize the amount of material required. Objects tend to minimize their surface energy; two drops of water, for example, will join to form one drop and decrease surface area. If the catalyst's surface area that is exposed to the exhaust fumes is maximized, efficiency of the catalyst is maximized. The team working on this project aims to create nanoparticles that will not merge. Every time the surface is optimized, material is saved. Thus, creating these nanoparticles will increase the effectiveness of the resulting diesel engine catalystin turn leading to cleaner exhaust fumesand will decrease cost. If successful, the team hopes to reduce platinum use by 25%.[70]

Nanotechnology also has a prominent role in the fast developing field of Tissue Engineering. When designing scaffolds, researchers attempt to mimic the nanoscale features of a cell's microenvironment to direct its differentiation down a suitable lineage.[71] For example, when creating scaffolds to support the growth of bone, researchers may mimic osteoclast resorption pits.[72]

Researchers have successfully used DNA origami-based nanobots capable of carrying out logic functions to achieve targeted drug delivery in cockroaches. It is said that the computational power of these nanobots can be scaled up to that of a Commodore 64.[73]

Commercial nanoelectronic semiconductor device fabrication began in the 2010s. In 2013, SK Hynix began commercial mass-production of a 16nm process,[74] TSMC began production of a 16nm FinFET process,[75] and Samsung Electronics began production of a 10nm process.[76] TSMC began production of a 7nm process in 2017,[77] and Samsung began production of a 5nm process in 2018.[78] In 2019, Samsung announced plans for the commercial production of a 3nm GAAFET process by 2021.[79]

Commercial production of nanoelectronic semiconductor memory also began in the 2010s. In 2013, SK Hynix began mass-production of 16nm NAND flash memory,[74] and Samsung began production of 10nm multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory.[76] In 2017, TSMC began production of SRAM memory using a 7nm process.[77]

An area of concern is the effect that industrial-scale manufacturing and use of nanomaterials would have on human health and the environment, as suggested by nanotoxicology research. For these reasons, some groups advocate that nanotechnology be regulated by governments. Others counter that overregulation would stifle scientific research and the development of beneficial innovations. Public health research agencies, such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are actively conducting research on potential health effects stemming from exposures to nanoparticles.[80][81]

Some nanoparticle products may have unintended consequences. Researchers have discovered that bacteriostatic silver nanoparticles used in socks to reduce foot odor are being released in the wash.[82] These particles are then flushed into the waste water stream and may destroy bacteria which are critical components of natural ecosystems, farms, and waste treatment processes.[83]

Public deliberations on risk perception in the US and UK carried out by the Center for Nanotechnology in Society found that participants were more positive about nanotechnologies for energy applications than for health applications, with health applications raising moral and ethical dilemmas such as cost and availability.[84]

Experts, including director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies David Rejeski, have testified[85] that successful commercialization depends on adequate oversight, risk research strategy, and public engagement. Berkeley, California is currently the only city in the United States to regulate nanotechnology;[86] Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2008 considered enacting a similar law,[87] but ultimately rejected it.[88]

Nanofibers are used in several areas and in different products, in everything from aircraft wings to tennis rackets. Inhaling airborne nanoparticles and nanofibers may lead to a number of pulmonary diseases, e.g. fibrosis.[89] Researchers have found that when rats breathed in nanoparticles, the particles settled in the brain and lungs, which led to significant increases in biomarkers for inflammation and stress response[90] and that nanoparticles induce skin aging through oxidative stress in hairless mice.[91][92]

A two-year study at UCLA's School of Public Health found lab mice consuming nano-titanium dioxide showed DNA and chromosome damage to a degree "linked to all the big killers of man, namely cancer, heart disease, neurological disease and aging".[93]

A Nature Nanotechnology study suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes a poster child for the "nanotechnology revolution" could be as harmful as asbestos if inhaled in sufficient quantities. Anthony Seaton of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland, who contributed to the article on carbon nanotubes said "We know that some of them probably have the potential to cause mesothelioma. So those sorts of materials need to be handled very carefully."[94] In the absence of specific regulation forthcoming from governments, Paull and Lyons (2008) have called for an exclusion of engineered nanoparticles in food.[95] A newspaper article reports that workers in a paint factory developed serious lung disease and nanoparticles were found in their lungs.[96][97][98][99]

Calls for tighter regulation of nanotechnology have occurred alongside a growing debate related to the human health and safety risks of nanotechnology.[100] There is significant debate about who is responsible for the regulation of nanotechnology. Some regulatory agencies currently cover some nanotechnology products and processes (to varying degrees) by "bolting on" nanotechnology to existing regulations there are clear gaps in these regimes.[101] Davies (2008) has proposed a regulatory road map describing steps to deal with these shortcomings.[102]

Stakeholders concerned by the lack of a regulatory framework to assess and control risks associated with the release of nanoparticles and nanotubes have drawn parallels with bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease), thalidomide, genetically modified food,[103] nuclear energy, reproductive technologies, biotechnology, and asbestosis. Dr. Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor to the Woodrow Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, concludes that there is insufficient funding for human health and safety research, and as a result there is currently limited understanding of the human health and safety risks associated with nanotechnology.[104] As a result, some academics have called for stricter application of the precautionary principle, with delayed marketing approval, enhanced labelling and additional safety data development requirements in relation to certain forms of nanotechnology.[105]

The Royal Society report[17] identified a risk of nanoparticles or nanotubes being released during disposal, destruction and recycling, and recommended that "manufacturers of products that fall under extended producer responsibility regimes such as end-of-life regulations publish procedures outlining how these materials will be managed to minimize possible human and environmental exposure" (p. xiii).

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society has found that people respond to nanotechnologies differently, depending on application with participants in public deliberations more positive about nanotechnologies for energy than health applications suggesting that any public calls for nano regulations may differ by technology sector.[84]

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Nanotechnology - Wikipedia

Nanotechnology In Medicine: Huge Potential, But What Are The Risks?

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Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular scale to create materials with remarkably varied and new properties, is a rapidly expanding area of research with huge potential in many sectors, ranging from healthcare to construction and electronics. In medicine, it promises to revolutionize drug delivery, gene therapy, diagnostics, and many areas of research, development and clinical application.

This article does not attempt to cover the whole field, but offers, by means of some examples, a few insights into how nanotechnology has the potential to change medicine, both in the research lab and clinically, while touching on some of the challenges and concerns that it raises.

The prefix nano stems from the ancient Greek for dwarf. In science it means one billionth (10 to the minus 9) of something, thus a nanometer (nm) is is one billionth of a meter, or 0.000000001 meters. A nanometer is about three to five atoms wide, or some 40,000 times smaller than the thickness of human hair. A virus is typically 100 nm in size.

The ability to manipulate structures and properties at the nanoscale in medicine is like having a sub-microscopic lab bench on which you can handle cell components, viruses or pieces of DNA, using a range of tiny tools, robots and tubes.

Therapies that involve the manipulation of individual genes, or the molecular pathways that influence their expression, are increasingly being investigated as an option for treating diseases. One highly sought goal in this field is the ability to tailor treatments according to the genetic make-up of individual patients.

This creates a need for tools that help scientists experiment and develop such treatments.

Imagine, for example, being able to stretch out a section of DNA like a strand of spaghetti, so you can examine or operate on it, or building nanorobots that can walk and carry out repairs inside cell components. Nanotechnology is bringing that scientific dream closer to reality.

For instance, scientists at the Australian National University have managed to attach coated latex beads to the ends of modified DNA, and then using an optical trap comprising a focused beam of light to hold the beads in place, they have stretched out the DNA strand in order to study the interactions of specific binding proteins.

Meanwhile chemists at New York University (NYU) have created a nanoscale robot from DNA fragments that walks on two legs just 10 nm long. In a 2004 paper published in the journal Nano Letters, they describe how their nanowalker, with the help of psoralen molecules attached to the ends of its feet, takes its first baby steps: two forward and two back.

One of the researchers, Ned Seeman, said he envisages it will be possible to create a molecule-scale production line, where you move a molecule along till the right location is reached, and a nanobot does a bit chemisty on it, rather like spot-welding on a car assembly line. Seemans lab at NYU is also looking to use DNA nanotechnology to make a biochip computer, and to find out how biological molecules crystallize, an area that is currently fraught with challenges.

The work that Seeman and colleagues are doing is a good example of biomimetics, where with nanotechnology they can imitate some of the biological processes in nature, such as the behavior of DNA, to engineer new methods and perhaps even improve them.

DNA-based nanobots are also being created to target cancer cells. For instance, researchers at Harvard Medical School in the US reported recently in Science how they made an origami nanorobot out of DNA to transport a molecular payload. The barrel-shaped nanobot can carry molecules containing instructions that make cells behave in a particular way. In their study, the team successfully demonstrates how it delivered molecules that trigger cell suicide in leukemia and lymphoma cells.

Nanobots made from other materials are also in development. For instance, gold is the material scientists at Northwestern University use to make nanostars, simple, specialized, star-shaped nanoparticles that can href=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243856.php>deliver drugs directly to the nuclei of cancer cells. In a recent paper in the journal ACS Nano, they describe how drug-loaded nanostars behave like tiny hitchhikers, that after being attracted to an over-expressed protein on the surface of human cervical and ovarian cancer cells, deposit their payload right into the nuclei of those cells.

The researchers found giving their nanobot the shape of a star helped to overcome one of the challenges of using nanoparticles to deliver drugs: how to release the drugs precisely. They say the shape helps to concentrate the light pulses used to release the drugs precisely at the points of the star.

Scientists are discovering that protein-based drugs are very useful because they can be programmed to deliver specific signals to cells. But the problem with conventional delivery of such drugs is that the body breaks most of them down before they reach their destination.

But what if it were possible to produce such drugs in situ, right at the target site? Well, in a recent issue of Nano Letters, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US show how it may be possible to do just that. In their proof of principle study, they demonstrate the feasibility of self-assembling nanofactories that make protein compounds, on demand, at target sites. So far they have tested the idea in mice, by creating nanoparticles programmed to produce either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or luciferase exposed to UV light.

The MIT team came up with the idea while trying to find a way to attack metastatic tumors, those that grow from cancer cells that have migrated from the original site to other parts of the body. Over 90% of cancer deaths are due to metastatic cancer. They are now working on nanoparticles that can synthesize potential cancer drugs, and also on other ways to switch them on.

Nanofibers are fibers with diameters of less than 1,000 nm. Medical applications include special materials for wound dressings and surgical textiles, materials used in implants, tissue engineering and artificial organ components.

Nanofibers made of carbon also hold promise for medical imaging and precise scientific measurement tools. But there are huge challenges to overcome, one of the main ones being how to make them consistently of the correct size. Historically, this has been costly and time-consuming.

But last year, researchers from North Carolina State University, revealed how they had developed a new method for making carbon nanofibers of specific sizes. Writing in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces in March 2011, they describe how they managed to grow carbon nanofibers uniform in diameter, by using nickel nanoparticles coated with a shell made of ligands, small organic molecules with functional parts that bond directly to metals.

Nickel nanoparticles are particularly interesting because at high temperatures they help grow carbon nanofibers. The researchers also found there was another benefit in using these nanoparticles, they could define where the nanofibers grew and by correct placement of the nanoparticles they could grow the nanofibers in a desired specific pattern: an important feature for useful nanoscale materials.

Lead is another substance that is finding use as a nanofiber, so much so that neurosurgeon-to-be Matthew MacEwan, who is studying at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, started his own nanomedicine company aimed at revolutionizing the surgical mesh that is used in operating theatres worldwide.

The lead product is a synthetic polymer comprising individual strands of nanofibers, and was developed to repair brain and spinal cord injuries, but MacEwan thinks it could also be used to mend hernias, fistulas and other injuries.

Currently, the surgical meshes used to repair the protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord are made of thick and stiff material, which is difficult to work with. The lead nanofiber mesh is thinner, more flexible and more likely to integrate with the bodys own tissues, says MacEwan. Every thread of the nanofiber mesh is thousands of times smaller than the diameter of a single cell. The idea is to use the nanofiber material not only to make operations easier for surgeons to carry out, but also so there are fewer post-op complications for patients, because it breaks down naturally over time.

Researchers at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) have recently demonstrated a new way to make nanofibers out of proteins. Writing recently in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the researchers say they came across their finding almost by chance: they were studying certain cylinder-shaped proteins derived from cartilage, when they noticed that in high concentrations, some of the proteins spontaneously came together and self-assembled into nanofibers.

They carried out further experiments, such as adding metal-recognizing amino acids and different metals, and found they could control fiber formation, alter its shape, and how it bound to small molecules. For instance, adding nickel transformed the fibers into clumped mats, which could be used to trigger the release of an attached drug molecule.

The researchers hope this new method will greatly improve the delivery of drugs to treat cancer, heart disorders and Alzheimers disease. They can also see applications in regeneration of human tissue, bone and cartilage, and even as a way to develop tinier and more powerful microprocessors for use in computers and consumer electronics.

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of studies showing the variety of medical applications of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. In this article we have glimpsed just a small cross-section of this vast field. However, across the range, there exist considerable challenges, the greatest of which appear to be how to scale up production of materials and tools, and how to bring down costs and timescales.

But another challenge is how to quickly secure public confidence that this rapidly expanding technology is safe. And so far, it is not clear whether that is being done.

There are those who suggest concerns about nanotechnology may be over-exaggerated. They point to the fact that just because a material is nanosized, it does not mean it is dangerous, indeed nanoparticles have been around since the Earth was born, occurring naturally in volcanic ash and sea-spray, for example. As byproducts of human activity, they have been present since the Stone Age, in smoke and soot.

Of attempts to investigate the safety of nanomaterials, the National Cancer Institute in the US says there are so many nanoparticles naturally present in the environment that they are often at order-of-magnitude higher levels than the engineered particles being evaluated. In many respects, they point out, most engineered nanoparticles are far less toxic than household cleaning products, insecticides used on family pets, and over-the-counter dandruff remedies, and that for instance, in their use as carriers of chemotherapeutics in cancer treatment, they are much less toxic than the drugs they carry.

It is perhaps more in the food sector that we have seen some of the greatest expansion of nanomaterials on a commercial level. Although the number of foods that contain nanomaterials is still small, it appears set to change over the next few years as the technology develops. Nanomaterials are already used to lower levels of fat and sugar without altering taste, or to improve packaging to keep food fresher for longer, or to tell consumers if the food is spoiled. They are also being used to increase the bioavailablity of nutrients (for instance in food supplements).

But, there are also concerned parties, who highlight that while the pace of research quickens, and the market for nanomaterials expands, it appears not enough is being done to discover their toxicological consequences.

This was the view of a science and technology committee of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, who in a recent report on nanotechnology and food, raise several concerns about nanomaterials and human health, particularly the risk posed by ingested nanomaterials.

For instance, one area that concerns the committee is the size and exceptional mobility of nanoparticles: they are small enough, if ingested, to penetrate cell membranes of the lining of the gut, with the potential to access the brain and other parts of the body, and even inside the nuclei of cells.

Another is the solubility and persistence of nanomaterials. What happens, for instance, to insoluble nanoparticles? If they cant be broken down and digested or degraded, is there a danger they will accumulate and damage organs? Nanomaterials comprising inorganic metal oxides and metals are thought to be the ones most likely to pose a risk in this area.

Also, because of their high surface area to mass ratio, nanoparticles are highly reactive, and may for instance, trigger as yet unknown chemical reactions, or by bonding with toxins, allow them to enter cells that they would otherwise have no access to.

For instance, with their large surface area, reactivity and electrical charge, nanomaterials create the conditions for what is described as particle aggregation due to physical forces and particle agglomoration due to chemical forces, so that individual nanoparticles come together to form larger ones. This may lead not only to dramatically larger particles, for instance in the gut and inside cells, but could also result in disaggregation of clumps of nanoparticles, which could radically alter their physicochemical properties and chemical reactivity.

Such reversible phenomena add to the difficulty in understanding the behaviour and toxicology of nanomaterials, says the committee, whose overall conclusion is that neither Government nor the Research Councils are giving enough priority to researching the safety of nanotechnology, especially considering the timescale within which products containing nanomaterials may be developed.

They recommend much more research is needed to ensure that regulatory agencies can effectively assess the safety of products before they are allowed onto the market.

It would appear, therefore, whether actual or perceived, the potential risk that nanotechnology poses to human health must be investigated, and be seen to be investigated. Most nanomaterials, as the NCI suggests, will likely prove to be harmless.

But when a technology advances rapidly, knowledge and communication about its safety needs to keep pace in order for it to benefit, especially if it is also to secure public confidence. We only have to look at what happened, and to some extent is still happening, with genetically modified food to see how that can go badly wrong.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

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Nanotechnology In Medicine: Huge Potential, But What Are The Risks?

Pulse Biosciences Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for the Treatment of Sebaceous Hyperplasia – Business Wire

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HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLSE), a novel bioelectric medicine company developing the CellFX System powered by Nano-Pulse Stimulation (NPS) technology, today announced receipt of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its CellFX System, expanding the indication for use to include the treatment of sebaceous hyperplasia in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III. This specific indication clearance enhances the CellFX Systems general indication FDA clearance and enables the Company to support clinics in marketing and promoting CellFX treatments specifically for patients with sebaceous hyperplasia. The clearance was based on clinical data from the Companys IDE approved study for the treatment of sebaceous hyperplasia.

The Company also recently received FDA 510(k) clearance of two additional treatment tips with larger spot sizes, specifically 7.5mm and 10mm tip sizes, for treating larger benign lesions. These treatment tips broaden the portfolio of previously available 1.5mm, 2.5mm and 5.0mm treatment tip sizes.

We are pleased with the continued advancement of the CellFX System and its capabilities to enhance its value proposition for patients, clinicians and any potential commercial partner. These clearances provide further validation of the systems strong safety and effectiveness profile, said Kevin Danahy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pulse Biosciences. We would like to thank all of the investigators, the staff at their clinics and the patients who participated in these trials, as well as the FDA for their ongoing collaboration as we endeavor to offer the benefits of NPS technology to more patients.

About Pulse Biosciences

Pulse Biosciences is a novel bioelectric medicine company committed to health innovation that has the potential to improve the quality of life for patients. The Companys proprietary Nano-Pulse Stimulation technology delivers nano-second pulses of electrical energy to non-thermally clear cells while sparing adjacent non-cellular tissue. The CellFX System is the first commercial product to harness the distinctive advantages of NPS technology to treat a variety of conditions for which an optimal solution remains unfulfilled. The Company is actively pursuing application development in cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, and other medical specialties. Designed as a multi-application platform, the CellFX System offers customer value with a utilization-based revenue model. Visit http://www.pulsebiosciences.com to learn more.

Pulse Biosciences, CellFX, Nano-Pulse Stimulation, NPS, and the stylized logos are among the trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Pulse Biosciences, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, statements relating to Pulse Biosciences expectations concerning customer adoption and future use of the CellFX System to address a range of dermatologic conditions, statements relating to the Companys future product development in healthcare outside of dermatology and the Companys other activities to develop and commercialize NPS technology to drive growth, statements about the Companys ability to pursue and complete strategic transactions and its prospects to partner any of its programs, whether in dermatology or otherwise, statements relating to the effectiveness of the Companys NPS technology and the CellFX System to improve the quality of life for patients, and Pulse Biosciences expectations, whether stated or implied, regarding whether any regulatory clearances will enhance the value proposition of the CellFX System for patients, clinicians or others, and other future events. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on Pulse Biosciences current expectations, estimates, and projections regarding Pulse Biosciences business, operations and other similar or related factors. Words such as may, will, could, would, should, anticipate, predict, potential, continue, expects, intends, plans, projects, believes, estimates, and other similar or related expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict and, in some cases, beyond Pulse Biosciences control. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in Pulse Biosciences filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pulse Biosciences undertakes no obligation to revise or update information in this release to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available.

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Pulse Biosciences Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for the Treatment of Sebaceous Hyperplasia - Business Wire

Clene to Report HEALEY ALS Platform Trial Topline Results on Monday, October 3 – Investing News Network

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As announced in February 2022, the trial was stopped prematurely due to COVID-19 pandemic operational challenges, limiting enrollment to 73 out of the 150 planned participants. Due to the limited enrollment, the threshold for significance was pre-specified at p=0.10 prior to database lock. The primary analysis was conducted in a modified intent to treat (mITT) population, which censored invalid data. The mITT population excluded data from a single site (n=9) with LCLA testing execution errors and the timed 25-foot walk data from one subject with a change in mobility assist device. The ITT results were directionally consistent with the mITT results, although the ITT results were not significant.

"These data are very encouraging to us in the MS research and treatment community as we work to address functional improvement in patients," said Benjamin Greenberg, MD, MHS, FANA, FAAN, CRND Professor of Neurology and one of the trial's clinical advisors. "The MS community has been successful at limiting relapses, but we need therapies to address progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA). This study was designed as a proof-of-concept evaluation to establish that treatment of neuronal and glial energetic failure can support remyelination and neuroprotection in people living with MS. I am pleased to see the potential effectiveness of CNM-Au8 demonstrated in this trial."

Primary and secondary results from Baseline to Week 48 were:

Consistent improvements favoring CNM-Au8 were observed across multiple paraclinical biomarkers, including multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) amplitude and latency, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and MRI endpoints, including magnetization transfer ratio and diffusion tensor imaging metrics. Placebo treated patients, in contrast, generally worsened as expected across these measures during the 48-week period. These data provide independently assessed quantitative physiological evidence that supports the potential neuroprotective and remyelinating effects of CNM-Au8. The full dataset will be reported at an upcoming scientific congress.

CNM-Au8 was well-tolerated, and there were no significant safety findings reported.

Robert Glanzman, MD, FAAN, Clene's Chief Medical Officer, said, "In this study, CNM-Au8 demonstrated neurological improvements in people with stable relapsing MS as adjunctive therapy to immunomodulatory DMTs. I am very impressed by the consistency of structural and functional improvements demonstrated by CNM-Au8 throughout the neuraxis. With these data, Clene looks forward to initiating a Phase 3 clinical program in people with MS who are experiencing progression independent of relapse activity, the most urgent unmet medical need in MS today. We look forward to the next phase of clinical development."

Rob Etherington, Clene's Chief Executive Officer and President, added, "These results further demonstrate the potential of CNM-Au8 to drive neuronal cellular energy production in patients struggling with MS and other neurodegenerative diseases. We also await additional evidence of clinical efficacy from the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial, which is expected to report topline data later in this quarter. Clene will continue to work tirelessly to further CNM-Au8's development to treat neurodegenerative diseases."

Conference Call and Webcast Information Clene will host a conference call and webcast at 7:30 am EDT to discuss the VISIONARY-MS topline results.

Toll free: 1 (888) 770-7152 Conference ID: 5318408 Press *1 to ask or withdraw a question, or *0 for operator assistance .

To access the live webcast, please register online at this link . Participants are requested to register at a minimum 15 minutes before the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the call and archived on the same web page for six months. A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the Investors section of the Company's website Presentation page . An archived webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours after the event.

About VISIONARY-MS VISIONARY-MS was a Phase 2 multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of CNM-Au8 in participants with stable relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with a history of chronic visual impairment who are allowed disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Enrolled subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to CNM-Au8 15 mg/day, 30 mg/day, or placebo. As announced in February 2022, the trial was stopped prematurely due to COVID-19 pandemic operational challenges, enrolling 73 out of the 150 planned participants. Due to limited enrollment, the threshold for significance was pre-specified at p=0.10 prior to database lock. The primary endpoint was the change in best corrected-low contrast letter acuity (BC-LCLA) from baseline to week 48 in the clinically affected eye. Key secondary efficacy outcomes assessed neurological function by the modified MS Functional Composite (mMSFC) including 25-Foot Timed Walk, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, 9-Hole Peg Test (dominant and non-dominant hands), and LCLA (affected and fellow eye) from baseline through Week 48. For more information, see ClinicalTrials.gov . Identifier: NCT03536559 . The open label extension of VISIONARY-MS is ongoing.

About CNM-Au8 CNM-Au8 is an oral suspension of gold nanocrystals developed to restore neuronal health and function by increasing energy production and utilization. The catalytically active nanocrystals of CNM-Au8 drive critical cellular energy producing reactions that enable neuroprotection and remyelination by increasing neuronal and glial resilience to disease-relevant stressors. CNM-Au8 is a federally registered trademark of Clene Nanomedicine, Inc.

About Clene Clene is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on revolutionizing the treatment of neurodegenerative disease by targeting energetic failure, an underlying cause of many neurological diseases. The company is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with R&D and manufacturing operations in Maryland. For more information, please visit http://www.clene.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" provisions created by those laws. Clene's forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding our future operations. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements represent our views as of the date of this press release and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include our ability to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our drug candidates; the clinical results for our drug candidates, which may not support further development or marketing approval; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials and marketing approval; our ability to achieve commercial success for our drug candidates, if approved; our limited operating history and our ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development and commercialization of our drug candidates; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. In addition, statements that "we believe" and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and you are cautioned not to rely unduly upon these statements. All information in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The information contained in any website referenced herein is not, and shall not be deemed to be, part of or incorporated into this press release.

Source: Clene Inc.

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Clene to Report HEALEY ALS Platform Trial Topline Results on Monday, October 3 - Investing News Network

Applications of Nanotechnology – National Nanotechnology Initiative

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After more than 20 years of basic nanoscience research andmore than fifteen years of focused R&D under the NNI, applications of nanotechnology are delivering in both expected and unexpected ways on nanotechnologys promise to benefit society.

Nanotechnology is helping to considerably improve, even revolutionize, many technology and industry sectors: information technology, homeland security, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety, and environmental science, among many others. Described below is a sampling of the rapidly growing list of benefits and applications of nanotechnology.

Many benefits of nanotechnology depend on the fact that it is possible to tailor the structures of materials at extremely small scales to achieve specific properties, thus greatly extending the materials science toolkit. Using nanotechnology, materials can effectively be made stronger, lighter, more durable, more reactive, more sieve-like, or better electrical conductors, among many other traits. Many everyday commercial products are currently on the market and in daily use that rely on nanoscale materials and processes:

Nanotechnology has greatly contributed to major advances in computing and electronics, leading to faster, smaller, and more portable systems that can manage and store larger and larger amounts of information. These continuously evolving applications include:

Nanotechnology is already broadening the medical tools, knowledge, and therapies currently available to clinicians. Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, draws on the natural scale of biological phenomena to produce precise solutions for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Below are some examples of recent advances in this area:

Nanotechnology is finding application in traditional energy sources and is greatly enhancing alternative energy approaches to help meet the worlds increasing energy demands. Many scientists are looking into ways to develop clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources, along with means to reduce energy consumption and lessen toxicity burdens on the environment:

In addition to the ways that nanotechnology can help improve energy efficiency (see the section above), there are also many ways that it can help detect and clean up environmental contaminants:

Nanotechnology offers the promise of developing multifunctional materials that will contribute to building and maintaining lighter, safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, and ships. In addition, nanotechnology offers various means to improve the transportation infrastructure:

Please visit the Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues and the Ethical, Legal, and Societal Issues pages on nano.gov to learn more about how the National Nanotechnology Initiative is committed to responsibly addressing these issues.

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Applications of Nanotechnology - National Nanotechnology Initiative

Assistant Professor of Practice in West Lafayette, IN for Purdue University

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Posted: 14-Dec-22

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Salary: competitive

Categories:

Physics: Physics

Sector:

Academic

Work Function:

Faculty 4-Year College/University

Preferred Education:

Doctorate

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Science at Purdue University invites applications for a non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Practice. The successful candidate will support the learning and engagement activities of the Department, defined broadly.

Qualifications: Candidates must have a PhD in Physics or Astronomy or closely related field, with a track record and a commitment to teaching and engagement. Successful candidates will teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, participate in curriculum development for face-to-face and online courses, conduct professional development of teaching assistants, engage in scholarship of teaching and learning, including seeking external funding to support these efforts, dedicate time to committee work related to learning and engagement activities, contribute to recruitment and retention of students, and participate in departmental outreach efforts.

The Department and College: The Department of Physics and Astronomy has 60 tenured and tenure-track professors, 190 graduate students, and 280 undergraduates. The Department is engaged in research in astrophysics, atomic, molecular, and optical physics, biological physics, condensed matter, high energy, nuclear physics, and physics education, as well as university-wide multidisciplinary research in data science, nanoscience, photonics, and quantum information science involving the Birck Nanotechnology Center, the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, and the Colleges of Engineering. For more information, see https://www.physics.purdue.edu/.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is part of the College of Science, which comprises the physical, computing and life sciences at Purdue. It is the second-largest college at Purdue with over 350 faculty and more than 6000 students. With multiple commitments of significant investment and strong alignment with Purdue leadership, the College is committed to supporting existing strengths and enhancing the scope and impact of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Purdue itself is one of the nations leading land-grant universities, with an enrollment of over 41,000 students primarily focused on STEM subjects. For more information, see https://www.purdue.edu/purduemoves/initiatives/stem/index.php.

Application Procedure: Applicants should apply electronically at https://careers.purdue.edu/job-invite/22139/

that includes (1) a cover letter, (2) a complete curriculum vitae, and (3) statement of teaching and learning.

Purdue University, the College of Science, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy are committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort, including discovery, instruction, and engagement. Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to a climate that values diversity and inclusion. Purdue University, the College of Science, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy are committed to free and open inquiry in all matters. Candidates are encouraged to address in their cover letter how they are prepared to contribute to a climate that values free inquiry and academic freedom.

Additionally, applicants should arrange for three letters of reference to be e-mailed to the Search Chair at physpop@purdue.edu. Applications will be held in strict confidence and will be reviewed beginning January 30, 2023. Applications will remain in consideration until the position is filled. A background check will be required for employment in this position.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

About Purdue University

Physics explores the fundamental mysteries of nature...from how the universe was created, to how biological systems function, to how to create new forms of matter. The strength of Purdue's physics department is its internationally recognized research in the areas of astrophysics, high energy physics, geophysics, nanophysics, nuclear physics, sensor technology, biophysics and more. How chlorophyll and hemoglobin work, the structure of black holes, the search for fundamental particles, the precise dating of Stonehenge, and new sensors for homeland defense are a few of the topics that drive the research in our department.

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Assistant Professor of Practice in West Lafayette, IN for Purdue University

Liquid Biopsy Detects Nano-Sized Signs of Breast Cancer in Early-Stage Patients – Technology Networks

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A USC-led team of scientists has found indications that a special blood test called a liquid biopsy could determine whether a patient has breast cancer at its early stage and if that cancer is unlikely to return.

These high-definition comprehensive liquid biopsies are conducted using a standard blood draw from the arm of a patient in a doctors office. Once in the laboratory, the sample is examined for signs of cancer.

The study demonstrating the liquid biopsy results for early breast cancer detection was published in Natures npj Breast Cancer journal. The work was a collaboration between USC, Billings Clinic, Duke University, Epic Sciences and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. The results raise hopes that one day doctors could detect breast cancer in patients with a simple blood draw.

The researchers at the USC Michelson Convergent Science Institute in Cancer (CSI-Cancer) are cautiously optimistic about their findings. They are eager to test and see whether the results will be proven in larger clinical trials to demonstrate the benefit of the method for patients everywhere.

Its an amazing opportunity to change how early breast cancer detection is being done with a simple blood draw, but it's only a research outcome at this point and we still need to demonstrate clinical benefit, said Peter Kuhn, a USC cancer physicist who directs CSI-Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the world, affecting 1 in 8 women over their lifetime.

Since 1976 when the American Cancer Society endorsed the technique, mammography X-ray, along with a tissue biopsy, has become the standard way for doctors to check patients for breast cancer.

But mammography is not 100% accurate and its detection can be impeded by healthy dense tissue. Mammographys sensitivity to breast cancer is around 87%, according to the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. And for some women, mammograms are not accessible, especially those living in poor isolated communities that have no clinics or hospitals. Others simply do not get a regular mammogram.

But a tissue biopsy also is not a fool-proof method. Although it can reveal information about the tumor, it has limitations. Doctors can sample only a small area and may fail to capture the full extent of the tumor. A tissue biopsy is also invasive and painful.

Combined, the drawbacks for diagnosis with mammograms and tissue biopsies mean some patients are not diagnosed until the cancer has grown and spread. New methodologies such as CSI-Cancers liquid biopsy can bring a complementary toolset into clinical practice.

For the study, Kuhn and his team worked with 100 breast cancer patients some early and late stage and 40 patients without breast cancer from April 2013 through January 2017. The work was conducted at clinical sites including at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck Medicine of USC, the Billings Clinic in Montana, Duke University Cancer Institute in Durham, North Carolina and the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif.

The team tested a theory that the high-definition liquid biopsy could detect multiple cancer biomarkers, including the so-called oncosomes nano-sized, membraned cargo carriers that enrich the bodys environment for cancer growth. These oncosomes are secreted by cancer cells as the group has shown previously.

The news here is that we found the vast majority of early-stage breast cancer patients have these oncosomes at very robust levels, said Kuhn, a Deans Professor at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and cancer physicist. Theyre about 5-10 microns in diameter. About the size of a cell. We first identified these large vesicles in prostate cancer about a year-and-a-half ago and showed that they are related to the cancer. They are hiding in plain sight.

If further studies produce similar results, this could mean that the next generation high-definition liquid biopsy may become a diagnostic tool for early breast cancer detection and other cancers, he said. The test also could inform patients who have been treated for cancer that they will most likely remain cancer-free.

Typically, Im the bearer of bad news. I say, You have cancer in your blood, Kuhn said. But a test like this could give hope that if there is a sign of cancer, we can find it very early and improve treatment and survival.

Reference: Setayesh SM, Hart O, Naghdloo A, et al. Multianalyte liquid biopsy to aid the diagnostic workup of breast cancer. npj Breast Cancer. 2022;8(1):1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41523-022-00480-4

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Liquid Biopsy Detects Nano-Sized Signs of Breast Cancer in Early-Stage Patients - Technology Networks

Medical uses of silver – Wikipedia

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Uses of silver to establish the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of disease

The medical uses of silver include its use in wound dressings, creams, and as an antibiotic coating on medical devices.[1][2][3] Wound dressings containing silver sulfadiazine or silver nanomaterials may be used to treat external infections.[4][5][6] The limited evidence available shows that silver coatings on endotracheal breathing tubes may reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.[7] There is tentative evidence that using silver-alloy indwelling catheters for short-term catheterizing will reduce the risk of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections.[8][9][10]

Silver generally has low toxicity, and minimal risk is expected when silver is used in approved medical applications.[11] Alternative medicine products such as colloidal silver are not safe or effective.[12][13][14][15][16]

Silver and most silver compounds have an oligodynamic effect and are toxic for bacteria, algae, and fungi in vitro. The antibacterial action of silver is dependent on the silver ion.[11] The effectiveness of silver compounds as an antiseptic is based on the ability of the biologically active silver ion (Ag+) to irreversibly damage key enzyme systems in the cell membranes of pathogens.[11] The antibacterial action of silver has long been known to be enhanced by the presence of an electric field. Applying an electric current across silver electrodes enhances antibiotic action at the anode, likely due to the release of silver into the bacterial culture.[17] The antibacterial action of electrodes coated with silver nanostructures is greatly improved in the presence of an electric field.[18]

Silver, used as a topical antiseptic, is incorporated by bacteria it kills. Thus dead bacteria may be the source of silver that may kill additional bacteria.[19]

Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is a topical antibiotic used in partial thickness and full thickness burns to prevent infection.[3][20] It was discovered in the 1960s,[21] and was the standard topical antimicrobial for burn wounds for decades.[22][23]

However systemic reviews in 2014, 2017 and 2018 concluded that more modern treatments, both with and without silver, show better results for wound healing and infection-prevention than silver sulfadiazine,[24][25][26] and therefore SSD is no longer generally recommended.[27][28]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[29] The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a number of topical preparations of silver sulfadiazine for treatment of second-degree and third-degree burns.[30]

A 2018 Cochrane review found that silver-containing dressings may increase the probability of healing for venous leg ulcers.[31] A 2017 meta-analysis of clinical studies over the period of 20002015 concluded that "the evidence base for silver in wound management is significantly better than perceived in the current scientific debate" and that, if applied selectively and for short periods of time, silver has antimicrobial effects, produces an improvement in quality of life and shows good cost-effectiveness.[32] A 2014 data set from a recent meta-analysis concluded that the use of silver dressings improves healing time, and can lead to overall cost savings compared with treatment with non-silver dressings. It also found that patients who had been treated with silver dressings had a faster wound closure compared with patients who had been treated with non-silver dressings.[33] A 2013 meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found statistically significant evidence to support the use of Biatain silver dressings in treating venous leg ulcers.[34]

A number of wound dressings containing silver as an anti-bacterial have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[35][36][37][38] However, silver-containing dressings may cause staining, and in some cases tingling sensations as well.[39]

A 2015 systematic review concluded that the limited evidence available indicates that using silver-coated endotracheal breathing tubes reduces the risk of contracting ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), especially during the initial days of utilisation.[40] A 2014 study concluded that using silver-coated endotracheal tubes will help to prevent VAP and that this may save on hospital costs.[41] A 2012 systematic review of randomized controlled trials concluded that the limited evidence available indicates that using silver-coated endotracheal tubes will reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, microbiologic burden, and device-related adverse events among adult patients.[42] Another 2012 review agreed that the use of silver-coated endotracheal tubes reduces the prevalence of VAP in intubated patients, but cautioned that this on its own is not sufficient to prevent infection. They also suggested that more research is needed to establish the cost-effectiveness of the treatment.[43] Another 2012 study agreed that there is evidence that endotracheal tubes coated with silver may reduce the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and delay its onset, but concluded that no benefit was seen in the duration of intubation, the duration of stay in intensive care or the mortality rate. They also raised concerns surrounding the unblinded nature of some of the studies then available.[7]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 cleared an endotracheal tube with a fine coat of silver to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.[44]

A 2014 systemic review concluded that using silver alloy-coated catheters showed no significant difference in incidences of symptomatic Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) versus using standard catheters, although silver-alloy catheters seemed to cause less discomfort to patients.[45] These catheters are associated with greater cost than other catheters.[45] A 2014 Multicenter Cohort Study found that using a silver-alloy hydrogel urinary catheter did reduce symptomatic Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) occurrences as defined by both NHSN and clinical criteria.[8] A 2011 critical analysis of eight studies found a consistent pattern which supported using silver-alloy urinary catheters over uncoated catheters to reduce infections in adult patients, and concluded that using silver-alloy catheters would significantly improve patient care.[9] A 2007 systemic review concluded that using silver-alloy indwelling catheters for short-term catheterizing will reduce the risk of catheter-acquired urinary tract infection, but called for further studies to evaluate the economic benefits of using the expensive silver alloy-catheters.[10] Two systemic reviews in 2004 found that using silver-alloy catheters reduced asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria more than standard catheters, for patients who were catheterised for a short time.[46] A 2000 randomized crossover study found that using the more expensive silver-coated catheter may result in cost savings by preventing nosocomial UTI infections,[47] and another 2000 study found that using silver alloy catheters for short-term urinary catheterization reduces the incidence of symptomatic UTI and bacteremia compared with standard catheters, and may thus yield cost savings.[48]

A 2017 study found that a combination of chlorhexidine and silver-sulfadiazine (CSS) used to coat central venous catheters (CVC) reduces the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections.[49] However, they also found that the efficacy of the CSS-CVC coating was progressively eroded by blood-flow, and that the antibacterial function was lost after 48 hours.

Research in 2018 into the treatment of central nervous system infections caused by free-living amoebae such as Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba castellanii, tested the effectiveness of existing drugs as well as the effectiveness of the same drugs when they were conjugated with silver nanoparticles. In vitro tests demonstrated more potent amoebicidal effects for the drugs when conjugated with silver nanoparticles as compared to the same drugs when used alone. They also found that conjugating the drugs with silver nanoparticles enhanced their anti-acanthamoebic activity.[50]

Silver-halide imaging plates used with X-ray imaging were the standard before digital techniques arrived; these function essentially the same as other silver-halide photographic films, although for x-ray use the developing process is very simple and takes only a few minutes. Silver x-ray film remains popular for its accuracy, and cost effectiveness, particularly in developing countries, where digital X-ray technology is usually not available.[51]

Silver compounds have been used in external preparations as antiseptics, including both silver nitrate and silver proteinate, which can be used in dilute solution as eyedrops to prevent conjunctivitis in newborn babies. Silver nitrate is also sometimes used in dermatology in solid stick form as a caustic ("lunar caustic") to treat certain skin conditions, such as corns and warts.[52]

Silver nitrate is also used in certain laboratory procedures to stain cells. As it turns them permanently a dark-purple/black color, in doing so increasing individual cells' visibility under a microscope and allowing for differentiation between cells, or identification of irregularities. Silver is also used in bone prostheses and cardiac devices.[11] In reconstructive hip and knee surgery, silver-coated titanium prostheses are indicated in cases of recalcitrant prosthetic joint infections.[53] Silver diamine fluoride appears to be an effective intervention to reduce dental caries (tooth decay).[54][55] Silver is also a component in dental amalgam.

Silver acetate has been used as a potential aid to help stop smoking; a review of the literature in 2012, however, found no effect of silver acetate on smoking cessation at a six-month endpoint and if there is an effect it would be small.[56] Silver has also been used in cosmetics, intended to enhance antimicrobial effects and the preservation of ingredients.[57]

Though toxicity of silver is low, the human body has no biological use for silver and when inhaled, ingested, injected, or applied topically, silver will accumulate irreversibly in the body, particularly in the skin, and chronic use combined with exposure to sunlight can result in a disfiguring condition known as argyria in which the skin becomes blue or blue-gray.[11][58] Localized argyria can occur as a result of topical use of silver-containing creams and solutions, while the ingestion, inhalation, or injection can result in generalized argyria.[59][60] Preliminary reports of treatment with laser therapy have been reported. These laser treatments are painful and general anesthesia is required.[61][62] A similar laser treatment has been used to clear silver particles from the eye, a condition related to argyria called argyrosis.[63] The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) describes argyria as a "cosmetic problem".[64]

One incident of argyria came to the public's attention in 2008, when a man named Paul Karason, whose skin turned blue from using colloidal silver for over 10 years to treat dermatitis, appeared on NBC's "Today" show. Karason died in 2013 at the age of 62 after a heart attack.[65] Another example is Montana politician Stan Jones whose purposeful consumption of colloidal silver was a self-prescribed measure he undertook in response to his fears that the Y2K problem would make antibiotics unavailable, an event that did not occur.[66]

Colloidal silver may interact with some prescription medications, reducing the absorption of some antibiotics and thyroxine, among others.[67]

Some people are allergic to silver, and the use of treatments and medical devices containing silver is contraindicated for such people.[11] Although medical devices containing silver are widely used in hospitals, no thorough testing and standardization of these products has yet been undertaken.[68]

Electrolytically dissolved silver has been used as a water disinfecting agent, for example, the drinking water supplies of the Russian Mir orbital station and the International Space Station.[69] Many modern hospitals filter hot water through copper-silver filters to defeat MRSA and legionella infections.[70]:29 The World Health Organization (WHO) includes silver in a colloidal state produced by electrolysis of silver electrodes in water, and colloidal silver in water filters as two of a number of water disinfection methods specified to provide safe drinking water in developing countries.[71] Along these lines, a ceramic filtration system coated with silver particles has been created by Ron Rivera of Potters for Peace and used in developing countries for water disinfection (in this application the silver inhibits microbial growth on the filter substrate, to prevent clogging, and does not directly disinfect the filtered water).[72][73][74]

A bottle of colloidal silver

Colloidal silver (a colloid consisting of silver particles suspended in liquid) and formulations containing silver salts were used by physicians in the early 20th century, but their use was largely discontinued in the 1940s following the development of modern antibiotics.[58][78] Since about 1990, there has been a resurgence of the promotion of colloidal silver as a dietary supplement,[52] marketed with claims of it being an essential mineral supplement, or that it can prevent or treat numerous diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, herpes,[58] and tuberculosis.[52][79][80] No medical evidence supports the effectiveness of colloidal silver for any of these claimed indications.[52][77][81] Silver is not an essential mineral in humans; there is no dietary requirement for silver, and hence, no such thing as a silver "deficiency".[52] There is no evidence that colloidal silver treats or prevents any medical condition, and it can cause serious and potentially irreversible side effects such as argyria.[52]

In August 1999, the U.S. FDA banned colloidal silver sellers from claiming any therapeutic or preventive value for the product,[77] although silver-containing products continue to be promoted as dietary supplements in the U.S. under the looser regulatory standards applied to supplements.[77] The FDA has issued numerous warning letters to Internet sites that have continued to promote colloidal silver as an antibiotic or for other medical purposes.[82][83][84] Despite the efforts of the FDA, silver products remain widely available on the market today. A review of websites promoting nasal sprays containing colloidal silver suggested that information about silver-containing nasal sprays on the Internet is misleading and inaccurate.[85] Colloidal silver is also sold in some topical cosmetics, as well as some toothpastes, which are regulated by the FDA as cosmetics (other than drug ingredients making medical claims).[86]

In 2002, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) found there were no legitimate medical uses for colloidal silver and no evidence to support its marketing claims.[87] The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warns that marketing claims about colloidal silver are scientifically unsupported, that the silver content of marketed supplements varies widely, and that colloidal silver products can have serious side effects such as argyria.[52]In 2009, the USFDA issued a consumer advisory warning about the potential adverse effects of colloidal silver, and said that "there are no legally marketed prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs containing silver that are taken by mouth".[88] Quackwatch states that colloidal silver dietary supplements have not been found safe or effective for the treatment of any condition.[89] Consumer Reports lists colloidal silver as a "supplement to avoid", describing it as "likely unsafe".[90] The Los Angeles Times stated that "colloidal silver as a cure-all is a fraud with a long history, with quacks claiming it could cure cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, and numerous other diseases".[91]

It may be illegal to market as preventing or treating cancer, and in some jurisdictions illegal to sell colloidal silver for consumption.[75] In 2015 an English man was prosecuted and found guilty under the Cancer Act 1939 for selling colloidal silver with claims it could treat cancer.[92]

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to firms including colloidal silver marketers for selling products with false and misleading claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, diagnose or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[93]

In 2020, televangelist felon Jim Bakker was sued by the Missouri Attorney General (AG) for marketing colloidal silver products and making false claims about their effectiveness against COVID-19. The Attorney General of New York sent a cease and desist order to Bakker and others about peddling the unproven products that was compared to selling "snake oil", and the Food and Drug Administration also warned Bakker about his actions.[94]

Controversial web show host, podcaster and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was also warned by the New York Attorney General's office to stop marketing his colloidal silver infused products (toothpaste, mouthwash, dietary supplements, etc.) because he made unproven claims of its ability to fend off COVID-19.[95]

Hippocrates in his writings discussed the use of silver in wound care.[96] At the beginning of the twentieth century surgeons routinely used silver sutures to reduce the risk of infection.[96][97] In the early 20th century, physicians used silver-containing eyedrops to treat ophthalmic problems,[98] for various infections,[99][100] and sometimes internally for diseases such as tropical sprue,[101] epilepsy, gonorrhea, and the common cold.[52][78] During World War I, soldiers used silver leaf to treat infected wounds.[96][102]

In the 1840s, founder of gynecology J. Marion Sims employed silver wire, which he had a jeweler fashion, as a suture in gynecological surgery. This produced very favorable results when compared with its predecessors, silk and catgut.[97]

Prior to the introduction of modern antibiotics, colloidal silver was used as a germicide and disinfectant.[103] With the development of modern antibiotics in the 1940s, the use of silver as an antimicrobial agent diminished, although it retains some use in medicinal compounds today. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is a compound containing silver and the antibiotic sodium sulfadiazine, which was developed in 1968.[68]

The National Health Services in the UK spent about 25 million on silver-containing dressings in 2006. Silver-containing dressings represent about 14% of the total dressings used and about 25% of the overall wound dressing costs.[104]

Concerns have been expressed about the potential environmental cost of manufactured silver nanomaterials in consumer applications being released into the environment, for example that they may pose a threat to benign soil organisms.[105]

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Medical uses of silver - Wikipedia

Nanotechnology Timeline | National Nanotechnology Initiative

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This timeline features Premodern example of nanotechnology, as well as Modern Era discoveries and milestones in the field of nanotechnology.

Early examples of nanostructured materials were based on craftsmens empirical understanding and manipulation of materials. Use of high heat was one common step in their processes to produce these materials with novel properties.

The Lycurgus Cup at the British Museum, lit from the outside (left) and from the inside (right)

4th Century: The Lycurgus Cup (Rome) is an example of dichroic glass; colloidal gold and silver in the glass allow it to look opaque green when lit from outside but translucent red when light shines through the inside. (Images at left.)

9th-17th Centuries: Glowing, glittering luster ceramic glazes used in the Islamic world, and later in Europe, contained silver or copper or other metallic nanoparticles. (Image at right.)

6th-15th Centuries: Vibrant stained glass windows in European cathedrals owed their rich colors to nanoparticles of gold chloride and other metal oxides and chlorides; gold nanoparticles also acted as photocatalytic air purifiers. (Image at left.)

13th-18th Centuries: Damascus saber blades contained carbon nanotubes and cementite nanowiresan ultrahigh-carbon steel formulation that gave them strength, resilience, the ability to hold a keen edge, and a visible moir pattern in the steel that give the blades their name. (Images below.)

These are based on increasingly sophisticated scientific understanding and instrumentation, as well as experimentation.

1857: Michael Faraday discovered colloidal ruby gold, demonstrating that nanostructured gold under certain lighting conditions produces different-colored solutions.

1936: Erwin Mller, working at Siemens Research Laboratory, invented the field emission microscope, allowing near-atomic-resolution images of materials.

1947: John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Walter Brattain at Bell Labs discovered the semiconductor transistor and greatly expanded scientific knowledge of semiconductor interfaces, laying the foundation for electronic devices and the Information Age.

1950: Victor La Mer and Robert Dinegar developed the theory and a process for growing monodisperse colloidal materials. Controlled ability to fabricate colloids enables myriad industrial uses such as specialized papers, paints, and thin films, even dialysis treatments.

1951: Erwin Mller pioneered the field ion microscope, a means to image the arrangement of atoms at the surface of a sharp metal tip; he first imaged tungsten atoms.

1956: Arthur von Hippel at MIT introduced many concepts ofand coined the termmolecular engineering as applied to dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and piezoelectrics

1958: Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments originated the concept of, designed, and built the first integrated circuit, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 2000. (Image at left.)

1959: Richard Feynman of the California Institute of Technology gave what is considered to be the first lecture on technology and engineering at the atomic scale, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech. (Image at right.)

1965: Intel co-founder Gordon Moore described in Electronics magazine several trends he foresaw in the field of electronics. One trend now known as Moores Law, described the density of transistors on an integrated chip (IC) doubling every 12 months (later amended to every 2 years). Moore also saw chip sizes and costs shrinking with their growing functionalitywith a transformational effect on the ways people live and work. That the basic trend Moore envisioned has continued for 50 years is to a large extent due to the semiconductor industrys increasing reliance on nanotechnology as ICs and transistors have approached atomic dimensions.1974: Tokyo Science University Professor Norio Taniguchi coined the term nanotechnology to describe precision machining of materials to within atomic-scale dimensional tolerances. (See graph at left.)

1981: Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer at IBMs Zurich lab invented the scanning tunneling microscope, allowing scientists to "see" (create direct spatial images of) individual atoms for the first time. Binnig and Rohrer won the Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1986.

1981: Russias Alexei Ekimov discovered nanocrystalline, semiconducting quantum dots in a glass matrix and conducted pioneering studies of their electronic and optical properties.

1985: Rice University researchers Harold Kroto, Sean OBrien, Robert Curl, and Richard Smalley discovered the Buckminsterfullerene (C60), more commonly known as the buckyball, which is a molecule resembling a soccer ball in shape and composed entirely of carbon, as are graphite and diamond. The team was awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their roles in this discovery and that of the fullerene class of molecules more generally. (Artist's rendering at right.)

1985: Bell Labss Louis Brus discovered colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots), for which he shared the 2008 Kavli Prize in Nanotechnology.

1986: Gerd Binnig, Calvin Quate, and Christoph Gerber invented the atomic force microscope, which has the capability to view, measure, and manipulate materials down to fractions of a nanometer in size, including measurement of various forces intrinsic to nanomaterials.

1989:Don Eigler and Erhard Schweizer at IBM's Almaden Research Center manipulated 35 individual xenon atoms to spell out the IBM logo. This demonstration of the ability to precisely manipulate atoms ushered in the applied use of nanotechnology. (Image at left.)

1990s: Early nanotechnology companies began to operate, e.g., Nanophase Technologies in 1989, Helix Energy Solutions Group in 1990, Zyvex in 1997, Nano-Tex in 1998.

1991: Sumio Iijima of NEC is credited with discovering the carbon nanotube (CNT), although there were early observations of tubular carbon structures by others as well. Iijima shared the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience in 2008 for this advance and other advances in the field. CNTs, like buckyballs, are entirely composed of carbon, but in a tubular shape. They exhibit extraordinary properties in terms of strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, among others. (Image below.)

1992: C.T. Kresge and colleagues at Mobil Oil discovered the nanostructured catalytic materials MCM-41 and MCM-48, now used heavily in refining crude oil as well as for drug delivery, water treatment, and other varied applications.

1993: Moungi Bawendi of MIT invented a method for controlled synthesis of nanocrystals (quantum dots), paving the way for applications ranging from computing to biology to high-efficiency photovoltaics and lighting. Within the next several years, work by other researchers such as Louis Brus and Chris Murray also contributed methods for synthesizing quantum dots.

1998: The Interagency Working Group on Nanotechnology (IWGN) was formed under the National Science and Technology Council to investigate the state of the art in nanoscale science and technology and to forecast possible future developments. The IWGNs study and report, Nanotechnology Research Directions: Vision for the Next Decade (1999) defined the vision for and led directly to formation of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative in 2000.

1999: Cornell University researchers Wilson Ho and Hyojune Lee probed secrets of chemical bonding by assembling a molecule [iron carbonyl Fe(CO)2] from constituent components [iron (Fe) and carbon monoxide (CO)] with a scanning tunneling microscope. (Image at left.)

1999: Chad Mirkin at Northwestern University invented dip-pen nanolithography (DPN), leading to manufacturable, reproducible writing of electronic circuits as well as patterning of biomaterials for cell biology research, nanoencryption, and other applications. (Image below right.)

1999early 2000s: Consumer products making use of nanotechnology began appearing in the marketplace, including lightweight nanotechnology-enabled automobile bumpers that resist denting and scratching, golf balls that fly straighter, tennis rackets that are stiffer (therefore, the ball rebounds faster), baseball bats with better flex and "kick," nano-silver antibacterial socks, clear sunscreens, wrinkle- and stain-resistant clothing, deep-penetrating therapeutic cosmetics, scratch-resistant glass coatings, faster-recharging batteries for cordless electric tools, and improved displays for televisions, cell phones, and digital cameras.

2000: President Clinton launched the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to coordinate Federal R&D efforts and promote U.S. competitiveness in nanotechnology. Congress funded the NNI for the first time in FY2001. The NSET Subcommittee of the NSTC was designated as the interagency group responsible for coordinating the NNI.

2003: Congress enacted the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (P.L. 108-153). The act provided a statutory foundation for the NNI, established programs, assigned agency responsibilities, authorized funding levels, and promoted research to address key issues.

2003: Naomi Halas, Jennifer West, Rebekah Drezek, and Renata Pasqualin at Rice University developed gold nanoshells, which when tuned in size to absorb near-infrared light, serve as a platform for the integrated discovery, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer without invasive biopsies, surgery, or systemically destructive radiation or chemotherapy.2004: The European Commission adopted the Communication Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology, COM(2004) 338, which proposed institutionalizing European nanoscience and nanotechnology R&D efforts within an integrated and responsible strategy, and which spurred European action plans and ongoing funding for nanotechnology R&D. (Image at left.)

2004: Britains Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering published Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties advocating the need to address potential health, environmental, social, ethical, and regulatory issues associated with nanotechnology.

2004: SUNY Albany launched the first college-level education program in nanotechnology in the United States, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

2005: Erik Winfree and Paul Rothemund from the California Institute of Technology developed theories for DNA-based computation and algorithmic self-assembly in which computations are embedded in the process of nanocrystal growth.

2006: James Tour and colleagues at Rice University built a nanoscale car made of oligo(phenylene ethynylene) with alkynyl axles and four spherical C60 fullerene (buckyball) wheels. In response to increases in temperature, the nanocar moved about on a gold surface as a result of the buckyball wheels turning, as in a conventional car. At temperatures above 300C it moved around too fast for the chemists to keep track of it! (Image at left.)

2007: Angela Belcher and colleagues at MIT built a lithium-ion battery with a common type of virus that is nonharmful to humans, using a low-cost and environmentally benign process. The batteries have the same energy capacity and power performance as state-of-the-art rechargeable batteries being considered to power plug-in hybrid cars, and they could also be used to power personal electronic devices. (Image at right.)

2008: The first official NNI Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Research was published, based on a two-year process of NNI-sponsored investigations and public dialogs. This strategy document was updated in 2011, following a series of workshops and public review.

20092010: Nadrian Seeman and colleagues at New York University createdseveral DNA-like robotic nanoscale assembly devices.One is a process for creating 3D DNA structures using synthetic sequences of DNA crystals that can be programmed to self-assemble using sticky ends and placement in a set order and orientation.Nanoelectronics could benefit:the flexibility and density that 3D nanoscale components allow could enable assembly of parts that are smaller, more complex, and more closely spaced. Another Seeman creation (with colleagues at Chinas Nanjing University) is a DNA assembly line. For this work, Seeman shared the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience in 2010.

2010: IBM used a silicon tip measuring only a few nanometers at its apex (similar to the tips used in atomic force microscopes) to chisel away material from a substrate to create a complete nanoscale 3D relief map of the world one-one-thousandth the size of a grain of saltin 2 minutes and 23 seconds. This activity demonstrated a powerful patterning methodology for generating nanoscale patterns and structures as small as 15 nanometers at greatly reduced cost and complexity, opening up new prospects for fields such as electronics, optoelectronics, and medicine. (Image below.)

2011:The NSET Subcommittee updated both the NNI Strategic Plan and the NNI Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy, drawing on extensive input from public workshops and online dialog with stakeholders from Government, academia, NGOs, and the public, and others.

2012: The NNI launched two more Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives (NSIs)--Nanosensors and the Nanotechnology Knowledge Infrastructure (NKI)--bringing the total to five NSIs.

2013: -The NNI starts the next round of Strategic Planning, starting with the Stakeholder Workshop. -Stanford researchers develop the first carbon nanotube computer.

2014: -The NNI releases the updated 2014 Strategic Plan. -The NNI releases the 2014 Progress Review on the Coordinated Implementation of the NNI 2011 Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy.

Read more:
Nanotechnology Timeline | National Nanotechnology Initiative