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Science Week exposes learners to science processes

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:52:22 +0100

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National Science Week kicked off on Saturday with learners in the Western Cape receiving test tubes, measuring cylinders and thermometers to experiment and conduct tests with.

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Kakamas - National Science Week kicked off on Saturday with learners in the Western Cape receiving test tubes, measuring cylinders and thermometers to experiment and conduct tests with.

Learners also had the opportunity to measure different temperatures and were able to construct an electromagnet as an application of magnetism.

As that is not enough, the students built an electric motor using magnets and other materials.

Science Week is not only aimed at encouraging students and learners to get involved in science, as members of the public were able to view the sky though telescopes at Kakamas, while the University of Cape Town held a discussion about Nanotechnology and the chemistry of colour.

Led by the Department of Science and Technology, Science Week is aimed at highlighting the important role science plays in everyday life and getting young South Africans excited about science from an early age.

Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena encouraged young learners to take advantage of programmes offered during the Science Week to plan their careers.

In Mpumalanga, learners are set to benefit from a mathematics workshop by CASIO on the use of scientific calculators.

They would also be exposed to ticker-timer experiments, electric circuit's experiments, Acid-Base Titration and Microscope experiments.

Sasol is also set to make a presentation on Biofuels as well as the industrial chemical processes in the plant.

The Northern Cape is expected to have laser presentations and science show during the coming week and in the Eastern Cape Science week opened with a career day highlighting Further Education and Training career options and the electronic media.

The role of generators in saving electricity will be emphasised in rural areas and residents will be briefed about how electricity is generated and distributed.

In Mthatha there is be a discussion about the role of Maths and Science in developing and advancing the different fields of science.

The Kwazulu-Natal provincial government opened Science Week with the Unizulu Science Centre with over 200 science exhibits, lighting and magic shows.

In the Free State, Science Week will be characterised by field trips to areas such as the Golden Gate National Park, the weather station in Bethlehem, blood bank and the Amalgamated Beverage Industries.

Gauteng will mark Science Week with presentations by astronomers as well as sky viewing.

Learners will be provided with more information about the effects of a vacuum and how the earth is orientated in space.

The Gauteng provincial government will also conduct a public education about nuclear, youth induction to nuclear as well as career expo of the nuclear profession.

In Limpopo learners will be taken through the requirements of becoming Air Force pilots and aeronautical engineers.

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It's difficult to spot retail nanotechnology

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:51:08 +0100

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Three or four new nanotechnology-based consumer products hit the market every week, according to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, but for the consumer, it's not always easy to know if an item contains nanoparticles.

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Shoppers might not be aware, for example, that silver nanoparticles are used in the FresherLonger food storage containers sold by Sharper Image, or in Pure Plushy's mold- and bacteria-resistant teddy bears.

Silver nanoparticles are probably the most popular nanomaterials among manufacturers because of their antimicrobial properties.

Companies such as ARC Outdoors and AgActive in the United Kingdom use nanosilver in socks to keep them odor-free. At Nanoshop.com, customers can find a softener for baby clothes and underwear containing nanosilver, in addition to antimicrobial paint and a shoe deodorizer.

Nano Silver Wholesale offers food storage containers, cosmetics, soap, shampoo, conditioner, dental care, body cleanser, disinfectant spray and pet spray.

And the inventory of nanomaterials in consumer products, held by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, includes nine examples of toothpaste containing gold and silver nanoparticles.

NanoSafeGuard of Seattle, which sells a collection of surface sealants online, does, however, make it clear that their products contain nanoparticles.

"We have nothing to hide," says Kenneth Hansen, company sales director. "There are no new materials in our products; all were listed in the TSCA Inventory before."

Indeed, the nanoparticles in NanoSafeGuard's products are classified as an existing substance by the Environmental Protection Agency. The products contain nanoparticles primarily made of ceramics, glass and titanium dioxide to be used on materials such as wood, stone, glass, leather and metal. The products make it easier to clean the surface.

"There is no need for any harsh chemicals, and you can use up to 80 percent less cleaning detergent," Hansen said.

E-mail Ann Fernholm at afernholm@sfchronicle.com.

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Arkansas nanotechnology company gets $224,000 from EPA to develop "green" lighting

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:49:35 +0100

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An Arkansas nanotechnology company has been awarded $224,997 from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a green alternative to fluorescent lighting.

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Nanomaterials and Nanofabrication Laboratories, LLC (NN-Labs) of Fayetteville is one of seven small businesses to receive a total of $1.6 million in funding to commercialize green technologies that promise to deliver BIG results.

“These companies are showing how innovative ideas can translate into both economic and environmental success,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “Together, EPA and small businesses are advancing research, creating jobs, and protecting the environment at the same time.”

NN-Labs was awarded a Phase II SBIR contract, which is given to small businesses that successfully complete Phase I contracts. The company received a Phase I award for $69,988 in 2007.

Approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 50 percent of the American workforce and develop most of the country's new technologies. SBIR was established to ensure that new technologies are developed to solve priority environmental problems, and is just one example of EPA's commitment to achieving real world environmental results through the use of innovative technology.

Since its inception in 1982, EPA’s SBIR program has helped fund more than 600 small businesses through its two-phased approach. Phase I awards are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a proposed concept. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $225,000.

EPA will be accepting submissions for the next year’s Phase I SBIR awards until May 21, 2008. To participate in SBIR, a small business must have fewer than 500 employees, and at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens.

Additional information on the SBIR program is available at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.

More on the Phase II projects: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/08awards/index_state.html

About activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6

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House Science and Technology Committee Unanimously Reports National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:48:53 +0100

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The bill moves the federal nanotechnology effort to the next stage:

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The NanoBusiness Alliance is pleased to report that the House Science and Technology Committee yesterday unanimously reported H.R. 5940, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act, which will update and expand the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), who addressed the NanoBusiness 2008 conference in New York on Monday, recognized the NanoBusiness Alliance for its support of the bill during the Committee markup.

The Alliance has worked closely with Chairman Gordon, Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX), and the members and staff of the Committee to ensure that the bill moves the federal nanotechnology effort to the next stage: one that helps America realize the benefits of nanotechnology through increased support for commercialization; generates a nanotechnology workforce by improving science education; and advances our understanding of environmental, health, and safety effects through increased research in these areas.

In his own remarks to the NanoBusiness 2008 conference, Senate Science, Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) committed to moving NNI legislation forward in Senate side as well.

Assisted by its public policy counsel, K&L Gates, the NanoBusiness Alliance has participated extensively in discussions with Members and staff in both the House and the Senate in the course of developing this legislation. In March, dozens of leaders from Alliance member companies visited Washington DC for meetings with key decision makers in Congress and the Administration. I have testified on the bill in hearings before the House Science and Technology Committee, and other members of the nanobusiness community have testified as well.

The Alliance will continue to need your support for this important legislation as it moves through the House and Senate. We are successful because the nanobusiness community is engaged and active.

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Institute of Nanotechnology in the UK announces new Chair

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:47:25 +0100

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The Institute of Nanotechnology ks delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Richard A.L. Jones FRS as the new Chairman of its Advisory Group.

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The Institute of Nanotechnology ks delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Richard A.L. Jones FRS as the new Chairman of its Advisory Group. Professor Jones, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Sheffield (http://www.shef.ac.uk/physics/people/rjones/) and author of the well-received book 'Soft Machines: Nanotechnology and Life' (http://www.softmachines.org) brings his unique expertise in nanotechnology as well as his communication skills and long-standing interest in public engagement. Professor Jones is currently Senior Strategic Advisor for Nanotechnology for the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the lead funding agency for nanotechnology research in the UK.

Professor Jones commented that he was delighted with his new role, especially as the Institute had now established its position as one of the most important and highly respected nanotechnology networking and information dissemination organisations in Europe. This is evidenced by IoN recent successes in FP7, as co-ordinator of two significant projects, one of which is to create a nano observatory for Europe, and as a partner in three more.

He also congratulated his predecessor, Dr Jim Darwent, vice-president of corporate research at Unilever, for his unfailing and energetic support of the Institute over the past two years, with great result.

On behalf of the Institute, Professor Jones also expressed his gratitude to two other retiring members, Professor Derek Chetwynd from Cranfield University, who has been a member of the Advisory Board since the Institute was formed in 1997 and who has greatly contributed to its growth and consolidation, and Dr Michael Pitkethly from the Centre for Process Innovation, CPI, who has served for five years, providing valuable input from a nanobusiness perspective.

Ottilia Saxl, CEO of the Institute of Nanotechnology, expressed her pleasure that Professor Jones had accepted the role of Chairman. "Richard Jones will enhance the Institute's reputation though his international standing in the nanocommunity and well-documented activities in both outreach and identifying key commercial opportunities for nanoscience".

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Lawyer melds soul music, tech savvy

Admin — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:05:26 +0100

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Chris Rizik has an eclectic career.- By day, he is a lawyer and financier who cofounded Ardesta LLC, the $100-million venture capital fund in Ann Arbor that backs companies involved in nanotechnology.

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But during his evenings and weekends, Rizik, 47, runs www. soultracks.com, a top-rated soul music Web site on which he writes about the genre, from his home. His passion for soul music began in his youth.

The son of an accountant father and nurse mother who also sang in a St. Louis opera, Rizik was inspired by the Motown sound and performers of the 1960s and '70s while growing up in Flint.

"Music is probably the most powerful form of communication," says Rizik. "Being in Michigan, I couldn't help but develop a love of soul music."

The site, founded in 2003, had 3.2 million visits in 2007.

In fact, the Web site's following has grown so large that Rizik decided two years ago to hold a soul awards event in Detroit.

On Oct. 3, the third annual event will be at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, where various soul acts will perform.

When asked if he could list a common thread that ties together his interest in soul music and nanotechnology, he explained: "The common theme in all these things is to find something you are passionate about that can help improve people's lives.

"Nanotechnology plays a role in physically helping people's lives though medical devices while soul music helps the emotional, spiritual side."
Comparing U.S., Asian students

About 300,000 middle and high school students across Michigan will watch a segment from an eye-opening, hour-long documentary "Two Million Minutes" on Monday.

The documentary explores the question of whether India and China are doing better than the United States in educating its students.

The show is being broadcast to six million U.S. students by Channel One Network, which delivers 12-minute news broadcasts to U.S. classrooms daily.

"Two Million Minutes" followed six students, two each in India, China and the United States, during their senior years of high school.

It compares how these students prioritize their time, choose their classes and interact with teachers.

The film points out that the students spend their time in drastically different ways and the priorities of U.S. students don't focus as heavily on academics.

The film notes that this can have serious implications for the U.S. economy, including Michigan, in the 21st Century.

Bob Compton, a venture capitalist living in Memphis, Tenn., decided to produce the documentary after visiting India and China.

What he observed about students there impressed him.

"I hope that this piece is a wake-up call for students around the country," said Compton.

"Unlike students of my generation, today's students have an entirely new set of competitors -- peers from India and China who outnumber them and generally out-study them."

Compton, who is the father of two teenage daughters, said: "What we saw and what the film portrays is that our culture has a highly developed athletic and extracurricular system but a deteriorating core academic system.

In 25 years, America has gone simply from being a nation at risk to a nation way behind its largest future economic competitors."

CAROL CAIN writes about business and politics Sundays in the Free Press. She hosts "Michigan Matters" at 11 a.m. Saturdays on WWJ-TV (Channel 62) and 11 a.m. Sundays on WKBD-TV (Channel 50). She can be reached at 313-222-6732 or at clcain@cbs.com.

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Nanotechnology: Towards Reducing Animal Testing - conference details released

Admin — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:09:52 +0100

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Scientists from all over the world will meet in London on 28th and 29th May 2008 to discuss how nanotechnology can contribute towards reducing testing on animals.

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Scientists from all over the world will meet in London on 28th and 29th May 2008 to discuss how nanotechnology can contribute towards reducing testing on animals. The application of nanotechnology is currently revolutionizing medicine and this twoday conference, the first of its kind in Europe, will examine the role nanotechnology could also play in improving or refining the development of alternatives to animal testing whilst maintaining safety.

Animal testing is costly and there is a great deal of research on finding viable and effective alternatives (new methods that refine existing tests by minimizing animal distress, reducing animal usage, or replacing whole animal tests). Despite large reductions in animal testing since the early 1980s due to improved in vitro methods, levels remain high (over 3 million procedures in 2006) and results cannot always be extrapolated to humans.

Presentations from:

Dr Sandra Coecke, IHCP-ECVAM; Samantha Dozier, PETA; Béatrice Schaak, CEA Grenoble - DSV/ iRTSV; Dr Kelly BéruBé, Cardiff University; Dr J Malcolm Wilkinson, Kirkstall Ltd; Professor Ken Donaldson, University of Edinburgh; Dr John Haycock/ Professor Sheila McNeil, University of Sheffield; Dr. Fanqing Frank Chen, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory; Dr Anna Price, European Commission JRC; Dr Katy Taylor, BUAV; Ulrich Krühne, Teknologisk Institut; Peter Ertl, Austrian Research Centers (ARC) GmbH; Dr Antonio Garcia, Arizona State University; Dr Nirmala Bhogal, FRAME; Dr Rosemary Gibson, Health & Safety Laboratory; Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Leeds General Infirmary Professor of Translational Vascular Medicine, Leeds Medical School; Arianna Ferrari, Darmstadt University of Technology; Dr Andy Bennett, FRAME.

Sessions will cover Toxicology and Drug Design; Tissue Engineering, Other Novel Models and Testing Strategies; Imaging and Diagnostics; Regulatory and Legal Issues.

For further information please contact Gemma McCulloch, gemma.mcculloch@nano.org.uk, on +44(0)1786 458020. Alternatively please visit http://www.nano.org.uk/events/ionevents.htm#animals.

The Institute, a registered charity, was one of the first organisations to raise awareness of nanotechnology and its applications, and is now a world leader in the field. It disseminates information through its website, http://www.nano.org.uk; organises events for industry on a variety of topics; supports new start-ups; and is involved in EU-funded projects. For more information on the Institute and its activities, contact Dr Mark Morrison, Institute of Nanotechnology, Tel: +44 (0) 141 303 8444; or email: mark.morrison@nano.org.uk

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Nanotechnology transfer no small feat for couple

Admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:34:51 +0100

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Nanotechnology once was confined to the realm of science fiction, conjuring up visions of miniaturized submersibles coursing through the veins of medical patients, as in the ’60s sci-fi flick "Fantastic Voyage."

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Today, the world of supersmall technology no longer is a dream. And Keshab and Shubhra Gangopadhyay, a husband-and-wife engineering duo at the University of Missouri College of Engineering, are taking their "nano" vision from the laboratory to the marketplace.

Nanotechnology is the science of building devices from single atoms and molecules. The basic dimension, the nanometer, is one one-billionth of a meter. To put that in perspective: A red blood cell is 7,000 nanometers in diameter; the head of pin is about 1 million nanometers wide.

The Gangopadhyays initiated their academic careers in their native India. Keshab earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering, and Shubhra obtained hers in physics. In the mid-1980s, they each pursued scientific research and teaching - he in engineering and math; she in physics and engineering - at universities in India and Germany.

While in Germany, Keshab collaborated with a professor from the United States. That association led to an invitation for Keshab to serve as a visiting professor of mathematics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where Shubhra also pursued her academic career. During more than 10 years at Texas Tech, the Gangopadhyays also explored entrepreneurship by devoting time and energy to a company involved with semiconductors.

They left Texas Tech in 2003, when Shubhra was offered an endowed professorship as the LaPierre Chair in the MU College of Engineering.

"She decided to accept the position, and I supported her," Keshab recalled. "After she assumed her new position, I preferred to be a research professor at the university, keeping a significant amount of time available for entrepreneurial activities."

The next year, the enterprising pair formed NEMS/MEMS Works LLC. They pointed their company toward the pursuit of nanotechnology in the fields of energy, security and medicine.

Now these dynamic researchers are synthesizing new nanomaterials for integration using microfabrication techniques to make novel microdevices. Collaborating on this project with the Gangopadhyays are Steven Apperson, an MU doctoral student in electrical and computer engineering, and Luis Polo-Parada, assistant professor of medical pharmacology at MU.

"We are beginning to produce nanomaterials that can be used very effectively for biosensors and medical applications," Keshab explained. "In the near future, the company envisions the manufacture of a shock-wave generator microdevice for cell transfection, drug delivery and gene therapy."

Among their efforts is a prototype nanodevice to help physicians treat life-threatening illnesses. Dubbed "the smart bomb of the nanotechnology world," the molecular-sized device speeds and targets the delivery of drugs to treat diseases such as cancer. The miniscule device is "smart" because it can target only diseased cells. This would enable physicians to aim the proper amount of treatment to the exact location and minimize undesirable side effects.

Thus far the Gangopadhyays and their research team have tested their nanodevice only on animal and plant cells, achieving a high success rate. A significant amount of time - potentially two to five years - and additional testing will be needed before this therapy is available for human applications.

Although the Gangopadhyays are busy in the lab, they also are exploring commercialization possibilities for their work with the help of a dedicated team of tech-savvy business counselors at the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Center counselors Jim Gann and Paul Rehrig are an integral part of the NEMS/MEMS business team, Keshab says.

"They have the right expertise. We’ve needed their professional help for business negotiation with the university and the outside business world," Keshab said. "Jim has helped us develop the business plan for each technology, and Paul has been helping us with our SBIR proposals. They also mentor us in preparing our presentation to potential investors."

The Gangopadhyays know the next five years are very important to the transfer of their nanotechnology research to the marketplace. They are confident the assistance of Gann and Rehrig will help them develop a model for commercial success.

Mary Paulsell is the director of the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Missouri. Reach her at paulsellm@missouri.edu or visit www.missouribusiness.net.

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Nanotechnology for ‘smart’ soldier uniforms

Admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:34:00 +0100

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Nanotechnology is not one single thing. It’s a number of different areas which examine both materials and physics on the nanometer-length scale.

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Paula Hammond: Nanotechnology is not one single thing. It’s a number of different areas which examine both materials and physics on the nanometer-length scale.

That’s Paula Hammond on engineering materials at scales one ten-thousandth the width of a human hair. Hammond’s a professor in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She said there’s more to nanotechnology than just making springier golf clubs and tennis rackets.

Paula Hammond: We can also engineer materials that are extremely sensitive and can therefore detect something that might cause disease. We might be able to generate biomedical sensors that are extremely accurate.

Hammond and colleagues are developing “smart” uniforms for soldiers, clothes that respond to changes in light and heat, and can even seal themselves from a chemical or biological attack.

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Nanotech helps gauge hotness of chilli

Admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:23:25 +0100

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Want to gauge how hot a chilli is? Nanotechnology can help, says a new study. Scientists have turned to carbon nanotubes to accurately gauge the hotness of chillies - hitherto the job of professional food tasters.

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The technology might soon be available commercially as a cheap, disposable sensor for use in the food industry.

Richard Compton of Oxford University has developed a sensitive technique to measure the levels of capsaicinoids, substances that make chillies hot, in samples of chilli sauce.

The new method is expected to be quicker and cheaper than tasters and also more reliable for purposes of food standards; tests could be rapidly carried out on the production line.

They tested a range of chilli sauces, from the mild 'Tabasco Green Pepper' sauce to 'Mad Dog's Revenge', which sports an extensive health warning and liability disclaimer.

The Scoville method, currently the industry standard, involves diluting a sample until five trained tasters cannot detect any heat from the chilli, reports Sciencedaily.

The number of dilutions is called the Scoville rating; the relatively mild Jalapeño ranges from around 2,500 to 8,000, whereas world's hottest the Naga Jolokia of Nagaland, has a rating of one million.

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can also be used, but this requires bulky, expensive equipment and detailed analysis of capsaicinoids.

In Compton's method, the capsaicinoids are adsorbed onto multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) electrodes. The team measures the current change as the capsaicinoids are oxidised by an electrochemical reaction, and this reading can be translated into Scoville units.

The technique is called adsorptive stripping voltammetry (ASV), and is a relatively simple electrochemical method.

These findings have been reported in The Analyst.

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Future Scenarios - Living with a Brain Chip

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:21:08 +0100

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Should cranial implants be used to enhance cognition? - This cranial chip features a data feed that puts information into the brain while the user is resting.

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The next generation of cranial chip implants enables data transmission directly to the brain during rest without interfering with sleep. This data feed feature dramatically decreases the amount of time needed to assimilate new data each day, in fact the chipped person will just wake up knowing what was streamed into their head the previous night. The presence of the chip interferes with REM sleep, but the new data feed does not actually disrupt or alter in any way the sleep of the person with the implant.

The new disruptor cage is constructed out of more advanced materials that are lighter and more comfortable for the wearer. No longer is it necessary to lock head, neck and torso in to a rigid structure, the new generation of disruptor cages need only to lock to the head and upper vertebrae of the neck. This new format still provides the same protection against magnetic damage to the brain, advances in real time processing now allow for emergency shut off if the magnetic pulses are not directed exactly at the chip. The use of rare earth magnets in a wider net around the cranium makes for a more thorough disruption of the chip (even while undergoing data feed). This improves sleep by removing annoying dream sequences, restlessness, or need for sedatives previously common in past cranial chip implants.

These advances in cranial chip disruptors will work with all cranial chips. However, those with the newer (Gen. 3.4 or higher) cranial chips will see the most improvements and those who receive the soon to be released Gen. 4.0 will be able to take advantage of many new options. The 4.0 chips, like those before it, are a sandwich of carbon nanotubes, and gate molecules that are covered in neural growth promoters. The 4.0 chip features advances in neuron-to-chip interface, allowing for more neurons to contact the chip in more functional ways. This in turn increases the rate of information in and out of the chip, further increasing cognitive ability.

With this increase in connectivity of brain to chip and chip to brain comes increased assimilation and learning time. After implantation (still an outpatient procedure) it will take 30 to 90 days of neuron growth around the chip for it and the brain to become fully integrated. Upon chip integration, the newly chipped person will need to attend nine months of intensive classroom based courses, where they are taught new ways to think, process thoughts, and to categorize memories and data.

It is during this time, as the chip becomes enabled, that they will begin to feel the effects of the continuously running chip. As the brain becomes dependant on the chip the implantee will find it difficult to sleep. The first effects will be tossing and turning at night, followed by repetitive dreams, and finally inability to sleep. It is at this point that the cranial chip disruptor is needed and technicians will work with the chip implanted person (and spouse if necessary) insuring proper technique in fitting the disruptor, allowing the user to have the best nights sleep ever.

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Future Scenarios - Engineered Tissues

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:19:39 +0100

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What are your thoughts on synthetically grown tissues and organs? - Using tissue printing technology, this system is able to build tissues with a vascular structure enabling the building of new organs.

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Newly developed artificial tissues have been approved for use in wound healing as well as for skin grafts. These artificial tissues are made by “seeding” cells into a bioengineered scaffold where upon they reorganize it into a material suitable for use as an artificial tissue. In the process of tissue engineering the cell makes use of the scaffold components as nutrients. The starting scaffold is usually three dimensional Jello like material called a collagen gel. Made up mostly of water, sugars, and carbohydrates the gel also contains fibrous proteins like collagen, fibrin, and fibronectin which allow the cells to interact with the scaffold. The fibrous proteins are large and tend to form bundles of fibers, or fibrils. After some time the cells use up the scaffold materials reorganizing some of them into an artificial tissue that can then be used for surgical procedures.

Because the tissue is grown from the patient's own cells, there is almost never any rejection of the transplant. In some cases, such as cancerous tissues, this is not possible. However, using compatible cells from an appropriate donor gives a high success rate with no risk to the cell donor. Further developments of tissue engineers have made it possible to replace not only tissues, but also organs. One such technology is tissue printing which would allow one to produce whole organs from gel scaffolding and cells in an ingenious way.

This advanced technique allows for cells to be arranged within the scaffold in order to shape the tissue into larger structures. Cells are arranged by inserting them into a device analogous to an inkjet printer where cells are ink. The cells are then printed in a two dimensional pattern such as a circle. After a circle of cells is laid down on top of a sheet of scaffold, another layer of scaffold is placed on top, followed by yet another circle of cells and another sheet of scaffold. Several circles placed in this way will reorganize the scaffold to form a tubular tissue, thus creating a tissue with a vascular system. This is one of the biggest breakthroughs in tissue engineering, because it allows blood and nutrients to flow through the artificial tissue. Tissue printing thus allows us to develop microstructures. These developments have lead to externally grown tissues which can replace vital organs, as well as more general tissues like skin, bone, muscles, and arteries. The lack of transplant materials is no longer a problem.

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Speedway to host VC open house

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:12:28 +0100

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At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today there will be the roar of engines -- that is, if the rain holds off -- but also plenty of talk about academic topics like microbiology and nanotechnology.

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In a bid to help rev up Indiana's technology and life- sciences sectors, state officials have created a new hobnobbing session matching top researchers from Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.

The invite-only event, dubbed "Meet the Researcher," is a bit like speed dating for business ideas.

"The biggest push is to get researchers to think about, 'How do I take what I'm working on in the lab and pair up with an entrepreneur, pair up with capital,' " said Nathan Feltman, who is president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and the state's secretary of commerce.

He said the goal also is to encourage research collaboration among universities across the state.

It's also about luring "angel" investment and venture capital -- the high-risk investments typically used to fuel the growth of tech and biotech startups.

About 200 academics, investors and business leaders are expected to attend today's event, including venture capitalists from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Maryland and Kentucky.

Feltman said IU, Purdue and Notre Dame each was asked to send 10 top researchers -- a list that includes Dr. Michael Klemsz, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the IU School of Medicine; Michael Ladisch, director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering at Purdue; and Wolfgang Porod, director of the Center for Nano Science and Technology at Notre Dame.

Local tech or life-sciences companies slated to attend include Carmel-based search engine startup ChaCha and Quadraspec, a West Lafayette-based medical diagnostics startup that licensed technology from Purdue.

Gov. Mitch Daniels, who will speak during the event, said he is eager to welcome "folks with lots of money from other states."

"It's another important initiative to try to strengthen the entrepreneur sector of our state," Daniels said. "Our potential won't be complete until we have a flourishing entrepreneur sector."

Feltman said he is planning to organize quarterly "Meet the Researcher" events that eventually would include other schools in the state such as Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ball State University.

Indiana still is playing catch-up to plenty of other states when it comes to attracting venture capital.

In the first quarter of 2008, Indiana had $12 million worth of venture investments, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers/National Venture Capital Association MoneyTree Report. That compares with $111 million in Illinois and a whopping $3.45 billion in California, the nation's hotbed of venture investing.

Some national experts, though, said Indiana is taking a savvy approach with its "Meet the Researcher" party.

"The thing that jumps out is that the state is being very proactive in trying to bring these competitive schools together and saying we have to work together for the betterment of the state," said Mark Heesen, president of the Virginia-based National Venture Capital Association.

He said cooperation between Duke University, Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina helped lead to that state's famed Research Triangle, home to many startups and tech facilities.

Even in this age of electronic communication, business deals often still depend on face-to-face meetings.

"Getting together in person is a powerful thing, because it's more special than chatting over the phone," said Matt Marshall, founder of VentureBeat.com, a California-based news Web site that covers venture investing.

"I just held an event with more than 400 people, and afterward the scoops came pouring in from grateful attendees."

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Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Announces Product Launch

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:29:30 +0100

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Industrial Nanotech, Inc. Announces Product Launch - Begins Production Of Revolutionary Nansulate EPX At New Manufacturing/Distribution Facility

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Industrial Nanotech, Inc., an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced recently that the Company has begun production of their revolutionary, patented, NansulateEPX product line at the Company's new manufacturing and distribution center in New Brunswick, NJ.

"I was accompanied at the plant by two of my senior Ph.D. chemists for the first production scale run this past Wednesday, April 30th, and we all agree that it went flawlessly," states Stuart Burchill, CEO/CTO of Industrial Nanotech, Inc. "Subsequent quality control analysis confirms that it meets our high standards and we are now filling existing orders, beginning with the container shipments of approximately 1800 gallons each to our distributors who have pre-ordered the product. The retail price of this product is $105.00 per gallon and it presents a great value added proposition for our industrial and OEM clients with a fast cure time, revolutionary thermal insulation performance, outstanding chemical resistance to both base and acid chemicals... including 95% concentration sulfuric acid, long-term protection against metal corrosion in marine and deep sea environments, and exceptional fire retardant properties. The coating can be applied from 1/8" thick to several inches thick."

Mr. Burchill continues, "We chose to manufacture the product in New Brunswick, NJ because the facility there has the capacity to meet the production volumes we project and it has close proximity to a major port, therefore significantly lowering the cost and time of shipping to our valuable overseas clients in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. With Industrial Nanotech, Inc. already experiencing a 302% year over year revenue growth rate from 2007 to 2008, as of YTD ending May 2nd... almost double our previous 4 year average year over year revenue growth of 162%... the addition of Nansulate EPX, a product which has generated tremendous interest and pre-sales worldwide, promises to exponentially increase our already undeniably explosive growth rate."

NansulateEPX is the Company's newest addition to their line of nanotechnology-based coatings which has a four year track record of providing energy and cost saving solutions for industry and homeowners worldwide. NansulateEPX combines superior thermal insulating ability with excellent corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, and flame resistance, making it a unique and powerful protective coating for a wide variety of industrial and commercial plant, equipment, and building applications. Literature and additional information about this product is currently in production and will be made available on the Company's website during the month of May. Additional variations of Nansulate EPX tailored to specific customers are currently in the final phases of development and further information regarding these unique products will be released in the near future.

About Nansulate
Nansulate is the Company's patented product line of specialty coatings containing a nanotechnology based material, and which are well-documented to provide the combined performance qualities of thermal insulation, corrosion prevention, resistance to mold growth, lead encapsulation, chemical resistance and flame resistance in an environmentally safe, water-based, coating formulation. The Nansulate Product Line includes both industrial and residential coatings.

About Industrial Nanotech Inc.
Industrial Nanotech Inc. is quickly emerging as a global nanoscience solutions and research leader. The Company develops and commercializes new and innovative applications for nanotechnology. Additional information about the Company and its products can be found at their websites, www.industrial-nanotech.com and www.nansulate.com.

SOURCE: Industrial Nanotech, Inc.

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I.T. program is expanding internationally

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:28:10 +0100

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Students will study nanotechnology at Tum University in Germany this summer

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A new Institute of Technology summer program in Germany will give students the opportunity to study nanotechnology.

In June, five students will leave for the six-week program at the Technical University of Munich.

"It's one more opportunity for them to go without interrupting their traditional semester-based classes," said Adam Pagel, the I.T. international program coordinator aid.

Material sciences and engineering junior Caitlyn Thurber will participate in the program.

As an I.T. student, she said going abroad during the year could take her off course in her studies.

"I like that it's in the summer," she said. "I think it would've been difficult to study abroad for a semester and keep up with the engineering type of classes that I've had to take to stay on track, at this point."

Coordinators haven't finalized program fees, but Pagel said the German technical school is giving students a discount of roughly 2,000 euros.

"An arrangement that we're making with them (is) to take some of their students here," he said.

The program will probably cost between $4,000 and $5,000, including spending money, Pagel said.

"We came up with this idea of sharing students and offering discounts so that it's easier for students to go back and forth," Pagel said.

Professors from the German school have collaborated with University faculty on research projects, I.T. student services director Susan Kubitschek said, adding that the German university was interested in recruiting I.T. students from here.

"When they came to visit us, they sought us out," she said.

Many University students have some knowledge of the German language, but not enough to take technical courses in German.

"A lot of students like the idea of studying in Germany, but they don't necessarily have the fluency in German to take a technical course in German," Pagel said.

The program includes German language courses in addition to the nanotechnology courses in English.

"Six weeks in Germany sounds like a fun experience," Thurber said.

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www.mndaily.com

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Melting Microchip Defects May Extend Moore's Law

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:26:26 +0100

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By focussing on fixing defects, the new method enables more precise shaping of microchip components

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schliz lets us know about research out of Princeton on melting away defects on microchips using a laser. The new technique, termed Self-Perfection by Liquefaction (SPEL), was published in the May 4 issue of Nature Nanotechnology.
Researchers have traditionally approached chip defects by trying to improve the microchip fabrication process, but this eventually reaches fundamental physical limits to do with random behavior of electrons and photons.

By focussing on fixing defects, the new method enables more precise shaping of microchip components, and engineers expect to dramatically improve chip quality without increasing fabrication cost. Here's a diagram of how the process works (below).

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http://hardware.slashdot.org

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Lab In A Drop: Pocket-sized PCR Rapid Test Including Sample Preparation

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:23:27 +0100

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Analysis and diagnosis in a chip format are coming of age, but their practical application has been limited because until now, the sample usually had to be prepared separately and on a nonminiaturized scale. Jürgen Pipper and his team at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore want to change this. They have now developed a rapid test for genetic diagnosis that combines the preparation of biological samples with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on one chip. As they report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the “laboratory device” for all steps in this system is a single drop containing magnetic nanoparticles, which is moved across the chip by a magnetic field.

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PCR allows gene sequences to be duplicated and identified—to identify a disease trigger, for example. In this process, the sample must cycle through a specific sequence of temperatures. Because of the slow heating and cooling processes, laboratory PCR usually takes several hours. The new chip PCR requires only minutes, including for the sample preparation.

In contrast to other chip-based methods, the actual sample, such as a drop of blood, can be placed directly on the PCR chip, where it is mixed with a drop that contains magnetic particles. These particles are equipped with antibodies on their surface, antibodies that bind specifically to the interesting cells in the blood. By moving a magnet underneath the chip, a droplet containing the bound magnetic particles is physically pulled out of the blood droplet and moved on to the next station—a droplet of washing liquid. The magnetic droplet is combined with the washing droplet and then pulled out again through movement of the magnet. Another droplet then delivers the enzymes and reagents necessary for cell disruption.

The last station is the PCR station. After combination with a reagent droplet, the magnetic droplet is moved around like a clockwork, passing again and again through four different zones set to the temperatures necessary for PCR. Each cycle lasts 8 seconds. A fluorescence detector over one of the zones monitors the progress of the PCR (real-time PCR) and indicates whether the desired gene sequence is present and in what amount.

With their new PCR chip, the researchers were able to isolate 30 cells implanted with the genetic information for a green-fluorescing protein from 25 µL of blood, concentrate them 100-fold, wash them, rupture them, and detect the gene for the green protein by real-time PCR—all within just 17 minutes!

Journal reference: Clockwork PCR Including Sample Preparation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2008, 47, 3900–3904 doi: 10.1002/anie.200705016

Adapted from materials provided by Wiley-Blackwell.

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Wiley-Blackwell (2008, May 7). Lab In A Drop: Pocket-sized PCR Rapid Test Including Sample Preparation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 9, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/05/080506120940.htm

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Small Wonders

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:22:23 +0100

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In the world of nanotechnology, good things come in really small packages

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Brian Ruby calls himself the paparazzo of the nano world. His Seattle company, Carbon Nanoprobes Inc., takes photographs of very tiny things. It has created a nanotube-tipped probe designed to improve the microscopes used in nanotechnology.

The company, with five full-time employees and three rounds of financing, is in discussions with instrument manufacturers and hopes to begin making sales by the end of the year. Ruby, 24, first synthesized carbon nanotubes as a teenage intern at IBM, and he started Carbon Nanoprobes when he was a sophomore at Columbia University.

At the other end of the nanotech universe are companies like Nantero Inc., co-founded by Thomas Rueckes, Greg Schmergel and Brent Segal, all 39. The Woburn, Massachusetts-based company earned revenue of more than $15 million in 2007. Among the products it has in development is NRAM, which Schmer-gel describes as a memory chip that could be used in any electronic device and has the speed of RAM but is nonvolatile, so it retains its data even without power. Nantero develops intellectual property and licenses it to manufacturers; its partners include Hewlett-Packard and BAE Systems, a major defense contractor.

Ruby and Schmergel are among the entrepreneurs ready for a boom in nanotechnology, and at least one futurist think tank believes the field is poised for tremendous growth. Social Technologies, a global research and consulting firm, asked experts worldwide to predict the most important scientific and technological breakthroughs with significant commercial value through the year 2025. Nanomaterials was named one of the top 12 areas. The 2007 report, which defined nanotechnology as the creation of particles, fibers, films, coatings and other materials between 1 and 100 nanometers in size, said major accomplishments in nanotech will dramatically change "the materials and processes used to produce many of our consumer and industrial products."

While the revolution in electronics is the best example of nanotechnology at work, Robert Geer, associate professor of nanoscience at the University at Albany, State University of New York, says medicine and energy are other sectors especially open to innovation. Medical researchers could produce, for instance, a nanoparticle that attaches only to tumor cells to stop them from functioning or growing. "Before, people talked about targeted drugs," Geer says. "Now they're talking about targeted structures." As for energy, Albany is one of the universities partnering with private companies to research better ways of producing and storing power using nanotech.

Additional fields spotlighted in the Social Technologies report include construction (imagine a self-cleaning floor with an anti-microbial nanocoating); leisure goods (your tennis racket may already be reinforced with carbon nanotubes to make it stiffer and lighter); and consumer products (nanoparticles in sunscreen is one controversial application). "You'll see [nano-technology] creep into every product," predicts Schmergel.

Some entrepreneurs who are intrigued by the business possibilities of nanotech are turning to universities for a key resource: top-notch labs without top-notch prices. The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network is a group of 13 university labs that are funded by the National Science Foundation and open to outside users. "We have users who spend $100,000 a year, but compared to the cost of setting up your own lab, that's a relatively small amount," says NNIN program director Lynn Rathbun. Labs at Cornell, Stanford, the University of Michigan and elsewhere provide equipment and experienced staff with whom you can discuss ideas.

Carbon Nanoprobes, for example, has used facilities at the University of Washington, Seattle. "We've been able to stay at the cutting technological edge. Without entrance into the state- and university-subsidized facilities, we'd have no way of doing that," Ruby says.

Even given the optimistic projections, nanotechnology isn't exactly synonymous with profit. Plenty of nanotech companies aren't yet earning revenue, and consumer acceptance may be an obstacle. Let's say some enterprising chemist could devise a nanotech treatment for fabric so it never stains. Think of the benefits for parents of young children: "When someone knocks over a cup, it won't ruin the couch," says Carmichael Roberts, a father, venture capitalist and co-founder of Nano-Terra, a nanotech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that earned sales in the millions last year. But ask parents if they want their children to wear nanotechnology-altered pants, and they may very well balk. But Roberts, 40, predicts consumer misgivings will lessen over time.

Funding is also a complicated issue. Schmergel's company received more than $31 million in venture financing, but overall, he doesn't see the wave of funding for nanotech that was anticipated earlier in the decade. "The number of companies funded is still pretty small," he says. That's partly because of a lack of scientists to staff these companies, and partly because of the difficulty VC firms have in evaluating and deciding whether to fund the technologies.

Still, the excitement is such that a wider variety of people are getting interested in the field, including more women and even teens. The University at Albany focuses on the latter, Geer notes. "We're reaching out to middle school and high school students to say, ‘It may look geeky, but it's actually cool.'"

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—By Andrea Cooper
www.usnews.com

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Make India a significant player in nanotechnology: Kalam

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:19:25 +0100

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Government and private sector should join hands and carry out focussed research to make India a significant player in nanotechnology, former President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Saturday.

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Government and private sector should join hands and carry out focussed research to make India a significant player in nanotechnology, former President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Saturday.

"Only a few institutions are currently contributing towards advancement in nanotechnology in the country. An action plan needs to be prepared to make India a significant player in the field," he said, addressing a conference at the National Institute of Technology at Warangal.

The country can make rapid strides if the government and industry joined hands, as nanotechnology will be the central focus for many technologies to converge. The next ten years will see nano technology playing the most dominant role in the global business environment, Kalam said.

Later in the day, the former President participated in a function organised by the Lead India 2020 Foundation in Hyderabad on "Mass Awareness on Fundamental Duties".

Addressing a large number of students, Kalam emphasised on inculcating good value system in young children along with qualities like confidence, creativity and courage.

It is qualities like creativity, righteousness, courage and indomitable spirit that make one great, he said and asked parents and teachers to inculcate these in children.

Kalam made the children repeat, in his inimitable style, sayings like "I can do it", whatever the mission, I will work with dedication", I will work with integrity".

The children, who applauded him throughout his speech, welcomed Kalam with thunderous applause.

Andhra Pradesh Speaker KR Suresh Reddy and High Court Judge V Eshwaraiah also attended the programme.

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www.hindustantimes.com

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Open day - Nanotewch forum

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:18:29 +0100

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The open forum will also include demonstrations of an atomic force microscope

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Nanotechnology forum

The Donald F. Averill Applied Technology Training Center in San Bernardino will hold a nanotechnology open forum and reception from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, featuring Meyya Meyyappan, director of the Center for Nanotechnology at the NASA Ames Research Center.

Meyyappan will cover the growing field of nanotechnology, recent developments and the importance of nanotechnology in business today. The open forum will also include demonstrations of an atomic force microscope by Dan Kleinen of San Jose-based Pacific Nanotechnology Inc.

The open forum is a kick-off event for a nanotechnology training series offered through a grant from the Economic and Workforce Development Division of the California Community Colleges System. The first session begins Tuesday. Sessions will continue through November.

Nanotechnology refers to a field of science and technology whose theme is the control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale.

More information: Albert R. Maniaol, director of applied technologies trainingm, at (909) 382-4074, or e-mail at amaniaol@sbccd.org.

- citydesk@inlandnewspapers.com

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