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General Enquiries

Admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:39:36 +0000

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We get a lot of students enquiring about various matters so we will be posting them here to help out. If you need help use our contact form with your requirements.

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Dear Colleagues,

Researcher in nanomaterial and environemtal researches

Dear Colleagues, I would like to introduce myslef with my Cv at
http://www.geocities.com/hkazemian/CV.doc. Now I want to relocate from my
country to North America or European countries. if you have any research posiiton please contact me

hosseinkazemian@gmail.com

Sincerely
Kazemian

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Dear sir or madam,

A place to write my diploma thesis

I am a bio- nanotechnology student at an advanced technical college in the
9th semester. From march 2009 to the end of may 2009 i need a ministered
place (german diplom-engineer / degreed engineer (advanced technical
college) or higher gradet) were i could write my diploma thesis. Please
write me, if you could help me. I'm interested in jobs in germany, close
to germany (european union) or anywhere else if i get extra payment for
it, in germany i would finance myself but would not mind getting payment.

hd_trinkaus@msn.com

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Hello

Student Research

I was wondering if you had any additional information concerning
nanotechnology and the different markets and suppliers that are already in
the industry. Any other additional information would be greatly
appreciated!!!

tho0505@gmail.com

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The Latest Nanotechnolgy News Snips From Around The World. - CLICK HERE

Admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:10:29 +0000

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Here we add all the latest news snips from around the world. Hopefully they will be of interest to you. I guess they idea is to save you trolling lots of sites and reading headlines

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Kenyan education should embrace nanotechnology

Kenya should introduce a nanotechnology curriculum to position the country as a "global player" in this emerging area of science and technology, write Macharia Waruingi and Jean Njoroge in Business Daily Africa. Nanotechnology could potentially make a greater impact than biotechnology and information technology combined, with an estimated market value of US$1 trillion by 2015. Africa is well

Nanotech centre in Washington

George Washington University in Washington DC has announced the establishment of the GW Institute for Nanotechnology which will draw on the expertise of the university’s faculty members across a range of disciplines.

Nanotechnology in schools

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, will today in Melbourne launch an innovative secondary school resource that will assist science teachers to teach nanotechnology in Australian schools. AccessNano, a cutting-edge educational resource, is designed to introduce accessible and innovative science and technology into classrooms, and provide an integrated approach to teaching nanotechnolgy. The Australian Office of Nanotechnology developed AccessNano following feedback from science teachers that children were asking to be taught about nanotechnology, but many teachers did not have the knowledge or resources to be able to teach the topic.

US Army Embraces Nanotechnology

Few of late have not heard about nanotechnology and the advances that have been made with this wondrous technology. Self-repairing paint, possible future surgeries that are invasive, advances plastics and medical technology, and even future ideas for computers are among the few that have been heard about this year alone. However, there are other uses for nanoids including the use of protective equipment and storage materials. This last subject has been the debate of the moment for the next U.S. Army Corrosion Summit. It is hoped that nanotechnology may be applied to corrosive materials and helped to retain them by creating anti-corrosion technology through the use of nanotechnology. As more studies are done on this new science, it is also speculated that further uses including food and water storage for soldiers, and stronger protective shield for mobile units. In addition, there is also the possibility of more affordable and stronger personal armor for soldiers to use on the front line. As this new science is explored, more advances are expected be discovered as time passes, which will hopefully turn into the ability to protect U.S. Army soldiers and supplies while in the field.

CCAS, SEAS launch Institute for Nanotechnology

A recently launched Institute for Nanotechnology at GW will investigate a developing science that studies objects 1/100,000th the size of a strand of hair.In a partnership between the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Institute for Nanotechnology will research atoms at the nano level and ultimately help create new goods and materials. The University has committed $200,000 to the institute for its first year.

NANO ACCESS IN A NUTSHELL

AccessNano is all set for its November 28th launch by The Honourable Julia Guillard MP at the 2008 Science Teachers Association of Victoria Conference. What is AccessNano? AccessNano is a cutting-edge nanotechnology educational resource designed to introduce accessible and innovative science and technology into Australian secondary school classrooms. It is different from most other nanotechnology education initiatives as it provides an integrated and locally-relevant approach to teaching nanotechnology. AccessNano is presented in the form of 13 web-based, curriculum-matched modules targeted at years 7-11, featuring PowerPoint presentations, experiments, activities, animations and links to interactive websites. accessnano.org/

Nanotechnology sparks fears for the future

READ FULL REPORT - http://www.rcep.org.uk/novelmaterials.htm

Footware enhanced by nanotechnology

Guests at the London Aquarium last August 27th were first to see the unvieling of Hi-Tec's revolutionary footware named 'ion mask'. Dr Ian Robins, Business Development Director of P2i, adds: “ion-mask™ surface enhancement nano-technology can treat everyday objects without altering the look, design or feel of the object.

Nanotechnology park needs a name

The Mayor of South Bend Mayor Luecke is asking local residents to come up with a name for the city's future 83 acre nanotechnology park

Nanotechnology Operations To Be Housed In Moscow

In 2009, production of unique nanomaterials for the aviation industry will be launched in Moscow, said Alexander Yuzvik, general director of the Moscow-based state-owned company Stroyexprom. The decision to set up the operations on the territory of the now closed AZLK car factory was made by the city's authorities and the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnology. Moscow has allotted some RUB 1.7bn (approx. USD 63.17m) from its budget to revamp the factory's facilities. According to Yuzvik, some Austrian and French companies have already been given the green light to run their operations in the area. Apart from them, a Russian firm based with the Moscow State University's chemical faculty will set up its production there as well, and Stroyexprom is in talks to attract more partners.

Fuel efficient engine oil driven by nanotechnology

High-tech lubricant hailed the 'top dog of engine oil' has been launched at an industry event at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. The London firm behind the venture - NanoBoron UK - says the oil has been scientifically proven to improve fuel consumption more than 10 per cent, reduce engine wear and corrosion and help the environment.

Nanotechnology May Help Nepal

Nanotechnology has tremendous possibility to create many new materials and devices with numerous applications, such as in medicine, electronics, and energy production.In September 2000, 189 member states of the UN agreed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- Nepal was one of them

Scientific center in nanotechnology started

A regional center in nanotechnology education will be lead by Lansing Community college which will bring together colleges throughout Michigan. The initiative will be named Nano-Link and is funded to the tune of $3 million dollars by The National Science Foundation.

'Second Life' has launched a nanotechnology concept

You know nanotechnology is here to stay when 'Second Life' have created a nanotechnology island within their online virtual world. The aim is to bring nanotech communities together and form relationships between scientists and polcy makers. Well well, what next?

Drug development research aided by nanoparticles

(UK)Liverpool University scientists have been developing a new method that will improve the effectiveness of antibacterial treatments. The new technology is allowing the scientists to develop new medicines by converting currently available drugs into a nanoparticle form. Antiparastitic drugs to treat malaria are also being developed in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Nanotech Program Launched By Australian Government

The federal government has launched a $100 million science program aimed at providing laboratories and support for work on micro and nano-fabrication research. The program is to be distributed between seven universities across Australia

Nanocosmetics spark fears

Which magazine report fears over the safety of skin products that are developed with nanotechnology. They are calling for stricter regulations saying that consumers have no idea what they are actually using

There is a difference between Carbon and Nanotubes

Nanotubes are difference than carbon, with carbon nanotubes considered new substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This is the position taken by the US Environmental Protection Agency

Managed to kill 98% cervical cancer cells

Scientists at Little Rock have developed a method of killing the cancer cells by injecting them with minute magnetic particles which are heated with low radio frequency radiation. They are working in collaboration with The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

NY - Solar power to be more efficient

Researchers have developed a new antireflective coating that will allow the panels to capture more sunlight. Congratulations to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

US - 39 engineers and scientist selected for 3 year research grant awards

Total awards amount to $12.1 million. The awaards are aimed at creating basic research in many areas such as physics, electronics, chemical and life sciences

More effective insulation using nanotechnology

It is now possible to paint on materials that have been created using nanotechnology that give the surface properties and definitions due to the minute enhanced nano-structures. Think about aircraft and the aerodynamics possibilities.

Chennai, India - Date set for Nanotechnology Conclave 2009

4th Nanotechnology Conclave 2009, Tamil Nadu TEchnology Development & Promotion Center of CII's mega international event, is scheduled to be held in Chennai, India, at Hotel Taj Coromandal, from 02-03 March 2009.

Stamping nanodevices with rubber moulds

Cornell researchers have developed a way to pattern and make nanoscale wires along with other devices. Normally expensive lithographic equipment had been used for this process. The moulds stamp the structures required.

Bioinformatics Industry supported by Nanotechnology will grow at 31% by year 2010

With lots of early success in this field such as nanoparticulate synthetic bone substitute and nanocomposite packaging materials that increases the shelf life of food products. Bioinformatics applications are expected to be instrumental in providing the first major break-through to nanotechnology.

Nanotools sales set to explode in USA

Nanotools are being used in many areas such as research, biomedical and the electronics industry. Sales of nanotools in the electronics industry alone are expected to exceed $450 million by the end of 2012

Nanotechnology to be pushed by The Confederation of Indian Industry

Industry is being urged forward and research projects should be given preference. A skill development initiative is required to support this emerging technolgy. The Indian government is being asked to establish a strong infrastructure to aid this push.

Mend a Boken Heart?

A novel scaffold developed by MIT could mend broken hearts one day. The idea is that living heart cells or stem cells seeded onto such a scaffold would develop into a patch of cardiac tissue that could be used to treat congenital heart defects, or aid the recovery of tissue damaged by a heart attack. The biodegradable scaffold would be gradually absorbed into the body, leaving behind new tissue.

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Your interpretations of nanotechnology

Admin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:32:10 +0000

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For reference (and fun) we are gatherering your slant on 'Nanotechnology' - Send in your idea of what nanotechnolgy is.

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We are going to list everyones idea on the concept of nanotechnology. Whether funny, off the wall or serious we would love to hear from you. All submissions will get your name and url acknowledged.

Here is one slightly understated submission - 'Nanotechnology is about small things'

So come on nanoviper's lets be hearing form you. You can use the form below. 100 words or less please. http://www.nanovip.com/contact

Read the results - http://www.nanovip.com/node/53670

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Heidelberg Instruments to Support Advanced Material and Nanotechnology Research at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:39:44 +0000

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Heidelberg Instruments announced the sale of a uPG101 table top maskless laser patterning system to the MacDiarmid Institute of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

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Heidelberg Instruments announced the sale of a uPG101 table top maskless laser patterning system to the MacDiarmid Institute of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

The µPG101 is an extremely economical and easy to use Micro Pattern Generator for direct write applications as well as low volume mask making. It is also perfectly suitable for rapid prototyping of 2D and 3D microstructures on substrates up to 4 inches by 4 inches, and is capable of exposing high resolution features with an address grid of 100nm.

"The µPG101 system installed at the University of Canterbury will be used to support the research of New Zealand's MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (macdiarmid.ac.nz). It is an ideal mask-making and device-prototyping tool to support the wide range of research being carried out, from exploring new applications for microfluidic systems, to developing optoelectronic and spintronic devices from a range of different organic and inorganic materials," states Professor Richard Blaikie, Deputy Director at the MacDiarmid Institute.

The µPG101 maskless lithography system offers a very small footprint of 60cm by 60cm. It presents a highly flexible, out of the box tool which is capable of layer to layer alignment through its integrated camera system. Applications include MEMS, BioMEMS, Integrated Optics, Micro Fluidics, µTAS, or similar areas requiring microstructures.

About Heidelberg Instruments, GmbH: With an installation base of more than 300 systems in over 30 countries, Heidelberg Instruments is a world leader in production of high precision maskless lithography systems. These systems are used for direct writing and photomask production by some of the most prestigious universities and industry leaders in the areas of MEMS, BioMEMS, Nano Technology, ASICS, TFT, Plasma Displays, Micro Optics, and many other related applications.

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Drug Development Company Do-Coop Technologies Ltd Introduces Innovative Patented Nanotechnology System

Admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:26:53 +0000

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Neowater® - An innovative patented Nanotechnology system has been developed by a Drug Development Company located in Israel. This technology has brought the drug development process into a completely new level.

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Pathogens evolve every day, and hence challenges met by the worldwide health care centers are tremendous. Therefore, one has to keep up with these fast and efficient techniques to identify infections as early as possible.

Do-coop Technologies Ltd. is a private company established in 1997 in Israel near Tel Aviv close to the Ben-Gurion International Airport. It has developed a patented Nanotechnology system to modify the properties of water using nanometer (one-billionth of a meter) size particles (Nano particles). This enables the first ever introduction of water-based biomaterials.

Neowater® is the first branded product of Do-coop, which targets the molecular diagnostics and research market within the Life Science industry. It is also offering new soluble service for Pharma and Biotech companies to enhance bioavailability and solubility of existing and new drugs. Do-coop qualifies for ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004. The Neowater® technology is generated using a distinctive and innovated patented-process, challenges, and contemporary notions about water as well as the fundamental understanding of modern Physics.

Do-coop has the required proficiencies in the fields of Nanotechnology, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Neowater® has developed exceptional and half step PCR based kits for a rapid and consistent identification of various avian, feline and canine disease tests.

These kits are freeze free thus, the expense of shipping and storing are reduced, as it can be stored at room temperature. The diagnostic company such as Karnieli Ltd. presently uses Neowater®. To know more about Neowater® log on to the website. If you have queries or question you can log on to this site and you will receive a prompt reply from docoop.com. Docoop.com lets you know all the necessary information related to their current projects and services to other companies and detailed reports, supports, forums and media details.

Everyone loves to have a life of quality. Technology does go a long way in helping lead us a quality life, but sometimes one needs to have a superior technology to solve certain problems. Neowater® is a technology that will help you lead this quality life. On docoop.com, you can also join their research in their field of water physics and chemistry.

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'Micro and Nano Technologies for Food - a healthy and safe option?'

JohnT — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:21:11 +0000

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The 2008 Albert Franks Memorial Lecture
The Royal Society, London

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The 2008 Albert Franks Memorial Lecture will be given by Dr Frans Kampers, currently director of BioNT, the Wageningen biotechnology centre for food and health innovation.

Frans Kampers is one of Europe’s most knowledgeable and charismatic presenters on the topic of novel foods, and no stranger to controversy. His wide-ranging lecture will cover - the benefits and risks of nanotechnology as applied to foods and healthfoods; the opportunities nanotechnology offers for improved safety; and how nanoadditives are providing enhanced nutritional and health benefits. He will also discuss the responsibility of food manufacturers to demonstrate that new applications are safe!

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A small world with big potential

Admin — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:30:35 +0000

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Although still generations away, such scientific breakthroughs are not as far-fetched as they might have once seemed. Faculty members and graduate students at the University of Connecticut are among those leading the way in this emerging area called nanotechnology.

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What if harmful carbon dioxide emissions — the primary cause of global warming — could be stripped from the atmosphere and harnessed to create useful products, such as pharmaceuticals or renewable fuels?

Suppose newly developed chemotherapy drugs could target cancer cells with unparalleled precision, sparing healthy cells from damage and, consequently, patients from unpleasant side effects.

A burgeoning field of promise viewed by some as the next technological frontier, nanotechnology is expected to bring about widespread changes in the world similar to the transformations that followed development of the computer in the 20th century.

Although still in its infancy, many researchers predict that nanotechnology will change everything from how we store information and treat illness to how we power our cars and heat our homes.

In short, scientists are looking for ways to use little things — so small they are unseen by the naked eye and observable only through the most advanced of microscopes — to change the world in a big way.

How small is the nano world? With a single nanometer equal to one-millionth of a millimeter, even a million nanometers reach only across the head of a pin.

In nanotechnology research, scientists are literally working on the atomic level, studying and manipulating matter on an ultra-small scale—typically measuring between a mere 1 and 100 nanometers.

A Promising Investment
In recent years, UConn has emerged as a leader in nanotechnology research in Connecticut, and “the state is starting to pay attention,” says Mehdi Anwar, associate dean for research and graduate education at the School of Engineering.

UConn’s investment in this cutting-edge technology is extensive, with more than 60 faculty plus dozens of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows involved in myriad research projects backed by more than $20 million in research grants and contracts.

Over the past fiscal year, the University devoted more than $1.5 million to support lab facilities and instrumentation essential to this work, and additional plans are in place to build or renovate research space for scientists and engineers in the coming years.

Such an investment, many believe, is well worth it.

“There’s a real buzz now about nanotechnology,” says Harris Marcus, professor of materials science and engineering and director of the University’s Institute of Materials Science, an interdisciplinary research center housing state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories where much of UConn’s nanotechnology studies are concentrated.

“And while the buzz may fade away, the research is going to be profound.”

The number of potential nanotechnology-based applications — in fields as diverse as manufacturing and military defense to medicine and renewable energy — is astounding.

UConn faculty in engineering, physics, chemistry and other sciences are coming together to carry out work that could someday lead to the development of cleaner energy sources, earlier diagnoses of disease and many other innovations that are only beginning to take shape.

Life-Altering Advances
Take, for instance, the potentially life-saving research performed by scientists at the UConn Health Center.

At the R.D. Berlin Center for Cell Analysis, Liisa Kuhn, assistant professor of oral rehabilitation, biomaterials and skeletal development, is exploring the possibility of using nanoparticles to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly — and more accurately than ever before — to tumors and lymph nodes.

Such a breakthrough would serve as a more effective treatment against the spread of cancer while reducing the toxic side effects for nearby healthy cells.

Equally as promising are the multi-disciplinary endeavors explored by UConn chemists such as Robert Birge, the Harold S. Schwenk Distinguished Chair of Chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Heavily dependent on nanotechnology and biomolecular electronics, Birge’s research includes a long-standing project dedicated to producing an artificial retina that could restore vision for people who have lost their sense of sight.

At the same time, Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos, a chemistry professor and the associate director of the Institute of Materials Science, has spent the past decade teamed up on a mission to construct special nano-sized sensors that could greatly improve quality of life for people with diabetes.

Working with fellow scientists in the Schools of Engineering and Pharmacy, Papadimitrakopoulos envisions these sensors — wireless and implanted in humans—capable of continuously monitoring metabolic processes, such as blood glucose levels.

For the more than 20 million Americans currently suffering from diabetes, such a sensor would prove to be indispensable.

Nanotechnology could even play a key role in protecting patient medical records, according to Eric Donkor, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.

“If, for example, someone’s medical information must be transmitted from one doctor to another,” Donkor explains, “we want that information to be as secure as we can make it.”

Donkor’s research focuses in part on building tiny semi-conductor particles — with dimensions of only 10 to 20 nanometers — into networks of special fibers, similar to fiber optic cable.

These fibers would transmit and process information using light—remarkably, a single photon at a time. Communicating confidential medical, governmental, or business data utilizing this fundamental, indivisible particle of light, Donkor says, “is the secret to securing information.”

In the Right Direction
“Nanotechnology will make a fundamental change in the way we live and work,” says UConn chemistry professor Challa Vijaya Kumar, who compares the advent of nanotechnology to the dawn of the Stone Age, when humans first learned to make and use tools.

In considering the developments that could emerge as nanotechnology research efforts intensify, Kumar is optimistic about the next “leap in our civilization.”

He envisions nanorobots that flow through the bloodstream, repairing damaged cells, and nanomaterials 100 times stronger than steel.

His own research involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into practical products using nanocatalysts.

All this, he says, is the “kind of sophistication [that] is impossible with the current technology.” Nanotechnology, however, could make it a reality.

Still other studies, even in the early stages of development, offer a glimpse into a wealth of possible future benefits.

Bahram Javidi, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, and his team have developed a novel way to view and recognize different bacteria species using a special imaging system that measures how nanoorganisms interact with light.

Unlike the invasive — and time-consuming — processes currently used to identify such organisms, this technique not only leaves the cell undamaged but also provides real-time results.

Having the ability to distinguish microorganisms using this method could eventually allow scientists to automate the monitoring of water supplies for harmful pathogens or to identify, detect and track pandemics such as avian flu far more quickly than previously possible.

“What is good is that the devices, such as lasers and detectors, needed to make these instruments and these discoveries are all moving in the right direction,” Javidi says.

“They are all becoming more available in the domains where we need them.”

UConn’s Institute of Materials Science is the place where sophisticated microscopes and other advanced lab equipment make it possible today for scientists to probe, evaluate and manipulate materials on the nano level.

This high-tech instrumentation is accessible to University faculty and graduate students engaged in cutting-edge studies of materials science and engineering, including nanotechnology.

“Smaller and smaller is where everything is going,” says Marcus, the Institute’s longtime director.

“This instrumentation is absolutely necessary to doing nanotechnology research.”

So in demand are the Institute’s research facilities that about 40 companies located across the Northeast — from the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical and even sporting goods industries — have signed up as members of the Institute in order to attain the right to use its coveted technology.

“They have problems, and they come to us to leverage our expertise,” explains Brian Huey, assistant professor of chemical materials and biomolecular engineering, who came to UConn in 2003 from the National Institute of Standards Technology in Washington, D.C., to bolster UConn’s nanotechnology efforts.

Since his arrival, UConn has added two atomic force microscopes — the core of advanced nanotechnology research — and Huey’s staff has trained numerous faculty and graduate students to use the instruments.

A Remarkable Opportunity
By the year 2014, Connecticut’s Office of Workforce Competitiveness estimates more than 25,000 workers in the state of Connecticut will produce nanotechnology-enabled applications and manufactured goods and worldwide sales of products incorporating nanotechnology are predicted to amount to $2.9 trillion in revenue.

Among UConn faculty involved in nanotechnology, all believe collaboration is necessary to make such predictions a reality. “It is all about partnership, partnership, partnership,” says associate dean Anwar.

“This is a University-wide effort. It is not concentrated in one department. We need to involve each and every discipline to get something done. When we bring partners together, it will all start to make sense.”

Even beyond the University, that message seems to be getting across. The state of Connecticut, through the Connecticut Office of Workplace Competitiveness and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology is taking steps to fund new projects and further collaboration between UConn researchers and Connecticut businesses.

“It’s all about bringing industry and the university researchers closer together,” says Deb Santy, director of the Small Business Innovation Research program at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology.

“Businesses…go to the universities to see what they are doing in nanotechnology and see what they are willing to share with industry.”

In addition, scientists and state policymakers are looking to establish a Connecticut Center for Nanoscale Sciences, backed by a partnership between UConn, Yale University, and the state and federal governments.

The center would encourage collaboration between scientists at both universities as well as a sharing of the high-priced equipment needed for the research.

And there is no time to lose.

“Nanotechnology really is the future,” says Donkor. “If minds meet together, if we can find a niche and be prominent in that area ahead of time, I think that is critical.”

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By Stefanie Dion Jones '00 (CLAS) & David McKay Wilson
http://uconnmagazine.uconn.edu/sprg2008/feature1.html

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A Virus-Powered Battery

Admin — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:08:18 +0000

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Engineers at MIT have figured out a way to deal with virus that is better than just killing them:

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Engineers at MIT have figured out a way to deal with virus that is better than just killing them: they're putting them to work. The researchers have developed a new technique wherein a key component of a microscopic battery is assembled by viruses, allowing for the cheap and simple construction of very small power sources.

The research, first published in the journal The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, builds on earlier work by the MIT group involving viruses. In the earlier experiments the scientists genetically engineered viruses to make a protein skin that attracts bits of metal. In the new experiment, the researchers put that skill to work by having the viruses build a specific part of a larger machine.

Batteries are composed of four key components, an anode and cathode that form the positive and negative poles, an electrolyte that transfers the electric charge between them, and a separator to keep the anode and cathode apart. In the MIT experiment, two polymer layers that would serve as the electrolyte and the separator were lain on top of a four micrometer wide post. The genetically engineered viruses were then encouraged to grow on top of those layers, where they would attract a metal, in this case cobalt oxide, which would serve as the anode. The researchers still haven’t engineered a virus to make the cathode, but that is clearly the next step.

The whole process is especially attractive because of its easy and low cost. The problem is application. Right now, there are no devices that require a battery one tenth the width of a human hair. However, in the future these small batteries could serve as the primary power source for a wide range of nanotechnology. Which is good, because in these days of green energy we wouldn’t want our nanotechnology running on coal or oil.

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popsci.com

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Accidental fungus leads to promising cancer drug

Admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:05:10 +0000

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Washington - A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, United States researchers reported on Sunday.

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The drug, called lodamin, was improved in one of the last experiments overseen by Dr Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who died in January. Dr Folkman pioneered the idea of angiogenesis therapy - starving tumours by preventing them from growing blood supplies.

Lodamin is an angiogenesis inhibitor that Dr Folkman's team has been working to perfect for 20 years. Writing in the journal Nature Biotechnology, his colleagues say they developed a formulation that works as a pill, without side-effects.

They have licensed it to SynDevRx, a privately held Cambridge, Massachusetts biotechnology company that has recruited several prominent cancer experts to its board.

Tests in mice showed it worked against a range of tumours, including breast cancer, neuroblastoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumours known as glioblastomas and uterine tumours.

It helped stop so-called primary tumours and also prevented their spread, Dr Ofra Benny of Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School and colleagues reported.

'Using the oral route of administration, it first reaches the liver, making it especially efficient in preventing the development of liver metastasis in mice,' they wrote in their report. 'Liver metastasis is very common in many tumour types and is often associated with a poor prognosis and survival rate,' they added. -- REUTERS

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news.asiaone.com

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Any foreign company may file an application for financing to RCNT

Admin — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:19:27 +0000

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RCNT’s director general Leonid Melamed made such a statement during the talks with federal National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO).

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“The focus of our work in the direction of foreign cooperation is the same as in our ordinary work – financing of the joint projects. Hereby any foreign applicant, any foreign company can file an application and receive financing under the same conditions as Russian companies” – said Mr. Melamed.

RCNT doesn’t differentiate companies due to their origin. The only restriction is that at least part of the production facilities must be situated in Russia.

“We already have applications for financing such joint projects. We render full administrative support for such projects, especially in overcoming of the bureaucracy barriers” – said Mr. Melamed.

The possibility of creating scientific centers outside of Russia is also discussed. “If creation of a laboratory would allow to solve our tasks more effectively in a foreseeable future, not in the next century, we may go for such a step. At least, there are no prohibitions for us in doing so” – said Mr. Melamed.

RCNT has already started cooperation with foreign companies. Besides that, very soon the corporate internet-portal will have the English interface for accepting applications for financing from foreign entities.

According to the head of NNCO Clayton Teague, he was very glad to have an honest and open exchange of opinions. “As for specific actions, the information about business strategy shared by RCNT with us, was very useful. I think that continuing contacts between RCNT and USA through our office is a good start” – said Mt. Teague.

After the talks which passed in a warm atmosphere of a round table in the embassy of Russia in Washington, the RCNT delegation visited the Nanofab complex of NIST’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology at Gaithersburg, MD. After the visit, RCNT representatives held a company presentation which was visited by about a hundred of American experts and businessmen.

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rusnanotekh.com

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Applied Materials Named Green Energy Innovator of the Year

JohnT — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:54:04 +0000

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Applied Materials, Inc. today announced it was named Green Energy Innovator of the Year for its pioneering work on the Applied SunFab™ Thin Film Line,

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied Materials, Inc. today announced it was named Green Energy Innovator of the Year for its pioneering work on the Applied SunFab™ Thin Film Line, at a gala presenting the prestigious 9th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards.

“Applied Materials is focused on lowering the cost of solar photovoltaic generated energy through the application of nanomanufacturing technologies,” said Mark Pinto, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager Energy and Environmental Solutions. “The nominees in the category of Green Energy Innovator were international in breadth and included leading global green energy innovators. Amongst such competition, I am pleased to receive this acknowledgement and proud of the great work our teams around the world are doing to help make solar energy an affordable solution to the world’s power needs.”

The award highlighted the revolutionary SunFab, the world’s first and only integrated production line for manufacturing thin film silicon solar modules using 5.7 square meter (m2) glass panels. These ultra-large substrates, sized at 2.2m x 2.6m, are four times bigger than today’s typical thin film solar modules. Key to the SunFab’s success is that it can be replicated by customers around the globe to rapidly establish solar panel manufacturing capacity and achieve lower production cost per watt to drive down the cost of solar electricity.

“Our judges’ panel was impressed by Applied Materials’ demonstration of an innovative solution to an important global challenge and with this award we are pleased to recognize their commitment to environmental responsibility and the advancement of solar power around the world,” said Platts President Victoria Chu Pao.

The Platts awards showcase extraordinary accomplishments by energy businesses and individuals worldwide. Finalists and winners are determined by an independent international panel of judges. Platts, a leading global energy information service, is a division of the McGraw Hill companies.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

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ARROWHEAD FORMS NEW SUBSIDIARY TO COMMERCIALIZE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES

Admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:21:36 +0000

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Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR) announced today that it has formed Agonn Systems Corporation to explore, develop and commercialize nanotechnology-based energy storage devices for electric vehicles and other large format applications.

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Pasadena, CA - July 9, 2008 - Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR) announced today that it has formed Agonn Systems Corporation to explore, develop and commercialize nanotechnology-based energy storage devices for electric vehicles and other large format applications. Agonn has initiated a strategy to acquire energy storage technologies based on nanoscale engineering from research institutions and expects to begin prototyping ultracapacitors based on carbon nanotubes and other advanced materials this year. The formation of Agonn Systems is part of a strategy at Arrowhead to leverage nanotechnology for clean energy applications.

"We implemented a similar roll up of intellectual property, device design, and manufacturing capability to build our majority-owned subsidiary Unidym into a leader in the application of carbon nanotubes for electronics,” said Arrowhead CEO Chris Anzalone. “We intend to replicate this strategy in the field of nanotech-based energy storage devices."

Arrowhead has established for Agonn a team of scientific advisors pioneering nanotechnology-based energy storage, including:

* Alan Gotcher, Ph.D., former CEO, Altair Nanotechnologies Inc, and former Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing at Avery Dennison.
* Joel Schindall, Ph,D., the Bernard Gordon Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Associate Director of the Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems (LEES) at MIT
* Jud Ready, Ph,D., Senior Research Engineer and Adjunct Professor, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
* Satish Kumar, Ph,D., Professor of Textile and Fiber Engineering at Georgia Tech
* Prashant N. Kumta, Ph,D., Edward R. Weidlein Chair Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering

About Arrowhead Research Corporation

Arrowhead Research Corporation (www.arrowheadresearch.com) is a publicly-traded nanotechnology company commercializing new technologies in the areas of life sciences, electronics, and energy. Arrowhead is building value for shareholders through the progress of majority owned subsidiaries founded on nanotechnologies originally developed at universities. The company works closely with universities to source early stage deals and to generate rights to intellectual property covering promising new nanotechnologies. Currently, Arrowhead has four subsidiaries commercializing nanotech products and applications, including anti-cancer drugs, RNAi therapeutics, carbon-based electronics and compound semiconductor materials.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. Arrowhead Research Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and 10-Q/A, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, our Registration Statements on Form S-3, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

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As nanotechnology gains ground, so do concerns

Admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:38:00 +0000

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BRUSSELS: Nanotechnology - the science of engineering products or substances down to one billionth of a meter in size - has produced breakthroughs for manufacturers of consumer goods, including clear sunscreens, stain-resistant clothing and superstrong sports goods.

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But the applications of nanotechnology could also be a boon for developing new ways to cut waste, clean up pollution and improve the energy efficiency of entire industries.

The problem is that some properties of these tiny particles are unknown, and potentially harmful, and scientists are still trying to determine whether their size affects their toxicity. For governments and other authorities that view commercialization of nanotechnology as a way to develop innovative environmental products and create new industries, the concerns present huge challenges.

Stavros Dimas, the EU environment commissioner, last week emphasized both the potential benefits and dangers of nanotechnology, saying it was the duty of regulators "to ensure that society benefits from novel applications of nanotechnologies" while "fully applying the precautionary principle."

Ensuring public acceptance of nanotechnologies could be particularly important in Europe, which has pledged to keep its economy humming while finding ways of reducing planet-warming emissions by as much as 30 percent by 2020. And even as scientists and environmentalists warn of the dangers of nanotechnology, authorities like the European Commission are pledging support for a wide range of projects.

Those projects include efforts to increase supplies of fresh water, which has become a scarce resource in southern European countries like Spain, where warmer conditions are contributing to shortages. EU officials say nanotechnology could be less expensive and more energy efficient than current methods for water recycling and desalination, which frequently rely on fossil fuels for power.

Using nanotechnology, water could be purified by using the equivalent of very fine nets operating at a molecular scale or by using tiny catalysts that speed up purification processes and, in some cases, mimic the work of enzymes.

Officials also say renewable energies like solar power could be made to work more efficiently using particles engineered through nanotechnology that capture and convert greater amounts of sunlight into electricity.

Financing for nanotechnology remains the greatest in the United States.

But the EU, Russia and Japan all are vying to be important players in a global market that could be worth up to €2 trillion, or $3.1 trillion, and create 10 million new jobs over the next decade, according to the European Commission.

A substantial chunk of that market is likely to be for technologies for energy production and for cleaning up the environment, said Pekka Koponen, the managing director of Spinverse, a technology consulting firm in Finland.

He said green applications for nanotechnology could be used to help create energy-efficient fuel cells, solar cells and catalysts to filter out harmful emissions from factories and vehicles. He also said nanotechnology could be used to help recover oil from wells and tar sands, and be used for refining.

"Not everyone would count that as environmentally friendly, but that would at least save energy and cut back on emissions during oil production," Koponen said.

Other analysts say the greatest near-term benefit of nanotechnologies on energy use and the environment will be in reducing the weight of cars and aircraft, though they caution that some of the most important breakthroughs promised by nanotechnology still could be a decade or more away.

But by then, without more rigorous testing, scientists warn the technology could become as distrusted as genetically modified foods and nuclear power.

"Our policies are badly lagging behind what many companies already are doing," said Sylvia Speller, a professor of physics at the University of Nijmegen in The Netherlands. "I can't see right now who's going to pay for the damage if products turn out to harm people and the environment," she said.

Speller said the small particles used in nanotechnology could pose new risks to human health and the environment because they could penetrate biological barriers designed to keep out larger particles. She said she would not use products like sunscreens in her family that contain such materials out of concern about the long-term effects.

Environmental groups like Friends of the Earth Europe acknowledge that nanotechnology has the potential to deliver environmental benefits.

Even so, they have called for a moratorium on the release of so-called nanomaterials until new laws are in place to protect the public.

Groups like Friends of the Earth also have called for more public funds for testing, and rules that would make companies that market products using nanomaterials liable for any damage to health and the environment.

With so much at stake, regulators are proceeding cautiously.

In a report last week, the European Commission said that current legislation for regulating chemicals, known as Reach, and other laws were adequate for regulating nanotechnology - for now.

But the commission also emphasized the need for more information on the possible toxic effects on humans and the environment and said new regulations could be needed, along with specific labeling for products containing nanomaterials.

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Barnes & Thornburg LLP Establishes Practice Group Focused on Nanotechnology Opportunities

Admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:12:40 +0000

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The anticipated impact of
nanotechnology upon society is frequently referred to as the "second
industrial revolution." Recognizing the potential that nanotechnology has to
affect business and industry in the near future, Barnes & Thornburg LLP has
established a Nanotechnology Practice Group to continue its current work in
the area and assist businesses involved in seeking new applications of
nanotechnology.

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Nanotechnology refers to a field of applied science and technology that
relates to the control of matter on the atomic or molecular scale, generally
100 nanometers or smaller, and the fabrication of devices or materials that
lie within that size range. The firm's attorneys already are advising clients
on nanotechnology's applications in a variety of fields, including in
biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering and
environmental.

The practice group, co-chaired by Philip J. Faccenda, Jr., a partner in
the firm's South Bend office, and Todd Vare, a partner in the firm's
Indianapolis office, includes attorneys from a variety of disciplines,
including intellectual property, business, environmental, biotech,
governmental services, entrepreneurial services and litigation.

"Our clients increasingly are investigating how nanotechnology can be
brought to market in a variety of applications - from biotech to textiles,
manufacturing processes to environmental remediation," Vare said. "This new
group gives us a more integrated approach to helping clients use
nanotechnology to advance their business interests in their particular
industry sectors."

The announcement comes on the heels of a seminar hosted by Barnes &
Thornburg that addressed the possibilities of nanotechnology from the
perspectives of a Barnes & Thornburg attorney as well as professors from
Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame. In addition, the recent
announcement of the new Midwest Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery (MIND)
at the University of Notre Dame has raised the profile of nanotechnology and
its applications, especially in the Midwest.

"Barnes & Thornburg recognizes the impact the new institute will have on
businesses throughout Indiana and the Midwest," Faccenda said. "We want to do
everything we can to provide helpful counsel on the issues related to
nanotechnology."

With more than 475 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes &
Thornburg LLP is the largest law firm in Indiana and one of the largest firms
in the Midwest. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Chicago,
Indiana, Michigan and Washington, D.C.

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Billions could get gain access to clean water through nanotechnology

Admin — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:24:55 +0000

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Advanced filtration, decontamination could turn wastewater into a resource

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Copenhagen, Denmark — Hard work, bleeding-edge innovation and hope are driving the fledgling products and services of nanotechnology — science on the scale of atoms and molecules — along a pipeline that starts in the research laboratory and ends in a range of improved applications.

Nanoscale materials, coatings, membranes, catalysts and other technologies are being developed for use in electronics, energy production and storage, information technology, medicine and health — but industry and consumers will not be the only beneficiaries of these advances.

At Nanotech Northern Europe 2008, held September 23-25 in Copenhagen for 800 participants from 44 countries, a group of international policymakers and experts examined the potential of nanotechnology to help 1.1 billion people who lack access to clean water and 2.5 billion — 42 percent of the global population — who lack access to basic sanitation like toilets and safe latrines. (See “Nations Worldwide Pour Billions into Nanotechnology.”)

“Water purification and desalination has been done in pretty much the same way for decades, said Robert Rudnitsky, a physicist at the U.S. State Department and chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Party on Nanotechnology. “What we are seeing is that nanotechnology is likely to bring about improvements to existing methods and create entirely new approaches.”

The Working Party on Nanotechnology sponsored the water session at Nanotech Northern Europe as part of its project on using nanotechnology to address global challenges.

According to the World Health Organization/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, diarrheal disease, which could be prevented by better management of drinking water and sanitation, caused more deaths in 2004 than did HIV/AIDS.

Nanoscience describes the ability to see, measure, manipulate and manufacture things on a scale of 1 to 100 nanometers. A nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter; a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. At this scale, the physical, chemical and biological properties of materials differ in basic ways from the properties of individual atoms and molecules or bulk matter.

SMALLER IS BETTER

One way nanotechnology can minimize the world’s water and sanitation problems is by changing how clean water is delivered to those who need it.

Developed nations use large centralized water collection, chemical treatment and distribution systems whose thousands of kilometers of pipes deliver water to homes and businesses, said Mark Shannon, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and director of the Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems (WaterCAMPWS), funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

“Centralized systems are capital intensive, energy intensive and chemically intensive,” he said. “Five out of six people on Earth can’t use the systems we’re currently using. There’s not enough money or time to replicate this system around the world.”

In the developing world, nanotechnology can contribute to smaller, distributed systems that incorporate materials and systems for removing contaminants and pathogens, including viruses — which at 5 to 300 nanometers in length are themselves at the nanoscale — without the use of chemicals. Viruses are difficult to eliminate from drinking water using current methods, even in developed countries.

“We have people working on developing what would be a litmus paper,” Shannon said, “that people could dip into the water and it would change color if mercury or lead were present. Now we’re working on [detecting] viruses with the same type of technology.”

NANOTECHNOLOGY AT WORK

Nanotechnology is at work in the villages of Obambo and Kadenge in western Kenya, for example, where Sky Hydrants developed by Siemens AG turn brown sludge from the local dam into clear drinking water.

The self-cleaning ultrafiltration device consists of three piano-sized cartridges that each contains 10,000 minipipes made from thin membranes whose 100-nanometer-diameter openings keep dirt and bacteria from passing through.

Another effort, solar disinfection of drinking water (SODISWATER) is a research project funded by the European Union to show that solar disinfection of drinking water is effective against a range of waterborne diarrheal diseases like cholera at the household level and as emergency relief after natural or other disasters.

Solar disinfection works by filling transparent bottles with contaminated water and placing them in direct sunlight. The water is safer to drink after six hours because the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation kills bacteria. More than 2 million people in 28 countries use the technique.

Tony Byrne, lecturer at the University of Ulster Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre in Ireland, one of the project partners, is part of a technical group that is exploring the use of nanotechnology to enhance the SODIS UV pathogen-killing process and determine if the SODIS process fails to kill any important waterborne diseases.

But one of nanotechnology’s greatest potential benefits might lie in advanced filtration and biological systems that are in development to turn saltwater into freshwater and wastewater into a resource, Shannon said.

“We need to stop thinking about wastewater as a waste and start thinking about it as a resource,” he added.

More information about the WaterCAMPWS is available on the organization’s Web site.

More information about the EU-funded SODISWATER Research Program is available on the iniative’s Web site.

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Cambridge officials look at nanomaterials

Admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:59:52 +0000

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Cambridge, Mass., city officials are urging adoption of a program designed to monitor safety hazards involved in manufacturing and storing nanomaterials.

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Cambridge, Mass., city officials are urging adoption of a program designed to monitor safety hazards involved in manufacturing and storing nanomaterials.

A report by the Cambridge Public Health Department and the Cambridge Nanomaterials Advisory Committee recommends the city take several steps to gain a better understanding of the nature and extent of nanotechnology-related activities under way within the municipality.

The report, issued Monday, doesn't recommend the city enact a new ordinances regulating nanotechnology but it does recommend the city, among other things:

-- Establish an inventory of engineered nanoscale materials that are manufactured, handled, processed or stored in the city.

-- Offer technical assistance, in collaboration with academic and nanotech sector partners, to help firms and institutions evaluate their existing health and safety plans for limiting risk to workers involved in nanomaterials research and manufacturing.

-- Track the evolving status of regulations and best practices concerning engineered nanoscale materials.

-- Inform the city council every two years on the changing regulatory and safety landscape of the nanotechnology sector.

The report is available at http://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/publications/July_17_08_Nano_Recomm....

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Canada to Fund Nanotech Research Including Solar Projects

Admin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:07:55 +0000

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Two of the five winners will develop new solar technology.

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April 28, 2008... The Nanotechnology Initiative of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), announced the five winners of a special $15-million nanotechnology research funding competition. Each proposed project will get $3 million in funding. Two of the five winners will develop new solar technology.

Researchers from the Universite de Sherbrooke and the University of Ottawa will work with scientists and engineers from the NRC Institute for Microstructural Sciences (NRC-IMS) and the NRC Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC), in Ottawa to use quantum dots to produce more efficient concentrator solar cells. Researchers from Universite de Laval, Queen's University, the University of Toronto and Simon Fraser University will work with scientists and engineers from the NRC Institute for Microstructural Sciences (NRC-IMS), the NRC Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology (NRC-ICPET) and the NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences (NRC-SIMS) in Ottawa will use novel polymeric nano-composite semiconductor materials to produce more efficient solar cells.

"Canada already has considerable expertise in the field of nanotechnology, and the government is ensuring that our country takes its place among the most innovative nations of the world,” said Mr. Galipeau, Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orleans and Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House.

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CMU to study the hazards of nanoparticles

Admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:12:03 +0000

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Since the field of nanotechnology is still new, sustainable development of the nanotechnology industry right now will prevent mankind from regretting this new technology in the future.

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The advancement of technology has always affected the environment, often adversely. Techniques to counteract those negative effects and to promote sustainable development are usually employed only after it is too late. In order to prevent this from happening again, the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) was established as a collaboration between four universities, including Carnegie Mellon University.

Since the field of nanotechnology is still new, sustainable development of the nanotechnology industry right now will prevent mankind from regretting this new technology in the future.

Headquartered at Duke University, the center consists of four core universities including Duke, Carnegie Mellon, Howard University, and Virginia Tech. Faculty from the University of Kentucky and Stanford University are also involved.

The center aims to understand the impacts of nanoparticles on the environment. As reported in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review last week, the center plans to develop 32 controlled ecosystems called “mesocosms” in the Duke Forest in Durham, N.C. The report further stated that the ecosystems will serve as “laboratories” where the researchers can study the effects of nanoparticles on different ecosystems.

Testing nanoparticles on different ecosystems is just one aspect of what the center aims to do.

The center will also explore the transport and transformations of nanoparticles in the environment and also the effects that microorganisms have on the nanoparticles. This is where Carnegie Mellon comes into the picture. Gregory Lowry, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and also the deputy director of the center, explained Carnegie Mellon’s role; “Carnegie Mellon’s part of this is [studying the] fate, transport and transformation of nanomaterials in the environment.”

Studying how nanoparticles are transformed and transported in the environment is important, as nanoparticles do not follow the same rules that bulk materials do.

“The whole reason that we’re using nanomaterials is because their properties are different from the bulk properties,” Lowry explained.

“If I make [a bulk material] small enough, the surface properties are going to change, there are changes in crystal structure, there are changes in surface energy, [and there are also] changes in the number of reactive sites on the particles.”

Since such nanomaterials are used very often in commercial products now, it is important to know what happens after these are exposed to the environment. Lowry mentioned the use of silver nanoparticles in items of daily usage like socks, washing machines, and water filters. When items such as socks get washed, the nanoparticles get washed down the drain and eventually enter the environment. In the course of this transport, the nanoparticles undergo a variety of transformations.

The particles can undergo chemical transformations due to oxidation-reduction reactions, they can be transformed by microorganisms, and they can also undergo physical transformations by attracting other nanoparticles and forming a larger particle. All these transformations can drastically change the properties of the nanomaterials and could perhaps increase their toxicity. “We have to understand how chemical, biological, and physical transformations occur and then how those impact transport in the environment,” Lowry said.

He added that these studies would help interpret the observed effects of the nanoparticles on the artificially created ecosystems. “There is no way for us to interpret that data unless we have the fundamental understanding of fate, transport, and transformations of the nanomaterials. We will conduct [such experiments] largely at Carnegie Mellon University,” Lowry said.

Carnegie Mellon has a couple of projects focusing on the theme of fate, transport, and transformation of nanoparticles. Assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering Kelvin Gregory leads one such projects, which will focus on the biological transformations of nanoparticles.

Specifically, the group plans to study how microorganisms affect nanoparticles in the environment.

Since such studies have not been conducted until now, the researchers have no idea what results to expect.

“[Microorganisms] aren’t necessarily going to be intensifying any hazards. They could be ameliorating them as well. But there is no doubt that the interactions of nanomaterials and microorganisms are going to affect the fate, transport and toxicity of nanomaterials,” Gregory said. Gregory explained that the transformations due to microorganisms could enhance or lessen the toxicity of the nanoparticle and could prevent or ease the transport of nanomaterials into the environment. The team currently has no answers to these questions, but hopes to find them very soon.

This research that Carnegie Mellon is doing is part of the bigger picture of developing the nanotechnology industry in an environmentally friendly way.

“We’re going to develop some design rules for nanomaterials to make them environmentally benign. [We aim to] maximize benefits and minimize risks,” Lowry said.

The center aims at developing sustainable techniques before the field gains momentum, so that the new technology does not run amok. “We’re trying to avoid the pitfalls of very rapid growth of new technology, such as the burning of fossil fuels, now years and years later causing an effect in the accumulation of greenhouse gases,” Gregory said.

As reported in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the center was awarded a $14.4 million grant by the National Science Foundation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The official opening ceremony of the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology was held on Sept. 26.

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Nanotechnology : %1

Click Here For Nanotechnology Related Downloads

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