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Soft-Touch' AFM Helps Determine DNA Structure from Measurements on a Single Molecule

Researchers at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) have determined the structure of DNA from measurements on a single molecule using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and found significant variations in the well-known double helix.

15 May 2014

Novel Chip-like Device Sorts and Stores Thousands of Individual Living Cells

A U.S. and Korean research team has developed a chip-like device that could be scaled up to sort and store hundreds of thousands of individual living cells in a matter of minutes. The system is similar to a random access memory chip, but it moves cells rather than electrons.

15 May 2014

Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip Systems for Algal Biofuel Development

A team led by Arum Han, associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, recently had their paper on microfluidic systems for algal biofuel development published in the journal Lab on a Chip as a cover article.

15 May 2014

MEMS Nanoinjector Helps Avoid Cell Death When Introducing DNA into Cells

The ability to transfer a gene or DNA sequence from one animal into the genome of another plays a critical role in a wide range of medical research—including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.

14 May 2014

Lipid-Based Nanocapsule Drug Delivery Method Smuggles Drug into Cancer Cell before Release

Biomedical engineering researchers have developed an anti-cancer drug delivery method that essentially smuggles the drug into a cancer cell before triggering its release. The method can be likened to keeping a cancer-killing bomb and its detonator separate until they are inside a cancer cell, where they then combine to destroy the cell.

From North Carolina State University 12 May 2014

Researchers Target RNAi to Endothelial Cells Using Nanoparticles

RNA interference (RNAi), a technique that can turn off specific genes inside living cells, holds great potential for treating many diseases caused by malfunctioning genes. However, it has been difficult for scientists to find safe and effective ways to deliver gene-blocking RNA to the correct targets.

From Massachusetts Institute of Technology 12 May 2014

‘DNA-Based Nanotechnology: Digital Chemistry’ Workshop to Take Place 5-9 May, 2014

Dresden's scientists are internationally renowned in the field of biomimetic material synthesis which uses biological principles such as molecular recognition and self-assembling for the tailor-made synthesis of new materials and structures. Therefore, the international workshop 'DNA-Based Nanotechnology: Digital Chemistry (DNATEC14)' hosted by the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems is well received within the global community.

8 May 2014

DNA-Based Nanosensor Enables Nanoscale Measurement of pH Variation

Bioengineers at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Montreal have used DNA to develop a tool that detects and reacts to chemical changes caused by cancer cells and that may one day be used to deliver drugs to tumor cells.

8 May 2014

Engineered Bacterium Includes Added Pair of DNA ‘Letters’

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have engineered a bacterium whose genetic material includes an added pair of DNA "letters," or bases, not found in nature. The cells of this unique bacterium can replicate the unnatural DNA bases more or less normally, for as long as the molecular building blocks are supplied.

8 May 2014

Silylated Nanocellulose Sponge Absorbs Oil, But Not Water

All industrial nations need large volumes of oil which is normally delivered by ocean-going tankers or via inland waterways to its destination. The most environmentally-friendly way of cleaning up nature after an oil spill accident is to absorb and recover the floating film of oil.

7 May 2014