RxPG News : Biotechnology

Nanoparticles hitchhike on red blood cells for drug delivery

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered that attaching polymeric nanoparticles to the surface of red blood cells dramatically increases the in vivo lifetime of the nanoparticles. The research, published in the July 07 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, could offer applications for the delivery of drugs and circulating bioreactors.

Gold Nanoparticle Molecular Ruler to Measure Smallest of Lifes Phenomena

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 13:23:00 PST

Scientists from the U.S. Department Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California at Berkeley have developed a ruler made of gold nanoparticles and DNA that can measure the smallest of lifes phenomena, such as precisely where on a DNA strand a protein attaches itself.

Tiny inhaled particles take easy route from nose to brain

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:29:00 PST

In a continuing effort to find out if the tiniest airborne particles pose a health risk, University of Rochester Medical Center scientists showed that when rats breathe in nano-sized materials they follow a rapid and efficient pathway from the nasal cavity to several regions of the brain, according to a study in the August issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.

DNA Amplification and Detection Made Simple

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:22:00 PST

Twenty-three years ago, a man musing about work while driving down a California highway revolutionized molecular biology when he envisioned a technique to make large numbers of copies of a piece of DNA rapidly and accurately. Known as the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, Kary Mullis's technique involves separating the double strands of a DNA fragment into single-strand templates by heating it, attaching primers that initiate the copying process, using DNA polymerase to make a copy of each strand from free nucleotides floating around in the reaction mixture, detaching the primers, then repeating the cycle using the new and old strands as templates. Since its discovery in 1983, PCR has made possible a number of procedures we now take for granted, such as DNA fingerprinting of crime scenes, paternity testing, and DNA-based diagnosis of hereditary and infectious diseases.

Solitons Could Power Artificial Muscles

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 18:15:00 PST

Scientists have discovered something new about exotic particles called solitons. Since the 1980s, scientists have known that solitons can carry an electrical charge when traveling through certain organic polymers. A new study now suggests that solitons have intricate internal structures.

Nanoparticles could deliver multi-drug therapy to tumors

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:08:00 PST

In the ongoing search for better ways to target anticancer drugs to kill tumors without making people sick, researchers find that nanoparticles called buckyballs might be used to significantly boost the payload of drugs carried by tumor-targeting antibodies.

Nanotechnology can identify disease at early cellular level

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 21:13:00 PST

Nanotechnology may one day help physicians detect the very earliest stages of serious diseases like cancer, a new study suggests. It would do so by improving the quality of images produced by one of the most common diagnostic tools used in doctors' offices the ultrasound machine.

Light-sensitive particles change chemistry at the flick of a switch

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 16:37:00 PST

A light-sensitive, self-assembled monolayer that provides unique control over particle interactions has been developed by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Particles coated with the monolayer change their surface charge and chemistry upon exposure to ultraviolet light.

DNA Fragments for Making Tomatoes Taste Better Identified

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:19:00 PST

Tomatoes are a major nutrient for humans. In 2004, 120,000 tonnes of tomatoes were harvested worldwide - and every year this number increases. Numerous medical studies have shown the health value of tomatoes. Lycopen, the pigment that makes tomatoes red, can for example prevent heart disease. Tomatoes furthermore contain a lot of vitamins C and E, indispensable for human nourishment. But after centuries of cultivation for shape, colour, and other useful qualities, our cultured tomatoes today are of small genetic diversity, in comparison with wild types. This has affected the taste and health value of the fruits.

'Custom' nanoparticles could improve cancer diagnosis and treatment

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 01:35:00 PST

Researchers have developed "custom" nanoparticles that show promise of providing a more targeted and effective delivery of anticancer drugs than conventional medications or any of the earlier attempts to fight cancer with nanoparticles. Designed at the molecular level to attack specific types of cancer without affecting healthy cells, the nanoparticles also have the potential to reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy, the researchers say. Their study was described today at the 231st national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the worlds largest scientific society.

Human albumin from tobacco plants

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 15:35:00 PST

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the intravenous protein most commonly used in the world for therapeutic ends. It is employed to stabilise blood volume and to avoid risk of a heart attack, its administration in operating theatres being almost a daily occurrence. It is used for haemorrhages, burns, surgical operations or when the patient shows symptoms of malnutrition or dehydration, chronic infections and renal or liver illnesses. The annual consumption in Spain is about 10 tons but, at a worldwide level, the demand exceeds 500 tons.

A new metal detector to study human disease

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:07:00 PST

Zinc may be a familiar dietary supplement to millions of health-conscious people, but it remains a mystery metal to scientists who study zincs role in Alzheimers disease, stroke and other health problems.

Crucial breakthrough in pectin biosynthesis

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 07:55:00 PST

Most people know pectin as a common household gelling agent in making jams and jellies, but its uses are vast. It has anticancer properties, for instance, and may have a role in important biological functions including plant growth and development and defense against disease. Despite the importance of pectin as a major component in the primary walls of plants, scientists have known relatively little about how this family of complex polysaccharides is made. Especially perplexing has been how the synthesis of the three different classes of pectic polysaccharides is coordinated to produce the pectin matrix in cell walls.

Enzyme computer could live in human body

Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:00:00 PST

Israeli researchers have invented a molecular computer that uses enzymes to perform calculations and could eventually be implanted into the human body and monitor the release of drugs.

Using biologically compatible materials to fabricate a nanoshuttle

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:51:00 PST

Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report that they have created a way for viral and gold particles to "directly assemble" and potentially seek out and treat disease where it resides in the body. Their study, published in the online early edition of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the week of Jan. 23 - 27, 2006, shows the use of biologically compatible materials to fabricate a "nanoshuttle" - thousands of times smaller than a human hair - which can be harnessed to viral particles to precisely home to disease wherever it hides. Once there, the nanoshuttle can perform a variety of functions. The study defines how assembled particles of gold - a metal that is not rejected by the body - could possibly be "tuned" to destroy tissue or emit signals that can be detected by imaging devices. The system also can be adapted to form a flexible scaffold that can carry drugs, genes or even cradle restorative stem cells.

Buckyballs Deform DNA - Surprising Simulation Findings

Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:22:00 PST

Soccer-ball-shaped "buckyballs" are the most famous players on the nanoscale field, presenting tantalizing prospects of revolutionizing medicine and the computer industry. Since their discovery in 1985, engineers and scientists have been exploring the properties of these molecules for a wide range of applications and innovations.

ATP Hydrolysis is Required to Reset the ATP-binding Cassette Dimer

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 09:48:00 PST

Scientists have a tough time visualizing the tiny hatchways that allow nutrients to pass into our cells, but a group of Purdue University biologists may have found the next best thing: a glimpse into the workings of the "motor" that opens and closes them.

First comprehensive map of the proteins and kinase signaling network

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 05:37:00 PST

A team of scientists at Yale University has completed the first comprehensive map of the proteins and kinase signaling network that controls how cells of higher organisms operate, according to a report this week in the journal Nature. The study is a breakthrough in understanding mechanisms of how proteins operate in different cell types under the control of master regulator molecules called protein kinases. Although protein kinases are already important targets of cancer drugs including Gleevec and Herceptin, until recently, it has been difficult to identify the proteins regulated by the kinases.

Magnetic probe successfully tracks implanted cells

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:13:00 PST

By using MRI to detect magnetic probes of tiny iron oxide particles, an international research team for the first time has successfully tracked immune-stimulating cells implanted into cancer patients for treatment purposes.

New Microscope Tracks Functioning Protein at Atomic Level

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 01:49:00 PST

A Stanford University research team has designed the first microscope sensitive enough to track the real-time motion of a single protein down to the level of its individual atoms. Writing in the Nov. 13 online issue of the journal Nature, the Stanford researchers explain how the new instrument allowed them to settle long-standing scientific debates about the way genes are copied from DNA--a biochemical process that's essential to life. In a second paper published in the Nov. 8 online issue of the journal Physical Review Letters, the scientists offer a detailed description of their novel device, an advanced version of the "optical trap," which uses infrared light to trap and control the forces on a functional protein, allowing researchers to monitor the molecule's every move in real time.

Selenium Speeds Enzymatic Reactions

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 17:44:00 PST

At the heart of every reaction of every cell lies an enzyme, a protein catalyst. At its active siteâa special pocket on its surfaceâit binds reactants (substrates) and rearranges their chemical bonds, before releasing them as useful products. Rearranging some bonds may require help from certain chemical elements that are present in trace amounts. Many enzymes place these elements at the center of their active sites to do the most critical job.

Exploring Dynamic Personalities of Proteins

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 16:24:00 PST

A Brandeis University study published in Nature this week advances fundamental understanding of the dynamic personalities of proteins and proposes that these enzymes are much more mobile, or plastic, than previously thought. The research, based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, may shed new light on how to improve rational drug design through docking to dynamic targets.

Biotech failed to meet promises

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 21:43:00 PST

Promises of cheaper and better drugs using biotechnologies have not been met, say researchers in this weeks BMJ. They assessed biotech products approved by the European Medicine Evaluation Agency between 1995 and 2003.

Understanding how voltage-gated ion channels operate

Wed, 12 Oct 2005 04:56:00 PST

One of the biggest mysteries in molecular biology is exactly how ion channels tiny protein pores through which molecules such as calcium and potassium flow in and out of cells operate. Such channels can be extremely important; members of the voltage-gated ion channel family are crucial to generating electrical pulses in the brain and heart, carrying signals in nerves and muscles. When channel function goes awry, the resulting diseases known as channelopathies, including epilepsy, a number of cardiomyopathies and cystic fibrosis can be devastating.

Call for funding boost for robotics research in US

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 22:04:00 PST

When it comes to developing robots for use in biology and medicine, no country is currently a match for the United States . But that situation could change within the next few years, according to a new report.Unless the government boosts funding for robotics research, the United States the world leader for research and manufacturing of robotic systems for tasks such as surgery and DNA sequencing will likely have to start relying on technology from other countries, said Yuan F. Zheng, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Ohio State.

Biochemistry's future with quantum physics

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:20:00 PST

Chemists who have trouble predicting how some large, complex biological molecules will react with others may soon have a solution from the world of computational quantum physics, say Purdue University researchers.

First comprehensive study of human hair on nanometer level

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:41:00 PST

Ohio State University researchers have just completed the first comprehensive study of human hair on the nanometer level.

Artificial intelligence to help intensive care doctors

Sun, 04 Sep 2005 09:27:00 PST

A team of systems engineers from the University of Sheffield is developing an intelligent computer system which imitates a doctor's brain to make treatment decisions for intensive care patients. The system will take some of the workload from emergency medical teams by monitoring patients' vital signs and then evaluating and administering the right amounts of different drugs needed - a job usually carried out by specialist medical doctors.

A Global View of DNA-Packing Proteins Cracks the Histone Code

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:12:00 PST

In one of biology's most impressive engineering feats, specialized proteins package some six-and-a-half feet of human DNA into a nucleus that averages just 5 microns (0.0001969 inches) in diameter. In the first of a series of supercondensing steps, DNA winds around proteins called histones, which together form a complex called the nucleosome. Histones package DNA into repetitive coils, which not only provide genomic structure but also help regulate gene expression. These tasks are mediated in part by chemical modifications to histone proteinsmost commonly to histone tails, long, unstructured chains of amino acids that protrude from nucleosomes. Different chemical modifications are associated with different functional effects. Acetylation, which adds an acetyl group to an amino acid on the histone tail, has been linked to both gene activation and silencing, depending on which amino acid is modified. Methylation (addition of a methyl group to the histone tail) has also been linked to gene activation and repression, although the chemical effects of methylation differ dramatically from those of acetylation.

DNA buckyballs for drug delivery created

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:36:00 PST

DNA isn't just for storing genetic codes any more. Since DNA can polymerize -- linking many molecules together into larger structures -- scientists have been using it as a nanoscale building material, constructing geometric shapes and even working mechanical devices.

Method to predict protein separation behavior directly from protein structure

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:38:00 PST

Applying math and computers to the drug discovery process, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a method to predict protein separation behavior directly from protein structure. This new multi-scale protein modeling approach may reduce the time it takes to bring pharmaceuticals to market and may have significant implications for an array of biotechnology applications, including bioprocessing, drug discovery, and proteomics, the study of protein structure and function.

Gene silencing technique can theoretically cure any disease

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:29:00 PST

A new technique aimed at directly controlling the expression of genes by turning them on or off at the DNA level could lead to drugs for the treatment or cure of many diseases, say researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

New role for CIB1 protein as fundamental inhibitor of cell movement

Sun, 07 Aug 2005 14:35:00 PST

Scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a protein that may inhibit cellular movement, or migration.

Structure of membrane protein NhaA revealed

Sat, 06 Aug 2005 11:47:00 PST

The structure of the membrane protein NhaA has been revealed by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Max Planck Institute of Germany.

Molecule that inhibits regrowth of spinal nerve cells

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 23:05:00 PST

A molecule that helps the body's motor nerve cells grow along proper paths during embryonic development also plays a major role in inhibiting spinal-cord neurons from regenerating after injury, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

Aggresome plays a role in thiopurine metabolism

Sun, 10 Jul 2005 16:01:00 PST

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered an inherited structural mechanism that can make drugs for some diseases toxic for some patients. The mechanism decreases a protein and in turn causes certain individuals to metabolize thiopurine drugs differently. Thiopurine therapies are used to treat patients with childhood leukemia, autoimmune diseases and organ transplants. The Mayo researchers say their finding advances the field of pharmacogenomics, which tailors medicine to a patient's personal genetic makeup.

Simple Peptides Stabilize Mighty Membrane Proteins

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:05:00 PST

Cell membranes are largely made of proteins, and membrane proteins account for about a third of all genes. Despite their importance, they are devilishly hard to isolate and stabilize, and therefore are hard to study. The problem lies in their structure: membrane proteins have at least one hydrophobic domain, composed of a stretch of water-repelling amino acids, which holds the protein snugly in the lipid membrane. Purifying such a protein in an aqueous medium makes the hydrophobic parts aggregate, destroying the proteins delicate three-dimensional structure and often disrupting its function.

Nano-particle Research to Benefit Inhaler Users

Sun, 01 May 2005 21:10:00 PST

Patients suffering from conditions as diverse as asthma and diabetes could benefit from research at Cardiff University to improve the effectiveness of drugs taken through spray inhalers.

Engineer turns Bacteria into Living Computers

Thu, 28 Apr 2005 00:13:00 PST

In a step toward making living cells function as if they were tiny computers, engineers at Princeton have programmed bacteria to communicate with each other and produce color-coded patterns.

Structural Insights into a Porphyrin-Binding Protein

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 02:27:00 PST

Eukaryotic cells have an organizational problem. The specialized proteins found in cellular organelles (structures with specific functions such as energy production) are mostly encoded within the nucleus. To build and maintain a cell that works efficiently under all conditions, each type of organelle needs to be able to send signals to the nucleus to say Send more protein X or hold back on enzyme Y. Think of it as the cellular version of grocery store clerks restocking orders to the warehouse.

Domain protecting proteins from degradation identified

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 21:37:00 PST

The first stabilizing signal that protects a protein from degradation has been identified.

At the molecular level, the predator is the prey

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 16:01:00 PST

An evolutionary arms race between predatory garter snakes and their newt quarry is turning out to be something of an illusion. At the molecular level, another battle rages. Biologists at Indiana University Bloomington, Utah State University and the University of Utah present evidence in this week's Nature that a toxin produced by the rough skinned newt, Taricha granulosa, has forced several evolutionary changes in the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis or, more specifically, in the snake nerve cell protein that endures the toxin's attacks.

Simplicity of Histone Code Revealed

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 06:45:00 PST

Histones, which package DNA in eukaryotes, play an important role in gene regulation. According to the histone code hypothesis, covalent posttranslational modification of histone tails, in this case, acetylation, influences gene regulation by altering transcriptional output.

Dynamic, Artificial Cells and Vesicles

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 06:45:00 PST

Scott Long et al. have constructed synthetic cells comprised of lipid bilayer membranes surrounding a two-phase, aqueous polymer solution that can be reversibly converted to a single phase. An understanding of compartmentalization in cell function has been hampered by the lack of an experimental model system.

Bmpr1a and Bmpr1b Essential for Cartilage Formation

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 06:45:00 PST

Larger brains are hypothesized to have evolved as an adaptation to cope with novel or changed environments, yet empirical support has been difficult to find.

Triterpenoids Protect Against Oxidative and Electrophile Stress

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 06:45:00 PST

Albena Dinkova-Kostova et al. report that synthetic triterpenoid (TP) analogs of oleanolic acid can activate the phase 2 response, which protects cells against electrophile and oxidant toxicities and blocks the inflammatory response to IFN-γ.

Triterpenoids Protect Against Oxidative and Electrophile Stress

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:50:00 PST

Unique Mutant Leptin Protein Developed

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:27:00 PST

A unique technique for neutralizing the action of the leptin protein in humans and animals thereby providing a means for controlling and better understanding of leptin function, including its role in unwanted cell growth -- has been developed.

Gene Therapy to Restore Hair Cells in Deaf

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:51:00 PST

Researchers supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders successfully used gene therapy to grow new hair cells and restore hearing in deaf guinea pigs. This is the first time researchers have been able to restore structural and functional levels to auditory hair cells in live adult mammals.

Wnt10b signalling protein protects against bone loss from aging or lack of estrogen

Tue, 22 Feb 2005 18:17:00 PST

To study the effect of Wnt10b gene expression on tissue development, MacDougald's research team created an artificial sequence of DNA called a transgene linking Wnt10b to the FABP4 promoter, which is expressed in fatty tissue and in bone marrow. U-M scientists injected the transgene DNA into fertilized mouse eggs, and then bred mice that inherited the new gene to create the transgenic animals used in their research.

Grant Announced for Latest Software to Produce Blueprint of Designer Drug to Fight Influenza

Tue, 22 Feb 2005 08:15:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Bath have won a £261,000 grant to use the latest software to produce a blueprint of a designer drug that could stop influenza and some other diseases from replicating in humans.

Dead bone graft can be converted to living tissue by gene therapy

Sat, 19 Feb 2005 16:58:00 PST

The procedure, designed by a team led by Edward M. Schwarz, Ph.D., associate professor of orthopedics and of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is intended to eventually aid people with various cancers or injuries whose treatment involves the replacement of large sections of bone. Cancers such as osteosarcoma, one of the most common types of bone cancers, or tumors that occur adjacent to bones, often must be treated by removing the diseased section of bone and replacing it with the only alternative available a donated section of comparable bone from a cadaver. The new splint of bone is then literally screwed into place, giving the patient most of the strength and support of the original bone. Bone, unlike any other tissue in the human body, can still perform one of its functions, structural support, even if all its cells are completely dead. A serious problem arises, however, when the bone wears over time.

A Biotech Chip will Now Allow Rapid Screening of Drug Toxicity

Sat, 12 Feb 2005 10:27:00 PST

"The MetaChip offers a new approach in the identification of pharmacologically safe and effective lead drug compounds for advancement to the preclinical phase of drug development," said Dordick. "The research results thus far indicate that this technique could be incorporated into an effective process for toxicity analysis at early stages in drug discovery."

New protein tagging and detection system based on a process for "splitting" a green fluorescent protein

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 15:09:00 PST

University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new protein tagging and detection system based on a process for "splitting" a green fluorescent protein. Unlike current protein detection methods, the method works both in living cells and in the test tube and can be used to quantify proteins down to 0.1 picomole, or one billionth of a gram of a typical protein molecule. Because the method can be used to detect protein aggregation within the living organisms, it will be useful for high-throughput studies of protein structure and protein production and for studying diseases, like Alzheimer's, that are associated with protein misfolding and aggregation.

Mouse brain tumors mimic those in human genetic disorder

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 05:33:00 PST

A recently developed mouse model of brain tumors common in the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) successfully mimics the human condition and provides unique insight into tumor development, diagnosis and treatment, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Electro osmotic Mixing in Microchannels

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 22:54:00 PST

By alternating the flow of fluid through tiny plastic pipes, a team of mechanical engineers at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has discovered a new and speedier way to mix liquids, which in turn will someday produce better and safer medications.

"Everybody looks at creating turbulence in three dimensions to mix liquids," said team leader Nadine Aubry, PhD, Jacobus distinguished professor and chair of the mechanical engineering department at NJIT. "We traded space for time, which is a much simpler way to handle this problem when space is at a premium."

Research unlocks potential for new medications, vaccines and diagnostics

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 22:39:00 PST

Devices the size of a pager now have greater capabilities than computers that once occupied an entire room. Similar advances are being made in the emerging field of synthetic biology at the University of Houston, now allowing researchers to inexpensively program the chemical synthesis of entire genes on a single microchip.

Xiaolian Gao, a professor in the department of biology and biochemistry at UH, works at the leading edge of this field. Her recent findings on how to mass produce multiple genes on a single chip are described in a paper titled "Accurate multiplex gene synthesis from programmable DNA microchips," appearing in the current issue of Nature, the weekly scientific journal for biological and physical sciences research.

Meet the 'tadpole': a new breed of DNA-protein hybrid

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 22:35:00 PST

Researchers hungry for an adaptable system for the high-sensitivity quantification of biomolecules may have found the answer in tadpoles?

Considering the sensitivity and versatility of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based applications, biologists can perhaps be forgiven for becoming a bit spoiled, and demanding the same ease and level of sensitivity for the detection of non-nucleic acid-based molecules. However, a powerful new tool described in the January issue of Nature Methods promises just such sensitivity for the detection of a versatile range of targets, including proteins and small-molecule compounds.

Carbon nanotubes yield a new class of biological sensors useful for diabetics

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 18:26:00 PST

Nanotechnology researchers at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated a tiny, implantable detector that could one day allow diabetics to monitor their glucose levels continuously-without ever having to draw a blood sample.

The work, which is the first application of a whole new class of biological sensors, was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and announced December 12 in the online edition of the journal Nature Materials.

Principal investigator Michael Strano, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois, explains that the new sensors are based on single-walled carbon nanotubes: cylindrical molecules whose sides are formed from a lattice of carbon atoms. The idea is to exploit the nanotubes' ability to fluoresce, or glow, when illuminated by certain wavelengths of infrared light-"a region of the spectrum where human tissue and biological fluids are particularly transparent," says Strano.

RxPG News : Biotechnology

Nanoparticles hitchhike on red blood cells for drug delivery

Gold Nanoparticle Molecular Ruler to Measure Smallest of Lifes Phenomena

Tiny inhaled particles take easy route from nose to brain

DNA Amplification and Detection Made Simple

Solitons Could Power Artificial Muscles

Nanoparticles could deliver multi-drug therapy to tumors

Nanotechnology can identify disease at early cellular level

Light-sensitive particles change chemistry at the flick of a switch

DNA Fragments for Making Tomatoes Taste Better Identified

'Custom' nanoparticles could improve cancer diagnosis and treatment

Human albumin from tobacco plants

A new metal detector to study human disease

Crucial breakthrough in pectin biosynthesis

Enzyme computer could live in human body

Using biologically compatible materials to fabricate a nanoshuttle

Buckyballs Deform DNA - Surprising Simulation Findings

ATP Hydrolysis is Required to Reset the ATP-binding Cassette Dimer

First comprehensive map of the proteins and kinase signaling network

Magnetic probe successfully tracks implanted cells

New Microscope Tracks Functioning Protein at Atomic Level

Selenium Speeds Enzymatic Reactions

Exploring Dynamic Personalities of Proteins

Biotech failed to meet promises

Understanding how voltage-gated ion channels operate

Call for funding boost for robotics research in US

Biochemistry's future  with quantum physics

First comprehensive study of human hair on nanometer level

Artificial intelligence to help intensive care doctors

A Global View of DNA-Packing Proteins Cracks the Histone Code

DNA buckyballs for drug delivery created

Method to predict protein separation behavior directly from protein structure

Gene silencing technique can theoretically cure any disease

New role for CIB1 protein as fundamental inhibitor of cell movement

Structure of membrane protein NhaA revealed

Molecule that inhibits regrowth of spinal nerve cells

Aggresome plays a role in thiopurine metabolism

Simple Peptides Stabilize Mighty Membrane Proteins

Nano-particle Research to Benefit Inhaler Users

Engineer turns Bacteria into Living Computers

Structural Insights into a Porphyrin-Binding Protein

Domain protecting proteins from degradation identified

At the molecular level, the predator is the prey

Simplicity of Histone Code Revealed

Dynamic, Artificial Cells and Vesicles

Bmpr1a and Bmpr1b Essential for Cartilage Formation

Triterpenoids Protect Against Oxidative and Electrophile Stress

Triterpenoids Protect Against Oxidative and Electrophile Stress

Unique Mutant Leptin Protein Developed

Gene Therapy to Restore Hair Cells in Deaf

Wnt10b signalling protein protects against bone loss from aging or lack of estrogen

Grant Announced for Latest Software to Produce Blueprint of Designer Drug to Fight Influenza

Dead bone graft can be converted to living tissue by gene therapy

A Biotech Chip will Now Allow Rapid Screening of Drug Toxicity

New protein tagging and detection system based on a process for "splitting" a green fluorescent protein

Mouse brain tumors mimic those in human genetic disorder

Electro osmotic Mixing in Microchannels

Research unlocks potential for new medications, vaccines and diagnostics

Meet the 'tadpole': a new breed of DNA-protein hybrid

Carbon nanotubes yield a new class of biological sensors useful for diabetics

Gold Nanoparticle Molecular Ruler to Measure Smallest of Lifes Phenomena

Biochemistry's future with quantum physics