“Poets say science takes away from the beauty of the stars — mere globs of gas atoms.
Nothing is ‘mere.’ I too can see the stars on a desert night, and feel them.”
Richard P. Feynman
American theoretical physicist
May 21 2022
News – Curated by Amanda Scott, Alias Group Creative
Covalent Organic Framework Nanofluidic Hybrid Membrane for Osmotic Energy Generation
A paper recently published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials demonstrated the feasibility of using a covalent organic framework (COF)-based nanofluidic hybrid membranes (NHMs) to attain enhanced interfacial ion transport for the generation of osmotic [...]
Degradable Nanocomposite Removes Antibiotics from Contaminated Water
The excess fluoroquinolones (FQs) discharged into the aquatic environment due to human activities must be removed cost-effectively. In an article published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the authors fabricated an environment-friendly dealkaline lignin-grafted Fe3O4 nanoparticles [...]
Light-controlled reactions at the nanoscale
Controlling strong electromagnetic fields on nanoparticles is the key to triggering targeted molecular reactions on their surfaces. Such control over strong fields is achieved via laser light. Although laser-induced formation and breaking of molecular [...]
Bright Future for Nanophotonic Chips with Topological Rainbow Device
A paper recently published in the journal Nature Communications demonstrated an effective method to realize on-chip nanophotonic topological rainbow devices using the concept of synthetic dimensions. Importance of Synthetic Dimensions for the Construction of Topological Nanophotonics [...]
Green Approach to Silver Nanoparticle Fabrication with Citrus Fruits
In a study available in the journal Materials Today: Proceedings, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were fabricated using a green method using Citrus X sinensis. Methylthioninium Chloride (MB) Dyes Threatening the Environment Dye and sewage drainage into [...]
Coronavirus ‘ghosts’ found lingering in the gut
Scientists are studying whether long COVID could be linked to viral fragments found in the body months after initial infection. In the chaos of the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, oncologist and geneticist [...]
Experts perplexed over number of people getting long COVID
Public health experts are divided over how many people are getting long COVID-19, a potentially debilitating condition that comes after a patient has recovered from the coronavirus. Ill effects from the condition can include [...]
Four strange COVID symptoms you might not have heard about
Well over two years into the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of COVID cases continue to be recorded around the world every day. With the rise of new variants, the symptoms of COVID have also evolved. Initially, [...]
A new method for exploring the nano-world
Nanoparticles are everywhere. They are in our body as protein aggregates, lipid vesicles, or viruses. They are in our drinking water in the form of impurities. They are in the air we breath as [...]
Breast Cancer Drug Resistance Tackled By Polymer Nanoparticles
Drug resistance is a common phenomenon, with drugs becoming less and less effective as their usage increases. To address this issue, a novel technique employing conjugated polymer-based nanoparticles is presented in the study published [...]
New imaging method makes microrobots visible in the body
Microrobots have the potential to revolutionize medicine. Researchers at the Max Planck ETH Centre for Learning Systems have now developed an imaging technique that for the first time recognises cell-sized microrobots individually and at [...]
Multifunctional Nanocrystals Enhance Cancer Cell Killing Therapies
Scientists have recently developed multifunctional hexagonal NaxWO3 nanocrystals that can serve as microwave sensitizers to kill cancer cells as well as improve the overall chemodynamic therapy (CDT). This study is available as a pre-proof in Chemical Engineering Journal. [...]
Biotech, nanomedicine, and AI combine for health breakthrough predicted by Apple genius Steve Jobs
Apple’s visionary founder, the late Steve Jobs once said, “the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology”. And that prediction is coming true in the drug [...]
Making chemical separation more eco-friendly with nanotechnology
Chemical separation processes are essential in the manufacturing of many products from gasoline to whiskey. Such processes are energetically costly, accounting for approximately 10–15 percent of global energy consumption. In particular, the use of [...]
Dual Function SARS-CoV-2 Sensor for Point of Contact Testing
Scientists have recently developed electrochemical immunosensors based on graphene oxide−gold (GO−Au) nanocomposites. These immunosensors are highly sensitive with dual function, i.e., they can detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen and antibody. [...]
Are COVID surges becoming more predictable? New Omicron variants offer a hint
Omicron relatives called BA.4 and BA.5 are behind a fresh wave of COVID-19 in South Africa, and could be signs of a more predictable future for SARS-CoV-2. Here we go again. Nearly six months [...]
Convenient SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassay Shows Benefit of Nanobody Design
Early detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) is critical to stopping the spread of this contagious disease. The current diagnostic methods for COVID-19 are expensive and difficult to handle. Hence, there is a need [...]
Patents for COVID-19 vaccines slow global supply, raise risk of new variants, advocates say
WHO data suggests richer countries have so far received 87 per cent of doses globally. Waiving patents on COVID-19 vaccines would remove "a legal hurdle" to companies and developing countries producing the shots and [...]
14.9 million excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021
New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the COVID-19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 [...]
Cognitive Impairment From Severe COVID-19 Equivalent to 20 Years of Aging
Cognitive impairment as a result of severe COVID-19 is similar to that sustained between 50 and 70 years of age and is the equivalent to losing 10 IQ points, say a team of scientists [...]
About NanoApps Medical Inc – Frank Boehm (CEO NanoAppsMedical Inc.) interview

Dr. Bob Hieronimus hosted an in depth two-hour long interview with NanoApps Medical Founder Frank Boehm, who discussed his first book, and his three new books in progress. Among the topics of discussion were his startup NanoApps Medical, the challenges of securing funding for nanomedical research, and how the EU is standing out due to its exciting and aggressive program of investing heavily in innovation and the future.
Frank then articulated his vision of how synergies between nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and AI may culminate (in ~10-20 years time) in what he refers to as Global Health Care Equivalency (GHCE), which will be driven by Molecular Manufacturing (MM). Further topics included nanomedicine in space applications, and how a brain/cloud interface might some day emerge through nanomedical robotics.
Nanomedical Device and Systems Design: Challenges, Possibilities, Visions by Frank Boehm

Nanomedical Device and Systems Design: Challenges, Possibilities, Visions by Frank Boehm of NanoApps Medical Inc. serves as a preliminary guide toward the inspiration of specific investigative pathways that may lead to meaningful discourse and significant advances in nanomedicine/nanotechnology.
This volume considers the potential of future innovations that will involve nanomedical devices and systems. It endeavors to explore remarkable possibilities spanning medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and other advancements that may be enabled within this discipline.
In particular, this book investigates just how nanomedical diagnostic and therapeutic devices and systems might ultimately be designed and engineered to accurately diagnose and eradicate pathogens, toxins, and myriad disease states.
Frank Boehm contributes to ‘The Physics of the Mind and Brain Disorders’ – Now available from Springer Press

Frank Boehm (NanoApps Medical CEO) and Angelika Domschke contributed the chapter : “Application of a Conceptual Nanomedical Platform to Facilitate the Mapping of the Human Brain: Survey of Cognitive Functions and Implications”.
The book covers recent advances in the understanding of brain structure, function and disorders based on the fundamental principles of physics. It covers a broad range of physical phenomena occurring in the brain circuits for perception, cognition, emotion and action, representing the building blocks of the mind.
It provides novel insights into the devastating brain disorders of the mind such as schizophrenia, dementia, autism, aging or addictions, as well as into the new devices for brain repair.
Potential Nanomedical Countermeasures to Mitigate the Effects of Space on Humans

Incremental progress has been made on several fronts that may employ nanomedical strategies, to potentially counteract the deleterious effects of galactic cosmic rays and microgravity on human physiology. The implementation of these strategies and the enhancement of their preventative, diagnostic, or therapeutic effects for future orbital, planetary, and deep space missions might be enabled via diverse and potent synergies between unique nanomedical applications of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.
NanoApps Medical, Inc. Aiming to Develop Nanobiosensor for Malaria, Ebola, and Zika

NanoApps Medical, Inc. (Vancouver, Canada) is working to develop a point of care diagnostic nanobiosensor platform for the detection of Malaria via saliva samples, which may be reconfigured to detect Ebola, and Zika. The use of this nanobiosensor will be far less invasive and safer than through the extraction of blood samples, while conveying more rapid results.
The current gold standard for the detection of Malaria is blood smear microscopy, the results of which may take from many hours to several days to determine. This test also has the requirements of technical expertise in blood sample preparation, and a trained microscopist. Hence, the proposed nanobiosensor would be a significant improvement in terms of expediting and simplifying the diagnosis of Malaria, Ebola, and Zika in that it would be easy to administer, and provide rapid and clearly understandable results.
Frank Boehm represents Alias Group Creative in North America

From Alias Group Creative:
To better serve our new Aerospace, Nanotechnology, and Nanomedicine clients we are pleased to engage Frank Boehm of Vancouver Canada to represent Alias in North America.
A true entrepreneur and author of the respected reference book: Nanomedical Device and Systems Design: Challenges, Possibilities, Visions, Frank is the CEO of NanoApps Medical Inc.
Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, and AI: Toward the Dream of Global Health Care Equivalency

Synergies between nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and AI may enable this vision on a global scale. Progress toward this goal will be incremental, with each successive wave of nanomedical technologies being more advanced than the previous wave. The tipping point will arrive with the emergence of Molecular Manufacturing (MM), which will make possible the economical fabrication of the types of advanced autonomous nanomedical devices that are described in Frank’s initial book: Nanomedical Device and Systems Design: Challenges, Possibilities, Visions
NanoApps Medical keenly recognizes that such a massive undertaking on a global scale will require intense and high spirited collaboration with like minded individuals, research labs, institutions, organizations, and government agencies worldwide for its realization. It will also require significant resources and time.
NanoApps Medical Inc. Near-Term Projects

NanoApps Medical is aiming to investigate the possibility that superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) and other classes of nanoparticles (e.g., gold coated nanoshells) might have the capacity to target cancerous tumors, metastasizing cancer cells, pathogens, etc. to deactivate/eliminate them via hypothermia.
NanoMedicine and Human Spaceflight

Future nanomedical devices and systems will have strong potential to enable a broad range of aerospace and space applications. With further dimensional reductions in conjunction with the increased capabilities of nanoelectronics and artificial intelligence (AI), nanomedicine may facilitate the development of a wide array of advanced nanomedical diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities dedicated to the health and well being of future astronauts and space pioneers, the inhabitants of future Lunar and Mars colonies, and deep space explorers.
Ocular and Cellular Anomalies

Microgravity induced ophthalmic anomalies were observed by Mader et al in seven astronauts who were involved in long-duration (six month) space missions to the ISS. An additional 300 astronauts were asked to complete a questionnaire in regard to in-flight vision changes. For the seven astronauts under study, the ophthalmic results indicated disk edema (in five), globe flattening (in five), choroidal folds (in five), cotton wool spots (in three), nerve fiber layer thickening (in six), decreased near-vision (in six). Further, optic nerve sheath distension and tortuous optic nerves were observed.
Of the 300 questionnaire respondents, 60% of the astronauts who were engaged in long duration missions reported experiencing degradation in both their near and distance vision; these conditions persisted for years postflight for some individuals.
Cardiac Function and Muscle Atrophy

In 2004, NASA released its Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap (BCPR), with an aim to “establish tolerance limits to the space environment and develop countermeasures to overcome these problems.” The BCPR listed close to 50 space-related medical risk factors, which included those associated with the potential for serious cardiac dysrhythmias (from unknown causes) that may lead to hypotension (low blood pressure) and syncope (fainting). Further, significant cardiac rhythm issues (e.g., ventricular tachycardia – rapid heartbeat), linked with altered cardiac electrical activity and stability were reported for a number of cases during a MIR mission.
Degraded cardiac and vascular functionality, as well as decreased cardiac mass can result from both short and long duration spaceflight.