Tiny pores at a cell's entryway act as miniature bouncers, letting in some electrically charged atoms--ions--but blocking others. Operating as exquisitely sensitive filters, these "ion channels" play a critical role in biological functions such as muscle contraction and the firing of brain cells. To rapidly transport the right ions through the cell membrane, the tiny [...]
Over the past few years, the building blocks of storage media have become ever smaller. But further miniaturization of the current technology is hindered by fundamental limits of quantum mechanics. A new approach consists of using so-called spin-crossover molecules as the smallest possible storage unit. Similar to normal hard drives, these special molecules can save [...]
The purely mathematical property – linear or circular – can have severe consequences in the world of materials. Since circular molecules lack any ends, which could serve as a starting point for degradation, they are more resistant and less entangled. Nature profits from this unique property of circular molecules to increase DNA’s and RNA’s resilience [...]
Nearly 75 years ago, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Erwin Schrödinger wondered if the mysterious world of quantum mechanics played a role in biology. A recent finding by Northwestern University's Prem Kumar adds further evidence that the answer might be yes. Kumar and his team have, for the first time, created quantum entanglement from a biological system. [...]
A new drug delivery system that uses a synthetic-biological hybrid nanocapsule could provide a smart technology for targeted treatment of a variety of serious diseases at the genetic level. The hybrid offers a way to correct diseased cells at the genetic level - while at the same time leaving healthy cells alone - to increase [...]
From news-medical.net sponsored by Bruker Nano Surfaces: Can you please give a brief introduction to your research characterizing cancer cells? My name is James Gimzewski and I am a distinguished professor at UCLA. I'm in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, but I am also heavily involved in the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. We were probably [...]
Cells continuously replicate to repair and replace damaged tissue, and each division requires a reprinting of the cell's genetic blueprints. As the DNA duplicates, errors inevitably occur, resulting in damage that, if left unrepaired, can lead to cellular death. At the first hint of DNA damage, a protein known as an ATR kinase activates the [...]
Researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering have found yet another remarkable use for the wonder material graphene—tiny electronic “tweezers” that can grab biomolecules floating in water with incredible efficiency. This capability could lead to a revolutionary handheld disease diagnostic system that could be run on a smart phone. Graphene, a [...]
A new method for delivering chemotherapy nanodrugs capable of increasing the drugs’ bioavailability and reducing side-effects has been developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers. Their study has been published online in Scientific Reports and it demonstrates that administering an FDA-approved nutrition source before chemotherapy can help reduce the quantity of the toxic drugs that settle [...]
A feature of science fiction stories for decades, nanorobot potential ranges from cancer diagnosis and drug delivery to tissue repair and more. A major hurdle to these endeavors, however, is finding a way to cheaply make a propulsion system for these devices. New developments may now propel nanoswimmers from science fiction to reality thanks to [...]
