Nanotechnology materials are going to open new realms of possibility for flexible and stretchable monitoring gadgets that are wearable directly on the skin. In our previous Nanotechnology in Healthcare Spotlight we already looked at some – even futuristic – biofunction monitors. A new review in ACS Nano ("Lab-on-Skin: A Review of Flexible and Stretchable Electronics [...]
Researchers are constantly expanding their arsenal of methods to decipher the spatial organization of biological structures. Using microscopes, they can now visualize individual macromolecular components within DNA, protein, or other complexes. However, this resolution typically requires sophisticated equipment applied to specially-processed samples, and it is difficult to simultaneously watch many types of [...]
Treatment options for heart disease and heart-related illnesses are still limited despite the fact that they are the main causes of death across the globe. Presently, one group reports in ACS Nano that it is possible to repair damage to the heart by encapsulating stem cells in a nanogel. Myocardial infarction, also referred to as [...]
Research carried out by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) in conjunction with pharmaceutical firm Sanofi has produced an antibody capable of attacking 99 percent of HIV strains. The International Aids Society has heralded the finding as an “exciting breakthrough.” The human body has difficulty fighting HIV because of the way that the virus [...]
According to a recent SEC filing, Nanosys has raised $7.5 million in financing from an undisclosed investor. Nanosys is a nanotechnology company that designs products based on “architected materials,” or materials purpose-engineered for a given manufacturing process. The technology is currently being applied to multiple industries, including LED backlighting, LED general lighting, power batteries and [...]
From an article posted by Nanoneophyte: Applications of various nano platforms in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Nano platforms can target and break down coronary artery plaques and prevent injuries caused by stenosis or occlusion of arteries. Nanoparticulate systems can also reduce the adverse effects of reperfusion injuries and regenerate/salvage myocardium after MI, [...]
From an article at neurosciencenews.com: Summary: Study reveals receptor movement is essential for synaptic plasticity as a response to neural activity. Halting receptor movement may block specific memory acquisition, researchers report, thus confirming the role of synaptic plasticity in learning and memory. Researchers in Bordeaux recently discovered a new mechanism for storing information in synapses [...]
Heart disease and heart-related illnesses are a leading cause of death around the world, but treatment options are limited. Now, one group reports in ACS Nano ("Heart Repair Using Nanogel-Encapsulated Human Cardiac Stem Cells in Mice and Pigs with Myocardial Infarction") that encapsulating stem cells in a nanogel could help repair damage to the heart. [...]
From an article by Liam Critchley at AZonano.com: The design of nanostructured scaffolds has gathered a significant amount of interest over the last few years in nanomedicine and tissue engineering fields. Within the design of such scaffolds, the materials undergoing a serious amount of research are hydrogels, as they can produce realistic tissue constructs resembling [...]
A novel device that reprograms skin cells could represent a breakthrough in repairing injured or ageing tissue, researchers say. The new technique, called tissue nanotransfection, is based on a tiny device that sits on the surface of the skin of a living body. An intense, focused electric field is then applied across the device, allowing [...]
