Some of the world’s most important discoveries – penicillin, vulcanized rubber and Velcro, to name a few – were made by accident. In fact, it’s been said that upward of half of all scientific discoveries are by chance.
Add vortex ring freezing to that long list of “accidents.”
Duo An, a doctoral student in the labs of both professor Dan Luo and assistant professor Minglin Ma, in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, was an undergraduate from China doing an internship at Cornell when he stumbled upon a phenomenon that has the potential to greatly improve cell-free protein production and cell delivery, particularly for Type 1 diabetes patients.
A group headed by Luo and Ma has published the paper, “Mass production of shaped particles through vortex ring freezing,” which was released online Aug. 4 in Nature Communications. An is lead author.
Vortex rings are ubiquitous in nature – a mushroom cloud of smoke is one example – and the ring’s evolution exhibits a rich spectrum of complicated geometries, from spherical to teardrop to toroidal (doughnut-shaped). The researchers used these features to control and mass produce inorganic and organic particles via an electrospraying process, whereby a multitude of vortex ring-derived particles (VRPs) can be produced, then frozen at precise time points. The group reported they could produce 15,000 rings per minute via electrospraying.
They found controlling the shape and speed of the spray, as well as the speed of the chemical reaction, can yield different structures.
“We can tune both of these timescales, and control at which stage we can freeze the structure, to get the results we want,” An said.
Image Credit: Cornell University
Recent News
Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 will likely be dominant strain globally within months
The highly transmissible delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing the disease COVID-19, is now present in 124 countries and will become the dominant strain globally in the coming [...]
UK scientists back Covid boosters as study finds post-jab falls in antibodies
Scientists have backed proposals for Covid boosters in the autumn after blood tests on hundreds of people revealed that protective antibodies can wane substantially within weeks of second vaccine [...]
Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines establish recall responses to reinfection
Researchers in the United States have conducted a study showing that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna generate a coordinated adaptive immune response that [...]
Study shows new ‘warm vaccine’ effective against all key virus variants
CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, played an important role in evaluating heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine formulations developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and biotech start-up Mynvax—against all current [...]
Podcast – Nanovisaging 2040 How Synergies between Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, and AI might Benefit Humanity
Frank Boehm (NanoApps Medical Inc. Founder) in discussion with Nana Kay in a Wealth Secrets podcast. EP 19. Nanovisaging 2040. From Nana Kay: Nanovisaging 2040: How Synergies between Nanotechnology, [...]
Data in favour of mixing COVID-19 vaccines, but long-term effects unknown
Canada, like several other countries, has been mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines for weeks amid safety concerns over the AstraZeneca shot. On Monday, the chief scientist at the World Health Organization [...]
CRISPR stops coronavirus replication in human cells
Scientists have harnessed CRISPR gene-editing technology to block the replication of the novel coronavirus in human cells — an approach that could one day serve as a new treatment for COVID-19. [...]
Controlling the Size of Nanoparticles
Depositing nanoparticles using the NL50 is now simpler than ever with the pre-loaded optimized recipes for a variety of frequently used materials, including Au, Ag, Pt and Cu. These [...]
Shape of Nanoparticles in Body Fluids – a Biomarker for Identifying Cancer Types?
A recent study by scientists from Japanese universities has shown that the shape of cell-derived nanoparticles, known as "extracellular vesicles" (EVs), in body fluids could be a biomarker for [...]
Study reveals how our immune system reacts to COVID-19 variants
An important lesson for vaccine design Australian scientists researching how our immune system responds to COVID-19 have revealed that those infected by early variants in 2020 produced sustained antibodies, [...]
COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 8 July
1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 185 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than [...]
Here’s what you should know about the Lambda variant
The World Health Organization (WHO) has added another COVID strain to its list of coronavirus variants to keep an eye on: the COVID-19 Lambda variant. This particular variant has now spread [...]
Scientists identify breakthrough cases of SARS-CoV-2’s delta in fully vaccinated individuals
In a recent study conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, scientists have identified six vaccine breakthrough cases caused by the delta variant of severe acute respiratory [...]
‘More dangerous than Delta’: Lambda strain detected in over 30 countries
A new Covid-19 strain that is much more dangerous than the Delta variant has been detected in more than 30 countries in the past four weeks, says the Health [...]
Covid ‘perfect storm’ as more patients hit by fungal infections
Weakened lungs and immune systems make people increasingly vulnerable, warn scientists. A rash of cases of a rare “black fungus” infection affecting thousands of critically ill Covid patients in [...]
How a COVID-19 infection changes blood cells in the long run
Using real-time deformability cytometry, researchers at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin in Erlangen were able to show for the first time: COVID-19 significantly changes the size and stiffness [...]
AI Finds Gene Expression Data to Predict COVID-19 Patient Outcomes
An artificial intelligence algorithm can parse gene expression data to predict patient outcomes by identifying signature genes that reveal the severity of viral infection immune response including COVID-19, according [...]
Mixing Pfizer, AstraZeneca doses provides strong immune response against COVID-19: study
Mixing doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines generate a stronger immune response than having two rounds of the AstraZeneca shot, new U.K. research suggests, though the highest antibody response was seen [...]
Delta plus: Scientists say too early to tell risk of Covid-19 variant
Why do new variants of Covid-19 keep appearing? Laura Foster explains India has classified a new variant of the coronavirus first identified in Europe as a "variant of concern", [...]
The Covid delta variant has ‘exploded’ in the UK — it could be a blueprint for the U.S.
LONDON — Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. has been keeping a close eye on the U.K. From its initial response to Covid-19 (questioned by many), [...]
Pfizer says its vaccine highly effective against Delta variant
As Delta variants has become the new cause for concern across the world, Pfizer says its vaccine is effective against Delta, first reported in India. Pfizer which is in [...]
AstraZanica vaccine: the trials and tribulations of a world-saving jab
Amid bemusement from scientists at the deluge of often undeserved criticism, the Guardian pieces together the story behind the vaccine’s successes and failures. n January 2020, when most of [...]
Can the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines affect genetic code?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are set to become the mainstay of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout as the year progresses, according to the latest government projections released this week. From [...]
Autopsy study shows how COVID harms the brain
The brains of people who died from COVID-19 were remarkably similar to the brains of people who die from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, showing inflammation and [...]
Nearly 4,000 fully vaccinated in Massachusetts test positive for virus
Nearly 4,000 Massachusetts residents who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus. These so-called 'breakthrough' cases occur when people contract the disease 14 days or more after [...]
Nanoparticle-Based Therapy Could Treat Fatal Lung Disease in Newborns
The rare lung disease is so complicated that its acronym is difficult to pronounce. However, for infants who were unfortunate enough to be born with this disorder, the outcome [...]
SARS-CoV-2 variants have higher transmissibility and a longer infectious period
Researchers analyzed data on three variants of concern and found that viral loads were higher and infection lasted longer for the B.1.1.7 variant. They all were more infectious than [...]
Heart inflammation in young men higher than expected after Pfizer, Moderna vaccines
A higher-than-expected number of young men have experienced heart inflammation after their second dose of the mRNA COVID-19 shots from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, according to data from two vaccine [...]
Biohacking the brain
Probably you’ve heard about hacking smartphones, emails, cards, computers. Even hacking elections. But what about hacking your body? What?! This concept is called biohacking and it’s really all about self-improvement. The [...]
COVID Vaccine Magnet Challenge Videos Debunked by Scientists
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, various conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine have arisen, with one of the most popular pieces of false information being that the [...]
Scientists find drug duo that may cure COVID-19 together
COVID-19 continues to claim lives around the world and is infecting millions more. Although several vaccines have recently become available, making significant strides towards preventing COVID-19, what about the [...]
Pfizer jab found to elicit lower antibody response to Delta variant
People who have received the Pfizer vaccine have lower antibody levels that target the Delta variant, first discovered in India, than those that targeted previously circulating variants in the UK, new data [...]
Chinese army ‘engineered mice with humanized lungs’ to test viruses
Medical researchers with the Chinese army engineered mice with humanized lungs in 2019 to test viruses on them, it has been reported. The mice, developed using CRISPR gene-editing technology, were mentioned [...]
Africa faces ‘rising threat’ of a COVID third wave: WHO
Healthcare systems across Africa are “far from ready” to cope with a fresh surge of coronavirus infections, with vaccine deliveries at a near standstill and cases surging in many [...]
WHO announces new simplified names for COVID-19 variants
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change over time. Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’ properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, [...]
Can people vaccinated against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus?
Vaccines can be great at preventing you from getting sick, while at the same time not necessarily stopping you from getting infected or spreading the germ. Preliminary evidence seems [...]
Antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow of people who have recovered from COVID-19
People who recover from mild COVID-19 have bone-marrow cells that can churn out antibodies for decades, although viral variants could dampen some of the protection they offer. Many people [...]
UK spies believe the theory that COVID-19 escaped from a Wuhan lab is ‘plausible’
British spies believe that the thesis that COVID-19 leaked from a lab in China is plausible and are seeking to recruit sources on the darknet as they investigate the [...]
Vietnam detects new hybrid of two COVID variants
Authorities in Vietnam have detected a new coronavirus variant that is a hybrid of strains found in India and the United Kingdom, an official said. Nguyen Thanh Long, the [...]
German scientists say they can help improve Covid vaccines to prevent blood clots
A team of German scientists believe that they have worked out why some people given the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines against Covid-19 develop blood clots – and claim they can tell [...]
Why scientists are suddenly more interested in the lab-leak theory of Covid’s origin
The United States is closer than ever to beating Covid-19, with half the country vaccinated and more restrictions lifting. But we're as far as ever from knowing how this virus, [...]
PCOS – The women possibly at higher risk for Covid-19 that no one is talking about
Last July, when her immediate family tested positive for Covid-19, Breanna Aguilar did not fit into any groups considered at higher risk for severe disease. She is 31 years [...]
CDC studying reports of heart inflammation in young Covid vaccine recipients
Health agency says the rates of myocarditis are not higher than expected and no causal link has been found to mRNA jabs. Some teenagers and young adults who received [...]
How will Covid-19 evolve in the future?
Every time the coronavirus passes from person to person it picks up tiny changes to its genetic code, but scientists are starting to notice patterns in how the virus [...]
Nanofiber filter captures almost 100% of coronavirus aerosols
A filter made from polymer nanothreads blew three kinds of commercial masks out of the water by capturing 99.9% of coronavirus aerosols in an experiment. "Our work is the [...]
Do COVID-19 vaccines care whether you’re female or male?
MSU researcher is studying, raising awareness about the role of sex in the efficacy of vaccines that make use of nanomedicine If there’s one take-home message for the general [...]
WHO finally admits that Covid-19 virus can be ‘airborne’, read how it had refused the possibility for a year
Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledged that the Coronavirus can also be airborne. After denying for more than a year, the WHO finally updated the mode [...]
Drug designed as ‘heat-seeking missile’ to target COVID-19
A collaboration of Australian and US scientists has developed a potential antiviral therapy to directly target and treat COVID-19. Researchers from the Menzies Health Institute Queensland (MHIQ) at Griffith [...]
What happens when you mix doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines? A new study…
What happens if you mix COVID-19 vaccines, receiving a first dose of one jab and a second dose of a different inoculation? Scientists want to know. Why? Because mixing doses might [...]
AI and nanotechnology could make cancer cell therapy affordable for all
CAR-T therapy can cure terminally ill cancer patients but it is prohibitively expensive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Leveraging recent advances in chip technology scientists can create and [...]
Leave A Comment