Nanomedicinecenter.com

Communication signal for tissue development discovered

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (PRI) and it’s researchers have discovered a communication signal between cells which play a big role in adhesion and detachment. This research has discovered new information about how cells and tissues determine when to let go from surface during their growth. The research was conducted on fruit fly – a model that helps better understanding of MMPs (metalloproteinases). Fruit fly has two metalloproteinases, compared to 22 which are found in both human and mice. This research showed that one of the two MMPs in fruit fly chops off a piece of a protein which is called Ninjurin A located at cell’s surface. The piece that falls off then sends a signal to other cells that it’s time to detach from their surface. This all should help in tissue development.

Distributing drugs through lungs – inflammation ?

Many nanoscientists consider distributing drugs through lungs has a big potential and could be the best route to get drugs to certain organs. However, studies have shown that nanoparticles can trigger inflammation in lungs after inhaling them. These studies can be alleviated thanks to new findings that nanoparticles which are made out of biodegradable materials do NOT trigger an inflammation. The research was based on biostable polystyrene, PLGA, and a novel polymer formed out of PLGA and PVA. The latter is considered very important in pulmonary delivery of pharmaceuticals. PLGA-PVA did not trigger any inflammation, but were killed by macrophages more quickly – which is not desirable for a drug delivery vehicle.

New approach to rapid bioassays

One of eight centers founded by the National Cancer Institute, Emory-Georgia Tech Nanotechnology Center for Personalized and Predictive Oncology has conducted a research – they’ve been using silica beads with nanoscale pores as a carrier for two other nanoscale materials to create a new tool for conducting rapid, high-throughput assays of biological functions. Scientists constructed a new multifunctional device using quantum dots and iron oxide nanocrystals. They embedded the nanoparticles into the nanoscale pores in silica beads and then coated the beads with a polymer. Polymers coating helps the beads to dissolve in water and provides a surface onto which molecules can be attached.

It is possible to dope the pores with different quantum dots, each shining with a different color, and use the beads in multiplexed assays, as a result. Exposing it to a magnetic field for 5 minutes allowed the researchers to divide the microbeads.