NanomedicineCenter.com

USADA funds the development of HGH urine test

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a performance-enhancing drug. It has the ability to grow muscle and aid recovery after training. It is not detectable in urine, unlike anabolic steroids. That’s why the American Doping Agency (USADA) has agreed to fund the development of HGH (human growth hormone) urine test. They have agreed to pay $65,000 to Ceres Nanosciences LLLP, who will develop the test which will help USADA enormously in doping detection.

“From a scientific perspective, we can tell you now if someone’s been doping,” said Tom Dunlap, one of the developers from Ceres. He also said that the development will last about a year — it will take around six months to make Ceres’ patented technology detect human growth hormone, and another six months to perform all necessary tests in order to make the technique flawless.

“This is a great example of the partnerships that must be forged between cutting-edge biotech companies and the anti- doping movement to ensure that the rights of clean athletes are protected,” said Larry Bowers from USADA.

Adopted from materials found at Bloomberg.com

Relation between nanotechnology and food

Nanotechnology is everywhere around us, although we aren’t aware of it all the time. Many companies (cosmetics, food) use nanotechnology standards in order to improve their products, but don’t really talk publicly about it.

Nanotechnology is widely used in the food industry. If we put aside the “possible toxicity of nanoparticles” factor, nanotechnology standards can offer significant benefits to the society. Here is ten of them.

1. Bacteria identification and elimination — Scientists have developed a method which allows nano-carbohydrate particles to bind with bacteria, thus detecting and eliminating them.

2. Enhance the flavor — Our tongue’s sensors detect the taste of what we consume. Now, scientists have developed a way to trick the tongue by bitter blockers or sweet and salty enhancers.

3. Set the texture — Nanocrystals and lipids significantly improve food spreadability and stability for better low-fat foods.

4. Track, trace and protect — Scientists from California have created nanobarcodes from nanoparticles that contain silver and gold stripes, thus improving tagging individual products and tracing outbreaks.

5. Reducing pesticides — By using a cloth saturated with nanofibers slowly releases pesticides, thus eliminating the need for additional spraying and reducing chemical leakage into the water supply.

6. Green packaging — In order to create antimicrobial and biodegradable nanofibers, scientists have used lobster shells and organic corn.

7. Improved nutrients delivery — In order to significantly improve the solubility of vitamins, healthy omega oils and antioxidants, scientists have nano-encapsulated them.

8. Enhancing food storage — In order to keep the food fresh, scientists have created Nano-barriers which are able to keep the oxygen “away”.

9. “Kill microbes” packaging — Scientists have developed food films that are made out of nano particles of zinc or calcium are able to kill bacteria.

10. Sense the contamination — Scientists developed a device which allows us to detect a E. coli by just a laser.

Adapted from materials found at Discovery.com

EU to launch a huge nanomedicine project

Economy, regulations, ethics, patient attitudes, and communication — all aspects of nanomedicine will be covered and researched by the leading scientists from all over EU in order to ensure that an objective answer is found and confirmed — nanomedicine is able to change the way healthcare functions.

Sir John Beringer, who is the chairman of the project, shared his thoughts on the project: “Even if we don’t see the nanorobots of Fantastic Voyage fame for a few years, nanomedicine still has immense short term potential to impact all of our lives. Working at the nanoscale is already leading to new highly targeted medicines, improved imaging and diagnostics of disease and even a new generation of implantable sensors for monitoring your health.” He also said that he is very glad that the EU sees the importance of investing in this subfield of nanotechnology.
“In this project I believe we have managed to assemble a team with both the experience and understanding to create what I believe will be a unique report covering all aspects,” said Beringer. He said that their first task will be to measure the size of the current nanomedicine market. That has been almost impossible so far, because many companies “hide” that they use nanomedicine. He promised that the team will do their best in order to offer highly accurate data.