Work performed at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research located at the University of California Santa Barbra lead to the development of nanoparticles that seek the blood vessels in tumors and then attract other nanoparticles to that location. The accumulation of nanoparticles can lead as great as a 20% obstruction in the tumor blood vessels. To read more about this work visit: http://www.burnham.org/default.asp?contentID=395

A collaborative effort between the University of Chicago and the Argonne National Laboratory resulted in the discovery of the strength of tightly packed nanoparticles. The strength of the nanoparticle sheet came as a surprise to the researchers. The strength of the nanoparticle sheet may lead to new uses for nanoparticle. To learn more about the strength of a nanoparticle sheet visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722134815.htm

Researchers as the University of Michigan received a 1.3 million dollar pilot grant from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to study if nanoparticles can be used to deliver pain-relief to soldiers in the field. The current pain-relief system used in the military requires trained individuals to administer the pain-relieving drugs. The researchers hope to develop a nanotechnology based system that will allow pain-relieving drugs to be administered quickly and easily with minimum training required. To read more about this grant visit: http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=2294.php

Small interfering ribonucleic acid (SiRNA) pieces made headlines earlier this year when Andrew Fire and Craig Mello, who work extensively with SiRNA, were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. SiRNA can be used to reduce the production of a protein. A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Burnham Institute are hoping to combine both nanotechnology and SiRNA. A nanoparticle can be coated and a SiRNA piece attached and then the nanoparticle can be sent to a targeted area. To learn more about this project visit: http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=2413.php To learn more about SiRNA, Andrew Fire, Craig Mello, and hear their Nobel Prize lectures visit: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2006/

A new nanoparticle technique developed at the University of Texas Austin could lead to better plastic semi-conductors in solar panels and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The use of nanoparticles in solar panels could lead to increase efficiency in the conversion of light into energy. To read more about nanoparticles and better semi-conductors visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070806112624.htm

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University are working to create a nanoparticle that may be able to detect the early stages of chronic inflammation. A variety of disease will produce chronic inflammation including cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. To learn more about this possible use of nanoparticles and the role of hydrogen peroxide visit : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070820104851.htm

Studying the process of nanoparticle assembly is the focus of research performed at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory. Recently the researchers have been able to use particles of DNA to observe how the nanoparticle assembly. The researchers created synthetic DNA with an individual gold nanoparticle attached. As the DNA assembled so did the cluster of nanoparticles. To read more about DNA and nanoparticle assembly visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070822093124.htm

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have been able to see the uptake of nanoparticles by tumor cells thanks to a novel 3-D cell culture model. Previous work by the researchers has shown that tumor cells with uptake nanoparticles at a faster rate than non-tumor cells. The 3-D cell culture model has allowed for better understanding of the selective uptake of nanoparticles by tumor cells. To read more about this research visit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070823083706.htm