Navigation Links
Notre Dame study explores the potential benefits and threats of nanotechnology research
Date:1/25/2013

Every day scientists learn more about how the world works at the smallest scales. While this knowledge has the potential to help others, it's possible that the same discoveries can also be used in ways that cause widespread harm.

A new article in the journal Nanomedicine, born out of a Federal Bureau of Investigation workshop held at the University of Notre Dame in September 2012, tackles this complex "dual-use" aspect of nanotechnology research.

"The rapid pace of breakthroughs in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other fields, holds the promise of great improvements in areas such as medical diagnosis and treatment" says Kathleen Eggleson, a research scientist in Notre Dame's Center for Nano Science and Technology and the author of the study.

"But the risk of misuse of these breakthroughs rises along with the potential benefit. This is the essence of the 'dual-use dilemma.'"

The report examines the potential for nano-sized particles (which are measured in billionths of a meter) to breach the blood-brain barrier, the tightly knit layers of cells that afford the brain the highest level of protectionfrom microorganisms, harmful molecules, etc.in the human body. Some neuroscientists are purposefully engineering nanoparticles that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) so as to deliver medicines in a targeted and controlled way directly to diseased parts of the brain.

At the same time, the report notes, "nanoparticles designed to cross the BBB constitute a serious threatin the context of combat." For example, it is theorized that "aerosol delivery" of some nano-engineered agent in "a crowded indoor space" could cause serious harm to many people at once.

The problem of dual-use research was highlighted last year when controversy erupted over the publication of findings that indicate how, with a handful modifications, the H5N1 influenza virus ("bird flu") can be altered in a way that would enable it to be
'/>"/>

Contact: Kathleen Eggleson
keggleso@nd.edu
574-631-1229
University of Notre Dame
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology technology :

1. Notre Dame researchers demonstrate new DNA detection technique
2. Notre Dame researchers develop paint-on solar cells
3. Nanotrees harvest the suns energy to turn water into hydrogen fuel
4. Notre Dame paper examines nanotechnology-related safety and ethics problem
5. Notre Dame to be part of $194 million university research center network
6. Positive Clinical Study Results for BSPs HyperQ Technology
7. 15-Minute Data From Phase 3 Study of Avanafil Featured as a Late Breaking Abstract at SMSNA Annual Meeting
8. DermTechs Non-invasive Melanoma Detection Assay Poised to Enter Clinical Validation Study
9. Marshall study shows nanoparticles used as additives in diesel fuels can travel from lungs to liver
10. Clionsky Neuro Systems (CNS-Neuro) Announces Publication of Study Finding Elderly Patients Unable to Recognize Their Memory Loss
11. Convergence Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Multiple Ascending Dose Study for CNV2197944
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... Vestiage, Inc. (stock symbol "VEST") ... science-based research and development, sales and marketing of ... announced today that it is awarding exclusive Vestiage ... of Reluma Skin Illuminating Facial Care. Qualified applicants ... sending an email to info(at)vestiageinc(dot)com and putting RELUMA ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... CAMBRIDGE, England , May 24, 2013 ... von Mundipharma angefertigt – Bei der ... Version , 91 % der Teilnehmer einer ... obwohl nur 20 % laut GINA [*] -Definition [1] ... zeigt, dass Menschen mit Asthma generell einer von vier ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Venaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:   APPY), ... obtaining FDA clearance and commercializing its rapid, protein biomarker-based ... of an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 shares of ... shares of its common stock at an exercise price ... price of $1.25 per share and related warrant.  Venaxis ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Can economic incentives such ... motivate members of the public to increase their donations ... Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Assistant Professor Mario ... to a large body of recent research that supports ... 24, 2013, issue of Science that the World Health ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 2Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 3Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 4Vestiage Announces Launch of Exclusive Territories for Reluma Brand Sales in USA 5Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 2Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 3Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 4Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 5Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 6Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen Verbindung zwischen suboptimaler Asthmaversorgung und Patienteneinstellungen in Europa auf 7Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 3Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 2Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 3
... Reaching First Clinical Milestone Validates Approach, SAN ... successful completion of its first clinical trial, a,proof-of-concept ... a sodium channel blocker. Rufinamide was discovered and,developed ... in Europe as a,drug to treat a form ...
... January 22 Arpida Ltd.,(SWX: ARPN) announced today that ... with the TLT treatment in onychomycosis has been,initiated and ... 220 patients in total will be enrolled in this ... interest to,participate well in advance of the trial., ...
... nation,s top-10 GPOs(1), IRVINE, Calif., Jan. ... and Read-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse,oximetry, ... supplier agreement,with HealthTrust Purchasing Group (HealthTrust), representing ... ambulatory surgery,centers, alternate care sites and physician ...
Cached Biology Technology:Synosia Announces Encouraging Results of Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial for Epilepsy Drug rufinamide as a Treatment for Mood Disorders 2Synosia Announces Encouraging Results of Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial for Epilepsy Drug rufinamide as a Treatment for Mood Disorders 3Arpida Reports Progress in Pivotal Phase III Trial With TLT Treatment in Onychomycosis 2Arpida Reports Progress in Pivotal Phase III Trial With TLT Treatment in Onychomycosis 3Arpida Reports Progress in Pivotal Phase III Trial With TLT Treatment in Onychomycosis 4Masimo Awarded Multi-Year Pulse Oximetry Agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group 2Masimo Awarded Multi-Year Pulse Oximetry Agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group 3Masimo Awarded Multi-Year Pulse Oximetry Agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group 4
(Date:5/22/2013)... engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed ... of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. Published in the ... paves the way for more rapid development of ... other activities. , Keith Shearwin and colleagues explain ... genetic material DNA into a bacterium,s genome is ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... in cellular DNA can endanger the whole organism, as ... at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich now report how byproducts ... helix. , The DNA in our cells controls the ... bodies. The instructions for this are encoded in the ... the bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... important new details on how climate change will affect ... in the Journal of Animal Ecology . This ... and informing policymakers of how species are likely to ... is a growing recognition among biologists that climate change ... that this is going to have very important consequences ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):DNA damage: The dark side of respiration 2UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 2UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 3UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 4UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 5
... this year, says the American Cancer Society, and 10,000 ... in the early stages, melanoma can be a particularly ... an efficiency that few tumors possess. Now, researchers at ... the reasons why this particular skin tumor is so ...
... Hopkins have discovered the presence of functional ion channels ... act like electrical wires and permit ESCs, versatile cells ... types of the body, to conduct and pass along ... of these channels in implanted cells, derived from stem ...
... pathogenic fungi as model systems for understanding fungal diseases, ... offers insight into how carbon dioxide (CO2) governs the ... different environments and invade the human body, and they ... utilize evolutionarily conserved enzymes to control the growth and ...
Cached Biology News:Researchers discover why melanoma is so malignant 2Researchers discover why melanoma is so malignant 3Stem cells' electric abilities might help their safe clinical use 2CO2 sensing proves critical for fungal pathogens to adapt to life in air and human hosts 2CO2 sensing proves critical for fungal pathogens to adapt to life in air and human hosts 3
Sf9 cells derived from Spodoptera frugiperda ovarian cells (Sf21 cells) are commonly used to isolate and propagate recombinant AcMNPV viral stocks and to produce recombinant proteins....
...
...
...
Biology Products: