Just another day in the life of a carbon nanotube

Carbon Nanotubes Boost Cancer-Fighting Cells

-One defensive strategy in the human immune system utilizes T cells, which are able to detect bad stuff in the body, replicate in lymph nodes, and then induce a strong immune response.
-Tumor cells are able to survive because they prevent tumor-specific T cells from replicating and therefore suppress any immune response.
-A technique called 'Adoptive Immunotherapy' is a treatment option, where patient's blood is drawn and T cells are stimulated and replicated in the lab before being transferred back into the patient.
-A major drawback right now is that it can take several weeks until sufficient T cells are produced.

-Yale scientists have found that carbon nanotubes mimic lymph nodes in the lab and reduce the time to produce enough tumor-fighting T cells by 1/3.
-All that is needed now is find an efficient way of removing the carbon nanotubes before re-injecting the T cells into the patient.

One small step for man, One giant leap for cancer treatment

(PhysOrg.com)
-'DNA -> RNA -> Protein' is the central dogma of genetics.
-A good way for me to remember complex scientific concepts is to put them in context with something simpler that I understand.
-For me the best context for this genetic concept is comparing it to opening a zip file on the computer.
     -Say you have a zip file (DNA). You cannot simply open the zip file, because it is only useful for storage.
     -In order to open the zip file you must first unzip it (transcription) into a readable file (RNA).
     -Now, when you try and open the unzipped file (RNA) it results in something usable such as a word document, pdf, or mp3 (protein).

-Most anticancer drugs target certain proteins unique to the growth and survival of tumor cells.
-These therapeutics have some limitations because of the 3-D shapes of proteins and the possibility of mutations which 'hide' the protein from the drug without changing the protein's use for the cell.
-A new approach using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targets a type of RNA in the cell called messenger RNA (mRNA).

-Unlike protein, mRNA is linear in shape (no bends/folds to hide itself) and has fewer potential mutations.
-This therapy is very exciting because it allows for the indirect targeting of virtually every protein.
-A major hurdle of this therapy (other than getting the siRNA into the cell is targeting only the tumor cell(s).
-Solution = packing the siRNA into nanoparticles which bind only to cancerous cells, then release the siRNA into the bound tumor cell.
-Most importantly, this combined treatment was found to be effective in a human patient during a phase I clinical trial.
-This therapy is being developed for treating cancer, but I can see it being utilized for treating nearly every disease.

I love gooooold. But cancer sure doesn't

ScienceDaily (2010-03-16)
-"Magic Bullets" are highly targeted medical treatments which are the ultimate goal for drug development.
-Cancer has evaded these so-called bullets because of drastic changes in tumors between (1) different stages of cancer development, (2) different organs/tissues of the body, and (3) different patients.
-A new treatment developed at Washington University in St. Louis may be able to target cancer cells and selectively kill them with minimal damage to healthy cells.
-The technique is called 'Photothermal Therapy' and involves injecting gold nanocages into a patient's bloodstream (gold is inert and therefore nontoxic at low levels).
-Some of these 'golden bullet' nanocages accumulate at the tumor site (~6%) through leaky blood vessels (a commonality between tumor).
-A laser is then shone on the tumor site and the nanocages present convert light into heat which leads to the death of the tumor cells and has little/no effect on the surrounding healthy cells.
-This treatment was shown to work in a mouse model, but with the way things are currently for translating developments from the lab-to-clinic, this technology should be available in 100 years or so.
-This treatment isn't perfect yet, more research has begun on actively targeting cancer cells so fewer particles need to be injected, but is a huge tool in treating cancer which could be effective right now!

Laser-ignited nanoparticles, oh the possibilites

ScienceDaily (2010-03-19)
-By hitting carbon nanoparticles with a relatively weak laser, University of Florida engineers could release their stored energy causing light, heat, or burning depending on the conditions.

-Potential uses:

1. Identification and specific-killing of cancer cells without damaging normal cells.
2. Ignition of powerful explosives used by mining, tunneling, or demolition crews instead of time-consuming and expensive electrical lines currently used.
3. Replacing traditional sparkplugs for more efficient gasoline burning in cars.
4. More than a dozen other potential applications.

The Ultimate Protection - No not Trojan, Spray-on glass

• Liquid glass spray a.k.a. "SiO2 ultra-thin layering" is transparent, non-toxic, and offers protection from water, UV radiation, acid, dirt, heat, and bacteria.
• Silicon dioxide (silica, main compound in glass) added with water/ethanol depending on surface to be coated, no additives.
• Works by forming a water-resistant coating ~100 nanometers thick.
• Nanoscale thickness makes the glass highly flexible and breathable (potential biological usage).
• Non-toxic, environmentally safe, easy-to-clean with water & wiping.
• Potential Usage:
• Sterilizing equipment & surfaces (food/medical industry, around the house = bye bye unnecessary cleaning products).
• Protection of monuments & buildings from weathering and graffiti.
• Coating seeds & plants to increase resistance to fungal/bacterial diseases.
• Stain-resistant clothing.
• Available in DIY (Do-it-yourself) stores in Britain soon, prices starting ~£5 (US$8).

http://www.physorg.com/news184310039.html
http://www.nanopool.eu/couk/index.htm