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nanotimes News in Brief

11-02/03 :: February / March 2011

from the ILL, now at the Helmholtz Zentrum Ber- lin, Germany. “And with these simple cobalt oxide compounds, we have an ideal candidate for further research into understanding the links between ma- gnetism and high temperature superconductivity.”

A. T. Boothroyd,P. Babkevich, D. Prabhakaran & P. G. Freeman: An hour-glass magnetic spectrum in an insu- lating, hole-doped antiferromagnet, In: Nature, Vol. 471(2011), No. 7338, March 17, 2011, Pages: 341-344, DOI:10.1038/471314a: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/471314a

Neutron scattering intensity maps of the magnetic excita- tion spectrum of La5/3Sr1/3CoO4. © Oxford University / Institut Laue-Langevin

effects of superconductivity. The experiment allows us to isolate the source of the much-debated hour- glass spectrum.” This represents an important discovery for those aiming to model the origins of superconductivity.

“Future models must now incorporate these ma- gnetic stripes, says Dr Paul Freeman, formerly

Researcher Hans de Waard, who is associated with the University of Groningen, developed a new nanotech-solution that increases the efficacy of medicines. He obtained his doctorate on this subject on March 11. He said, “Many current medicines are not easily dissolved in the digestive tract, which means that they barely reach the bloodstream. This, in turn, means that the efficacy of medicines is not guaranteed. Since we can now produce nanoparticles of these medicines, they are actually able to dissolve well.” This concerns medi- cines such as diazepam (valium), ibuprofen, and the cholesterol-reducing fenofibrate. This research will enable lower doses and reduce the chance of side effects.

Applying nanotechnology means that medicines will be able to be processed into extremely small particles. According to De Waard, this research is