Nano-Spies Make Light Work of Disease Detection


A world of cloak-and-dagger pharmaceuticals has come a step closer with the development of stealth compounds programmed to spring into action when they receive the signal.


Researchers at the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy have designed and tested large molecular complexes that will reveal their true identity only when they’ve reached their intended target.


The compounds have been developed as part of a five-year programme funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) called ‘Bar-Coded Materials’.


The cloak each spherical complex wears is a sheath of biocompatible


polymer that encapsulates and shrouds biologically active material inside, preventing any biological interaction so long as the shield remains in place.


The smart aspect is in the DNA-based zips that hold the coat in place until triggered to undo. Because any DNA code (or “molecular cipher”) can be chosen, the release mechanism can be bar-coded so that it is triggered by a specific biomarker, for example a message from a disease gene.


What is then exposed, an active pharmaceutical compound, a molecular tag to attach to diseased tissue, or a molecular beacon to signal activation, depends on what function is needed.


Professor Cameron Alexander, who leads the project, said: “These types of switchable nanoparticles could be extremely versatile. As well as initial detection of a medical condition, they could be used to monitor the progress of diseases and courses of treatment, or adapted to deliver potent drugs at particular locations in a patient’s body. It might even become possible to use mobile phones rather than medical scanners to detect programmed responses from later generations of the devices.”


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Report on Low Temperature Characterisation of Nano-Structures using Temperature Controlled Microscopy


Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their stages in the study of nano-structures at the Cronin lab, University of Southern California, in the USA.


The Cronin lab is working on pioneering new technologies which could revolutionise solar energy storage and via a process known as plasmonic catalysis potentially allow us to use solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining.


PhD student, Miss Shermin Arab, and her colleagues at the Cronin Lab are currently focusing their studies on the fabrication and transport study of numerous nano-structures. The team has used a Linkam stage to carry out optoelectronic research on these tiny structures in order to characterise them.


The two main optoelectrical characterisation methods that have been used in this research are photoluminescence (PL) and photo I-V measurements. These measurements require very stable temperature control and it is here that the Linkam stage has proved invaluable to Miss Arab. She says: “In order to reduce the noise, improve the quantum efficiency and be able to observe excitonic behaviour, these measurements are made at low temperatures. Our measurements are usually performed at 77K (-196 °C). We use the Linkam stage and liquid nitrogen to cool down the sample. The Linkam setup also allows us to perform a temperature-dependent study on the samples; where, we vary the temperature from room temperature to 77K and perform the measurements (PL or I-V) at specific temperature points.”


The team used a Linkam THMS600 stage to illuminate the sample and perform low temperature, light dependent measurements such as the two mentioned above. Photoluminescence is used in their lab to illuminate samples with a desired laser and then collect and analyse the emitted light after photon absorption. This measurement is especially important in finding out the crystalline quality of the GaAs nanostructures which has a huge effect on their efficiency.


Continuing, Miss Arab said, “As we move into an era where nano-structures are going to play a vital role in [take out all of] our everyday lives, research and characterisation of such materials will prove influential and allow us to optimise and tailor them to suit our needs.”


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Glass-Plastic Hybrid Cell Imaging Slide Developed


The highly robust and ultra-flat glass-plastic hybrid chip enables high resolution cell imaging and is highly attractive for confocal microscopy applications. Sony DADC BioSciences and Schott AG, an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glass, materials and advanced technologies, have pooled their expertise to develop a novel glass-polymer cell detection slide for imaging of cells. The slide was introduced to the public for the first time at the Biotechnica exhibition in Hannover from 8 – 10 October 2013, and will be the basis for a range of products based on the hybrid design.


“Our engineers designed and developed the glass-plastic hybrid that guarantees superior performance such as flatness, thin chamber design and lowest background fluorescence and is virtually unbreakable. We are certain this product will be embraced by researchers and pathologists who use confocal microscopy,” said Dr Christoph Mauracher, Senior Vice President of the BioSciences division of Sony DADC.


“This product is a great example of what happens when two companies pool their technologies and come up with new applications for traditional materials. We are very excited about the positive customer feedback we have received and are looking forward to the commercialisation of the product through the sales channels of both Schott AG companies and Sony DADC,” said Dr Reiner Mauch, Head of Business Development of Schott.


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New Raman Microscope Enables High-Resolution Materials Analysis


Materials scientists, engineers, and academic researchers can accelerate their research and understand materials in applications ranging from pharmaceutical formulation and life sciences to semiconductor manufacturing and geology using a new Raman imaging microscope. The microscope is so easy to operate that scientists of all abilities can simply walk up and use it to produce stunning chemical images without learning a new technique.


Designed to quickly reveal molecular structure, chemical composition and sample morphology, the Thermo Scientific DXRxi Raman imaging microscope can provide new insights, identify defects and confirm product quality with a high degree of confidence. By employing the image-centric software interface, users can quickly profile materials through information-rich chemical images.


Instant visual feedback and instinctive image-driven control separates this instrument from other Raman microscopes. The DXRxi microscope can analyse large areas, providing microscopic detail in just seconds. Organisations with multiple disciplines can leverage the simplicity and approachability of the DXRxi microscope to realise an immediate impact in research output.


“The DXRxi microscope enables scientists to find the needle in a haystack quickly,” said Ryan Kershner, Product Manager, Raman Spectroscopy, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Because this high-powered microscope is so simple to operate, students and expert microscopists can rapidly collect data and answer complex questions in a variety of fields, from biological tissue to carbon nanotube research.”


The DXRxi microscope offers the following features: new Thermo Scientific OMNICxi image-centric software provides visually driven data acquisition and intuitive sample targeting and parameter optimisation; automated alignment and calibration saves time and frustration; near-instant visual chemical profiling requires no spectroscopic expertise to interpret; ability to analyse large samples quickly.


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