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Nano, nano. Here's another article. Kathleen http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=8908.php 2009/1/14 schild.m <[log in to unmask]> > Magnetic Nanotubes May Help Treat Sufferers of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's > Diseases > > > > > Electrical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have > demonstrated that magnetic nanotubes combined with nerve growth factor can > enable specific cells to differentiate into neurons. The results from in > vitro studies show that magnetic nanotubes may be exploited to treat > neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's > disease because they can be used as a delivery vehicle for nerve growth > factor. > PC12 cell culture with nerve growth factor-incorporated magnetic nanotubes: > Micrograph image of a typical PC12 cell with cell body and neurites. The > inset is a magnified image of the growth cone area. PC12 cell culture with > nerve growth factor-incorporated magnetic nanotubes: Micrograph image of a > typical PC12 cell with cell body and neurites. The inset is a magnified > image > of the growth cone area. > "Due to their structure and properties, magnetic nanotubes are among the > most promising candidates of multifunctional nanomaterials for clinical > diagnostic and therapeutic applications," said Jining Xie, research > assistant > professor and lead author of the study. "We're excited about these results > specifically and the overall promise of functionalized nanotubes to treat > patients with these debilitating conditions." > Xie, Linfeng Chen, senior research associate in the Center for Wireless > Nano-, > Bio- and Info-Tech Sensors and Systems, and researchers from Arkansas State > University worked with rat pheochromocytoma, otherwise known as PC12 cells. > PC12 cells were chosen because they require nerve growth factor - a small, > secreted protein that helps nerve cells survive - to differentiate into > neurons. > The researchers knew that any sign of nerve growth would indicate > interactions > between the PC12 cells and the nanotubes. They observed neurite growth, > specifically filopodia - slender projections that extend from the leading > edge of migrating cells - extruding from neurite growth cones toward the > nanotubes incorporated with nerve growth factor. > "Microscopic observations showed filopodia extending from the growth cones > were in close proximity to the nanotubes, at time appearing to reach out > toward or into them," Xie said. > The results did not show any abnormal toxicity from the nanotubes. > The human nervous system depends upon a complex network of neurons, or > nerve > cells, tied to each other by synapses. The synaptic connections occur > through > neurites, which are immature or developing neurons. When these connections > fail, the nervous system does not function properly, eventually leading to > injury or disease. As Xie mentioned, the researchers hope that > functionalized > nanotubes can help restore or repair damaged nerve cells. > Xie collaborates with Vijay Varadan, distinguished professor of electrical > engineering and director of the Center for Wireless Nano-, Bio- and > Info-Tech > Sensors and Systems, which is supported by the National Science > Foundation's > Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Another > collaborator > was Malathi Srivatsan, associate professor of biology at Arkansas State > University in Jonesboro, Ark. > Varadan holds the College of Engineering's Twenty-First Century Endowed > Chair > in Nano- and Bio-Technologies and Medicine and the college's Chair in > Microelectronics and High Density Electronics. In addition to his position > as > director of the above center, he directs the university's High Density > Electronics Center. Varadan is also a professor of neurosurgery in the > College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in > Little Rock, Ark. > The researchers' findings were published in Nanotechnology, an Institute of > Physics Publishing journal. An online version of the article is available > at > http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/-search=60067076.1/0957-4484/19/10/105101 . > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn