The Alliance for NanoHealth (ANH) was the first multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional collaborative research endeavor aimed solely at using nanotechnology to bridge the gaps between medicine, biology, materials science, computer technology and public policy. The mission of the Alliance is to collectively bridge the disciplines to develop nanotechnology-based solutions to unresolved problems in medicine. Its principal goal is to provide new clinical approaches to saving lives through better diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
ANH institutions are committed to develop and apply nanotechnology tools in the battle against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and infection. The willingness to share strengths among the disciplines with educational and training activities as well as welcoming new scientific associations provides a rich collaborative foundation upon which the ANH has established a wealth of research and development opportunities.
Nanotube-reinforced material produces denser bone tissue
In the first study of its kind, bioengineers and bioscientists at Rice University and Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, have shown they can grow denser bone tissue by sprinkling stick-like nanoparticles throughout the porous material used to pattern the bone.
A new study by UTMB researchers published in Gene Therapy (”Composition of PLGA and PEI/DNA nanoparticles improves ultrasound-mediated gene delivery in solid tumors in vivo”) states: “We found that the combination of PLGA/PEI/DNA nanoparticles with ultrasonication substantially enhanced tumor cell transfection in vivo. The overexpression of beta-gal gene was evaluated histochemically and by Western blot analysis.” The study was conducted by Olga.V. Chumakova and colleagues of UTMB’s Center for Biomedical Engineering.
Radiation therapy is a time-honored and effective component of modern cancer therapy, but its ultimate utility is limited by the fact that some cancer cells are resistant to ionizing radiation. Now, a research team led by Sunil Krishnan, M.D., of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, has found that pretreating tumors with gold nanoparticles and near-infrared radiation dramatically improves the response of tumors to radiation therapy.
Secret ingredient: nanoparticles aid bone growth
