Lockheed Martin Tests Carbon Nanotube-Based Memory Devices

PALO ALTO, Calif., November 18th, 2009 — A radiation-resistant version of NRAM™ carbon-nanotube-based memory, developed jointly by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Nantero, was tested on a recent Space Shuttle mission. The NRAM™ was incorporated by NASA into special autonomous testing configurations installed into a carrier at the aft end of the payload bay. It was launched into space as part of STS-125, the May 2009 mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis that successfully serviced the Hubble Space Telescope. The project was managed by Dan Powell, Chief Nanotechnologist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

“Lockheed Martin is a leader in the research, development and application of nanotechnology to future government applications,” said Dr. Jim Ryder, vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto. “This demonstration of carbon-nanotube-based semiconductor devices in the rigorous conditions of space is an important step towards a whole new suite of future applications.”
The experiment was a proof-of-concept that enabled the testing of launch and re-entry survivability, as well as basic functionality of the carbon nanotube switches on orbit throughout the shuttle mission. The NRAM™ devices were early prototype parts, and performed the same before, during, and after completion of the mission. This mission represents an important first step in the development of high-density, non-volatile, carbon-nanotube-based memories for spaceflight applications. Lockheed Martin and NASA are working on plans for future NRAM™ flights.

Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylindrical carbon molecules just 1/50,000th the diameter of a human hair that possess unique electrical and structural properties. The word nanotube is, of course, from nanometer (10-9 meters or approximately 10 carbon atoms) and tubular (the shape of a rolled up sheet of graphene that forms a carbon nanotube). Carbon nanotubes are half the density of aluminum, 50 times stronger than steel, thermally stable in vacuum up to nearly 3,000 degrees Centigrade, efficient conductors of heat and may be either metallic or direct bandgap semiconductors.

Thomas Rueckes, Nantero’s Co-founder and CTO, said, “We are proud of the success of our NRAM memory devices in even the harshest of conditions, and honored for being selected by NASA for this mission.”

Dan Powell of GSFC, said “Carbon nanotubes have tremendous potential for a wide range of future space-based applications, and we couldn’t be happier for the success of this experiment.”

Lockheed Martin recognizes the critical importance of nanotechnology to its current and future portfolio of products and services. Direct benefits of nanotechnology for government customers could include stronger, lighter and less expensive materials; more capable systems; and enhanced personal protection for military and first responders. Through partnerships with small businesses and universities, Lockheed Martin is leveraging its own investment in nanotechnology to develop innovative solutions for the most demanding technological challenges. Lockheed Martin Nanosystems is a business unit of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

Nantero is a nanotechnology company using carbon nanotubes for the development of next-generation semiconductor devices. Nantero’s main focus is the development of NRAM™. Nantero is also working with licensees on the development of additional applications of Nantero’s core nanotube-based technology. Lockheed Martin holds an exclusive license arrangement with Nantero for government applications of Nantero’s extensive intellectual property portfolio. More information on Nantero, Inc. is available in English and Japanese at http://www.nantero.com.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Media Contact: Buddy Nelson, (510) 797-0349; e-mail, buddynelson@mac.com
For additional information, visit our website:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com

4th MPA 2010, Braga, PORTUGAL – 28-30 July 2010

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the 4th MPA Meeting (International Meeting on Developments in Materials, Processes and Applications of Emerging Technologies) to be held in Braga, Portugal during 28-30 July 2010. More details on this meeting on www.mpa-meeting.com

The topics for MPA 2010 include:

1. Commercialisation of Advanced Technologies (Nanotechnology)

2. Surface Technology (Coatings; Thick & Thin Films; Surface Fabrication, Modification & Characterisation)

3. Materials for Energy Applications

4. Applied Bio-Nanotechnology

5. Carbon Nanotubes/Wires/Rods & their Applications

6. Advanced Nanometrology and Nanomanufacturing Techniques

MPA-2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Plenary lecture – The plenary lecture will be given by a very prominent person. Details about the plenary lecture will follow very soon.

Invited talks – there will be a host of invited people from academia and industry.

Posters – there will be poster display sessions in between the technical talks. We are looking to give out prizes for the best posters.

Oral contributions – people from academia and those from industry or those doing applied research will be given the opportunity to give short presentations on their most recent work.

Exhibition – companies will have the opportunity to exhibit during this event which will attract people from all over the world.

Short courses – short courses about special topics relating to nanofabrication , nano-characterisation and nano-market applications will be given by experts (eg. Nanofabrication techniques, Bionanosystems, Nano-entrepeneurship, Clean room maintenance, etc.).

Interactive discussion forum – the conference will end with an interactive open discussion forum consisting of academics and industrialists all under one roof discussing issues relating to materials, processes and applications of nanotechnology.

Publications – Papers presented at MPA-2010 will be considered for publication in special issues of the following journals:

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN)

Journal of Nano Research (JNanoR)

You can submit your abstracts by sending them to abstracts@mpa-meeting.com by 15 April 2010

Looking forward to receiving your abstracts

Sincerely

MPA 2010 Team.

___________________________________

4th MPA 2010

INNOSPACE, 2nd Floor, Minshull House
Chorlton Street, Manchester
M1 3FY, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 921 8172
Fax: +44 (0) 161 247 6820
Email: info@mpa-meeting.com

www.mpa-meeting.com

Post-doctoral Position in Plasma Engineering at the Army Research Laboratory

Postdoctoral Position in Plasma Engineering
Army Research Laboratory
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

The Army Research Laboratory has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral
scientist/ engineer to work in the area of plasma engineering. The successful
candidate will develop novel polymer and inorganic coatings via plasma enhanced
chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Experience in materials characterization, gas
phase diagnostics and thin film deposition are highly desired. The applicants
are expected to have a Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, and chemical engineering or
in closely related fields. Candidates should send a curriculum vitae, list of
publications, brief statement of research plans and three letters of
recommendation, sent directly to us by those familiar with your work, to: Dr.
Daphne Pappas, Army Research Laboratory, Multifunctional Materials Branch, 4600
Deer Creek Loop, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 or electronically to
daphne.pappas@arl.army.mil. Review of applications will begin immediately and
continue until the position is filled.
US citizenship required.

Post-Doc Position in New Transparent Conducting Oxides prepared by PLD

“New Transparent Conducting Oxides”
Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides, Amiens, France.

Transparent conducting oxides (TCO), characterized by a low resistivity and a
high transparency in the visible domain, are key components in many
optoelectronic devices including flat panel displays, smart displays,
photovoltaics. Aluminum doped ZnO, fluorine doped SnO2 and tin doped In2O3 have
been the most common TCO materials for the last 20 years. However, the increase
diversity in technologies, as well as the high cost of In have resulted in the
need of new systems. Among them, the TiO2:Nb family has been reported to be
extremely promising.

In the framework of the European project INTERREG 4, which involved four
partners, namely the University of Kent-Canterbury, Delft University,
l’Université du Littoral, Dunkerque et l’Université Picardie Jules Verne,
Amiens, our goal is the deposition of highly conductive TiO2 based thin films
using the Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. Aiming at building flexible
devices, low temperature substrate will be favoured whereas parameters such as
the oxygen pressure will be optimized in respect of the chosen dopant. The
choice of the dopant will be guided by modelling considerations performed within
the framework. All films will be characterized by a huge range of techniques
available at the Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides, including
X-ray diffraction, Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy, Optical
characterization, and completed via collaborations. In particular the structural
characterization will be completed by XAS measurements with the University of
Kent Canterbury.

This position is opened to a highly motivated candidate with a Ph. degree in
Physics/Material Sciences/Solid State Chemistry, willing to share his/her work
with the various partners of the Framework in the course of regular meetings.
The post–doctorate fellow will closely work with a Ph. D student involved in a
European Framework devoted to Electrochromic devices.

Interested candidates should send their application including Resume, a «
motivation » letter as well as references to Aline Rougier (Email: aline.rougier
@u-picardie.fr – Phone: 33.3.22.82.76.04 – Fax: 33.3.22.82.75.90).
Salary: about 1800-1900 euros per month. For a starting period of 11 months
Starting date : November 1st 2009.

Nanotech Europe 2009

28th – 30th September 2009 in Berlin

As we begin to see early signals of economic recovery in Europe, Nanotech Europe looks at the role nanotechnology will play in future economic development. Join the event to learn:

What firms across a wide range of industrial sectors need from nanotechnology; Nokia, Shell, Daimler, Thales, Fiat, Bayer and many others will talk about their activities and how they see nanotechnology affecting their industry
How major open innovation players seek out and develop external technologies. The Executive Forum, in partnership with Lux Research, will cover best practices in technology scouting, key strategies for open innovation, and why open innovation is so relevant in nanotechnology. The forum features contributions from Oerlikon, Procter & Gamble, Merck, DSM, Dow, Good Energies, Solvay, Kuraray, Nanogate, Elmarco, Dow Chemical and the European Commission.
What independent and corporate VCs are looking for when they review start-ups in nanotechnology
How public funding leaders from the European Commission, Russia , China , France , Singapore , Finland and the UK are planning to support nanotechnology commercialisation
All this is in addition to a large exhibition of tools, instruments and the services, and over 30 sessions featuring some of the most innovative nanotechnologies from across the globe.

Register now to confirm your place in these sessions, and to save 30% on onsite rates. www.nanotech.net/content/registration

Meet international partners

Nanotech Europe already has registered participants from over 50 countries. The event offers a matchmaking service for all registered participants, allowing you to set up meetings with fellow attendees from universities, research institutes and companies. The matchmaking is co-organised with Enterprise Europe Network.

View the full conference programme online at
www.nanotech.net/content/program

Spinverse Ltd. | Tekniikantie 14 | FI-02150 ESPOO | FINLAND

International Symposium on Reactive Sputter Deposition, RSD2009

Call for Abstracts
International Symposium on Reactive Sputter Deposition RSD2009
10th/11th December 2009

Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, UK

Web site: http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/

Email: RSD2009@mmu.ac.uk

Abstract Deadline:18th September 2009
Registration Deadline: 23rd October 2009
The Symposium on Reactive Sputter Deposition was established in 2000, providing a platform for discussing recent achievements in reactive sputter deposition and thin films among leading international scientists, engineers and students. The Symposium has developed to an annual tradition, being organised in the past years by the Belgian, Dutch and Austrian Vacuum Societies and held in Gent ( Belgium ), Delft (The Netherlands) and Leoben (Austria). This year it will take place in Manchester (UK) at the Manchester Museum (http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/)

Sponsored By:
Institute of Physics, Plasma Physics Group and Ion and Plasma Surface Interaction Group
Manchester Metropolitan University

This symposium will address:

1.New Developments in Reactive Sputtering: HIPIMS, pulsed reactive sputtering, process control, high rate sputtering, etc.
Invited speaker: Ralf Bandorf, IST Fraunhofer, ‘Alumina coatings deposited by HIPIMS’

2.Plasma diagnostics and Process Modelling: development of diagnostic techniques for reactive environments, reactive sputtering models, etc.
Invited speaker: Stanislav Mraz, RWTH Aachen University, ‘Negative ions in magnetron sputtering plasmas’

3.Film Growth and Characterisation: interrelationships between process parameters and film structures and properties, high resolution analytical techniques, etc.
Invited speaker: Wouter Leroy, University of Gent, ‘Linking reactive sputtering models to experimental reality by determining the real-time parameters’

4.Industrial Applications and Practice: industrial scale process control, new developments and applications, future trends and markets, system design, scale up issues, etc.
Invited speakers: Johannes Struempfel, Von Ardenne, ‘Industrial Magnetron Sputtering for Photovoltaic and Architectural Glass Coating’

The organising committee are seeking contributions under these (and related) headings. Please submit a 300-600 word abstract to RSD2009@mmu.ac.uk stating whether you would prefer an oral or poster presentation.
Selected papers will be published in Vacuum or Surface Engineering (subject to refereeing)

Applied Materials Receives EPA Green Power Leadership Award

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Applied Materials, Inc. announced today that it has received a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The annual awards recognize the country’s leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market. EPA presented Applied Materials with the award at an event held in conjunction with the 2009 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects. Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the company’s California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use.

“Purchasing and generating green power are important elements of our long-term commitment to business and global sustainability,” said Bruce Klafter, senior director for Environmental Health and Safety and head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Applied Materials. “Through our solar installations we are demonstrating the ease of integrating clean energy into existing business campuses and proving that solar power is a sound business decision, in addition to being an important choice in combating climate change.”

Applied Materials is purchasing green power in support of EPA’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge. EPA is challenging Fortune 500 Corporations to collectively exceed 10 billion kilowatt-hours green power purchasing by year end 2009. Applied Materials’ purchase ranks No. 26 in the United States.

Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation sources. Green power purchases also support the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.

“EPA’s Green Power Leadership award winners are raising the bar for green power purchasing,” said Kathleen Hogan, Director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. “By using renewable energy, Applied Materials is helping our environment by leading our national transition to clean energy; they are a model for others to follow.”

According to the U.S. EPA, Applied Materials’ current green power use of nearly 35 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 5,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than more than 3,000 average American homes annually.

As a green power purchaser, generator and the world’s largest solar equipment manufacturer, Applied Materials is dedicated to growing profitably and sustaining our business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and is striving to make renewable energy a more meaningful contributor to the global energy supply. The company is aware of the inherent business and social impacts of global climate change, and is fully committed to improving the way people live by achieving sustainability in a clean tech economy — from the products we design, to how we manage our business. To learn more, visit the company’s Clean Tech Blog.

About Applied Materials, Inc.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

About EPA’s Green Power Partnership

The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,000 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.

About the Green Power Leadership Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) co-sponsors the annual Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Center for Resource Solutions. EPA recognizes winners in the following awards categories: Green Power Partner of the Year, On-site Generation, and Green Power Purchase. EPA’s Purchaser awards recognize the exceptional achievement among EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through green power procurement, market leadership, overall green power strategy, and overall impact on the green power market. The Awards are held in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets Conference. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6049976&lang=en

source: http://www.appliedmaterials.com/news/press_rel.html?menuID=6

Nanofabrication Facility Director-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Position Open for Nanofabrication Facility Director
Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory
Berkeley, CA USA
Position Type: Full Time

Job Description:
The Nanofabrication Facility under the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) invites applications for the key position of Nanofabrication Facility Director. This position is responsible for leading innovative research programs as well as day-to-day management and operation of the facility.
The successful candidate will work jointly with the Foundry’s scientific director to establish an overall scientific direction and long-term strategic plan for the facility. A critical aspect of this role is to maintain the Nanofabrication Facility at the forefront of nanofabrication technology by fostering internal research efforts. In addition, the Facility Director will work with external users and internal staff to integrate nanofabrication techniques with those of the Foundry’s organic, inorganic, and biological facilities to build novel functional systems.

Key research related responsibilities include:

Conduct research on the fabrication of integrated nanostructured systems involving both top-down and bottom-up nanofabrication technologies
Carry out original research to fully exploit the unique capabilities of the 100kV electron-beam lithography tool, the Step and Flash nanoimprint lithography tool, dual-beam FIB tool, and a suite of plasma etching tools.
Participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative experiments, including the development of methodology and instrumentation.
Supervise Nanofabrication Facility staff in the development of a service facility for nanolithography, thin-film deposition, wet-chemical processing and plasma etching.
Key operational responsibilities include:

Manage a staff of approximately 7-9 staff scientists, postdocs, engineers, and technicians; accountability includes budget, hiring, office/lab space and equipment, supervision, and performance management
Work closely with the Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) manager regarding policies, procedures, and proper training
Responsible for scheduling and assignment of approved user projects among the staff, as well as helping to determine user proposals feasibility
Develop annual budgets and spending plans; prepare reports and presentations to the Department of Energy and Berkeley Lab management
Establish training programs for users to operate equipment, and provide timely technical/scientific support

Requirements:

Qualifications include:
5+ years of experience in electron-beam nanolithography, thin-film deposition, wet chemical, and plasma etch processing
Ability to conduct creative, independent research and to recommend process improvements
Demonstrated ability to lead a team of professional scientists and interact effectively with a broad range of colleagues
Experience in semiconductor device fabrication

Application Info:

Please see the full job details and apply at http://jobs.lbl.gov/LBNLCareers/details.asp?jid=18997&p=1sid=2110.
Berkeley Lab is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to developing a diverse workforce

Nanotech 2010 – June 21-25, Anaheim, California

Nanotech 2010
June 21-25, Anaheim, California

The world’s largest and most anticipated annual nanotechnology conference and
expo. For our 13th year, we expect over 5,000 attendees and 350 exhibitors.

Our Mission: Uniting innovators to bring nanotechnology from laboratory to marketplace. Nanotech 2010 brings together over 5,000 technology and business leaders and experts from academia, government, startups and Fortune 1,000 companies
Venue
Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, California 92802

Expo & Conference
The conference and exposition will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California

Conferences & Symposia

Fabrication, Characterization & Tools
•Computational Methods, Simulation & Software Tools
•Nano Fab: Design, Manufacture, Instrumentation
•Nanoscale Materials Characterization
•MEMS Fab: Design, Manufacture, Instrumentation
•Micro & Nano Reliability
•Bio Analytical Instrumentation
•Biosensors & Diagnostics

Advanced Materials
•Carbon Nano Structures & Devices
•Nanoparticle Synthesis & Applications
•Composite Materials
•Micro & Nano Reliability
•Nanostructured Materials & Devices
•Nanostructured Coatings, Surfaces & Films
•Polymer Nanotechnology
•Nano Bio Materials
•Nanoparticles in Soft Materials: Colloids
•Nanoparticle Release During the Life Cycle of Nanomaterials & Nanocomposites

Electronics & Microsystems
•Nano Electronics & Photonics
•Nano Fab: Design, Manufacture, Instrumentation
•MEMS Fab: Design, Manufacture, Instrumentation
•MEMS & NEMS: Devices & Applications
•Biosensors & Diagnostics
•Sensors & Systems
•Micro & Nano Fluidics
•Micro & Nano Reliability
•Lighting & Displays
•Inkjet Design, Materials & Fabrication
•WCM – Compact Modeling

Medicine & Biotech
•Bio Sensors & Diagnostics
•Bio Analytical Instrumentation
•Bio Nano Materials
•Drug Delivery
•Cancer Nanotechnology
•Nanotech to Neurology
•Phage Nanobiotechnology
•Nano Medicine

Energy & Environment
•Environment, Safety & Society
•Water Technologies
•Nanotech for Oil & Gas
•Photovoltaics
•Energy Storage & Distribution

Business & Strategy
•Consumer Goods
•Novel Products, Investment & Business
•Initiatives, Education & Policy
•IP Forum – TechConnect
•Venture Forum: TechConnect

Tumors Feel the Deadly Sting of Nanobees

When bees sting, they pump into their victims a peptide toxin called melittin that destroys cell membranes. Now, by encapsulating this extremely potent molecule within a nanoparticle, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have created a potential new type of anticancer therapy with the potential to target a wide range of tumors. This work was reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Samuel Wickline, M.D., principal investigator of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, and his colleagues developed their so-called nanobees to deliver toxic peptides such as melittin specifically to cancer cells while sparing healthy cells from the otherwise nonselective havoc these molecules cause. “The nanobees fly in, land on the surface of cells, and deposit their cargo of melittin, which rapidly merges with the target cells,” said Dr. Wickline. “We’ve shown that the bee toxin gets taken into the cells where it pokes holes in their internal structures.”

Melittin was of special interest to the investigators because the mechanism by which it kills cells is not likely to trigger the drug resistance that often develops with conventional anticancer therapies. “Cancer cells can adapt and develop resistance to many anticancer agents that alter gene function or target a cell’s DNA, but it’s hard for cells to find a way around the mechanism that melittin uses to kill,” said coauthor Paul Schlesinger, M.D., Ph.D.

The scientists tested nanobees in two sets of mice with malignant tumors. One set of mice was implanted with human breast cancer cells, the other with melanoma tumors. After four to five injections of the melittin-carrying nanoparticles over several days, growth of the breast tumors slowed by nearly 25%, and the size of the melanoma tumors decreased by 88% compared with untreated tumors.

The researchers note that the nanobees accumulated in these solid tumors because the nanoparticles are small enough to escape the leaky blood vessels that surround tumors. The researchers also developed a nanobee that actively targets tumors. To do so, they decorated the nanobees with a molecule that binds to αvβ3-integrin, which is found on the surface of the newly developing blood vessels that sprout during the early stages of tumor development. The investigators hope that by targeting a process that starts when a tumor is small, their nanobees might be more effective against early-stage cancers. Indeed, injections of the targeted nanobees reduced the extent of proliferation of precancerous skin cells in the mice by 80%.

In addition to demonstrating the therapeutic potential of their nanobee formulations, the investigators also showed that nanoparticle encapsulation was key to creating an antitumor drug with suitable safety and pharmacological properties. Injecting significant amounts of melittin directly into the bloodstream produces widespread destruction of red blood cells. However, nanoparticle encapsulation spared red blood cells and other tissues from any damage—the nanoparticle-treated mice had normal blood counts, and tests were negative for the presence of blood-borne enzymes indicative of organ damage.

The nanobees also protected melittin from protein-destroying enzymes that the body produces. Although unattached melittin was cleared from circulation within minutes, half of the melittin on nanobees was still circulating 200 minutes later, enough to circulate through a mouse 200 times, giving the nanobees ample time to locate tumors.

“Melittin is a workhorse,” said Dr. Wickline, “It’s very stable on the nanoparticles, and it’s easily and cheaply produced. We are now using a nontoxic part of the melittin molecule to hook other drugs, targeting agents, or imaging compounds onto nanoparticles.”

The core of the nanobee is composed of perfluorocarbon, an inert compound used in artificial blood. The research group developed perfluorocarbon nanoparticles several years ago and has been studying their use in various medical applications, including the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis and cancer. “We can add melittin to our nanoparticles after they are built,” Dr. Wickline explained. “If we’ve already developed nanoparticles as carriers and given them a targeting agent, we can then add a variety of components using native melittin or melittin-like proteins without needing to rebuild the carrier. Melittin fortunately goes onto the nanoparticles very quickly and completely and remains on the nanobee until cell contact is made.”

This work, which is detailed in the paper “Molecularly targeted nanocarriers deliver the cytolytic peptide melittin specifically to tumor cells in mice, reducing tumor growth,” was supported by the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, a comprehensive initiative designed to accelerate the application of nanotechnology to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. An abstract is available at the journal’s Web site.
View abstract at http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1172/JCI38842

source: http://nano.cancer.gov