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Nanoscale partnership
POLICY NEWS
Sensor research noses ahead A $950 000 National Institutes of Health funded project could provide a way of sensing and identifying particular molecules, which could be applied to bioterror agents or medical diagnostics. Vincent Rotello, of the University of Massachusetts, is working on a ‘molecular nose’ technology that could, he believes, be ready for commercialization in three to five years time. Detecting single molecules is a welldeveloped science, says Rotello, but larger molecules are more problematic. Macromolecules on the surface of a virus or bacterium, for example, are tricky to grasp onto because
their shape and topography is much more complex. “These molecules are often so big that chemists can’t build something that fits around them effectively,” explains Rotello. “Bacteria come in all different sizes and slightly different shapes, so a custom-designed ‘key’ that fits snugly against or around the molecule just isn’t a viable option.” The chemical ‘key’ must also have just the right rigidity and flexibility. Rotello, with colleagues Susan Cumberledge, Joseph Jerry, and Craig Martin, are combining biology with materials science to solve the problem. The team is using gold nanoparticles as building blocks to construct chemical
‘keys’ to fit into ‘locks’ on the macromolecule surface. Chemical groups can be attached with relative ease to the gold surface, which can selectively bind to macromolecules in just the right places. Though promising, “it’s an extremely complex problem, and few good tools exist for dealing with it,” says Rotello. One of the most important factors is reliability. “You don’t want any test results that are false negative – that is the test indicating that a harmful chemical is not present when, in fact, it is present. You also want to minimize the number of false positives, or you’ll create panic at every turn.”
Exploratory nanoscience at Virginia Tech Virginia Tech researchers receive two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), each worth $100 000, as part of the Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) program. A joint effort between Randy Heflin in the physics department and Kevin Van Cott in chemical engineering aims to develop new sensor technologies for detecting biological molecules. The researchers will focus on detecting DNA in particular, because current methods using radioactive or fluorescent labeling can introduce uncertainties. “Our system does not require labeling of the sample DNA,” explains Van Cott. “So we believe that our method, combined with the
unique optical properties of the sensor platform, will be more sensitive, more reliable, and still have the high through-put, or ability to look for thousands of genes at the same time.” The method uses nonlinear optical (NLO) materials modified to include a biochemical group that recognizes target molecules. “We propose to use complementary DNA molecules so that, if we want to look for a particular DNA sequence, we can take a complementary sequence, attach it to the NLO material, and deposit it in a nanometer-thick film. If the sample DNA is complementary, there will be a change in the intensity of light at the new frequency,” says Heflin.
The other project focuses the emerging field of molecular electronics. Theoretical physicist Massimiliano Di Ventra hopes to gain a better understanding of electronic transport properties in nanoscale regions, such as single molecules or molecular wires, using computer simulations. Di Ventra has developed a theoretical scheme that allows a quantum-mechanical description of shot noise – current fluctuation about an average value induced as it passes through a device – to be made at the atomic scale. “We must understand,” he says, “if current fluctuations are large, how to make them small to develop more efficient molecular devices.”
Nanoscale partnership
QinetiQ announces the creation of what it claims will be the largest nanomaterials and technology groups in Europe in the form of QinetiQ Nanomaterials. The government-owned UK company, formed from part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in July 2001, describes itself as a ‘technology-based solutions provider’. QinetiQ Nanomaterials will focus on developing nanopowders for a range a applications – from cosmetics (especially sunscreens) to anti-corrosion coatings. The company has also established a strategic agreement with UK plasma technology specialist Tetronics. QinetiQ Nanomaterials will license patents to Tetronics, who will provide expertise in development towards manufacturing. New materials will be in production this year in large volumes, say the partners. Strategic alliances and commercial agreements are being negotiated with other UK and European organizations, says managing director Paul Reip, to keep QinetiQ at “the forefront of both commercial deployment and technological advancement.”
Sensor research noses ahead A $950 000 National Institutes of Health funded project could provide a way of sensing and identifying particular molecules, which could be applied to bioterror agents or medical diagnostics. Vincent Rotello, of the University of Massachusetts, is working on a ‘molecular nose’ technology that could, he believes, be ready for commercialization in three to five years time. Detecting single molecules is a welldeveloped science, says Rotello, but larger molecules are more problematic. Macromolecules on the surface of a virus or bacterium, for example, are tricky to grasp onto because
their shape and topography is much more complex. “These molecules are often so big that chemists can’t build something that fits around them effectively,” explains Rotello. “Bacteria come in all different sizes and slightly different shapes, so a custom-designed ‘key’ that fits snugly against or around the molecule just isn’t a viable option.” The chemical ‘key’ must also have just the right rigidity and flexibility. Rotello, with colleagues Susan Cumberledge, Joseph Jerry, and Craig Martin, are combining biology with materials science to solve the problem. The team is using gold nanoparticles as building blocks to construct chemical
‘keys’ to fit into ‘locks’ on the macromolecule surface. Chemical groups can be attached with relative ease to the gold surface, which can selectively bind to macromolecules in just the right places. Though promising, “it’s an extremely complex problem, and few good tools exist for dealing with it,” says Rotello. One of the most important factors is reliability. “You don’t want any test results that are false negative – that is the test indicating that a harmful chemical is not present when, in fact, it is present. You also want to minimize the number of false positives, or you’ll create panic at every turn.”
Exploratory nanoscience at Virginia Tech Virginia Tech researchers receive two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), each worth $100 000, as part of the Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) program. A joint effort between Randy Heflin in the physics department and Kevin Van Cott in chemical engineering aims to develop new sensor technologies for detecting biological molecules. The researchers will focus on detecting DNA in particular, because current methods using radioactive or fluorescent labeling can introduce uncertainties. “Our system does not require labeling of the sample DNA,” explains Van Cott. “So we believe that our method, combined with the
unique optical properties of the sensor platform, will be more sensitive, more reliable, and still have the high through-put, or ability to look for thousands of genes at the same time.” The method uses nonlinear optical (NLO) materials modified to include a biochemical group that recognizes target molecules. “We propose to use complementary DNA molecules so that, if we want to look for a particular DNA sequence, we can take a complementary sequence, attach it to the NLO material, and deposit it in a nanometer-thick film. If the sample DNA is complementary, there will be a change in the intensity of light at the new frequency,” says Heflin.
The other project focuses the emerging field of molecular electronics. Theoretical physicist Massimiliano Di Ventra hopes to gain a better understanding of electronic transport properties in nanoscale regions, such as single molecules or molecular wires, using computer simulations. Di Ventra has developed a theoretical scheme that allows a quantum-mechanical description of shot noise – current fluctuation about an average value induced as it passes through a device – to be made at the atomic scale. “We must understand,” he says, “if current fluctuations are large, how to make them small to develop more efficient molecular devices.”
Nanoscale partnership
QinetiQ announces the creation of what it claims will be the largest nanomaterials and technology groups in Europe in the form of QinetiQ Nanomaterials. The government-owned UK company, formed from part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in July 2001, describes itself as a ‘technology-based solutions provider’. QinetiQ Nanomaterials will focus on developing nanopowders for a range a applications – from cosmetics (especially sunscreens) to anti-corrosion coatings. The company has also established a strategic agreement with UK plasma technology specialist Tetronics. QinetiQ Nanomaterials will license patents to Tetronics, who will provide expertise in development towards manufacturing. New materials will be in production this year in large volumes, say the partners. Strategic alliances and commercial agreements are being negotiated with other UK and European organizations, says managing director Paul Reip, to keep QinetiQ at “the forefront of both commercial deployment and technological advancement.”