Nano-technological progress aiming at medical applications

The daily science 2010 1 September — from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) researchers of the two articles have the science to create meaningful papers show: Nanoscale synthesis of biological particles have anti-cancer and treatment of other disease potential.

Two research papers described is a "green" nano-technology. Has been honoured as a "green", because the new method does not use artificial compounds.

University of California at Santa Barbara Professor Luc Jaeger explained that his research fields also exist a revolution; and this is affecting all areas of biochemistry of the revolution, he resides in particular in the field of nano-technology.

This revolution and RNA in the cells of the understanding of the role.

Jaeger said: "considering that up to 90% of the human genome be transliterated into RNA and the fact that RNA is clearly constitute life based on the most important one of bio-polymer.

The significance of RNA is enormous, and we now fully understand the living cell RNA significance still far away. ”

Jaeger of group is a complex three-dimensional RNA molecules (can be used to combat diseases of nano-sized polyhedron) overall — can be used for disease resistance of Nano-size polyhedron.

These elements combine into a new form. This work by the national institutes of health (NIH) funding in the new design, NIH and UCSB is joint application for a patent.

He said: "we use RNA combination to deliver silent RNA (silencing RNAs) as well as therapeutic RNA aptamer to fight cancer and other diseases.

Clearly, RNA and involve a number of key health issues related to the process. ”

He believed that the RNA-based methods of the new therapy than using artificial compounds therapy more secure, because the latter inevitably have unpleasant side effects.

"RNA molecules as the main mediator, we are going ' green ' nano-technology into practice.

In my UCSB lab developed a research program designed to provide medical and synthetic biology to make a positive contribution. We try to avoid using anything that may cause the Bioethics of public controversy. This is not a simple task. But I am convinced that in the long term benefits, disadvantages. ”

These two articles on the latest scientific papers section describes the new work – "Silicon based on RNA antagonists scaffold in vitro synthesis" ("In vitro assembly of cubic RNA-based scaffolds designed in silicon, Silicon, nano-structure of biodegradable – translator) – August 30 online published: Nature Nanotechnology. (the natural — nano-technology").

Earlier a paper-making with tRNA, author of Polyhedra, and his colleagues for Severcan — online was published on July 18 the Nature Chemistry. (the natural — chemical "). The thesis of the printed version will appear in the September issue of Nature Chemistry.

This article, the Nature Chemistry "papers of the second author Jaeger laboratory postdoctoral fellow, and is the laboratory postdoctoral fellow of Kirill A. Afonin is the Nature of the Nanotechnnology papers of the first author; as one of the first author Bruce Shapiro from Maryland Friderich National Cancer Institute, NIH funding support.

Jaeger and study group and Shapiro collaborated to develop computerized method that accelerates the self-Assembly of RNA chain design. Located in California, the La City national automated molecular Microscopy Resource Center provides further assistance.