+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LIU, C.Y.; SPICER, M.; APUZZO, M.L.J. The genesis of neurosurgery and the evolution of the neurosurgical opera- tive environment: Part II - Concepts for future development, 2003 and beyond [REVIEW] NEUROSURGERY V.52 NO.1 [JAN 2003] PP.20-33 MLJ Apuzzo/1200 N State St/Suite 5046/Los Angeles/CA 90033 USA ___________________________________________________ THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT of the neurosurgical operative environment is driven principally by concurrent development in science and technology. In the new millennium, these developments are taking on a Jules Verne quality, with the ability to 1 construct and manipulate the human organism and its surroundings at the level of atoms and molecules seemingly at hand. Thus, an examination of currents in technology advancement from the neurosur- gical perspective can provide insight into the I evolution of the neurosur- gical operative environment. In the future, the optimal design solution for the operative environment requirements of specialized neurosurgery may take the form of composites of venues that are currently mutually distinct. Advances in microfabrication technology and laser optical manipulators are expanding the scope and role of robotics, with novel opportunities for bionic integration. Assimilation of biosensor technology into the opera- tive environment promises to provide neurosurgeons of the future with a vastly expanded set of physiological data, which will require concurrent simplification and optimization of analysis and presentation schemes to I facilitate practical usefulness. Nanotechnology derivatives are shattering the maximum 1 limits of resolution and magnification allowed by conven- tional microscopes. Furthermore, quantum computing and molecular electro- nics promise to greatly enhance computational power, allowing the-emerging reality of simulation and virtual neurosurgery for rehearsal and training purposes. Progressive minimalism is evident throughout, leading ultimately to a paradigm shift as the nanoscale is approached. At the interface bet- ween the old and new technological paradigms, issues related to integra- tion may dictate the ultimate emergence of the products of the new para- digm. Once initiated, however, history suggests that the process of change will proceed rapidly and dramatically, with the ultimate neurosurgical operative environment of the future being far more complex in functional capacity but strikingly simple in apparent form. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SAKO, Y.; UYEMURA, T. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy for single-molecule ima- ging in living cells [REVIEW] CELL STRUCT FUNCT V.27 NO.5 [OCT 2002] PP.357-365 Y Sako/Osaka Univ/Grad Sch Med/Dept Physiol & Biosignaling/2-2 Yamadaoka/- Suita/Osaka 5650871/JAPAN ___________________________________________________ Marvelous background rejection in total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIR-FM) has made it possible to visualize single-fluorophores in living cells. Cell signaling proteins including peptide hormones, mem- brane receptors, small G proteins, cytoplasmic kinases as well as small signaling compounds have been conjugated with single chemical fluorophore or tagged with green fluorescent proteins and visualized in living cells. In this review, the reasons why single-molecule analysis is essential for studies of intracellular protein systems such as cell signaling system are discussed, the instrumentation of TIR-FM for single-molecule imaging in living cells is explained, and how single molecule visualization has been used in cell biology is illustrated by way of two examples: signaling of epidermal growth factor in mammalian cells and chemotaxis of Dictyostelium amoeba along a cAMP gradient. Single-molecule analysis is an ideal method to quantify the parameters of reaction dynamics and kinetics of unitary processes within intracellular protein systems. Knowledge of these parame- ters is crucial for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms under- lying intracellular events, thus single-molecule imaging in living cells will be one of the major technologies in cellular nanobiology. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ZHU, L.; DOSSANTOS, O.; SEEMAN, N.C.; CANARY, J.W. Reaction of N-3-benzoyl-3 ',5 '-O-(Di-tert-butylsilanediyl)uridine with hindered electrophiles: Intermolecular N-3 to 2 '-O protecting group tran- sfer NUCLEOS NUCLEOT NUCLEIC ACIDS V.21 NO.10 [1902] PP.723-735 NC Seeman/NYU/Dept Chem/New York/NY 10003 USA ___________________________________________________ The compound N-3-benzoyl-3',5'-O-(di-tert-butylsilanediyl)uridine 2 was alkylated with various alkyl iodides in CH3CN in the presence of base. Normal 2'-O-alkylated products were obtained with methyl or benzyl iodide. If hindered alkyl iodides with beta-branching such as 2-ethylbutyl iodide were used as electrophiles under the same conditions, N-3-alkyl-2'-O-ben- zoyl uridine derivatives were produced. This unexpected transformation is usually dormant with reactive alkylating agents, but expressed with steric- ally hindered, less reactive electrophiles. This unwanted reaction gives isomeric products whose spectra differ in only subtle ways from target compounds. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WILLIAMS, K.A.; VEENHUIZEN, P.T.M.; DELATORRE, B.G.; ERITJA, R.; DEKKER, C. Nanotechnology - Carbon nanotubes with DNA recognition NATURE V.420 NO.6917 [DEC 26 2002] PP.761 KA Williams/Delft Univ Technol/Dept Nanosci/NL-2628 CJ Delft/NETHERLANDS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SERVICE, R.F. Nanotechnology - Biology offers nanotechs a helping hand SCIENCE V.298 NO.5602 [DEC 20 2002] PP.2322-2323 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SERSHEN, S.; WEST, J. Implantable, polymeric systems for modulated drug delivery [REVIEW] ADVAN DRUG DELIVERY REV V.54 NO.9 [NOV 5 2002] PP.1225-1235 J West/Rice Univ/Dept Bioengn/MS 142/Houston/TX 77005 USA ___________________________________________________ The ability to deliver therapeutic agents to a patient in a pulsatile or staggered release profile has been a major goal in drug delivery research over the last two decades. This review will cover methods that have been developed to control drug delivery profiles with implantable polymeric systems. Externally and internally controlled systems will be discussed, spanning a range of technologies that include pre-programmed systems, as well as systems that are sensitive to modulated enzymatic or hydrolytic degradation, pH, magnetic fields, ultrasound, electric fields, temperature, light and mechanical stimulation. Implantable systems have the potential to improve the quality of life for patients undergoing therapy with a variable dosing regime by eliminating the need for multiple intravenous injections. Ideally, these systems would also result in increased patient compliance with a given therapy due to the relative ease of self-dosing. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BUNK, R.; KLINTH, J.; MONTELIUS, L.; NICHOLLS, I.A.; OMLING, P.; TAGERUD, S.; MANSSON, A. Actomyosin motility on nanostructured surfaces BIOCHEM BIOPHYS RES COMMUN V.301 NO.3 [FEB 14 2003] PP.783-788 A Mansson/Univ Kalmar/Dept Chem & Biomed Sci/SE-39182 Kalmar/SWEDEN ___________________________________________________ We have here, for the first time, used nanofabrication techniques to repro- duce aspects of the ordered actomyosin arrangement in a muscle cell. The adsorption of functional heavy meromyosin (HMM) to five different resist polymers was first assessed. One group of resists (MRL-6000.1XP and ZEP- -520) consistently exhibited high quality motility of actin filaments after incubation with HMM. A second group (PMMA-200, PMMA-950, and MRI- -9030) generally gave low quality of motility with only few smoothly moving filaments. Based on these findings electron beam lithography was applied to a bi-layer resist system with PMMA-950 on top of MRL-6000.1XP. Grooves (100-200 nm wide) in the PMMA layer were created to expose the MRL- -6000.1XP surface for adsorption of HMM and guidance of actin filament motility. This guidance was quite efficient allowing no U-turns of the filaments and approximately 20 times higher density of moving filaments in the grooves than on the surrounding PMMA. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PETRENKO, V.A.; SMITH, G.P.; MAZOOJI, M.M.; QUINN, T. alpha-helically constrained phage display library PROTEIN ENG V.15 NO.11 [NOV 2002] PP.943-950 VA Petrenko/Auburn Univ/Dept Pathobiol/Coll Vet Med/Auburn/AL 36849 USA ___________________________________________________ The library described here is a collection of phages with six degenerate codons in gene VIII, specifying amino acids 12, 13, 15-17 and 19 of the major coat protein. The randomized positions are surface exposed in the wild-type protein and thus might be expected to tolerate a great diversity of side chains without compromising phage viability. In agreement with this supposition, the new library showed great diversity of amino acids at the randomized positions and diversity did not diminish noticeably during repeated subculture. Despite their diversity, however, the randomized posi- tions should be strongly constrained conformationally because they lie in an extended a-helical portion of the protein, stabilized by numerous inter- - and intra-subunit contacts-a presupposition corroborated by circular dichroism spectroscopy of many library members. To reflect this conforma- tional homogeneity and the fact that random amino acids subtend a major fraction of the surface 'landscape' of the particle, we call the new con- struct an alpha landscape library. It can be used as a source of alpha- -helical ligands and substitute antibodies. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ STICH, N.; VANSTEEN, G.; SCHALKHAMMER, T. Design and peptide-based validation of phage display antibodies for pro- teomic biochips COMB CHEM HIGH THROUGHPUT SCR V.6 NO.1 [FEB 2003] PP.67-78 T Schalkhammer/Delft Univ Technol/Kluyver Lab Biotechnol/Julianalaan 67/NL- -2628 BC Delft/NETHERLANDS ___________________________________________________ To validate potential application of phage display-antibody arrays for high-throughput screening on a novel proteomics biochip, we examined the epitopes versus the full protein of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G- 6PD) from yeast. In a predictive approach, we used the Hopp-Woods method and compared the results with antibodies directed against the entire enzyme. In total, 16 peptides of a length of 11 amino acids each fulfil- ling the desired criteria were identified and synthesized. Subsequently, antibodies against G6PD were raised using a phage display library. Selec- tive interaction of the antibodies with certain peptides facilitated the identification of epitopes predicted by the hydropathic profile. The setup was adapted to a novel biochip system based on surface-enhanced absorption for direct CCD-camera based screening. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WICKLINE, S.A.; LANZA, G.M. Molecular imaging, targeted therapeutics, and nanoscience J CELL BIOCHEM V. NO. Suppl. 39 [1902] PP.90-97 SA Wickline/Washington Univ/Sch Med/Campus Box 8086/660 S Euclid Ave/St Louis/MO 63110 USA ___________________________________________________ The recent emergence of ''molecular imaging'' as an academic discipline has set the stage for an evolutionary leap in diagnostic imaging. Recent advances in nuclear, ultrasound, optical, and magnetic resonance imaging have generated interest in molecular imaging across all modalities and across various academic, industrial, and governmental agencies. In this perspective, examples of the progress and the prospects for the future of molecular imaging and linked targeted therapeutics are reviewed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VODINH, T. Nanobiosensors: Probing the sanctuary of individual living cells J CELL BIOCHEM V. NO. Suppl. 39 [1902] PP.154-161 T Vodinh/Oak Ridge Natl Lab/Adv Biomed Sci & Technol Grp/Oak Ridge/TN 37831 USA ___________________________________________________ Recently, nanotechnology has been revolutionizing important areas in mole- cular biology, especially diagnostics and therapy at the molecular and cellular level. The combination of nanotechnology, biology, and photonics opens the possibility of detecting and manipulating atoms and molecules using nanodevices, which have the potential for a wide variety of medical uses at the cellular level. The nanoprobes were fabricated with optical fibers pulled down to tips with distal ends having sizes of approximately 30-50 nm. The nanoscale size of this new class of sensors, allows for measurements in the smallest of environments. One such environment that has evoked a great deal of interest is that of individual cells. Using these nanobiosensors, it has become possible to probe individual chemical species in specific locations throughout a cell. This article provides an overview of the principle, development, and applications of optical nano- sensor systems for in vivo bioanalysis at the single-cell level. The fibe- roptics nanoprobes were covalently bound with antibodies that are selec- tive to target analyte molecules. Excitation light is launched into the fiber and the resulting evanescent field at the tip of the fiber is used to excite target molecules bound to the antibody molecules. The fluores- cence emission from the analyte molecules is then collected via a micros- cope. The usefulness and potential of this nanotechnology-based biosensor systems in biological research and applications in single-cell analysis are discussed. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SUK, W.A.; OLDEN, K.; YANG, R.S.H. Chemical mixtures research: Significance and future perspectives ENVIRON HEALTH PERSPECT V.110 NO. Suppl. 6 [DEC 2002] PP.891-892 RSH Yang/Colorado State Univ/Ctr Environm Toxicol & Technol/Quantitat & Computat Toxicol Grp/Dep Environm & Radiol Hlth Sci/Foothills Campus/3195 Rampart Rd/Ft Collins/CO 80523 USA ___________________________________________________ The study of chemical mixtures is an important area of research because of its potential impact on how risk is assessed in populations exposed to multiple environmental agents. Clearly, individuals are exposed to myriad chemical agents during their lifetime. Low-dose chronic exposure to envi- ronmental agents and the additional lifestyle factors that may affect health are extremely difficult to assess by conventional approaches. Classic scientific approaches, while serving the research community well in assessing the impact of single chemicals on the functioning of biolo- gical systems, may be inadequate to address aggregate and cumulative expo- sures of multiple chemicals in living systems. Over the past decades, there have been extraordinary scientific and computational technology advances. Through the incorporation of technological advances in microar- rays, laser capture microdissection, imaging, and high through-put techno- logies, we can now study in greater detail the properties of mixtures and begin to define those characteristics that are sufficiently similar to allow extrapolation of data from one mixture to another. Bioinformatics and other computational approaches would also be integrated into this research scheme, not only for data analysis but also to develop predictive models that could be used for risk assessment. Integrated approaches that address these issues will be necessary to advance our understanding of the health relevance of exposure to mixtures. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GOLDBERGER, J.; HE, R.R.; ZHANG, Y.F.; LEE, S.W.; YAN, H.Q.; CHOI, H.J.; YANG, P.D. Single-crystal gallium nitride nanotubes NATURE V.422 NO.6932 [APR 10 2003] PP.599-602 PD Yang/Univ Calif Berkeley/Dept Chem/Berkeley/CA 94720 USA ___________________________________________________ Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991 (ref. 1), there have been significant research efforts to synthesize nanometre-scale tubular forms of various solids(2-10). The formation of tubular nanostructure generally requires a layered or anisotropic crystal structure(2-4). There are reports(5,6,11) of nanotubes made from silica, alumina, silicon and metals that do not have a layered crystal structure; they are synthesized by using carbon nanotubes and porous membranes as templates, or by thin-film rolling. These nanotubes, however, are either amorphous, polycrystalline or exist only in ultrahigh vacuum(8). The growth of single-crystal semicon- ductor hollow nanotubes would be advantageous in potential nanoscale elec- tronics, optoelectronics and biochemical-sensing applications. Here we report an 'epitaxial casting' approach for the synthesis of single-crystal GaN nanotubes with inner diameters of 30-200 nm and wall thicknesses of 5- -50 nm. Hexagonal ZnO nanowires were used as templates for the epitaxial overgrowth of thin GaN layers in a chemical vapour deposition system. The ZnO nanowire templates were subsequently removed by thermal reduction and evaporation, resulting in ordered arrays of GaN nanotubes on the sub- strates. This templating process should be applicable to many other semi- conductor systems. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PANYAM, J.; LABHASETWAR, V. Biodegradable nanoparticles for drug and gene delivery to cells and tissue [REVIEW] ADVAN DRUG DELIVERY REV V.55 NO.3 [FEB 24 2003] PP.329-347 V Labhasetwar/Univ Nebraska/Med Ctr/Dept Pharmaceut Sci/Nebraska Med Ctr 986025/600 S 42nd St/Omaha/NE 68198 USA ___________________________________________________ Biodegradable nanoparticles formulated from poly (S,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) have been extensively investigated for sustained and targeted/loca- lized delivery of different agents including plasmid DNA, proteins and peptides and low molecular weight compounds. Research about the mechanism of intracellular uptake of nanoparticles, their trafficking and sorting into different intracellular compartments, and the mechanism of enhanced therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticleencapsulated agent at cellular level is more recent and is the primary focus of the review. Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrated rapid escape of PLGA nanoparticles from the endo-lysosomal compartment into cytosol following their uptake. Based on the above mechanism, various potential applications of nanoparticles for delivery of therapeutic agents to the cells and tissue are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WICKLINE, S.A.; LANZA, G.M. Nanotechnology for molecular imaging and targeted therapy CIRCULATION V.107 NO.8 [MAR 4 2003] PP.1092-1095 SA Wickline/Washington Univ/Sch Med/Dept Med/Campus Box 8086/660 S Euclid Ave/St Louis/MO 63110 USA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CROMMELIN, D.J.A.; STORM, G.; JISKOOT, W.; STENEKES, R.; MASTROBATTISTA, E.; HENNINK, W.E. Nanotechnological approaches for the delivery of macromolecules J CONTROL RELEASE V.87 NO.1-3 [FEB 21 2003] PP.81-88 DJA Crommelin/Univ Utrecht/Dept Pharmaceut/Utrecht Inst Pharmaceut Sci/POB 80082/NL-3508 TB Utrecht/NETHERLANDS ___________________________________________________ In this overview, novel approaches are described for the controlled release and/or for the targeted delivery of macromolecules such as pro- teins and DNA. The building stones of these highly complex systems are (phospho)lipids and/or (biodegradable) polymers. They should be carefully chosen and preparation protocols should be rationally designed to maximize chances for success. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HAMLEY, I.W. Nanotechnology with soft materials [REVIEW] ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.15 [1903] PP.1692-1712 IW Hamley/Univ Leeds/Dept Chem/Leeds LS2 9JT/W Yorkshire/ENGLAND +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LIU, N.G.; CHEN, Z.; DUNPHY, D.R.; JIANG, Y.B.; ASSINK, R.A.; BRINKER, C.J. Photoresponsive nanocomposite formed by self-assembly of an azobenzene- -modified silane ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.15 [1903] PP.1731-1734 CJ Brinker/Sandia Natl Labs/MS 1349/Albuquerque/NM 87106 USA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ZANDONELLA, C. Cell nanotechnology: The tiny toolkit NATURE V.423 NO.6935 [MAY 1 2003] PP.10-12 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ZULLO, S.J.; SRIVASTAVA, S.; LOONEY, J.P.; BARKER, P.E. Nanotechnology: Emerging developments and early detection of cancer - A two-day workshop sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, August 30-31 2001, on the National Institute of Standards and T DISEASE MARKER V.18 NO.4 [1902] PP.153-158 SJ Zullo/NIST/Chem & Life Sci Div/Adv Technol Program/Gaithersburg/MD 20899 USA ___________________________________________________ A recent meeting jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) brought together researchers active in nanotechnology and cancer molecular biology to dis- cuss and evaluate the interface between disciplines.', Emerging areas where nanotechnologies may impact cancer prevention and early cancer detec- tion were elaborated by key researchers who catalyzed interdisciplinary dialogue aimed at fostering. cross-discipline communications and future collaboration. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SEEMAN, N.C. Biochemistry and structural DNA nanotechnology: An evolving symbiotic rela- tionship BIOCHEMISTRY-USA V.42 NO.24 [JUN 24 2003] PP.7259-7269 NC Seeman/NYU/Dept Chem/New York/NY 10003 USA ___________________________________________________ Structural DNA nanotechnology is derived from naturally occurring struc- tures and phenomena in cellular biochemistry. Motifs based on branched DNA molecules are linked together by sticky ends to produce objects, periodic arrays, and nanomechanical devices. The motifs include Holliday junction analogues, double and triple crossover molecules, knots, and parallelog- rams. Polyhedral catenanes, such as a cube or a truncated octahedron, have been assembled from branched junctions. Stiff motifs have been used to produce periodic arrays, containing topographic features visible in atomic force microscopy; these include deliberately striped patterns and cavities whose sizes can be tuned by design. Deliberately knotted molecules have been assembled. Aperiodic arrangements of DNA tiles can be used to produce assemblies corresponding to logical computation. Both DNA structural trans- itions and branch migration have been used as the basis for the operation of DNA nanomechanical devices. Structural DNA nanotechnology has been used in a number of applications in biochemistry. An RNA knot has been used to establish the existence of RNA topoisomerase activity. The sequence depen- dence of crossover isomerization and branch migration at symmetric sites has been established through the use of symmetric immobile junctions. DNA parallelogram arrays have been used to determine the interhelical angles for a variety of DNA branched junctions. The relationship between bioche- mistry and structural DNA nanotechnology continues to grow. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LAWRENCE, D. Nanotechnology takes another small step forward LANCET V.362 NO.9377 [JUL 5 2003] PP.48 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FLORES, A.B.; ROBLES, L.A.; ARIAS, M.O.; ASCENCIO, J.A. Small metal nanoparticle recognition using digital image analysis and high resolution electron microscopy [REVIEW] MICRON V.34 NO.2 [1903] PP.109-118 JA Ascencio/Inst Mexicano Petr/Programa Invest & Desarrollo Ductos/Eje Cent Lazaro Cardenas 152 Col San Bartolo Atep/Mexico City 07730/DF/MEXICO ___________________________________________________ In this paper, we present a system developed to identify metal nanopar- ticles at different orientations, using digital image processing and ana- lysis. The correct identification is important in nanotechnology, where it is possible to build structures for different purposes at the nanometric level. The recognition system computes automatically different characteris- tics such as: nanoparticle area, polygons, symmetry and molecular arrays (twins) in order to recognize different nanostructures. All these characte- ristics are obtained through the use of morphological, texture (co-occur- rence matrix) and region analysis. Complexity issues, advantages, and results are presented and discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MALAKOFF, D. Nanotechnology research - Congress wants studies of nanotech's 'dark side' SCIENCE V.301 NO.5629 [JUL 4 2003] PP.27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SERVICE, R.F. Nanotechnology - Sorting technique may boost nanotube research SCIENCE V.300 NO.5628 [JUN 27 2003] PP.2018 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SAARDYEN, P.; VOLOGODSKII, A.V.; SEEMAN, N.C. The flexibility of DNA double crossover molecules BIOPHYS J V.84 NO.6 [JUN 2003] PP.3829-3837 NC Seeman/24 Waverly Pl/Suite 1066/New York/NY 10003 USA ___________________________________________________ Double crossover molecules are DNA structures containing two Holliday jun- ctions connected by two double helical arms. There are several types of double crossover molecules, differentiated by the relative orientations of their helix axes, parallel or antiparallel, and by the number of double helical half-turns (even or odd) between the two crossovers. They are found as intermediates in meiosis and they have been used extensively in structural DNA nanotechnology for the construction of one-dimensional and two-dimensional arrays and in a DNA nanomechanical device. Whereas the parallel double helical molecules are usually not well behaved, we have focused on the antiparallel molecules; antiparallel molecules with an even number of half-turns between crossovers (termed DAE molecules) produce a reporter strand when ligated, facilitating their characterization in a ligation cyclization assay. Hence, we have estimated the flexibility of antiparallel DNA double crossover molecules by means of ligation-closure experiments. We are able to show that these molecules are approximately twice as rigid as linear duplex DNA. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ENDRES, F.; BUKOWSKI, M.; HEMPELMANN, R.; NATTER, H. Electrodeposition of nanocrystalline metals and alloys from ionic liquids ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.29 [1903] PP.3428-3430 F Endres/Tech Univ Clausthal/FB Phys Met & Werkstoffwissensch/D-38678 Clausthal Zellerfeld/GERMANY +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SIRAKOULIS, G.C.; KARAFYLLIDIS, I.; MIZAS, C.; MARDIRIS, V.; THANAILAKIS, A.; TSALIDES, P. A cellular automaton model for the study of DNA sequence evolution COMPUT BIOL MED V.33 NO.5 [SEP 2003] PP.439-453 I Karafyllidis/Democritus Univ Thrace/Dept Elect & Comp Engn/Lab Elect & Elect Mat Technol/GR-67100 Xanthi/GREECE ___________________________________________________ Cellular automata are introduced as a model for DNA structure, function and evolution. DNA is modeled as a one-dimensional cellular automaton with four states per cell. These states are the four DNA bases A, C, T and G. The four states are represented by numbers of the quaternary number system. Linear evolution rules, represented by square matrices, are considered. Based on this model a simulator of DNA evolution is developed and simula- tion results are presented. This simulator has a user-friendly input inter- face and can be used for the study of DNA evolution. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TERSOFF, J. Nanotechnology - A barrier falls NATURE V.424 NO.6949 [AUG 7 2003] PP.622-623 J Tersoff/IBM Corp/Thomas J Watson Res Ctr/Yorktown Hts/NY 10598 USA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ YAN, H.; LABEAN, T.H.; FENG, L.P.; REIF, J.H. Directed nucleation assembly of DNA tile complexes for barcode-patterned lattices PROC NAT ACAD SCI USA V.100 NO.14 [JUL 8 2003] PP.8103-8108 JH Reif/Duke Univ/Dept Comp Sci/Durham/NC 27708 USA ___________________________________________________ The programmed self-assembly of patterned aperiodic molecular structures is a major challenge in nanotechnology and has numerous potential applica- tions for nanofabrication of complex structures and useful devices. Here we report the construction of an aperiodic patterned DNA lattice (barcode lattice) by a self-assembly process of directed nucleation of DNA tiles around a scaffold DNA strand. The input DNA scaffold strand, constructed by ligation of shorter synthetic oligonucleotides, provides layers of the DNA lattice with barcode patterning information represented by the pre- sence or absence of DNA hairpin loops protruding out of the lattice plane. Self-assembly of multiple DNA tiles around the scaffold strand was shown to result in a patterned lattice containing barcode information of 01101. We have also demonstrated the reprogramming of the system to another pat- terning. An inverted barcode pattern of 10010 was achieved by modifying the scaffold strands and one of the strands composing each the. A ribbon lattice, consisting of repetitions of the barcode pattern with expected periodicity, was also constructed by the addition of sticky ends. The pat- terning of both classes of lattices was clearly observable via atomic force microscopy. These results represent a step toward implementation of a visual readout system capable of converting information encoded on a 1D DNA strand into a 2D form readable by advanced microscopic techniques. A functioning visual output method would not only increase the readout speed of DNA-based computers, but may also find use in other sequence identifica- tion techniques such as mutation or allele mapping. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOWBROOK, D.N.; VANDERVALK, A.M.; OSHAUGHNESSY, M.C.; SARKER, D.K.; BAKER, S.C.; LLOYD, A.W. Developments in microarray technologies [REVIEW] DRUG DISCOV TODAY V.8 NO.14 [JUL 15 2003] PP.642-651 DN Howbrook/Univ Brighton/Sch Pharm & Biomol Sci/Brighton BN2 4GJ/E Sussex/- ENGLAND ___________________________________________________ The focus of high-throughput drug discovery has progressed through the genome and the transcriptome and is now moving towards more difficult prob- lems in assessing the proteome, glycome and metabolome. Microarrays are currently the major tool in the assessment of gene expression via cDNA or RNA analysis; however, they are also used to screen libraries of proteins and small molecules. Microarrays have helped to extract more information from smaller sample volumes and enabled the incorporation of low-cost high- -throughput assays in the drug discovery process. The technology continues to develop and is being rapidly transferred into more challenging areas, with the potential to further aid and enhance the drug discovery process through the development of, for example, proteomic, glycomic and tissue arrays. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOKI, K.; YAMAKI, M.; FUJIMURA, Y. Chiral molecular motors driven by a nonhelical laser pulse ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.26 [1903] PP.2976-2978 Y Fujimura/Tohoku Univ/Grad Sch Sci/Dept Chem/Sendai/Miyagi 9808578/JAPAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ROCO, M.C. Nanotechnology: convergence with modern biology and medicine [REVIEW] CURR OPIN BIOTECHNOL V.14 NO.3 [JUN 2003] PP.337-346 MC Roco/Natl Sci Fdn/4201 Wilson Blvd/Room 505/Arlington/VA 22230 USA ___________________________________________________ The worldwide emergence of nanoscale science and engineering was marked by the announcement of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in January 2000. Recent research on biosystems at the nanoscale has created one of the most dynamic science and technology domains at the confluence of physical sciences, molecular engineering, biology, biotechnology and medicine. This domain includes better understanding of living and thinking systems, revolutionary biotechnology processes, the synthesis of new drugs and their targeted delivery, regenerative medicine, neuromorphic engi- neering and developing a sustainable environment. Nanobiosystems research is a priority in many countries and its relevance within nanotechnology is expected to increase in the future. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ABE, M.; MICHI, T.; SATO, A.; KONDO, T.; ZHOU, W.; YE, S.; UOSAKI, K.; SASAKI, Y. Electrochemically controlled layer-by-layer deposition of metal-cluster molecular multilayers on gold ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.25 [1903] PP.2912-2915 M Abe/Hokkaido Univ/Grad Sch Sci/Div Chem/Kita Ku/Sapporo/Hokkaido 0600810/- JAPAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CZAJKOWSKY, D.M.; SHAO, Z. Inhibition of protein adsorption to muscovite mica by monovalent cations J MICROSC-OXFORD V.211 NO. Part 1 [JUL 2003] PP.1-7 DM Czajkowsky/Univ Virginia/Sch Med/Dept Mol Physiol/Charlottesville/VA 22908 USA ___________________________________________________ One of the most challenging steps in biological atomic force microscopy (AFM) is to find conditions under which the sample will adsorb to a sub- strate. Here we show that a common constituent of biological buffers, mono- valent cations, can inhibit the adsorption of a number of different pro- teins onto one of the best substrates for biological AFM, muscovite mica. The potency series for different cations to prevent adsorption is the same for every protein, K+ > Na+ > Li+ , and, in each case, this inhibition could be overcome by increasing the concentration of proteins. These results thus suggest that reducing the extent of this inhibition by using lower concentrations of salt, higher concentrations of proteins, or Li+ in place of K+ and Na+ may be generally useful procedures to maximize the amount of protein on mica. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OHNO, K.; KOH, K.; TSUJII, Y.; FUKUDA, T. Fabrication of ordered arrays of gold nanoparticles coated with high-den- sity polymer brushes ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.24 [1903] PP.2751-2754 T Fukuda/Kyoto Univ/Chem Res Inst/Uji/Kyoto 6110011/JAPAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BRUMFIEL, G. Nanotechnology: A little knowledge .. NATURE V.424 NO.6946 [JUL 17 2003] PP.246-248 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nanotechnology: Tough lessons from the fields NATURE V.424 NO.6946 [JUL 17 2003] PP.248 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GROVES, J.T.; DUSTIN, M.L. Supported planar bilayers in studies on immune cell adhesion and communica- tion [REVIEW] J IMMUNOL METHOD V.278 NO.1-2 [JUL 2003] PP.19-32 ML Dustin/NYU/Sch Med/Skirball Inst Biomol Med/Dept Pathol/540 1st Ave/New York/NY 10016 USA ___________________________________________________ Supported planar bilayers have been used extensively in immunology to study molecular interactions at interfaces as a model for cell-cell inter- action. Examples include Fc receptor-mediated adhesion and signaling and formation of the immunological synapse between T cells and antigen-presen- ting cells. The advantage of the supported planar bilayer system is con- trol of the bilayer composition and the optical advantages of imaging the cell-bilayer or bilayer-bilayer interface by various types of trans-, epi- and total internal reflection illumination. Supported planar bilayers are simple to form by liposome fusion and recent advances in micro- and nanote- chnology greatly extend the power of supported bilayers to address key questions in immunology and cell biology. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GRIMAU, M.G.; IACOPINO, D.; AVINO, A.; DELATORRE, B.G.; ONGARO, A.; FIT- ZMAURICE, D.; WESSELS, J.; ERITJA, R. Synthesis of branched oligonucleotides as templates for the assembly of nanomaterials HELV CHIM ACTA V.86 NO.8 [1903] PP.2814-2826 R Eritja/CSIC/Inst Biol Mol Barcelona/Dept Biol Struct/Jordi Girona 18- -26/E-08034 Barcelona/SPAIN ___________________________________________________ Branched oligonucleotides with symmetric arms 6-15, which may contain biotin as a second recognition code, were prepared. These molecules are designed to be used for the directed assembly of nanomaterials. The bran- ched structure of the desired oligonucleotides was confirmed by mass spec- trometry on small branched oliognucleotides, by gel electrophoresis, and by hybridization with complementary oligonucleotide-nanoparticle conju- gates, followed by visualization of the complexes by transmission electron microscopy. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GERSTNER, E. Electronics - Nanotechnology goes large NATURE V.425 NO.6955 [SEP 18 2003] PP.244 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HU, J.Q.; BANDO, Y.; GOLBERG, D.; LIU, Q.L. Gallium nitride nanotubes by the conversion of gallium oxide nanotubes ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.30 [1903] PP.3493-3497 JQ Hu/Natl Inst Mat Sci/Adv Mat Lab/Namiki 1-1/Tsukuba/Ibaraki 3050044/- JAPAN +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRUM, R.W.; GORDON, R. Star Trek replicators and diatom nanotechnology TRENDS BIOTECH V.21 NO.8 [AUG 2003] PP.325-328 R Gordon/Univ Manitoba/Dept Radiol/Hlth Sci Ctr/Room GA216/820 Sherbrook St/Winnipeg/MB R3A 1R9/CANADA ___________________________________________________ Diatoms are single celled algae, the 10(5)-10(6) species of which create a wide variety of three-dimensional amorphous silica shells. If we could get them to produce useful structures, perhaps by compustat selection experi- ments (i.e. forced evolution of development or evodevo), their exponential growth in suspension cultures could compete with the lithography techni- ques of present day nanotechnology, which have limited 3D capabilities. Alternatively, their fine detail could be used for templates for MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems), or their silica deposition systems isolated for guiding silica deposition. A recent paper has demonstrated that silica can be replaced atom for atom without change of shape - a step towards the Star Trek replicator. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MULLER, A.; DAS, S.K.; TALISMANOV, S.; ROY, S.; BECKMANN, E.; BOGGE, H.; SCHMIDTMANN, M.; MERCA, A.; BERKLE, A.; ALLOUCHE, L.; ZHOU, Y.S.; ZHANG, L.J. Trapping cations in specific positions in tuneable ''artificial cell'' channels: New nanochemistry perspectives ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.41 [1903] PP.5039-5044 A Muller/Univ Bielefeld/Fak Biol/Lehrstuhl Anorgan Chem 1/Postfach 100131/- D-33501 Bielefeld/GERMANY +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nanotechnology research facility at Oak Ridge J NUCL MED V.44 NO.9 [SEP 2003] PP.36N +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GULDI, D.M.; MARCACCIO, M.; PAOLUCCI, D.; PAOLUCCI, F.; TAGMATARCHIS, N.; TASIS, D.; VAZQUEZ, E.; PRATO, M. Single-wall carbon nanotube-ferrocene nanohybrids: Observing intramole- cular electron transfer in functionalized SWNTs ANGEW CHEM INT ED V.42 NO.35 [1903] PP.4206-4209 DM Guldi/Univ Notre Dame/Radiat Lab/Notre Dame/IN 46556 USA +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HORINEK, D.; MICHL, J. Molecular dynamics simulation of an electric field driven dipolar mole- cular rotor attached to a quartz glass surface J AM CHEM SOC V.125 NO.39 [OCT 1 2003] PP.11900-11910 J Michl/Univ Colorado/Dept Chem & Biochem/Campus Box 215/Boulder/CO 80309 USA ___________________________________________________ Molecular dynamics simulations of the response of a dipolar azimuthal 3- -chloroprop-1-ynyl rotor mounted on the surface of quartz glass to a rota- ting electric field were performed. The rotor motion was classified as synchronous, asynchronous, random, or hindered, based on the value of the average lag of the rotor behind the field and a comparison of the intrinsic rotational barrier V-b with kT. A phase diagram of rotor beha- vior was deduced at 10, 300, and 500 K as a function of field strength and frequency. A simple model for the rotor motion was developed, containing the driving force, the temperature, the height of the torsional barrier, and the friction constant of the rotor. Defining E-bo to be the electric field strength necessary to get rotational response from the rotor (''- breakoff field'') and mu to be the rotor dipole moment component in the plane of rotation, we find that E-bo is frequency independent when 2muE(bo) is less than either V-b or kT (the driving force needs to overcome the more important of the two, the intrinsic barrier or random thermal motions. At higher frequencies, E-bo is a quadratic function of the frequency and the driving force fights friction, which is dictated by intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) from the pumped rotational mode to all others. Fitting the simple model to simulation data, we derived a friction constant of 0.26 ps eV x (v - 0.5)/THz between 500 and 1000 GHz. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DEFRANCESCO, L. Little science, big bucks NAT BIOTECHNOL V.21 NO.10 [OCT 2003] PP.1127-1129 ___________________________________________________ Governments around the world are investing in nanotechnology in the hopes that applications in the biotechnology and chemical industry will help turn faltering economies around. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MAZZOLA, L. Commercializing nanotechnology NAT BIOTECHNOL V.21 NO.10 [OCT 2003] PP.1137-1143 L Mazzola/Excellin Life Sci/755 E Capitol Ave 0201/Milpitas/CA 95035 USA ___________________________________________________ Nanotechnology has solid commercial prospects, but the process of conver- ting basic discoveries into marketable products will be long and hard. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PAULL, R.; WOLFE, J.; HEBERT, P.; SINKULA, M. Investing in nanotechnology NAT BIOTECHNOL V.21 NO.10 [OCT 2003] PP.1144-1147 R Paull/Lux Capital/245 Pk Ave/24th Floor/New York/NY 10167 USA ___________________________________________________ The current commercial path for nanotechnology ventures mirrors the early evolution of the biotechnology industry, allowing similar strategies toward both technology commercialization and investment opportunities. ___________________________________________________