Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > News > Toxic onions

February 18th, 2008

Toxic onions

Abstract:
There are plenty of scare stories about health problems caused by nanotechnology, but where does the truth lie? Frank Chen, a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has developed a way to predict and evaluate the effects of exposure to a particular nanomaterial on human skin cells.

Once the skin cells have been exposed, Chen uses computerised image analysis to see whether the cells are dying, and genome analysis to see which genes have been switched on or off.

The method shows that cells are killed by large doses of "multiwall carbon nano-onions" (many-layered versions of spherical carbon buckyballs). In the process, genes involved in cellular transport, metabolism, cell cycle regulation and stress response become activated.

There is an upside, however. Chen suggests that multiwall carbon nano-onions are so toxic that they could be used for killing off cancer cells.

Source:
newscientist.com

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Researchers demonstrates substrate design principles for scalable superconducting quantum materials: NYU Tandon–Brookhaven National Laboratory study shows that crystalline hafnium oxide substrates offer guidelines for stabilizing the superconducting phase October 3rd, 2025

Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025

Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025

Nanomedicine

New molecular technology targets tumors and simultaneously silences two ‘undruggable’ cancer genes August 8th, 2025

New imaging approach transforms study of bacterial biofilms August 8th, 2025

Cambridge chemists discover simple way to build bigger molecules – one carbon at a time June 6th, 2025

Electrifying results shed light on graphene foam as a potential material for lab grown cartilage June 6th, 2025

Discoveries

Breaking barriers in energy-harvesting using quantum physics: Researchers find a way to overcome conventional thermodynamic limits when converting waste heat into electricity October 3rd, 2025

Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025

Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025

Announcements

Rice membrane extracts lithium from brines with greater speed, less waste October 3rd, 2025

Researchers develop molecular qubits that communicate at telecom frequencies October 3rd, 2025

Next-generation quantum communication October 3rd, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions October 3rd, 2025

Patents/IP/Tech Transfer/Licensing

Getting drugs across the blood-brain barrier using nanoparticles March 3rd, 2023

Study finds nanomedicine targeting lymph nodes key to triple negative breast cancer treatment: In mice, nanomedicine can remodel the immune microenvironment in lymph node and tumor tissue for long-term remission and lung tumor elimination in this form of metastasized breast cance May 13th, 2022

Metasurfaces control polarized light at will: New research unlocks the hidden potential of metasurfaces August 13th, 2021

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Announces Closing of Agreement with Takeda November 27th, 2020

Safety-Nanoparticles/Risk management

Onion-like nanoparticles found in aircraft exhaust May 14th, 2025

Closing the gaps — MXene-coating filters can enhance performance and reusability February 28th, 2025

First human trial shows ‘wonder’ material can be developed safely: A revolutionary nanomaterial with huge potential to tackle multiple global challenges could be developed further without acute risk to human health, research suggests February 16th, 2024

New research may make future design of nanotechnology safer with fewer side effects: Study shows a promising strategy to reduce adverse reactions to nanoparticles by using complement inhibitors October 6th, 2023

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project