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Quantum Dots/Nanodots: Silicon nanocrystals with exceptional optical properties that can be used to design probes that monitor biological experiments with greater sensitivity. Previously organic dyes were used they tend to fade. It allows for different types of molecules to be detected at the same time using different dyes using simple light. As compared to the present method which requires each dye to be illuminated with a specific wavelength in order to shine brightly enough so that it can be detected.[6]
Dendrimers: are nanostructured materials, which are tree-shaped synthetic materials which have a branching system starting out from a core. Their dimensions are nanonmeter by nanometer however each individual’s size depends on how many times it has gone through its replication cycle i.e its “generations.” Its has potential therapeutic applications as the group of atoms that form its outer boundary can consist of heavier molecular groups that can act as hooks and therefore attach on to molecules such as DNA. They can act as effective therapeutic agents because they can insert DNA into cells without triggering an immune system response. They enter into the cell by a process called endocytosis. In this process the cell membrane fuses with the dendrimer to form a kind of vesicle (bubble). This allows the dendrimer to enter the cell, once inside the DNA now becomes a part of the cell’s genome. [4]
Nanorods: are rod-shaped particles with diameters typically ranging from 15-50 nm. Gold nanorods have [their dimensions are nanonmeter by nanometer however each individual’s size depends on how many times it has gone through its replication cycle i.e its “generations.” Its has potential therapeutic applications as the group of atoms.*
Nanotubes: These originally referred to carbon nanotubes (hollow cylindrical rolls of carbon atoms). Nanotubes have diameters on the order of a single nanometer (1x10-9m) and may have lengths of several meters. Nanotubes Recently examples of non-carbon nanotubes have been developed using semiconductor materials; these nanotubes are usually called nanowires.
Nanopores: These can be about 20nm in a diameter. They are integrated into artificially constructed encapsulated cells of silicon wafers. These pores allow small molecules like oxygen, glucose and insulin to pass however they prevent large immune system molecules like immunoglobins to leave the cell. This way rat pancreatic cells are microencapsulated, they receive nutrients and release insulin through nanopores being totally isolated from their neighboring environment i.e foreign cells. This knowledge can help to replace nonfunctional islets of Langerhans cells in the liver (responsible for producing insulin), by harvested piglet cells. They can be implanted underneath the human skin without the need of immunosupressants which put diabetic patients at a risk of infection. [5] |
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Copyright © 2005
Nanogroup Beta: Jason Feng, Maryam Liaqat, Eric Shubo Ma |
Physics 87N: Prof. Hari Manoharan
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