| From: donpat | 7/19/2005 10:27:01 PM | | | | | | UCLA Chemists Create Nano Valve
Date: July 15, 2005
Contact: Stuart Wolpert ( stuartw@college.ucla.edu )
Phone: 310-206-0511
UCLA chemists have created the first nano valve that can be opened and closed at will to trap and release molecules. The discovery, federally funded by the National Science Foundation, will be published July 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"This paper demonstrates unequivocally that the machine works," said Jeffrey I. Zink, a UCLA professor of chemistry and biochemistry, a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, and a member of the research team. "With the nano valve, we can trap and release molecules on demand. We are able to control molecules at the nano scale.
"A nano valve potentially could be used as a drug delivery system," Zink said.
"The valve is like a mechanical system that we can control like a water faucet," said UCLA graduate student Thoi Nguyen, lead author on the paper. "Trapping the molecule inside and shutting the valve tightly was a challenge. The first valves we produced leaked slightly."
"Thoi was a master nano plumber who plugged the leak with a tight valve," Zink said.
This nano valve consists of moving parts — switchable rotaxane molecules that resemble linear motors designed by California NanoSystems Institute director Fraser Stoddart's team — attached to a tiny piece of glass (porous silica), which measures about 500 nanometers, and which Nguyen is currently reducing in size. Tiny pores in the glass are only a few nanometers in size.
"It's big enough to let molecules in and out, but small enough so that the switchable rotaxane molecules can block the hole," Zink said.
The valve is uniquely designed so one end attaches to the opening of the hole that will be blocked and unblocked, and the other end has the switchable rotaxanes whose movable component blocks the hole in the down position and leaves it open in the up position. The researchers used chemical energy involving a single electron as the power supply to open and shut the valve, and a luminescent molecule that allows them to tell from emitted light whether a molecule is trapped or has been released.
Switchable rotaxanes are molecules composed of a dumbbell component with two stations between which a ring component can be made to move back and forth in a linear fashion. Stoddart, who holds UCLA's Fred Kavli Chair in nanosystems sciences, has already shown how these switchable rotaxanes can be used in molecular electronics. Stoddart's team is now adapting them for use in the construction of artificial molecular machinery.
"The fact that we can take a bistable molecule that behaves as a switch in a silicon-based electronic device at the nanoscale level and fabricate it differently to work as part of a nano valve on porous silica is something I find really satisfying about this piece of research," Stoddart, said. "It shows that these little pieces of molecular machinery are highly adaptable and resourceful, and means that we can move around in the nanoworld with the same molecular tool kit and adapt it to different needs on demand."
In future research, they will test how large a hole they can block, to see whether they can get larger molecules, like enzymes, inside the container; they are optimistic.
The research team also includes Hsian-Rong Tseng, a former postdoctoral scholar in chemistry who is now an assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology in UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine; Paul Celestre, a former undergraduate student in Stoddart's laboratory; Amar Flood, a former UCLA researcher in Stoddart's supramolecular chemistry group who is now an assistant professor of chemistry at Indiana University; and Yi Liu, a former UCLA graduate student who is now a postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla.
"Our team and Fraser's have very different areas of expertise," Zink said. "By combining them and working together we were able to make something new that really works."
Stoddart has noted that it is only in the past 100 years that humankind has learned how to fly. Prior to the first demonstration of manned flight, there were many great scientists and engineers who said it was impossible.
"Building artificial molecular machines and getting them to operate is where airplanes were a century ago," Stoddart said. "We have come a long way in the last decade, but we have a very, very long way to go yet to realize the full potential of artificial molecular machines."
The nano valve is much smaller than living cells. Could a cell ingest a nano valve combined with bio-molecules, and could light energy then be used to release a drug inside a cell? Stay tuned.
newsroom.ucla.edu |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read |
|
| From: Lateott | 7/20/2005 12:02:57 PM | | | | | | Hey Guys,
Not trying to bash or anything of that nature. But are we concerned about the phrase "...has exclusive license in perpetuity for technologies developed by Theracour Pharma..."?
Only reason I ask is that I'm still licking my fresh wounds from HTDS.
Are we aware of any termination clauses... etc?
Any thoughts would be appreciated?
Thanks,
Lateott |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1) |
|
| To: Lateott who wrote (25) | 7/20/2005 2:21:27 PM | | From: donpat | | | | My thoughts on Theracour Pharma.
The US patent issued to "Inventors: Watterson; Arthur C. (Nashua, NH); Danprasert; Kunya (Bangkapi, TH); Diwan; Anil (West Haven, CT)"
I think that Theracour Pharma was set up to market that patent:
Message 21480742
Diwan is the only inventor now at NNVC. He is also a principle at Theracour Pharma:
"Anil and his partners have formed a new company, TheraCour Pharma, Inc., with private investor financing to commercialize these materials and also to develop new drugs based on them."
Message 21480615
It looks to me that this approach rewards all inventors for the invention by the royalties received and split however agreed upon, likely equally among the three - the three in Theracour, while the vehicle to commercialize the stuff is NNVC with but one inventor in the picture - Diwan - along with shareholders who will be rewarded as NNVC prospers. It could well have been the case that while Diwan was keen to get involved in the commercialization opportunities the other inventors were not, for whatever reasons - perhaps they preferred to stay wherever they are presently, like in the academic community, perhaps.
As I said - this is my take. The company could, and should, perhaps, clarify this question fully. Especially regarding any cancellation provisions of this perpetual licence by Theracour Pharma. As you said, once bitten, twice shy!!!
|
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (2) |
|
| From: archimedest | 7/21/2005 9:09:47 AM | | | | | | | Very interesting article on the NNVC site from NanoBiotech news. It gives you a good idea of their strategy going forward. I expect this stock to continue climbing for a while. |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1) |
|
| To: archimedest who wrote (28) | 7/21/2005 9:29:19 AM | | From: donpat | | | | NanoViricides' President Discusses New HIV Drugs and Company Goals in Interview with NanoBiotech News
Thursday July 21, 8:53 am ET
Provides In-Depth Interview of the NanoViricides Story
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 2005--NanoViricides, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NNVC - News), has announced the online availability of a feature article about NanoViricides, Inc. in the July 13, 2005 edition of NanoBiotech News. In the article, Dr. Diwan discusses NanoViricides' uniqueness and drug development goals as it prepares to compete in the multi-billion-dollar bio-pharmaceutical marketplace.
The article can be viewed free of charge by visiting nanoviricides.com
[[ARTICLE here: nanoviricides.com ]]
Information about NanoBiotech News can be found at nanobiotechnews.com
About NanoViricides - nanoviricides.com
NanoViricides, Inc. is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for viral therapy. NanoViricides, Inc. has exclusive license in perpetuity for technologies developed by Theracour Pharma for the five virus types: HIV, HCV, Herpes, Asian (bird) flu and Influenza. A NanoViricide(TM) is a nanoparticle that contains an encapsulated active pharmaceutical ingredient and targets it to a specific type of virus. When a NanoViricide(TM) drug particle enters the patient's blood stream, it attacks and immobilizes circulating virus particles. Once this is done, the active pharmaceutical ingredient is injected into the virus by the NanoViricide(TM) particle, destroying it. The company plans to develop novel NanoViricide(TM) drugs first against HIV, and anticipates that it will license the products to major pharmaceutical companies.
This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Company's research and development strategy, the availability of adequate financing, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and the uncertainties related to the regulatory process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
NanoViricides, Inc., New York
Leo Ehrlich, 917-853-6440
leo@nanoviricides.com
or
Anil R. Diwan, Ph.D.
adiwan@snet.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: NanoViricides, Inc.
biz.yahoo.com |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read |
|
| To: donpat who wrote (26) | 7/21/2005 12:29:48 PM | | From: Lateott | | | | Thanks donpat,
Looking to recoup the flogging I took on HTDS and just trying to to a little DD. Well, let me rephrase, hoping to suck a little DD out of you guys. Your comments, as always, are much appreciated.
Thanks again. |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1) |
|
| To: Lateott who wrote (30) | 7/21/2005 1:54:24 PM | | From: donpat | | | | I try!
I like this NNVC more than most (other stocks) around here. I think it has some terrific possibilities. And lining our pockets will be an added bonus; I think the contributions this technology could well contribute to mankind is the main benefit.
Money is one thing - but some things are more important. |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1) |
|
| To: donpat who wrote (31) | 7/21/2005 4:40:41 PM | | From: jmhollen | | | | O/T & FYI: If some short term "..recouping.." is desirable, I'd suggest a healthy ACHI collection - ASAP.
See Board.
John :-)
. |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read |
|
| From: donpat | 7/21/2005 7:08:29 PM | | | | | | Using Nanoparticles, In Vivo Gene Therapy Activates Brain Stem Cells
[This nano+bio is exciting stuff!]
Technique may allow scientists to repair brain cells damaged by disease, trauma or stroke
Release date: Monday, July 25, 2005
Embargoed until: Monday, July 25, 2005, 5:00 PM
Contact: Ellen Goldbaum, goldbaum@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-5000 ext 1415
Fax: 716-645-3765
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Using customized nanoparticles that they developed, University at Buffalo scientists have for the first time delivered genes into the brains of living mice with an efficiency that is similar to, or better than, viral vectors and with no observable toxic effect, according to a paper published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The paper describes how the UB scientists used gene-nanoparticle complexes to activate adult brain stem/progenitor cells in vivo, demonstrating that it may be possible to "turn on" these otherwise idle cells as effective replacements for those destroyed by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's.
In addition to delivering therapeutic genes to repair malfunctioning brain cells, the nanoparticles also provide promising models for studying the genetic mechanisms of brain disease.
"Until now, no non-viral technique has proven to be as effective as the viral vectors in vivo," said co-author Paras N. Prasad, Ph.D., executive director of the UB Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, SUNY Distinguished Professor in UB's Department of Chemistry and principal investigator of the institute's nanomedicine program. "This transition, from in vitro to in vivo, represents a dramatic leap forward in developing experimental, non-viral techniques to study brain biology and new therapies to address some of the most debilitating human diseases."
Viral vectors for gene therapy always carry with them the potential to revert back to wild-type, and some human trials have even resulted in fatalities.
As a result, new research focuses increasingly on non-viral vectors, which don't carry this risk.
Viral vectors can be produced only by specialists under rigidly controlled laboratory conditions. By contrast, the nanoparticles developed by the UB team can be synthesized easily in a matter of days by an experienced chemist.
The UB researchers make their nanoparticles from hybrid, organically modified silica (ORMOSIL), the structure and composition of which allow for the development of an extensive library of tailored nanoparticles to target gene therapies for different tissues and cell types.
A key advantage of the UB team's nanoparticle is its surface functionality, which allows it to be targeted to specific cells, explained Dhruba J. Bharali, Ph.D., a co-author on the paper and post-doctoral associate in the UB Department of Chemistry and UB's Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics.
While they are easier and faster to produce, non-viral vectors typically suffer from very low expression and efficacy rates, especially in vivo.
"This is the first time that a non-viral vector has demonstrated efficacy in vivo at levels comparable to a viral vector," Bharali said.
In the UB experiments, targeted dopamine neurons -- which degenerate in Parkinson's disease, for example -- took up and expressed a fluorescent marker gene, demonstrating the ability of nanoparticle technology to deliver effectively genes to specific types of cells in the brain.
Using a new optical fiber in vivo imaging technique (CellviZio developed by Mauna Kea Technologies of Paris), the UB researchers were able to observe the brain cells expressing genes without having to sacrifice the animal.
Then the UB researchers decided to go one step further, to see if they could not only observe, but also manipulate the behavior of brain cells.
Their finding that the nanoparticles successfully altered the development path of neural stem cells is especially intriguing because of scientific concerns that embryonic stem cells may not be able to function correctly since they have bypassed some of the developmental stages cells normally go through.
"What we did here instead was to reactivate adult stem cells located on the floor of brain ventricles, germinal cells that normally produce progeny that then die if they are not used," said Michal K. Stachowiak, Ph.D., co-author on the paper and associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Stachowiak is in charge of in vivo studies at the UB Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics.
"It's likely that these stem/progenitor cells will grow into healthy neurons," he said.
"In the future, this technology may make it possible to repair neurological damage caused by disease, trauma or stroke," said Earl J. Bergey, Ph.D., co-author and deputy director of biophotonics at the institute.
The group's next step is to conduct similar studies in larger animals.
The UB research was supported by the John R. Oishei Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the American Parkinson Disease Association and UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.
buffalo.edu |
| | NNVC - NanoViricides, Inc. | Stock Discussion ForumsShare | RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last ReadRead Replies (1) |
|
| |
