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terça-feira, 31 de julho de 2012

Workshop internacional sobre avanços no uso da tecnologia das radiações e nanotecnologia na engenharia de tecidos



Ipen sedia, no período de 13 a 17 de agosto de 2012, o Workshop "Avances en el uso de la tecnología de las radiaciones y nanotecnología en ingeniería de tejidos". 


O evento tem por objetivo apresentar e discutir os avanços no campo da engenharia de bancos de tecidos biológicos e proporcionar a possibilidade de futuros projetos multidisciplinares. 


Participam do workshop experts da IAEA e representantes de diversos países da América Latina.

Pretende-se, com as discussões e troca de informações entre os participantes,
introduzir novas técnicas para bancos de tecidos biológicos para minimizar a escassez de material doado e aprimorar a qualidade dos enxertos de tecido na região da América Latina.

O evento contará com conferências, discussões de grupos e visitas técnicas a vários laboratórios científicos envolvidos com a engenharia de tecidos.

O evento integra o Projeto ARCAL RLA 6062 (Acuerdo Regional de Cooperación para la Promoción de la Ciencia e Tecnologia Nucleares en América Latina) da IAEA.

As vagas são limitadas e as inscrições gratuitas.

Data limite para inscrição:
31 de julho de 2012


Link para Ficha de Inscrição

Programa 



Informações com a pesquisadora Monica Beatriz Mathor (mathor@ipen.br) , do Centro de Tecnologia das Radiações (CTR) do Ipen - tel. 11 3133-9828. 




sexta-feira, 20 de julho de 2012

USP recebe estação de Nanofabricação para semicondutores


USP recebe estação de nanofabricação para semicondutores
Exemplo de estrutura construída com uma estação FIB.
 [Imagem: Wikipedia/Orsay Physics]

O Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), da USP, acaba de receber um "Focused Ion Beam" (FIB), um equipamento utilizado para produzir, processar e caracterizar as propriedades de materiais em escala nanométrica.
O aparelho é considerado uma "estação de nanofabricação" completa e permitirá o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, como a dos computadores quânticos.
Feixe de íons
O FIB é usado prioritariamente para produção de materiais semicondutores, como os usados em processadores de computador, LEDs, células solares e em toda a eletrônica em geral.
O aparelho de íons focalizados opera de maneira semelhante a um microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV), mas com um importante diferencial: enquanto este último se utiliza de um feixe de elétrons para construir imagens de uma amostra, o FIB utiliza um feixe de íons.
Para entender a importância desse avanço, é necessário compreender o funcionamento do feixe de elétrons.
O bombardeamento de elétrons gera energia, ou seja, quando eles são acelerados e concentrados em um feixe, forma-se uma energia muito intensa. Isso produz energia térmica, com altíssimas temperaturas, capazes de fundir qualquer metal (a parte fundida é, posteriormente, transformada em vapor).
Já o feixe de íons, com objetivos similares, é mais pesado que o de elétrons e, por esse motivo, é destrutivo, podendo remover materiais da superfície de amostras, o que permitirá que se esculpa, por exemplo, imagens tridimensionais sob a superfície das mesmas.
"O feixe de íons tanto pode ser usado para construir uma imagem quanto para fazer o processamento de uma amostra," explica Haroldo Araraki, engenheiro do Grupo de Semicondutores do IFSC.
O FIB é capaz de escrever em superfícies em escala nanométrica. Para se ter uma ideia, um fio de cabelo é mil vezes maior do que a escrita que o feixe de íons do FIB pode entalhar.
Nanofabricação de semicondutores
No laboratório de semicondutores, o FIB será utilizado, entre outras coisas, para desenvolver nanomateriais.
"As propriedades dos nanomateriais são diferentes dos micro ou macromateriais", explica o professor Euclydes Marega Júnior. "Quando uma nanoestrutura interage com a luz, por exemplo, ela altera as propriedades ópticas e elétricas do material. Nessa escala de tamanho, a condução elétrica não é a mesma da de um fio de um chuveiro elétrico."
Agora, com a "estação nanométrica" à disposição, os pesquisadores poderão não apenas explorar as propriedades de diferentes tipos de nanomateriais, mas também criar novos.
"Enquanto que, pelo processo tradicional de feixe de elétrons, um dispositivo demoraria um dia todo para ser feito, além de exigir uma grande infraestrutura, com o feixe de íons o dispositivo fica pronto em alguns minutos", afirma Araraki.
O equipamento já é utilizado na indústria de semicondutores em aplicações como análise de defeitos em materiais em escala nanométrica, modificação de circuitos, reparação de máscaras, etc.
Saber lidar com esse tipo de maquinário, contudo, pode significar a construção da tecnologia do futuro.
"Produzir corrente elétrica em escala nanométrica é muito mais fácil, por isso produzem-se efeitos que geram ondas eletromagnéticas. Muitos estudos são voltados para a produção de luz, nesses meios, e não eletricidade. Ou seja, em vez de transmitir informações por elétrons, tais informações serão transmitidas por fótons", prevê o professor do IFSC.

BioNanotecnologia ataca câncer e reforça imunidade ao mesmo tempo

Ataque e defesa
Os cânceres são notórios por produzir compostos químicos que confundem o sistema imunológico, frustrando as defesas biológicas.
Para combater esse efeito, alguns tratamentos tentam neutralizar o arsenal químico do câncer e aumentar a resposta imune do paciente.
Contudo, as tentativas de fazer as duas coisas ao mesmo tempo raramente são bem-sucedidas.
BioNanotecnologia
Agora, cientistas usaram a bioNanotecnologia para desenvolver um sistema que fornece ao corpo, simultaneamente, uma dose sustentada de um reforço para o sistema imunológico, e de um medicamento para inibir a produção dos compostos químicos do câncer.
Isto resultou em uma potente terapia combinada que, em experimentos em animais, retardou o crescimento de alguns tumores e chegou a colocar outros em remissão, levando a taxas de sobrevivência significativamente maiores.
Essa técnica para a aplicação simultânea de vários tratamentos pode resolver as frustrantes dificuldades que as chamadas terapias medicamentosas combinatórias têm enfrentado.
Nanotecnologia ataca câncer e reforça imunidade ao mesmo tempo
Esta ilustração mostra um nanolipogel aplicando sua carga imunoterápica. As esferas azul-claras dentro dos vasos sanguíneos, assim como a esfera maior em primeiro plano, são os nanolipogéis (NLGs). Conforme eles se quebram, liberam IL-2 (pontinhos verdes), que ajudam a recrutar e ativar a resposta imunológica do corpo (as células esferoides roxas). As pequenas esferas azuis brilhantes são o tratamento adicional, uma droga contra o câncer que inibe o TGF-beta (uma das defesas químicas do câncer). [Imagem: Nicolle Rager Fuller/NSF]
Nanolipogels
Classificada como imunoterapia, a nova técnica usa medicamentos já bem estudados, mas leva-os para o organismo usando nanolipogéis (NLGs:NanoLipoGels), uma tecnologia inovadora para o transporte de medicamentos.
Os NLGs (nanolipogéis ou nanolipogeles) são esferas ocas biodegradáveis com dimensões em nanoescala (bilionésimos de metro), cada uma capaz de acomodar grandes quantidades de moléculas quimicamente diferentes.
Aparentemente as nanoesferas se acumulam nos vasos sanguíneos frágeis dos tumores, liberando sua carga de forma controlada e sustentada, conforme as paredes das nanoesferas e sua estrutura interior quebram-se na corrente sanguínea.
Imunoterapia
Nestes experimentos iniciais, os NLGs continham dois componentes: uma droga inibidora que ataca uma defesa particularmente potente do câncer chamada fator de crescimento transformador-beta (TGF-beta), e a interleucina-2 (IL-2), uma proteína que induz o sistema imunológico a responder às ameaças em pontos específicos.
A capacidade de empacotar dois tipos completamente diferentes de moléculas - grandes proteínas solúveis em água, como a IL-2, e pequenas moléculas hidrofóbicas, como o inibidor de TGF-β - em um mesmo invólucro foi fundamental para o sucesso do tratamento.
Os pesquisadores, da Universidade de Yale (EUA), descreveram suas descobertas na edição desta semana da revista Nature Materials.

Journal publishes special edition on nanoparticles transformations in the environment


A special edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology has been published on the transformations of nanoparticles in the environment.
The edition includes articles on the influence of biotic and abiotic interactions, nanoparticle size and structure, surface coating, capping and the impact of organic matter on the interactions and toxicity of nanomaterials.
Also included is a recent review of research in this area (CW 24 May 2012) and a study on the fate of engineered silver nanomaterials in complex natural systems (CW 19 June 2012).


Fonte: Chemical Watch

Nanotechnology Market Data Just Published by BCC Research


Global Markets and Technologies for Carbon Nanotubes



The global market for various carbon nanotubes (CNT) grades was $192 million in 2011. In 2012, the market should generate nearly $239 million in revenues and will grow over the next five years at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4% reaching $527 million by 2016.

Learn about global markets for carbon nanotubes including various technologies and applications. Industry structure, patent analysis and competitive analysis are also covered in this report...

Use this report to:
  • Receive an overview which identifies the unique properties of various forms of CNTs
  • Assess current CNT production levels and technical applications
  • Evaluate actual or impending markets in terms of the technical readiness of CNTs and projected market revenues
  • Identify the current players seeking to exploit their unique properties of CNTs
To provide further information about this report we offer a Complimentary Introduction, available from our Website. To download, simply click here, go to the Table of Contents tab, add the complimentary introduction to your cart, and confirm your order.
July 2012  • Report ID NAN024E  • 398 pp.  • 147 tbls

Nanoparticle Completely Eradicates Hepatitis C Virus

BY: DEXTER JOHNSON



Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) have developed a nanoparticle that has shown 100 percent effectiveness in eradicating the hepatitis C virus in laboratory testing. 
The nanoparticle, dubbed a nanozyme, consists of a backbone made from gold nanoparticles and a surface with two biological components. One biological component is an enzyme that attacks and destroys the mRNA, which provides the recipe for duplicating the protein that causes the disease. The other biological part is the navigator, if you will. It is a DNA oligonucleotide that identifies the disease-related protein and sends the enzyme on course to destroy it.
Y. Charles Cao, a UF associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. Chen Liu, a professor of pathology at the UF College of Medicine published their research online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("Nanoparticle-based artificial RNA silencing machinery for antiviral therapy"). 
The basis of the work is mimicking the biological process of RNA interference, which researchers in the past have used effectively in the laboratory for treating HIV. In the UF research the nanoparticle mimics the function of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which mediates the RNA interference process.
Current hepatitis C treatments do attack the replication process of the virus but they are not entirely effective and only help about 50 percent of the patients treated with them. Cao and Liu along with their team wanted to see if they could improve upon that percentage. The researchers claim that their treatment (in cell culture and mice) led to a near 100 percent eradication of the hepatitis C virus without bringing on any side effects caused by the immune system attacking the treatment.
Of course, this is a long way from becoming a treatment anytime soon. A major caveat is that the use of nanotreatments for the targeting and destroying of abnormal cells like cancer cells is always problematic since those cells are “still us” as George Whitesides noted some time back.  It’s always a bit of a tricky business to make sure that nanoparticles are targeting those biological processes within us that we want stopped and not the ones we want to keep.
Further complicating this particular line of research is some of the terminology that is part of the press release. They have decided to use the term “nanorobots” to describe the nanoparticles, apparently because that can really excite the general public about what might otherwise be a fairly niche story.  That’s fine, I suppose. Whatever manages to get the public interested in what is genuinely ground breaking research. The problem is that it creates confusion in some terribly misguided people who are convinced that we are about to be overrun by ‘nanobots’ that will render the planet into nothing but “gray goo”.   Can’t we just retire the term “nano robots” for the sake of human life?

Fonte: NanoClast

Französisches Nano-Dekret könnte in weiteren Ländern Schule machen


von Sascha Schwarzkopf

Ein aktueller Artikel im PHI-Magazin des Rückversicherers GenRe berichtet über das Dekret zur Registrierung von Nanomaterialien, welches das französische Umweltministerium kürzlich erlassen hat. Dieses führt zur europaweit ersten, verbindlichen Berichtspflicht über Nanomaterialien, bereits ab sehr geringen Mengen. Vor dem Hintergrund mangelnder Informationen zu Nanomaterialien könnte diese Initiative in auch in anderen Ländern Schule machen.




Frankreich beschliesst europaweit erste Berichtspflicht für Nanomaterialien ab 2013


Das französische Umweltministerium hat im Frühjahr ein Dekret zur Registrierung von Nanomaterialien erlassen. Dieses führt eine verbindliche Berichtspflicht über Nanomaterialien ab 2013 ein


Davon betroffen sind Unternehmen und Organisationen, z. B. Universitäten, die Nanomaterialien herstellen, importieren oder vertreiben und dabei ein jährliches Aufkommen von mehr als 100 Gramm Nanomaterialien verzeichnen. 

Damit wird erstmals eine grössere Regulierungslücke für nanoskalige Materialien geschlossen. Durch die vorgeschriebene Offenlegung von Daten zu Nanomaterial-Mengen und deren Verwendung soll für Behörden die Identifikation von Nanomaterialien, ihren Handelswegen und Mengenflüssen ermöglicht werden. Gleichzeitig soll die Abschätzung von potenziellen Risiken am Arbeitsplatz und für die Gesundheit der Bevölkerung in Frankreich verbessert werden.


Unternehmen müssen die Datensammlung ab 2012 aufnehmen


Für Unternehmen und Organisationen, die mit Nanomaterialien operieren, wird erstmals am 1. Mai 2013 ein Bericht fällig, in dem die Nanomaterial-Daten aus 2012 verzeichnet werden. Aktivitäten aus dem Vorjahreszeitraum sind in diesem Bericht offenzulegen. Die französische Berichtspflicht erhält somit bereits unmittelbare Wirkung. Die französische Nationale Agentur für Lebensmittelsicherheit, Umwelt und Arbeit (ANSES) sammelt und verwaltet die eingereichten Daten. Ebenso ist eine Publikation der Erhebungen vorgesehen. Besondere Vertraulichkeitsbedingungen können nur mit besonderer Begründung für den Bereich Forschung und Entwicklung (F&E) geltend gemacht werden. Folgende Informationen müssen bereitgestellt und sollen öffentlich verfügbar gemacht werden:

  • Identität des hergestellten, importierten oder gehandelten Nanomaterials,
  • Verwendung des Nanomaterials,
  • hergestellte, importierte oder gehandelte Mengen des Nanomaterials,
  • Identität des Verwenders.
Im Jahr 2007 wurde in Frankreich ein Runder Tisch „Grenelle de l‘environnement“ eingerichtet. Stakeholder von staatlicher Seite, regionalen Administrationen, Industrie, Arbeitnehmern, Nichtregierungsorganisationen und Wissenschaft haben sich der Vermeidung von Risiken durch die Herstellung und Verwendung von synthetischen Nanomaterialien verschrieben. In diesem Zusammenhang wurden Art. 42 und 185 des Umweltgesetzbuchs erarbeitet, die auch die Grundlage für das vorliegende „Grenelle“-Dekret bilden.


Definition von Nanomaterialien


Das Dekret schliesst sich bei der Definition von Nanomaterialien dem Vorschlag der EU-Kommission bzw. der REACH-VO (REACH, KOM, 1907/2006, Art. 3) an. Unter einem Nanomaterial wird eine „Substanz mit dem Status Nanopartikel“ definiert, die „absichtlich hergestellt wurde und Partikel in nanometergrosser Dimension, in ungebundenem Zustand, als Aggregat oder Agglomerat enthält. Dabei müssen mindestens 50 % der Nanopartikel in einer oder mehreren Dimensionen Grössenabmessungen von 1 bis 100 Nanometern aufweisen.“ In besonderen Fällen, in denen Gefahr für Umwelt, Gesundheit oder Sicherheit besteht oder eine Beeinträchtigung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit vorliegt, kann der Mindestwert des Anteils an der Größenverteilung auf 1 - 50 % gesenkt werden.

Das Dekret regelt, dass Modifikationen wie Fullerene, Graphen-Flocken und einwandige Kohlenstoff-Nanoröhrchen (analog zur Definition der EU-Kommission) ebenfalls unter diese Regelung fallen, wenn eine oder mehrere externe Dimensionen kleiner als ein Nanometer sind. Dabei spielt es keine Rolle, ob freie Nanomaterialien in einer Mischung enthalten oder in Komposite eingebunden sind. Entscheidend ist, ob sie bei Gebrauch freigesetzt werden könnten.



Der französische Alleingang im internationalen Kontext


Das Dekret aus Frankreich ist unserer Meinung nach besonders bedeutend, weil es erstmalig in Europa eine generelle Berichtspflicht für Nanomaterialien einführt. Keine andere Regelung in anderen Ländern oder auf EU-Ebene geht bislang so weit. 

Der Aquis Communautaire der EU führt bisher nur sektoriell, z. B. in der Kosmetikbranche, eine Deklarationspflicht für Konsumentenprodukte (ab 2013) ein. 

Die französische Nano-Verordnung regelt hingegen alle Nanomaterialien, unabhängig von ihrem Anwendungsfeld. 

Verglichen mit der Mengenregelung in der REACH-VO (Art. 23), die überschritten werden muss, um unter die Informationspflicht zu fallen (> 100 t/a bis 1. Juni 2013; > 1 t/a bis 2018), wurde hier die Schwelle für Nanomaterialien dramatisch gesenkt. Damit fallen auch bspw. Forschungslabors von Universitäten, die mit Kleinstmengen umgehen, unter die Deklarationspflicht. Die französische Regelung geht damit in einem wichtigen Punkt sehr viel weiter als die REACH-VO. Sollte das Beispiel aus Frankreich Schule machen, könnten restriktivere Bestimmungen auch in anderen Ländern oder auf internationaler Ebene folgen.


Bedeutung des „decret francais“ für die Versicherungswirtschaft


Die mannigfaltigen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Nanotechnologien bergen ein enormes wirtschaftliches Potenzial. Das Wissen über Umfang und Verteilungsketten von künstlich hergestellten Nanomaterialien ist jedoch nur begrenzt vorhanden. Konsumentenorganisationen und Politiker fordern deshalb seit langem eine verbesserte Information über Gefahrenpotenziale, Toxizität und Umweltgefährdung von Nanomaterialien. In vielen Ländern wird in diesem Zusammenhang ein Produktregister gefordert, das die Auflistung von Nanomaterialien verbindlich und transparent machen würde.

Für Behörden und Versicherer stellen die fehlenden Daten über Menge und Verbreitung von Nanomaterialien in Produkten und Prozessen erhebliche Probleme dar. Es ist derzeit unmöglich, die Verarbeitungs- und Handelswege von Nanomaterialien quantitativ und qualitativ nachzuvollziehen

In PHi 6/2011 hat Charly Kingdollar im Artikel „Kleine Teilchen – grosse Wirkung: Nanotechnologie“ ausgeführt, dass ein Ausbleiben bisheriger Schäden durch Nanomaterialien zwar erfreulich ist, dass dies jedoch keineswegs bedeute, dass Nanomaterialien generell unbedenklich seien. Kingdollar rief Versicherer zur Informationssammlung über die Nanomaterial-Verwendung ihrer Versicherten und zum Monitoring auf. Mithilfe dieser Daten solle dann das Expositions-Risiko für Arbeitnehmer und Konsumenten besser eingeschätzt werden können.


Fazit


Ob die Nanomaterial-Daten der französischen Behörden dereinst öffentlich zugänglich sein werden und welchen Nutzen sie für externe Stakeholder haben werden, ist momentan noch offen. Die regulatorischen „Zähne” des Dekrets sind zudem nicht sehr scharf. Bei einer Zuwiderhandlung gegen das Dekret droht lediglich eine Busse von EUR 3.000. Dennoch könnten Versicherer von der Regelung profitieren. Denn das französische Dekret wird viele Unternehmen und Forschungseinrichtungen zwingen, diese Daten zu erheben. Damit sind diese Informationen im Unternehmen verfügbar und stehen prinzipiell auch für Versicherer, z. B. bei Abschluss oder Erneuerung einer Police, zur Verfügung. Durch die gesetzliche Verankerung der Berichtspflicht könnte sich damit auch die Informationsgrundlage für Versicherer deutlich verbessern.

Quelle: Haftpflicht international - Recht und Versicherung 2012, Nr. 3: 92-93.

Aktuelle Ausgabe des PHI: Link

Weitere Informationen: info@innovationsgesellschaft.ch




Fonte: Die Innovationsgesellschaft

quinta-feira, 19 de julho de 2012

NanoSafety - Risk Governance of Manufactured Nanoparticles, Schlussbericht


 von Sascha Schwarzkopf

Im Rahmen des STOA-Programms (Bewertung Wissenschatlicher und Technologischer Optionen) des Europäischen Parlaments wurde kürzlich der Schlussbericht zum Projekt ´NanoSafety - Risk Governance of Manufactured Nanoparticles´ veröffentlicht. Der von Forschern am ITAS-KIT erstellte Report behandelt potentielle Umwelt-, Gesundheits-, und Sicherheitsrisiken (EHS) durch künstlich hergestellte Nanomaterialien (ENM).



Because of the great uncertainties regarding their actual health and environmental effects and numerous methodological challenges to established risk assessment procedures (toxicology, exposure and hazard assessments, life cycle assessment, analytics, and others), risk management of ENM is confronted with serious challenges. On the other hand, precautionary regulatory action with regard to ENM is demanded by a number of stakeholders and parts of the general public.

Regulation under uncertainty raises fundamental political questions of how lawmakers should regulate risk in the face of such uncertainty. To explore this issue in greater detail, the project focused on two important perspectives of regulation: Risk management strategies for ENM as discussed or proposed for the EU or its Member States, and risk communication problems and needs for EHS risks of ENM.

Findings of the project were discussed with MEPs in several workshops. In addition, the project used also a participatory method in order to investigate the risk communication expectations of the general public.



From the contents

1. Manufactured Particulate Nanomaterials (MPN) – Importance and Fundamentals of Risk Governance 14
1.1. On nanotechnology and nanomaterials 14
1.2. Nanoparticles and their applications – advantages and challenges 14
1.3. On definitions 21
1.4. On the risk management framework 25

2. Risk Assessment 34
2.1. Risk assessment of MPNs and its limitations 34
2.2. State of the art in nanotoxicology 35

3. Concern Assessment 46
3.1. Perceptions, expectations and concerns of the general public 46
3.2. Positions and concerns expressed by Stakeholders 53
3.3. Summary of positions 56




Der Schlussbericht ist hier verfügbar (Download Pdf; 2,5 MB)

Weitere Informationen: info@innovationsgesellschaft.ch




Fonte: Die Innovationsgesellschaft

ObservatoryNANO 2012 Schlussbericht veröffentlicht


von Sascha Schwarzkopf

Der Abschlussbericht ´Report on Regulation and Standard for Nanotechnologies´ des FP7-Projekts ´ObservatoryNANO´ - wurde kürzlich veröffentlicht. Der Report stellt Initiativen aus über 20 Ländern im Überblick zusammen. Dabei werden harte Regulierung, freiwillige Massnahmen, Standards und Internationale Kooperation zusammen.


The key lesson from the report: Promoting responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), using multistakeholder approaches and addressing EHS, ELSA and regulatory issues throughout the entire lifecycle of products.

The past 4 years, the duration of the ObservatoryNANO project, have seen the rise of a real momentum on the debate on nanotechnology governance. The situation is continuously evolving. Relevant activities have been undertaken to deepen and clarify EHS and ELSA issues, develop best practices, guidelines, standards, foster international cooperation. Improved implementation tools and specific requirements for nanotechnologies have been introduced in some regulatory regimes, and other are planned in the near future. 

A particular attention is given to “upstream” regulation (nanomaterials) and regulation of products coming into direct contact with humans or animals.

Also the attitude of stakeholders (research, industry, policy makers) has, generally speaking, changed, with an increased awareness about knowns as well as unknowns related to the safety of nanomaterials and  nano-related products.

Regulation can profoundly influence the path of the development of nanotechnology-related products and processes

Recommendations for future actions includes: facilitating multistakeholders approaches, setting a responsive and adaptive regulatory framework, with an appropriate balance between hard and soft regulation, continue the effort to foster international coordination and harmonization.
These are considered pivotal to pursue Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a driver for promoting competition and growth.
 

The report ´Developments in Nanotechnologies Regulation and Standards - 2012´ is here available. (download pdf; 1 MB)

Further Information: info@innovationsgesellschaft.ch




Fonte: Die Innovationsgesellschaft

Nobelpreisträger Botschafter von SimplyNano 1

Der Nobelpreisträger und Physiker Heinrich Rohrer ist seit Sommer 2012 Botschafter des Experimentierkoffers "SimplyNano 1". Der Koffer richtet sich an Lernende im 7. bis 10. Schuljahr und stellt einfach und eindrücklich Phänomene der Nanotechnologie vor. Sehen Sie das Interview mit Heinrich Rohrer im kürzlich veröffentlichten Video zum "SimplyNano 1"-Experimentierkoffer.

"SimplyNano 1"-Experimentierkoffer

Der neue Experimentierkoffer "SimplyNano 1" wurde von der SimplyScience Stiftung und der Innovationsgesellschaft, St.Gallen entwickelt. Er enthält fixfertige Unterrichts- und Lehrmaterialien, Chemikalien und Labormaterialien für 8 spannende Experimente aus der Welt der Nanotechnologie. Die Themen Nanodimension, Reaktivität von Nanopartikeln sowie Nano-Oberflächen werden anschaulich und einfach vorgestellt. Mit dem Koffer soll auf der Sekundarstufe 1 die Begeisterung und das Verständnis für naturwissenschaftlich-technische Themen gefördert werden.

Nobelpreisträger neuer Botschafter vom "SimplyNano 1"-Experimentierkoffer

Der Nobelpreisträger und Physiker Heinrich Rohrer ist seit Sommer 2012 Botschafter des Experimentierkoffers "SimplyNano 1". Heinrich Rohrer erhielt 1986 gemeinsam mit Gerd Binnig für die Entwicklung des Rastertunnelmikroskops den Nobelpreis für Physik. Das Rastertunnelmikroskop gehört wie auch das Rasterkraftmikroskop zur Familie der Rastersondenmikroskope. Diese ermöglichen die Darstellung und z. T. Manipulation von Strukturen auf der Nanometerskala.
Die Erfindung des Rastertunnelmikroskops legte den Grundstein für die moderne Nanoforschung und machte die Entwicklung der Nanotechnologie überhaupt möglich. Der "SimplyNano 1"-Experimentierkoffer enthält ein LEGO®-Model des Rasterkraftmikroskops. Dieses veranschaulicht auf einfache Art das Funktionsprinzip des Rasterkraftmikroskops. 

Video und Interview mit Heinrich Rohrer

Mehr zum Experimentierkoffer erfahren Sie im "SimplyNano 1"-Video. Dieses enthält auch ein Interview mit dem "SimplyNano-Botschafter" und Nobelpreisträger Heinrich Rohrer.


Link zum YouTube-Video: "SimplyNano 1"-Video
Link zur Projektseite: "SimplyNano 1"-Experimentierkoffer

Nanotechnology for a Sustainable Society: interview with Dr. Mihail C. Roco


(image source: www.nsf.gov)
For this first edition of the newsletter, I interviewed Dr. Mihail C. Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology at National Science Foundation. Dr. Roco is the founding chair of the National Science and Technology Council's subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET), and played a major role in developing the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Forbes magazine recognized him in 2003 as the first among “Nanotechnology’s Power Brokers” and Scientific American named him one of 2004’s top 50 Technology Leaders.

Shah
. Where does the field of nanotechnology stand in the current society?

Roco
. Over the last 10 to 12 years, nanotechnology has evolved from a curiosity in science to one of the most transformative technologies seen in modern times. Still in its infancy, nanotechnology has already shown its promise to society. In 2010 in the United States alone, we have more than $110 billion in product manufacturing incorporating nanotechnology as a key functional component. In several areas, nanotechnology has become a large part of the market. For example, around 60% of semiconductors and over 40% of manufactured catalysts have some form of nanotechnology involved. In addition, nanotechnology has become a main factor in discovery, innovation, and application. The technology has also shown a footprint in emerging research, with approximately 70% of energy-related proposals submitted to National Science Foundation having a basis in nanotechnology. The numbers are sig-nificant considering the variety of proposals and ideas.

Shah
. How do you foresee a balance in the application and implication aspects of nanotechnology?

Roco
. When talking of implication, it is important to consider which generation of nanotechnology is under discussion. Nanoparticles from the first generations were largely passive with new properties and functions but not changing during their use. In contrast, nanoparticles from the second generation change their behavior during use, and this could have significant health and safety implications. Such nanoparticles have a wide range of applications, from drug delivery, catalysts, and self-cleaning windows.
I believe that in the field of nanoparticle implications, it is important to develop a predictive approach to extrapolate the limited experiments available. New methods have to be developed in all aspects of the implications studies, as the existing methods are not fully applicable. We need to keep evaluating the human 
benefits from the nanotechnology and achieve the best investment possible—one having the least negative effect as much as possible. We have implemented at NSF and recommended for all NNI that, for large projects such as nano centers, one incorporates environmental health and safety, as well as ethical and legal aspects, from the early stages of research and development.

In addition, as a society, we need to develop capacity — a structural framework consisting of institutions, agencies, and organizations ready for the un-expected implications of nanotechnology. Through such a framework, we will be better prepared to combat any possible negative implications on human or environmental health, should it arise.


Shah
. How can nanotechnology make society more sustainable?

Roco
. Our desire to have a sustainable society is a main reason behind the growth of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology requires fewer amounts of material, water, and energy, and with the high degree of precision in nanomanufacturing, we are generating less pollution for the same functionality. I see the future trend in the production of nanoparticles will be to also become more sustainable.

SNO Newsletter
Vol 1, Issue 1.pdf
 
  
In the past, the topic of sustainable nanotechnology did not receive satisfactory attention because the benefits of nanotechnology were primarily in the advanced materials and electronics areas, where sustainability issues are generally not considered immediately. However, after 2005 there has been an increase in the applications of nanotechnology in energy and water sector, and more recently in climate change and biodiversity. We have also seen a spike in the development of nanotechnology in special minerals and materials. These areas are highly linked with sustainability.
I believe that nanotechnology has the potential to influence the wider economy and society and to provide the path for attaining a high degree of social sustainability.


Shah
. Looking back into the past, is there anything in the field of nanotechnology you wished would have happened differently?

Roco.
Over last 10 years, I have seen a wonderful evolution in the field where core ideas have evolved into transformative technologies around the world. Nanotechnology can be used as an example of the penetration of science and engineering in society. However, I wish to point out few things that have not yet materialized in the field. The tools for measurement, simulation and predictive concepts of nanomaterials and nanosystems are still under development. This has been one of the major hurdles in advancing the goal of building “materials and systems by design”. Another limitation has been in addressing the effects of nanotechnology on sustainability in a coordinated way. A challenge is under-standing how nanotechnology will influence the human society in longer term.

Nanotechnology will improve human health through molecular medicine, improve human capacity in learning, and catalyze the development of a sustainable society without wars. My personal wish is for a future where all the development is done in convergence with other technologies in serving human dimension.


Shah
. What is your message to the members of sustainable nanotechnology organization?

Roco
. I am happy that we now have an organization in the field of sustainable nanotechnology. There is a need for an organization that develops a capacity in the society for the future in wider nanotechnology related disciplines including education, legislative guidance, and infrastructure and instrumentation development amongst many. I wish sustainable nanotechnology organization and its members all the success.

(Telephone interview with Dr. Roco 
was conducted in June 2012 by Vishal Shah)

Fonte: Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO)

Nanotechnology comes to Egypt

Photographed by Reuters

The Zewail City of Science and Technology and the American University in Cairo have partnered to jointly establish the Center for Nanoelectronics and Devices, Egypt’s first stab at joining the global nanotechnology race.
Nanotechnology is an advanced field of study that allows matter to be manipulated and constructed atom-by-atom, granting scientists the ability to build devices one billionth of a meter at a time.
“With nanotechnology, the sky is the limit,” says Yehea Ismail, the director of the center, who was previously the director of the Nanoelectronics Center at Northwestern University in Chicago. “It allows for integrated technology,” or multiple electronic devices working in cohesion, “to be developed in an infinite amount of ways.”
Thus far, nanotechnology has allowed for a wide range of groundbreaking developments, from golf balls that fly straighter, to nanoparticles that deliver medicines to specific cells, to chips that significantly increase energy production efficiency, holding great potential for the future of solar energy.  
“It could also help solve a number of Egypt’s most pressing problems, from traffic to hepatitis C,” says Ismail.
The center is currently headquartered at both AUC and Zuweil City, with funding being shared by both institutions.
In terms of facilities, AUC has already designated a cleanroom — an extremely sterile room for scientific research — to the center that is worth around US$10 million, which is actually quite humble in comparison to the billions of dollars poured into the field globally.
Although nanotechnology manufacturing has a reputation for being an extremely expensive pursuit, Ismail says that there are ways around this.
“Even the USA and the UK don’t build the products with national funds; the design and research from universities is sold to commercial manufacturers,” he says. “The money is in the theory itself, which costs next to nothing to produce. [Nanotechnology] can actually produce money for Egypt, as well as put Egypt on the map as a nanotechnology research hub.”
A complete scientific team is currently being put together. Several personnel have already been hired, and research has just begun.
According to Ismail, a center of nanotechnology will also entice other acclaimed Egyptian scientists who traveled abroad, like himself, to return to their country. It will also allow for more opportunities to apply for research funding.
One of the first projects that the center will be working on will be in the development of biochips, which are like miniaturized laboratories that can be inserted into an individual to perform hundreds of thousands of simultaneous biochemical operations, like a miniature doctor.
The team will be working with Sir Magdi Yacoub, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Imperial College London.
Other research will look into developing advanced computer chips that can potentially be sold to companies like Intel, which Ismail is already affiliated with from previous work.
“Many more research projects will eventually be taken on as the center gets on its feet,” says Ismail.
The center will also be offering fellowships to students to allow them to capitalize on the state-of-the-art resources available.