ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: June 6, 2007

• Scientists eye nanoparticles as glaucoma treatment
• Better nutritional and safety profiles for genetically modified crops
• Ultralong nanobelts for wiring nanoelectric devices
• Milk does not reduce healthful effects of black tea
• Fake money? Not if you see the twinkle in Alexander Hamilton’s eye

Nanoparticles of a material used to polish glass and as a catalyst to remove grime in the walls of self-cleaning ovens shows great promise as a potential treatment for glaucoma, an eye disease that affects millions of people worldwide, new research has found. In a study scheduled for the June 28 issue of ACS’s Journal of Physical Chemistry B, a weekly publication, Sudipta Seal and Sanku Mallik describe early laboratory tests of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) as drug delivery vehicles.

Mallik and Seal note that barely 1-3 percent of existing glaucoma medicines penetrate into the eye, whereas experiments by other groups have shown high penetration rates for nanoparticles without undue patient discomfort from scratching. They combined nanoceria with a compound that blocks activity of an enzyme (hCAII) believed to play a central role in glaucoma. That disease involves abnormally high pressure of the fluid inside the eye, which, if left untreated, can result in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. High pressure occurs, in part, because of a buildup of carbon dioxide inside the eye, and the compound blocks an enzyme that produces carbon dioxide.

“These results are very promising, and more studies will likely evolve into an inhibition of hCAII in living cells and an effective treatment for glaucoma and other diseases,” their report states. “Furthermore, inhibitors for other pathogenic enzymes can be immobilized on the nanoceria and applied to the enzymes. The potential applications for functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles seem limitless as a potential nontoxic drug delivery tool.”

Back to Top

In the realm of nanotechnology, where sizes are measured in billionths of a meter and one inch packs 25,400,000 nanometers, linking nanoscale units into structures 100 microns long (the width of a human hair) seems like a world-class achievement. Scientists in Illinois now are reporting for the first time the fabrication of “ultralong nanobelts” that are about a millimeter long. Only about 25 of such nanobelts, laid end to end, would equal an inch.

In a report scheduled for the June 20 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a weekly publication, Ling Zang and colleagues say that the feat will enable easier construction of integrated nanoelectronic devices, which usually require “long” lengths of wire to connect electrodes and other electronic components. Made from an electrically conductive material widely used in certain electronic devices, the nanobelts would be well suited as wires.

The report describes development of a new self-assembly process, in which one form of the material spontaneously links together to form long nanobelts of uniform size. With their length and ability to carry electric current, the nanobelts appear to be ideal for a broad range of electronic applications, the report states.

Back to Top

The store clerk hands over a $10 bill with your change, and the paper feels a little odd. Is it is among the $65 million in fake U.S. currency passed worldwide each year? Just squeeze the edges. If Alexander Hamilton’s eyes light up, you’ve got the genuine item.

New security features like that may, indeed, be on the horizon, as the U.S. Treasury Department calls upon materials scientists to help produce a new generation of paper money to thwart counterfeiters, according to an article scheduled for the June 11 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS’ weekly newsmagazine. The article, written by C&EN Senior Editor Sophie L. Rovner, describes a wide range of possible security innovations that could be incorporated into banknotes of the future.

Plastic, for instance, could replace paper for low-denomination banknotes that counterfeiters sometimes bleach and reprint with a higher denomination. Banknotes could become interactive, with security features that respond when squeezed or connected to an electric current. Rovner points out that technology already exists for having Hamilton and others pictured on banknotes verify a banknote’s authenticity with a twinkle of the eye.

Back to Top

• General Chemistry Glossary
  The General Chemistry Glossary is an online resource that can help you to find definitions to common—and uncommon—chemical terms.
• ACS Updates
  Hot research that can be a treasure trove for journalists seeking news and feature topics, or trying to keep current in rapidly-evolving scientific disciplines.
  
  Forensic Science
  Concise summaries of articles on forensic science published from 2005-2006 in a dozen major journals, courtesy of ACS’ Analytical Chemistry.
  
  Summaries
  
  Download PDF
  
  Emerging Water Contaminants
  Summaries of key research articles on water analysis and emerging contaminants published mainly from 2005-2006.
  
  Summaries
  
  Download PDF
• 60-Second Science: ACS Audio Clips
  Listen to Science news podcasts from the American Chemical Society.

Back to Top

• News, features, background, sources from ACS National Meeting
  News media resources from the March 25-29 meeting in Chicago include more than 9,000 abstracts of technical presentations and more than 1,000 non-technical summaries in a searchable database, plus press releases, podcasts and other materials. If you are researching or sourcing stories on chemistry-related topics, this resource can be a treasure trove accessible at:
• Green Goals for the Pharmaceutical Industry
  The ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable has developed a list of priority research areas where “green” alternatives to conventional reactions are needed to develop medications with minimal impact on the environment. Their review paper, describes and prioritizes research needs. It can be a valuable resource for journalists writing about green chemistry. Although the paper focuses on pharmaceuticals, it includes reactions and processes used by the broader chemical enterprise.
  
  Review Paper
• Summer Features
  Beach sand may harbor disease-causing E. coli bacteria
  
  Download PDF
  
  Fireworks displays linked to perchlorate contamination in lakes
  
  Download PDF

Back to Top

• 11th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference
  This pioneering conference on one of the hottest topics in chemistry will be held June 26-29, 2007 at the Capital Hilton hotel in Washington, DC.
• 234th ACS National Meeting, August 19-23 Boston, MA
  News media registration is now open for the 234th ACS national meeting, which will be held in Boston, MA on August 19-23, 2007 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and more than a dozen hotels across the city. More than 16,000 scientists and others are expected to attend this scientific extravaganza. There will be more than 9,500 presentations on new discoveries in chemistry, health, medicine, energy, environment, food, and other fields. The theme: “Biotechnology for Health and Wellness.”

Back to Top