Navigation Links
Life, but not as we know it?
Date:5/28/2008

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have taken some important first steps to creating a synthetic copycat of a living cell, a leading science journal reports.

Dr Cameron Alexander and PhD student George Pasparakis in the University's School of Pharmacy have used polymers long-chain molecules to construct capsule-like structures that have properties mimicking the surfaces of a real cell.

In work published as a 'VIP paper' in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, they show how in the laboratory they have been able to encourage the capsules to 'talk' to natural bacteria cells and transfer molecular information.

The breakthrough could have a number of potential medical uses. Among them could be the development of new targeted drug delivery systems, where the capsules would be used to carry drug molecules to attack specific diseased cells in the body, while leaving healthy cells intact, thereby reducing the number of side affects that can be associated with treatments for life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.

The technology could also be used as an anti-microbial agent, allowing doctors to destroy harmful bacteria, without attacking other health-promoting bacteria in the body, which could offer a new weapon in the fight against superbugs.

Dr Cameron Alexander said: These are very primitive steps in the lab, and still a long way from a true synthetic counterpart to a biological cell, but we have demonstrated that we can transfer certain molecules from inside the synthetic capsule to the bacteria when they are in physical contact, which is an exciting development.

It's extremely early stages, but it's a move closer to the big experiment when we can one day ask whether a natural cell can think a synthetic cell is one of its own.

The work has been funded through the IDEAS Factory programme run by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which aims to promo
'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Cameron Alexander
cameron.alexander@nottingham.ac.uk
44-011-584-67678
University of Nottingham
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Comet probes reveal evidence of origin of life, scientists claim
2. Massive dinosaur discovered in Antarctica sheds light on life, distribution of sauropodomorphs
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:12/15/2009)... The mouse is a standard laboratory model organism, ... conventional techniques to analyze blood and blood-forming tissues ... of compact and easy-to-use laboratory resources from Cold ... Mouse Hematology features step-by-step protocols for ... blood, bone marrow, and other hematopoietic tissues in ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... molecule in a freeze-tolerant Alaska beetle able to survive ... described biological antifreezes that contain protein, this new molecule, ... composed of a sugar and a fatty acid and ... organisms. , "The most exciting part of this ... kind of antifreeze that may work in a different ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... most comprehensive study to date of the proteins in ... provide important clues to how similar regeneration could be ... of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and colleagues ... of axolotls, a type of salamander that has the ... of amputation, with the hope that this knowledge will ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New source of classical techniques for blood-based studies in the laboratory mouse 2Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle 2IUPUI researchers tackle protein mechanisms behind limb regeneration 2CPC Strengthens Foundation as a Closure Products Company with its Vertically Integrated Product Pipeline 48279 1CPC Strengthens Foundation as a Closure Products Company with its Vertically Integrated Product Pipeline 48279 2CPC Strengthens Foundation as a Closure Products Company with its Vertically Integrated Product Pipeline 48279 3CPC Strengthens Foundation as a Closure Products Company with its Vertically Integrated Product Pipeline 48279 4The Worlds Smallest Hero 21 Rexin G Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Cancers 12540 1The Worlds Smallest Hero 21 Rexin G Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Cancers 12540 2Computers Causing Injuries in the Home 48275 1Computers Causing Injuries in the Home 48275 2Computers Causing Injuries in the Home 48275 3
... created technology to regrow teeth--the first time scientists have ... low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), Dr. Tarak El-Bialy from the ... and Dr. Ying Tsui from the Faculty of Engineering ... and novel way to stimulate jaw growth and dental ...
... be blocked by pain medications such as Advil and ... understood, a Queen's University study has found. , "The ... we classify the commonly used anti-inflammatory and pain drugs ... professor of Biochemistry and Physiology at Queen's and Canada ...
... Noel Dahl and Mohammad F. Islam have made a ... disease that accelerates the aging process by about seven ... of chemical and biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, said ... of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the John ...
Other Biology News:Ultrasound may help regrow teeth 2New understanding of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes could revise classification of pain meds 2Carnegie Mellon researchers discover new cell properties 2
(Date:12/16/2009)... supplement? InVitria has what scientists have been asking for! Zap-CHO ... the growth and productivity of CHO cells. Developed for scientists ... free, well defined and consistent recombinant CHO supplement. , ... ... 2009 -- Scientists working with CHO cells can now access ...
(Date:12/16/2009)... introduces HSP-A Soy Peptone. HSP A has been found to ... ... (PRWEB) December 16, 2009 -- Nu-Tek BioSciences, LLC. ( www.nu-tekproducts.com ... Soy Peptone. HSP-A, previously manufactured by Nutricepts, Inc. (Burnsville, Mn), ... improve growth rates and yields. HSP-A has been found to ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Dec. 15 Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation, an ... medicine, gained international validation of the cutting-edge science ... when scientists around the world rediscovered the ... locus of cancer pathogenesis and disease progression, and ... scientists at the NIH National Cancer Institute investigating ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN ) today announced ... funding to support the ongoing development of new ... Association (MDA). This grant will support the ... manufacture of a drug candidate for human clinical ... provides important funding for Repligen,s research but it ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Online Video of InVitria's Zap-CHO Helps Scientists Maximize CHO Cell Culture Performance 2Scientists Rediscover Gene Target for Cancer Therapy 2Scientists Rediscover Gene Target for Cancer Therapy 3Repligen Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Support Friedreich's Ataxia Preclinical Development Program 2Repligen Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Support Friedreich's Ataxia Preclinical Development Program 3
... German . , In this information age, ... and technology. A team of German and Italian researchers ... storage domains". As the scientists, led by Massimiliano Cavallini ... and Mario Ruben at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Germany), report ...
... Pa., Oct. 27 BioTrends Research Group, Inc.,released ... from 204 Nephrologists and 201 Renal Dietitians in ... of the management of dialysis,patients, particularly in their ... Vitamin D, and Calcimimetic agents., In the ...
... Jersey, October 27, Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (Nasdaq: ROSG ... and therapeutics, today,announced that Credit Suisse, as part ... Attorney General of the State of New York ... has begun to,repurchase Rosetta Genomics ARS. So far, ...
Other Biology Technology:Progress toward new storage media 2BioTrends Releases TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology and Renal Dietitians, Two Syndicated Reports Providing Continuing Insight into the Management of Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism 2BioTrends Releases TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology and Renal Dietitians, Two Syndicated Reports Providing Continuing Insight into the Management of Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism 3Credit Suisse Repurchases Auction Rate Securities (ARS) From Rosetta Genomics 2Credit Suisse Repurchases Auction Rate Securities (ARS) From Rosetta Genomics 3
... 48 lanes, 24 bi-directional, of patient DNA ... either slab gel or capillary sequencers, using ... parameters in Explorer have been sealed to ... have built Explorer for ease of use, ...
... Quality ISO 9001:2000 Certified USDA Research ... Validated, SOP's Training AALAS Certified ... All Procedures GLP Documentation Upon Request ... shopping point for all your custom immunology ...
...
Peptide-affinity Purified Polyclonal Antibody to Sphingolipid Receptor Edg8/S1P5...
Biology Products: