Press release - 09/05/2023 New strategy for clinically relevant protein sequencing Proteins have characteristic amino acid sequences, the analysis of which is fundamental for research and medicine. These can be decoded; however, so-called protein sequencing is expensive and time-consuming. A large-scale research project led by Prof. Dr. Jan Behrends from the Institute of Physiology at the University of Freiburg now aims to establish a new technology for protein sequencing using nanopores, which will be rapid and cost-effective.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-strategy-clinically-relevant-protein-sequencing
Press release - 21/04/2023 New research building for engineering life-inspired molecular systems Heidelberg University is to acquire a research building to develop innovative engineering science strategies and technologies on the basis of life-inspired molecular systems. The German Science and Humanities Council has now expressed its backing for the idea with an outstanding rating. This recommendation is the crucial precondition for a new building on the university campus Im Neuenheimer Feld. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/new-research-building-engineering-life-inspired-molecular-systems
Press release - 31/08/2022 Using nanopores to detect epigenetic changes faster Changes known as epigenetic modifications play an important role in cancer development, among other things. Being able to analyze them quickly and reliably could, for example, contribute significantly to the further development of personalized therapy.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/using-nanopores-detect-epigenetic-changes-faster
Cluster of the future - 25/11/2021 nanodiagBW: using nanopores to create completely new diagnostic possibilities Modern medicine has a wide range of molecular diagnostics at hand. In the next decade, this will increasingly be supplemented by prognostic methods. The BMBF Cluster of the Future finalist, nanodiag BW, is developing prognostic methods to identify epigenetic factors for diseases through a new type of bioanalytics – single molecule analysis in nanopores – which would make it possible to take personalised prevention approaches.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nanodiagbw-using-nanopores-create-completely-new-diagnostic-possibilities
Article - 08/11/2019 Nanorobots as future minimally invasive tools for the eye It is difficult to place drugs in the right place in the eye. When using droplets, only a small fraction of the drug reaches its target. Injecting drugs into the eye is also more a matter of luck than judgement. Basic researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Stuttgart have developed a nanorobot that can be loaded with active ingredients for treating eye diseases and directed through the solid tissue of the vitreous body.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/Nanorobots-future-minimally-invasive-tools-for-eye
Article - 02/06/2016 DNA origami for decoding the language of biological cells Cells have their own language that they use to communicate with each other. They need this language to be able to form intact tissues and fulfil their specific functions in the body. If these signalling pathways are disrupted, metabolic processes will suffer and result in diseases. We know many “words” of the cellular language, i.e. signalling molecules that bind to specific surface receptors and thereby trigger chemical reactions inside the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dna-origami-for-decoding-the-language-of-biological-cells
Article - 17/11/2015 Novel hydrogels as functional materials In the ”NanoBioMater”project house, researchers from the University of Stuttgart are working to develop novel hydrogels with integrated biocompatible scaffold structures. Their aim is to make the materials suitable for producing innovative components for environmental and food analytics as well as medical applications. The hydrogels could potentially be used in diagnostic biosensors and the controlled release of medical compounds. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/novel-hydrogels-as-functional-materials
Article - 05/10/2015 Nanoparticles make eye drops more effective Drops are a common way of applying drugs for treating a wide of range of eye diseases. Most of us have used eye drops at least once in our lives, but we are not usually aware that even if the drops are applied correctly, only one percent of the drug reaches the eye. The rest is flushed out by eyelid movement or with tear fluid. So very high drug concentrations are needed, and the downside of this is that it can cause substantial adverse effects.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nanoparticles-make-eye-drops-more-effective
Article - 21/09/2015 Hans-Peter Deigner: "Optimisation of lateral flow assays using nanoparticles." Nanoparticles are already used in many materials and areas, ranging from textiles to scientific and medical research. The global scientific community is keenly interested in nanoparticle research and Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Deigner, professor in the Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences (HFU) is no exception. Deigner works on optimising nanoparticles for application in lateral flow assays. As well as…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/hans-peter-deigner-optimisation-of-lateral-flow-assays-using-nanoparticles
Article - 22/04/2014 Synthetic nanoparticles as mini-pills for the treatment of tumours Little is yet known about the risks and dangers of the tiny particles that play a key role in the field of nanotechnology because many applications are still under development. The technology is therefore not without controversy. However, there are promising possibilities for equipping artificial particles with new functions, such as optimizing the targeted delivery of drugs in the human body or developing a non-invasive type of cancer therapy.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/synthetic-nanoparticles-as-mini-pills-for-the-treatment-of-tumours
Article - 07/04/2014 Christina Wege: from plant viruses to biomaterials Plant viruses can be engineered in many ways for use by and in humans. Amongst other things, they can be used as scaffold structures for bioactive molecules, which might help improve implants. Prof. Dr. Christina Wege from the University of Stuttgart is studying these and many more options for the use of harmless viruses for human application. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/christina-wege-from-plant-viruses-to-biomaterials
Article - 24/05/2013 Nanotechnology in Ulm goes into application: a sensor for the life sciences Life scientists use rather bulky measurement devices to study sensitive cells. Huge pipettes or cannulas are pushed into ultra-tiny structures such as cell membranes or cytoplasm in order to measure complex processes or reactions inside cells. Rough treatment of this kind can damage cells and affect measurement results in ways that are difficult to quantify. The materials scientist Steffen Strehle from Ulm University has plans to begin…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nanotechnology-in-ulm-goes-into-application-a-sensor-for-the-life-sciences
Article - 04/05/2013 Ionera – measuring tiny ion currents The identification and characterisation of individual DNA and protein molecules is gaining in importance. A method developed by Dr. Gerhard Baaken and Prof. Dr. Jan C. Behrends at the University of Freiburg has the potential to be used by scientists to analyse a large number of single molecules automatically using nanopores. The MECA (microelectrode cavity array) technology can be adapted to a broad range of different applications. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/ionera-measuring-tiny-ion-currents
Article - 04/03/2013 Nano-design inspired by nature enables cells to interact with implants Eye implants that communicate with living cells have the potential to spare many patients from having to undergo further eye surgery or laser treatment. However, Christian Lingenfelder, managing director of Dornstadt-based Alamedics, believes that it will take at least five to seven years for the idea to become reality and a medical product placed on the market. Alamedics, which was founded in 2012, has already made an important initial step in…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/nano-design-inspired-by-nature-enables-cells-to-interact-with-implants
Article - 04/03/2013 TellTargeting Medical GmbH – targeted chemotherapy using CARL® The needs of cancer patients are clear chemotherapies that are as gentle as possible associated with minimal adverse effects and have a rapid effect. This is often difficult to achieve because the drug that stops tumour growth needs to remain in the body for a certain amount of time during which time it damages cancerous as well as healthy structures. Dr. Gerhard Pütz and Dr. Jürgen Eckes founded the company TellTargeting Medical GmbH Co. KG…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/telltargeting-medical-gmbh-targeted-chemotherapy-using-carl
Article - 17/12/2012 Stefan Schiller – understanding and copying complex molecule systems Dr. Stefan Schiller from the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry at the University of Freiburg became interested in the diversity of molecular possibilities in nature as a student and is now a specialist in bionic chemistry and synthetic nanobiotechnology. Amongst other things his work involves the construction of complex protein machines that transfer signals protein networks for use in medicine and drug shuttles that enable the targeted…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/stefan-schiller-understanding-and-copying-complex-molecule-systems
Article - 17/09/2012 Thomas Paulöhrl: spatially and temporally controlled light-induced reactions Thomas Paulöhrl, polymer chemist from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), was awarded the 2012 Lanxess Talent Award for his achievements in further developing light-induced click strategies that can now be used for generating various surface structures and three-dimensional frameworks. His Ph.D. thesis not only provides the basis for new ways to efficiently modify material, it also opens up new research opportunities in medical drug…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/thomas-pauloehrl-spatially-and-temporally-controlled-light-induced-reactions
Article - 17/09/2012 Alexander Wittemann: polymeric nanostructures as carriers of biomolecules Vesicles form naturally in cells and can do many things including transporting pharmaceutically active substances to tumours. However natural vesicles only have a short lifespan which can lead to the premature release of the drug enclosed within them. Alexander Wittemann a chemist at Konstanz University has successfully developed artificial biocompatible polymer vesicles with a much longer lifespan. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/alexander-wittemann-polymeric-nanostructures-as-carriers-of-biomolecules
Article - 10/09/2012 Osamu Tabata – DNA origami for assembling nanomachines Cells, receptor proteins, enzymes and DNA have outstanding properties. The question is, can they also be used as building blocks in computer processors, sensor systems and other micromachines in next generation microelectronics? In cooperation with his research group at the University of Kyoto and his partners in Freiburg, Prof. Dr. Osamu Tabata, microengineer and External Senior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) is…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/osamu-tabata-dna-origami-for-assembling-nanomachines
Article - 29/05/2012 Isabelle Seemann: DNA as building block for nanostructures Since the emergence of nanotechnology in the 1980s DNA has been used as a construction material in many areas. Wires grids and nanorobots can all be produced from this versatile material. Isabelle Seemann scientist at the University of Konstanz works with a particular DNA constellation known as three-way DNA junction. Seemanns findings are of great importance for different areas of knowledge including the material sciences analytics and…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/isabelle-seemann-dna-as-building-block-for-nanostructures
Press release - 22/05/2012 Risk assessment of nano-materials Nano-particles (Greek: nanos = dwarf) are now being used to create fascinating products with totally new functionalities. These include textiles from which dirt simply runs off or which have an anti-bacterial effect. But as is the case with every new technology, this one must also be safe to use. It is therefore of interest to both manufacturers and users of such high-tech products that nano-particles are harmless for both human beings and the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/risk-assessment-of-nano-materials
Dossier - 26/03/2012 Nanobiotechnology The term nanotechnology is known by well over 50 of Germans especially since the lotus effect hit the headlines in the late 1990s. Around the turn of the millennium bio was inserted between nano and technology and nanobiotechnology has since taken up more and more room in the headlines as well as requiring major financial investment. What is nanobiotechnology what is the difference between nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology and where and what…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/nanobiotechnology
Article - 13/02/2012 Suzanne Kadereit: assessing nanotoxicity using stem cells Nanotoxicity has become the subject of concern because of increasing toxic effects of nanomaterials on living organisms. However such effects are difficult to detect in people. In an interview with BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg Dr. Susanne Kadereit biologist at the University of Konstanz reports about her work involving the development of a human in-vitro system that enables the more effective assessment of the toxicity of nanoparticles.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/suzanne-kadereit-assessing-nanotoxicity-using-stem-cells
Dossier - 04/07/2011 Implants of the future: bioactive, corrosion-resistant and antibacterial People’s life expectancy is increasing due to constantly improving medical treatment. One result of this is the greater wear of joints, which then need to be replaced with implants. Increased life expectancy means that the implants remain in the body for much longer and therefore need to be longer lasting. The revision rate of implant materials used in clinical practice is still as much as 10 per cent, particularly in the case of hip and knee…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/implants-of-the-future-bioactive-corrosion-resistant-and-antibacterial
Press release - 04/04/2011 Nanomaterials trap cancer cells An international team of researchers led by Dr. Rutledge Ellis-Behnke, Director of the “Nanomedicine Translational Think Tank” at the Mannheim Medical Faculty at Universität Heidelberg, has developed a method that has the potential to prevent cancer stem cells from dividing and metastasising. The trick is to use nanomaterials that trap cancer stem cells.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/nanomaterials-trap-cancer-cells