Post by Boss Lady on Jul 12, 2010 11:50:13 GMT 1
Scientists control worms with nanoparticles, next step 'whole animal'
* By Peter Farquhar, Technology Editor
* From: news.com.au
* July 10, 2010 8:28AM
* Nanoparticles in worms' mouths
* Heated up magnetically
* Make worms "go back and forth"
PHYSICISTS at the University of Buffalo in the US have discovered a way to remotely control animal behaviour.
By introducing clusters of magnetic nanoparticles into the cell membranes of tiny worms, researchers then showed they could control the worms' movements.
A video of the worms shows them crawling around, before researchers turn on a magnetic field which heated the nanoparticles up, forcing the worms to change direction.
"We could use this method to make them go back and forth," assistant professor of physics Arnd Pralle said.
"Now we need to find out which other behaviours can be controlled this way."
Prof Pralle said the worms reacted once the nanoparticle temperatures reached 34C, which is nature's own threshold for provoking an avoidance response.
In a paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, he said staff developed a tool to heat the nanoparticles in the cell membrane only, as heating the cell itself would kill it.
Being able to heat it to an exact temperature was also due to the researchers' development of a "nanoscale thermometer" using fluorescent light.
He said the next step was to adapt the technology to a "whole animal" approach, which could lead to "innovative new pharmaceuticals".
However, the university's research has drawn comment from detractors claiming it's a dangerous step towards giving "nanobots" the capacity to control the minds of humans.
Prof Pralle says the true value in the findings lay in its potential to manipulate specific cells, which could lead to innovative new cancer treatment techniques or diabetes therapies.
The nanoparticles could be sent to target and kill specific cells, or used to control insulin release.
Wired.com posed the question as to where the nanoparticles could used on the human body to control it in a similar way to the worms.
It claims the same recoil response was evident in fingers, causing them to "jump back when we touch something too hot".
"But little is known about other places where this happens in the body," it said.
Read more: www.news.com.au/technology/scientists-control-worms-with-nanoparticles-next-step-whole-animal/story-e6frfro0-1225890092119#ixzz0tSps70M4
* By Peter Farquhar, Technology Editor
* From: news.com.au
* July 10, 2010 8:28AM
* Nanoparticles in worms' mouths
* Heated up magnetically
* Make worms "go back and forth"
PHYSICISTS at the University of Buffalo in the US have discovered a way to remotely control animal behaviour.
By introducing clusters of magnetic nanoparticles into the cell membranes of tiny worms, researchers then showed they could control the worms' movements.
A video of the worms shows them crawling around, before researchers turn on a magnetic field which heated the nanoparticles up, forcing the worms to change direction.
"We could use this method to make them go back and forth," assistant professor of physics Arnd Pralle said.
"Now we need to find out which other behaviours can be controlled this way."
Prof Pralle said the worms reacted once the nanoparticle temperatures reached 34C, which is nature's own threshold for provoking an avoidance response.
In a paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, he said staff developed a tool to heat the nanoparticles in the cell membrane only, as heating the cell itself would kill it.
Being able to heat it to an exact temperature was also due to the researchers' development of a "nanoscale thermometer" using fluorescent light.
He said the next step was to adapt the technology to a "whole animal" approach, which could lead to "innovative new pharmaceuticals".
However, the university's research has drawn comment from detractors claiming it's a dangerous step towards giving "nanobots" the capacity to control the minds of humans.
Prof Pralle says the true value in the findings lay in its potential to manipulate specific cells, which could lead to innovative new cancer treatment techniques or diabetes therapies.
The nanoparticles could be sent to target and kill specific cells, or used to control insulin release.
Wired.com posed the question as to where the nanoparticles could used on the human body to control it in a similar way to the worms.
It claims the same recoil response was evident in fingers, causing them to "jump back when we touch something too hot".
"But little is known about other places where this happens in the body," it said.
Read more: www.news.com.au/technology/scientists-control-worms-with-nanoparticles-next-step-whole-animal/story-e6frfro0-1225890092119#ixzz0tSps70M4