News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

A research team led by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital has developed a new approach called nano-radiomics that uses complex analyses of imaging data to assess changes in the tumor microenvironment that cannot be detected with conventional imaging methods. Nano-radiomics combines imaging technology using a nanoparticle contrast agent, with radiomics for computational mining of 3D imaging data. This approach provides the promise of a new noninvasive means to enhance current imaging methods in measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of cellular immunotherapies designed to specifically target the tumor microenvironment.

A research team led by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital has developed a new approach called nano-radiomics that uses complex analyses of imaging data to assess changes in the tumor microenvironment that cannot be detected with conventional imaging methods. Nano-radiomics combines imaging technology using a nanoparticle contrast agent, with radiomics for computational mining of 3D imaging data. This approach provides the promise of a new noninvasive means to enhance current imaging methods in measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of cellular immunotherapies designed to specifically target the tumor microenvironment.

Using techniques similar to those employed to develop laser-induced graphene, chemists at Rice University have turned adhesive tape into a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. The researchers used an infrared laser cutter to convert the silicone-based adhesive of commercial tape into the porous silicon oxide coating, mixed with a small amount of laser-induced graphene from the tape's polyimide backing. The protective silicon oxide layer forms directly on the current collector of the battery.

Using techniques similar to those employed to develop laser-induced graphene, chemists at Rice University have turned adhesive tape into a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. The researchers used an infrared laser cutter to convert the silicone-based adhesive of commercial tape into the porous silicon oxide coating, mixed with a small amount of laser-induced graphene from the tape's polyimide backing. The protective silicon oxide layer forms directly on the current collector of the battery.

Researchers at Columbia Engineering and Montana State University have found that placing sufficient strain in a two-dimensional material – tungsten diselenide – creates localized states that can yield single-photon emitters. Using sophisticated optical microscopy techniques, the team was able to directly image these states for the first time, revealing that even at room temperature, they are highly tunable and act as quantum dots – tightly confined pieces of semiconductors that emit light.

Researchers at Columbia Engineering and Montana State University have found that placing sufficient strain in a two-dimensional material – tungsten diselenide – creates localized states that can yield single-photon emitters. Using sophisticated optical microscopy techniques, the team was able to directly image these states for the first time, revealing that even at room temperature, they are highly tunable and act as quantum dots – tightly confined pieces of semiconductors that emit light.

Researchers at Northwestern University have synthesized a new form of melanin enriched with selenium. Called selenomelanin, this new material shows extraordinary promise as a shield for human tissue against harmful radiation. The researchers synthesized selenomelanin nanoparticles and used them to treat living cells. For comparison, they also prepared cells treated with synthetic pheomelanin and eumelanin, as well as cells with no protective melanin. After receiving a dose of radiation that would be lethal to a human being, only the cells treated with selenomelanin nanoparticles exhibited a normal cell cycle.

Researchers at Northwestern University have synthesized a new form of melanin enriched with selenium. Called selenomelanin, this new material shows extraordinary promise as a shield for human tissue against harmful radiation. The researchers synthesized selenomelanin nanoparticles and used them to treat living cells. For comparison, they also prepared cells treated with synthetic pheomelanin and eumelanin, as well as cells with no protective melanin. After receiving a dose of radiation that would be lethal to a human being, only the cells treated with selenomelanin nanoparticles exhibited a normal cell cycle.

Researchers at Penn State have developed nanoparticles that can inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors in mice. Attached to these nanoparticles are microRNA molecules which, when paired to messenger RNA molecules, prevent them from operating. In this case, the microRNA prohibits the messenger RNA in a cancer cell from creating proteins, which are essential for that cancer cell to survive, and, eventually, the cancer cell dies.

Researchers at Penn State have developed nanoparticles that can inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors in mice. Attached to these nanoparticles are microRNA molecules which, when paired to messenger RNA molecules, prevent them from operating. In this case, the microRNA prohibits the messenger RNA in a cancer cell from creating proteins, which are essential for that cancer cell to survive, and, eventually, the cancer cell dies.