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

Percutaneous coronary intervention, commonly known as angioplasty with a stent, opens clogged arteries and saves lives. Despite its benefit in treating atherosclerosis, this procedure still poses severe complications for some patients. Focused on tackling this treatment complication, researchers at the University of South Florida Health have recently developed a next-generation nanotherapy that consists of a nontoxic peptide and a synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA). The peptide and the mRNA spontaneously self-assemble into compacted nanoparticles that specifically target the injured regions of the arteries in mouse models mimicking angioplasty. The nanoparticles can also contain a microRNA switch, which can be added to the mRNA. The nanoparticles were injected into mice with arteries mimicking post-angioplasty vessel injury every three days for two weeks. Mice treated with the nanoparticles containing the microRNA switch completely restored endothelial cell growth in the injured artery, compared to animals treated with nanoparticles containing mRNA without the microRNA switch.

Percutaneous coronary intervention, commonly known as angioplasty with a stent, opens clogged arteries and saves lives. Despite its benefit in treating atherosclerosis, this procedure still poses severe complications for some patients. Focused on tackling this treatment complication, researchers at the University of South Florida Health have recently developed a next-generation nanotherapy that consists of a nontoxic peptide and a synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA). The peptide and the mRNA spontaneously self-assemble into compacted nanoparticles that specifically target the injured regions of the arteries in mouse models mimicking angioplasty. The nanoparticles can also contain a microRNA switch, which can be added to the mRNA. The nanoparticles were injected into mice with arteries mimicking post-angioplasty vessel injury every three days for two weeks. Mice treated with the nanoparticles containing the microRNA switch completely restored endothelial cell growth in the injured artery, compared to animals treated with nanoparticles containing mRNA without the microRNA switch.

Rice University researchers have created a "defective" nanoparticle-based catalyst that simplifies the generation of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen. The process shows promise to replace the complex anthraquinone-based production method that requires expensive catalysts and generates toxic organic byproducts and large amounts of wastewater. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a disinfectant, as well as in wastewater treatment, in the paper and pulp industries and for chemical oxidation.

Rice University researchers have created a "defective" nanoparticle-based catalyst that simplifies the generation of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen. The process shows promise to replace the complex anthraquinone-based production method that requires expensive catalysts and generates toxic organic byproducts and large amounts of wastewater. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a disinfectant, as well as in wastewater treatment, in the paper and pulp industries and for chemical oxidation.

Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara have developed the first 3D-printable "bottlebrush" elastomer. The new material results in printed objects that have unusual softness and elasticity – mechanical properties that closely resemble those of human tissue. The key discovery involves the self-assembly of bottlebrush polymers (which have additional polymers attached to the linear backbone) at the nanometer length scale, which causes a solid-to-liquid transition in response to applied pressure.

Researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara have developed the first 3D-printable "bottlebrush" elastomer. The new material results in printed objects that have unusual softness and elasticity – mechanical properties that closely resemble those of human tissue. The key discovery involves the self-assembly of bottlebrush polymers (which have additional polymers attached to the linear backbone) at the nanometer length scale, which causes a solid-to-liquid transition in response to applied pressure.

Researchers at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute have created the exact replica of a bone by using a system that pairs biothermal imaging with a heated "nano-chisel." The researchers sculpted, in a biocompatible material, the exact structure of the bone tissue, with features as small as a few nanometers. They used a nanofabrication method that takes a "photograph" of the bone tissue and then uses the photograph to produce a bona fide replica of it.

Researchers at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering and the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute have created the exact replica of a bone by using a system that pairs biothermal imaging with a heated "nano-chisel." The researchers sculpted, in a biocompatible material, the exact structure of the bone tissue, with features as small as a few nanometers. They used a nanofabrication method that takes a "photograph" of the bone tissue and then uses the photograph to produce a bona fide replica of it.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have shown that a new nanoparticle-based drug can boost the body's innate immune system and can make it more effective at fighting off tumors. This study is the first to successfully target the immune molecule STING with nanoparticles that can switch on and off immune activity in response to their physiological environment.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have shown that a new nanoparticle-based drug can boost the body's innate immune system and can make it more effective at fighting off tumors. This study is the first to successfully target the immune molecule STING with nanoparticles that can switch on and off immune activity in response to their physiological environment.