Triggered release of therapeutic antibodies from nanodiamond complexes

Recent reports have revealed that detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) can serve as efficient, biocompatible, and versatile drug delivery platforms. Consequently, further investigations exploring additional therapeutic applications are warranted. Current limitations associated with the non-specific nature of intravenous drugs limit the potential of certain pharmacological agents. One such treatment that could benefit from a stable delivery platform is antibody (Ab) therapy. Determination of Ab adsorption and desorption to a ND surface was subsequently examined using the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) antibody as a model therapeutic. ND-Ab complexes were found to be stable in water through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM, with no Ab released after ten days. Released Abs were detected in extreme pH solutions (3.5), DMEM (+) serum with pH levels ranging from 4 to 10.5, and inorganic saline solutions. Preserved activity of Abs released in DMEM (+) serum was confirmed using an ELISA. These results suggest ND-Ab complexes are synthesized and stabilized in water and are triggered to release active Abs upon exposure to physiological conditions.     

The influence of the concealed pollution sources upon the indoor air quality in houses

This report presents the results of investigations on the indoor air quality of common Japanese detached houses. It is necessary to control the emission rates from the interior materials and the ventilation rates to keep indoor concentration of VOC enough low. And it is also necessary to consider the influence of the pollution sources in the concealed spaces for better indoor air quality in some kinds of building structures and some kinds of ventilation systems. In this study the influences of the concealed pollution sources upon the indoor concentrations of pollutants were investigated using three detached houses with four ventilation systems and the following results were obtained. When the ventilation system was changed from the air-supply type to the air-exhaust type, the indoor concentrations of formaldehyde increased. The infiltration ratios: the ratios of the infiltration rate to the indoor space toward the emission rate of a pollutant in the concealed space were measured using the tracer-gas method. The ratios from the beam spaces and the partition were about 100% in most cases. The ratios from the crawl space under the first floor and the truss space under the roof were lower than those from the beam space and partitions in most cases, because those spaces have ventilation openings. But the ratio from the crawl space reached about 100% in the house without ventilation openings at the crawl space. And even in the house with ventilation openings at crawl space, the ratio reached 50% in the house with the exhaust-ventilation system. Therefore, it became clear that the use of the medicine to prevent the deterioration of the wooden structure and the white ants in the crawl spaces must be limited. The ratio from the envelope wall was changed with the pressure difference between inside and outside. These results showed that it is necessary to prevent infiltration from the concealed spaces and to control the emission rate from the concealed pollution sources.     

Conductive polymer patterned media fabricated by diblock copolymer lithography for scanning multiprobe data storage

A conductive polymer dot pattern has been fabricated as a patterned medium using diblock copolymer lithography (DCL) for scanning multiprobe data storage systems (SMDSSs). DCL can easily provide a higher dots pattern density than that obtained using electron beam lithography. For DCL, the microphase-separated structure of polystyrene-block-polymethylmethacrylate is utilized. Then, the closed dot pattern of polyaniline (PANI) with a center to center distance of adjacent dots of 30?nm is fabricated by DCL. Electrical modification experiments of the fabricated PANI dots are demonstrated using scanning probe microscopy (SPM). As a result, the conductivities of the modified dots are selectively changed by applying modification voltages with the tip of the SPM probe. Recording on the conductive polymer with 30?nm pitch at the minimum can be demonstrated, which corresponds to a recording density of ～700?Gbits?inch(-2). These results show that the conductive polymer patterned medium has the potential ability to achieve high-density recording for SMDSSs.     

Micromachined Si cantilever arrays for parallel AFM operation

Silicon cantilever arrays with a very small pitch for parallel AFM operations were studied. We fabricated 1x104 in eight groups and 1x30 Si probe arrays and produced a smaller pitch (15 μm) between probe tips by using Si anisotropic etching with a vertical wall shaped oxide mask. The vertical controls of Si probes were able to operate individually or in a group by integrating electrostatic actuators into the cantilevers of the probes. The fabricated Si cantilever arrays showed reasonable dynamic characteristics for the probe cantilever and reliable parallel operation of AFM.     

Human–agent interaction as augmentation of social intelligence

Artificial Life and Robotics - Human–agent interaction is a means of extending our society through social agents, artificial beings that work through social channels to humans. This paper...