Scientific Discoveries 21st by Scientific Discoveries NIIRS

Issue 7

March - April

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES

We would like to give you the warmest welcome to one of our publications Scientific Discoveries. Written for all those who would like to get to know what are the latest advances in a myriad of fields . Nanotechnology, tech, biomedicine, health, biosynthetics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and all type of scientific research that is going to reshape our present and future societies. We bring you to your doorstep the latest advances â&#x20AC;Ś. We are sure you are going to enjoy reading our news as we have tried to write all our investigations in highly comprehensible articles to reach all type of readers.. Thank you, The Team

We are a team of investigative journalists, researchers and professionals in other fields who would like to approach you to the latest Worldwide advances. Photojournalist for this number of Scientific Discoveries Loria Hilahm.

We also carry out investigations and research for all types of projects and cases. You can contact us on niirs.contact@gmail.com for any consultation you would like to forward us. We would be most than glad to be of service to you.

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

In this number of Scientific Discoveries you will find Nanotech Quantum Dots: New Clinical Applications New medical applications to restore health and lifespan extension Suspended Animation Neurogenesis Brain Cells Synthesis Occurs Throughout Life Below you can read a summary of the articles we have elaborated for you to enjoy and enrich your knowledge. Quantum Dots: New Clinical Applications Quantum dots are being most commonly used in physics and in the biomedical industry for theranostics (therapeutics and diagnostics). Suspended Animation, A New Medical Approach to Restore Health Scientists are investigating sending civilians, astronauts and members of the military into hibernation in order to cure disorders and restore traumas. Brain Cell Production, Neurogenesis A new study has shown that there is substantial evidence that production of new neurons (brain cells) occurs throughout the life of adult humans, not only during pregnancy or adulthood

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

Quantum Dots: New Clinical Applications Quantum Dots: New Clinical Applications Quantum dots are being most commonly used in physics and in the biomedical industry for theranostics (therapeutics and diagnostics).

Photojournalist: Loria Hilahm. All rights reserved. Particles such as cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), indium phosphide (InP) and indium arsenide (InAs) are inorganic fluorescent nanocrystals. They are semiconductor materials molecules that conduct an electric current at an intermediate level between that of a conductor and an insulator with an approximate conductivity of 10 - 3 to 10 - 8 siemens. They are part of those molecules most commonly known as quantum dots mainly being used at present in the fields of biology, physics, chemistry and medicine, though other sectors of the industry are also experimenting with such particles because of their particular characteristics. It seems that their first practical demonstration was carried out in 1998. They are a breakthrough in the biomedical industry as their characteristics can be very useful within theranostics (therapeutics and diagnostics).

Quantum Dots and their Clinical Applications Possible clinical applications of quantum dots could be the labelling of cellular structures to investigate internal cellular processes as well as to identify molecular constructs. Using quantum dots together with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) a series of probes can be built to detect a wide variety of organic processes such as enzymatic activity produced due to cell perturbations that can take place in cancerous cells. The photophysical properties of these inorganic nanocrystals make them unique for use in in vivo fluorescence imaging as well as combining them with magnetic resonance 1

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

on cellular metabolism as well as monitoring of cell markers. Some examples would be the detection of Hepatitis B and C virus as well as gene mutations. In future they will be used not only for detection of damaged cells and tissues but also for the transport and delivery of therapeutics at a molecular and cellular level. For example in Parkinsons disease, quantum dots will be sent to identify the impaired cells in the brain and a second collection of quantum dots loaded with therapeutic drugs will be discharged into the affected area.

Main Features These molecules are luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals and their physical and quantic properties such as remarkable and unique optical characteristics make them very valuable for multicolour purposes used in imaging and other biomedical applications. They can be manipulated to become fluorescent particles for imaging as well as nanoscale (scale at the size of a nanometer: one nanometer is equal to a billionth of a meter) medical devices for delivery of therapeutics into injured or infected body regions. They have better optical properties than the kind of dyes utilised to stain cells and molecules like traditional fluorophores or fluorescent proteins. They are 10 to 100 times brighter than the common biological markers. Their resistance to long term photo bleaching (when a molecule loses the ability to fluoresce) is 100 to 1000 times better than other substances, These advantages allow researchers to follow up the intermolecular (between molecules) and intramolecular (inside molecules) interactions that take place at cellular level and in organisms.

QDs Conjugates Despite their innate properties inorganic quantum dots need to be combined with other substances (these mixtures are known as quantum dots conjugates), such as aptamers (single DNA or RNA strands with a small number of bases), antibodies, oligonucleotides, peptides (a collection of peptides make a protein) folates and other molecules in order to be effective and gain biological affinity. These procedures alter their stability, monodispersity (a system constant in molecuar weight), crystallinity and biocompatibility and convert QDs into essential tools for biomedicine. Their cytotoxicity (how toxic they are to cytosol i.e. the liquid part of the cell) and their membrane penetration depend on the ligand (compound) they are attached to. The process of how nanoparticles are absorbed by the cells is controlled by size, shape, angle of curvature, effective surface charge and surface functionalization. An example to take into account is to compare gold nanoparticles with QD conjugates as each has different properties that influence their cell uptake.

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

Finally, it is important to bear in mind that though QDs are extremely useful in imaging to detect health irregularities at cellular and molecular levels, they can also be employed as delivery vehicles within the body if they can be made biocompatible with the cellular and molecular substances and surroundings with which they interact..

Toxic Effects Regardless of the incredible benefits quantum dots can offer it is important to realize that they can have toxic effects as they can cross the brain barrier, and their toxicity can affect the liver and kidneys as well as probably being carcinogenic. Ron Hardman, researcher at Nicholas University School of the Environment and Earth Sciences in Duke in Durham in US says, Although they offer potentially invaluable societal benefits such as drug targeting and in vivo biomedical imaging QDs may also pose risks to human health and the environment under certain conditions. For those readers interested in learning more about quantum dots and nanoparticles a second article of quantum dots and their role in diagnostics and therapeutics will be published shortly.

Sources Medintz, I. , Mattousi, H. and Clapp, A R. , (2008), "Potential clinical applications of quantum dots", International Journal of Medicine. Ho, Yi-Ping. and Leong, W Kam. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quantum dot-based theranostics", Nanoscale, Vol 2, 2010. Hardman, R., (2006), "A toxicological review of quantum dots: toxicity depends on physicochemical and environmental factors", Environmental Health Perspectives.

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

Suspended Animation Suspended Animation, a New Medical Approach to Restore Health Scientists are investigating sending civilians, astronauts and members of the military into hibernation in order to cure disorders and restore traumas.

Photojournalist: Loria Hilahm. All rights reserved. The term 'suspended animation' is similar to the word stasis and both mean a kind of hibernation state, that is to say the slowing down of the life processes of any living creature. It implies lowering to a minimum the heart beat, the body temperature and all the metabolic activity. These procedures can be of great use in medicine.

Pros and Cons of Suspended Animation At present researchers from the University of Washington as well as scientists of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle in US, have been able to produce a suspended animation state in mice using H2S (Hydrogen sulphide). It is a gas that exists in humans and animals and maintains certain homeostatic processes such as the ones mentioned above. In this case, the mice inhale the gas H2S, but it is thought that in order for humans to

achieve hibernation they would instead need to be injected with this chemical. The researchers have mentioned that the use of H2S does not appear to harm the animals. Alternatively, Dr Heikki E Savolainen a physician in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Tampere Finland states in Science Magazine, "Having read the interesting article on the induction of an inactive state by hydrogen sulphide in mice, I would like to remind readers that the gas is also highly toxic because it is an inhibitor of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase, thereby causing histotoxic hypoxia [a lack of oxygen in different parts of the body] resulting in death. Even no lethal exposure is associated with marked mitochondrial effects in brain and in other highly oxygen-dependent organs."

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

DARPA The Defense Advanced Research Project agency (DARPA) is investigating the possible introduction of suspended animation in the battlefield, by controlling the timing mechanisms in cells. It is envisaged that soldiers will be kept in suspended animation until they are taken to the nearest hospital, therefore saving many lives. This process will be manipulated by the use of genomics, mathematics, biology, physics and algorithm development. The control of biological clocks through suspended animation will play a main part in resolving and understanding disorders as well as traumas in the battlefield and in the civilian scenarios. The nature of aging and cell death will also be better interpreted using this technique.

Suspended Animation to Help Space Travelling Travelling in space is a long time task - some prospective journeys to distant planets may take years or even longer. As a result, The European Space Agency (ESA) is experimenting with suspended animation in order to reduce aging. Other benefits of suspended animation in space travel could include a reduction in the amount of supplies to be carried. In addition, it could help to overcome certain psychological side effects that can occur on such journeys. Although it is still too early to consider suspended animation or stasis a reality, readers of this article can start debating if this hibernation state, or in other words a kind of induced "sleep", will be a safe system or will cause harm to patients and space travellers.

Sources We have researched and investigated the latest advances in suspended animation contacting the institutions below. Blackstone, E. , Morrison, M. , Roth M B. (2005), "H2S Induces a Suspended AnimationLike State in Mice", Science. Defense Advanced Research Project (DARPA).

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

Brain Cells Production Occurs Throughout Life of Adult Humans Brain Cell Production, Neurogenesis A new study has shown that there is substantial evidence that production of new neurons (brain cells) occurs throughout the life of adult humans, not only during pregnancy or adulthood Photojournalist: Loria Hilahm. All rights reserved. This regeneration of neurons is known as neurogenesis. Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have confirmed that there are certain parts of the brain where neurogenesis takes place during adulthood and at the same time have established that these new brain cells may help with brain function. Carbon dating, that is to say measuring the concentration of an isotope of Carbon (Carbon 14), is the technique they have utilised to ascertain the presence of new neurons in the brain. They have been able to do this measurement using what in biophysics is known as mass spectrometry. There was an entrenched belief that humans do not generate new neurons after birth. This dramatically impeded the work of previous researchers when they tried to bring some clarity to the question of neurogenesis.

Carbon dating (Carbon 14) During the cold war (late 1950s early 1960s) there were many nuclear test detonations that took place above ground level. After every nuclear explosion Carbon 14 detached and was absorbed in the atmosphere. This non radioactive isotope attaches to the DNA of the cells of living creatures including the DNA of human beings. Scientists realised that those who lived during the cold war would have higher amounts of Carbon 14 in their cellsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DNA therefore they collected brain tissue samples (the specimens were taken from autopsy cases) of individuals of a wide variety of ages, from 19 to 92. They discovered that younger people had less Carbon 14 in their DNA. Their findings, published in the journal Cell in June 2013, showed that we develop 1400 new neurons every day and that such production continues during our 40s. 6

By Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson

Investigative and Research Services , NIIRS

21st Century

Scientists realised that those who lived during the cold war would have higher amounts of Carbon 14 in their cells’ DNA therefore they collected brain tissue samples (the specimens were taken from autopsy cases) of individuals of a wide variety of ages, from 19 to 92. They discovered that younger people had less Carbon 14 in their DNA. Their findings, published in the journal Cell in June 2013, showed that we develop 1400 new neurons every day and that such production continues during our 40s. The investigation was conducted in two specific areas of the brain: the hippocampus (involved in cognition and memory development) and the olfactory bulb (nose). The Research group leader Jonas Frisén confirmed in a previous experiment that neurogenesis does not take place in the adult olfactory bulb of humans while in other mammals it does occur. However, there are still many studies that support that neurones are also generated in the olfactory system and they can be utilised as stem cells to repair any disorder or injury that might occur in any other body part of an individual. Frisen states in his paper “Dynamics of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult humans” published in June 2013, “We conclude that neurons are generated throughout adulthood and that the rates are comparable in middle-aged humans and mice, suggesting that adult hippocampal neurogenesis may contribute to human brain function.” This study confirms that our brains have the power to learn new concepts and ideas throughout all our life existence

Sources This article was first published by Dinah JL Novak and John Johnson on June 8 2013 in the Guardian Express. And has been updated in March 2015 for Scientific Discoveries We carefully researched the information in the Karolinska Institute from Sweden as well as data that we have analysed from the scientific paper "Dynamics of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult humans" written by Jonas Frisen.

To the readers and visitors of Scientific Discoveries, In this issue of Scientific Discoveries we have shared with you some of the research carried out about suspended animation, a new approach to extend our lifes and restore disorders. Quantum dots and their application in several fields and looked into neurogenesis and the concept that neurones (brain cells) develop as well throughout adulthood. In our next publication will bring light into the progress in stem cell therapy, latest wearables and many other new advances in several fields. We thank you for your visit.

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