Initial tests show that the nanoparticle anti-oxidants regenerate once they penetrate the cell -- meaning one dose could conceivably continue its therapeutic effects indefinitely.

Rzigalinski introduced the collaboration to her colleagues at the NATURE biotechnology symposium in Miami earlier this year. She has also submitted an abstract on the project to the National and International Neurotrauma Symposium, and Society for Neuroscience.

Nanotechnology is considered the new frontier of science, and it could revolutionize modern medicine in the future. The potential for creating new materials at a size capable of being absorbed by human cells calls for a new type of scientist -- one who can collaborate across seemingly unrelated disciplines. Combining the fields of biomolecular science with engineering offers a significant step in that direction.

Pappachan Kolattukudy, director of UCF's Biomolecular Science Center and a consultant on the project, said the collaboration is part of a strategy that UCF is going to be using increasingly in building its presence in the biomolecular sciences.

"We are concentrating on building interfaces between areas in which we have strengths," Kolattukudy said.

Vimal Desai, director of AMPAC, said that nanomaterials are currently considered highly strategic for important applications ranging from homeland security to just plain good health.

"It is so good to be able to build bridges for an interdisciplinary effort through competent and dynamic researchers at UCF," Desai said.

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Contact: Barb Abney
bcompton@mail.ucf.edu
407-823-5139
University of Central Florida
13-Aug-2003