07.08.09
Wednesday was an interesting day—Art, Science, and Nature. There were many individual things that intrigued me. We started off the day mostly through a few lab visits.
First off, my group went into the engineering building, where we visited some scientists whom developed the portable blood-testing cell phone addition, using the “LUCAS”. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/multimedia/2008/12/gallery_microscope_phone
http://www.springerlink.com/content/h526u7t0429q0121/
The idea is so elegant and simple, and it’s all in the relative field of electrical/biomedical engineering, which are some of my top future major interests. I really wish I was already there, a scientist at UCLA, working hard at developing these new technologies.
The next place was all about developing new ways to fight cancer. As a Relay for Life participant, I know of the gallons of money flooding in towards cancer research, and I’m glad to see this group of scientists as an example of good work in progress.
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org
What we discussed was interesting as well. Ways that nanoparticles could recognize cancerous cells, such as through their lower pH. Or even as a response to light, triggering the nanoparticles to release their cancer treatment. And tumors with their leaky blood vessels, allowing them to take in more nanoparticles than regular, healthy tissue.
According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_research, current ways to treat cancer include ways of boosting the immune system, an anti-cancer vaccine, chemotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, reoviridae (Reolysin drug therapy), and targeted therapy.
Our guest lecture on Nanomedicine was inspiring for me. Discovering “vaults”—discovering anything!—and experimenting with these new discoveries is something I dream of doing one day. Just all the possibilities that Mr. Rome described: creating tools for better diagnosis, creating biological materials, and creating new drugs. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VSR-3WSVW8R-5&_user=4423&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=954790588&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000059605&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4423&md5=dfd2cf2f95bd84b7eb83dd9f368b87ad
The last thing of the day was an interesting lecture on Nanotoxicology. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a909930998
Later, she led us through a lively trial of the waterproof ability of special lab coats.
It was a fun and funny way to see up close the possibilities of nanoscience. To imbibe fabric with the properties of certain nanoparticles, which led to superhydrophobicity. But then again, that’s a topic for another day…