Copyright: Robert Rathe

NIST biophysicist Jeeseong Hwang and his colleagues are measuring the optical properties of single nanocrystals to help medical researchers better calibrate tests using this new nanotechnology.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supplies research, tools, data, and services that help the health care industry improve its products and services. NIST’s efforts improve innovation in health care, yielding large economic, public health, and safety benefits. Projects under way in NIST’s laboratories address the needs of health care manufacturers, laboratories, and providers. A few examples of recent NIST accomplishments are presented below. For more information, visit NIST’s health care industry sector Web site at http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/healthcare.htm.

NIST Research Laboratories

Cardiac troponin-I—Diagnosing heart attacks will become a more precise science thanks to the first of a new series of NIST clinical standards. Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2921 (human cardiac troponin complex) will help manufacturers develop and calibrate assays that measure specific protein concentrations in patient blood samples to determine whether a heart attack has occurred. The SRM is a solution containing certified concentrations of three related proteins, including cardiac troponin I, purified from human heart tissue from cadavers. The standard is expected to help reduce variations in clinical test results from as much as 50-fold on the same sample to just twofold.

Nanochemistry—Using laser light as tweezers and a scalpel, NIST scientists have demonstrated the use of artificial cells as nanovials for ultrasmall volume chemistry. The approach may be useful for faster, cheaper identification of new pharmaceuticals and for studying cellular-level processes. The artificial cells, called liposomes, are tiny spherical containers that self-assemble from natural fats (phospholipids and cholesterol). Measuring micro-meters in diameter, the fluid-filled membranes are currently used in cosmetics and for drug delivery.

Magnetic “Tweezers”—NIST is developing a new device for studying biomolecules. The device is an array of magnetic traps designed for manipulating individual biomolecules and measuring the ultrasmall forces that affect their behavior. The chip-scale, microfluidic device works in conjunction with a magnetic force microscope. It’s intended to serve as magnetic “tweezers” that can stretch, twist, and uncoil individual biomolecules such as strands of DNA. So far, the researchers have demonstrated how the magnetic traps can be used to attract nanoscale magnetic particles. With further work to attach these nanoparticles to biomolecules, the device should help scientists study folding patterns and other biochemical details important in medical, forensic, and other research areas.

Fluorescence Measurements—A new NIST fluorescent reference material is expected to improve the accuracy of measurements in a wide range of applications from clinical chemistry to biodefense research to pharmaceutical development. The material consists of six vials of microspheres coated with fluorescent dye. Fluorescent markers are often used to “tag” antibodies, cancer cells, specific genes, or other bio-molecules. For example, the brightness of the signal from a sample can indicate whether a disease is getting worse or in remission. The culmination of five years of research, the new microspheres should significantly improve analyses of these markers. Previous research has shown that measurements of the same samples can vary by more than 100 percent depending on the instrument used and a variety of experimental conditions.

Copyright: Robert Rathe

NIST physical scientist Joy Dunkers and colleagues are developing a novel way to combine two types of microscopes to monitor the growth of cells deep within tissue-engineered scaffolds.

AIDS Database—A new online database of AIDS-related protein structures should be useful to researchers developing drug treatments for AIDS or studying the virus that causes the disease. Developed by NIST and the National Cancer Institute, the HIV Structural Reference Database (http://xpdb.nist.gov/hivsdb/hivsdb.html) will receive, annotate, archive, and distribute structural data for proteins involved in making HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, as well as molecules that inhibit these activities. By providing data standards, interoperability between sources, and user-friendly search tools, the NIST/NCI database will help researchers who are developing AIDS drug treatments or studying the disease itself to obtain rapid and reliable information on drugs and their
fragments.

Cancer Nanotechnology Lab—As part of a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiative to develop and apply nanotechnology to cancer research and treatment, NIST and NCI have signed a new memorandum of understanding and an interagency agreement. The agreement calls for NIST to provide technology support to a key component of the initiative (known as the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer), the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) at NCI’s facility in Frederick, Md. The NCL will perform and standardize the preclinical characterization of nanomaterials developed by researchers from academia, government, and industry. The NCL will serve as a national resource and knowledge base for cancer researchers and facilitate the accelerated regulatory review and translation of nanomaterials and devices into the clinical realm.

NIST Grants, Outreach Services, and Performance Excellence

Manufacturing Extension Partnership: The MEP provides technical and business assistance to small manufacturers through a nationwide network of outreach centers. The MEP has helped more than 150,000 firms. For more information, see the MEP Web site, www.mep.nist.gov, or phone 1-800-637-4634 for the MEP center nearest you.

Baldrige National Quality Program: This program recognizes business performance excellence and quality achievement by U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational organizations, and health care providers. In 1999, health care was added as an award category. Members of the health care community worked with NIST in making this award a reality, recognizing that the Baldrige Award’s tough performance excellence standards could help stimulate their improvement efforts. For more information, see www.quality.nist.gov, or phone (301) 975-2036 or send e-mail to nqp@nist.gov.

 

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