McGill University – TechConnect Briefs

Pore wall charge patterning and spatial profiles of electrical conductivity in short nanopores

Tajparast M., Glavinovic M.I., McGill University, CA

Artificial nanopores are now used as filters, nanofluidic switches or biosensors. Given that their functioning often critically depends on pore conductivity it is important to determine what influences the pore conductivity and how far these [...]

3-axis Capacitive Low-Gravity MEMS Accelerometer with Zero Cross-Axis Sensitivity in a Commercial Process

Merdassi A., Chodavarapu V.P., McGill University, CA

We describe integrated multi-axis low-g MEMS accelerometer devices fabricated in a commercial SOIMUMPS process available from MEMSCAP. We employ capacitive transduction mechanism which provides high reliability, low temperature sensitivity, low drift, and low power consumption. [...]

Reversible Long-Range Assemblies in Gold Nanoparticles – Liquid Crystal Composites: Molecular Dynamics of the Gold Capping Layer

Milette J., Toader V., Scheffer L.-P., Lennox R.B., Reven L., McGill University, CA

Highly miscible mesogenic ligand capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) [1] that produce reversible long-range assemblies in nematic and smectic liquid crystal (LC) [2-3] were recently developed by our group. At the isotropic-to-nematic phase transition of cyanobiphenyl [...]

Spatial profiles of electrical conductivity, fluid admittance and water flow in a charged nanopore

Virdi G., Glavinovic M.I., McGill University, CA

The transport of charged particles and water through nanofluidic pores is governed by the concentration, potential and pressure gradients. Better understanding of the interplay of these forces, of the resulting fluxes of charged particles and [...]

Celastrol-Based Nanomedicines as Modulators of Neuroinflammation

Boridy S., Hutter E., Soliman G., Maysinger D., McGill University, CA

Chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in promoting disease pathology in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglial cells are the main innate immune effector cells in the CNS and orchestrate these neuroinflammatory reactions that ultimately [...]

Non-invasive Lesion Imaging and Delivery of Nano-Therapeutics to the Ischemic Brain

Choi A.O., Vaisheva F., Soliman G.M., Maysinger D., McGill University, CA

Silent brain infarcts are often asymptomatic, but these micro-lesions can cause considerable neurodegenerative damage if they remain undetected and untreated. Cells undergo rapid irreversible necrosis at the ischemic core; however, viable cells in the penumbra [...]

PEG Incorporated Polymeric Microcapsules for Intramyocardial Delivery of Stem Cells Genetically Modified by Baculovirus

Paul A., Khan A.A., Abbasi S., Shum-Tim D., Prakash S., McGill University, CA

The ability of mesenchymal stem cells to self-renew and differentiate into specialized cell lineages makes them promising tools for regenerative medicine. Local injection and use of scaffolds had been employed earlier to deliver these cells; [...]

Nanoparticles co-encapsulating hVEGF and hAng-1 can induce mitotic and antiapoptotic effect on vascular endothelial cells

Khan A.A., Paul A., Abbasi S., Prakash S., McGill University, CA

This study demonstrates the combined effect of the angiogenic proteins, hVEGF and hAng-1, coencapsulated in human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles (NPs), towards human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and an evaluation of the potential application [...]

Indium Phosphide : Cadmium Free Quantum Dots for Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Chibli H., Carlini L., Park S., Dimitrijevic N., Nadeau J.L., McGill University, CA

We synthesised Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) with different shell layer. We demonstrate highly fluorescent labeling of cell lines after nonspecific endocytosis of the QD. With spin-trap electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and reporter [...]

siRNA Delivery Using Biodegradable Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy

Abbasi S., Arghya P., Afshan K., Prakash S., McGill University, CA

Polyethylenimine (PEI)-coated human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles form suitable biocompatible carriers for therapeutic molecules. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules have suggested great promise as a future therapy for breast cancer. In order to overcome the [...]