A Microworm was Caught on a Magnetic Hook
An article by employees of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of KFU published in British Nanoscale journal was included in the list of “hot” articles of the week and announced on blog pages, in Twitter and Facebook social networks.
The research was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Nanoscale.
The editorial staff of Nanoscale journal chooses “hot” articles (3-4 publications per week from among several dozens of papers published in the journal), thus marking out articles, which seem most innovative, significant, interdisciplinary and interesting for wide circle of readers. “Hot” articles are widely covered in popular science mass media, which considerably increases the research noticeability. The authors of the research are: the 4th-year student, Ms. G. I. Davletshina, postgraduate, Ms. R. T. Minullina, and Associate Professor, Doctor of Biology, R. F. Fakhrullin.
Nanoparticles in the ellworm?s digestive system
A publication of the team supervised by the Associate Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Mr. R. F. Fakhrullin, describes a new method of controlled nanoparticle delivery into the organism of ellworm Caenorhabditidselegansс using nanomodified cells (“cyborg” cells). The C. Elegans eelworm is a popular object of experiments in bioresearch, especially in nanotoxicology.
Nanoparticle fixation on the microbial cell surface is a particular feature of the method developed by KFU scientists. “Eelworms “eat” such cells (Note: the authors call them “nanobaits”). As a result nanoparticles get into the worm?s organism. Thus, we can make a magnetic modification and toxicity assessment of nanoparticles. The published study assessed the effect produced by two types of nanoparticles, however, the method is universal and can be applied to assess toxicity of a broad spectrum of nanomaterials,” noted postgraduate Renat Minullin.
Diagram of the nanoparticle toxicity assessment method
According to Ravil Fakhrullin, in addition to evident estimation of the work level by experts, the publication announcement on the pages of resources of the Royal Society of Chemistry is an important event from the point of view of increase in noticeability of KFU researches in the global scientific community?s opinion. Taking into consideration KFU plans for promotion in world rankings, such announcements significantly improve reputational noticeability of the University.
