LEXINGTON, Ky. and KALAMAZOO, Mich., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. founders Michael Jay, Ph.D. and Russell J. Mumper, Ph.D. have been issued U.S. Patent 6,855,270 entitled “NanoScintillation Systems For Aqueous-Based Liquid Scintillation Counting.” Their invention, assigned to the University of Kentucky Research Foundation and licensed exclusively to NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, covers processes to make nanoparticle-based NanoScintillation Systems which are used to detect beta-particle- or alpha-particle-emitting radioisotopes without the use of the organic solvents commonly used in conventional liquid scintillation (LS) “cocktails.”
Biomedical and environmental researchers routinely employ scintillation cocktails to quantify, or “count,” the amount of radioactivity emitted by radioisotopes in samples generated during laboratory experiments. Frequently, these samples must be mixed with an organic solvent containing dissolved fluor molecules, or “scintillators.” Although efficient, the use of organic-based LS cocktails results in the need to dispose of large quantities of mixed low- level radioactive and hazardous waste (“Mixed LLW”) generated as a byproduct of the counting process. Results of testing by TestAmerica, Inc., (http://www.testamericainc.com/ ), the leading nationally certified provider of outsourced analytical laboratory, air emissions, and indoor air quality testing services, show that the NanoScintillation System was qualified as non- hazardous waste by virtue of passing tests for Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Extraction by EPA 1311, TCLP for Volatile Organic Compounds by EPA Method 1311/8260B, TCLP for Semi-volatile Organic Compounds by EPA Method 1311/8270C, TCLP for Metals by 6000/7000 Series Methods, Reactivity, pH, and Ignitability as specified in Subpart C of 40 CFR Part 261. Thus, the NanoScintillation System represents an opportunity to significantly reduce hazardous environmental waste.
“With the advent of nanotechnology, methods now exist to enhance the aqueous solubility of fluor molecules without the use of organic solvents,” said Michael Jay, Ph.D., NanoMed co-founder and Director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Pharmaceutical Science & Technology. “The development of NanoScintillation Systems provides the potential for tremendous scientific, economic, and environmental advantages, most notably the opportunity to greatly reduce the amount of mixed radioactive and hazardous waste generated through the widespread use of conventional organic-based LS cocktails,” Dr. Jay added.
Background and Significance
According to a 1990 baseline report commissioned by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environment Protection Agency titled “National Profile on Commercially Generated Low-Level Radioactive Mixed Waste” (NUREG/CR-5938), 140,000 cubic feet of mixed waste was generated by industry and academia in the United States in 1990 alone. It is estimated that the Department of Energy generates annually an additional 800,000 cubic feet of mixed organic and radioactive waste.
Additional Potential Applications
In addition to its application in routine scintillation counting in biomedical and pharmaceutical research laboratories, NanoScintillation Systems may have utility in homeland security applications; specifically, anti-nuclear terrorism of municipal and military water supplies. Several U.S. government agencies have made nuclear preparedness recommendations that included the use of mobile methods to detect radiation, including beta-particle- or alpha- particle-emitting radioisotopes.
NanoScintillation Systems may also have applications in other areas such as in radioisotopic binding assays and in functional genomics whereby the binding of radiolabeled probes in DNA microarrays can be quantified which may be of particular interest to biomedical researchers who build their own gene chips and need high sensitivity detection.
About the Inventors
Michael Jay, Ph.D. is Professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology of the Chandler Medical Center, and Director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.
Russell J. Mumper, Ph.D. is Vice Chair and Associate Professor in the University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Associate Director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Pharmaceutical Science & Technology
About NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an advanced drug delivery systems company developing therapeutic and diagnostic products to treat or detect disease. The Company’s initial focus is cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. NanoMed’s core technology is Nanotemplate Engineering(TM), a flexible, rapid and scaleable nanoparticle manufacturing technology for the delivery of small molecules, peptides, proteins, plasmid DNA, and diagnostic agents.
NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Michael Jay, Ph.D., of University of Kentucky, +1-859-257-2300,ext. 232, jay@email.uky.edu ; or Stephen Benoit, CEO of NanoMedPharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-269-372-6256, benoit@nanomedpharm.com
Web site: http://www.nanomedpharm.com/
