Government support of nanotechnology research has been critical in making America a global leader in the field, one of West Virginia University’s top researchers said Thursday in urging U.S. senators to continue federal backing.

“The possibilities for using nanomaterials to solve some of the country’s most important problems – like more efficiently transforming and storing energy, or detecting diseases like cancer when there are only a few cancerous cells present – are moving ideas from the realm of science fiction to reality,” said Diandra L. Leslie-Pelecky, director of the West Virginia Nano Initiative and a WVU physics professor.

She testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Science and Space to urge reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The subcommittee is chaired by Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida. West Virginia’s Sen. Jay Rockefeller chairs the full committee and convened Thursday’s hearing.

“We are at a place today where big advances on technology are happening at a very small level – everything from bio-technology tools to detect early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, to soon reducing your computer’s entire memory to the size of a single tiny chip.” Rockefeller said in an opening statement. “Just over 10 years ago, the government created a National Nanotechnology Initiative to focus on this issue. That early and sustained commitment has translated into U.S. global leadership in nanotechnology research and development and commercialization.

“There are significant economic and societal incentives to maintain our lead in this field. The global market for nanotechnology-related products was more than $200 billion in 2009, and projections suggesting that it will reach $1 trillion by 2015. With this growth, comes demand for workers with nanotechnology-related skills.

“At a time when Americans and American businesses are struggling financially, we must do whatever we can to stimulate the economy. This Committee has spent a lot of time this Congress focusing on job creation and manufacturing. I believe nanotechnology plays a key role in boosting the economy and creating jobs.”

Leslie-Pelecky described her research and the impact it could have.

“I started out studying the fundamental properties of magnetic nanoparticles – particles about a thousandth the width of a human hair – trying to understand how their magnetism changes as their size varies,” Leslie-Pelecky said. “About eight years ago, I was inspired to consider how these magnetic nanoparticles might be applied to a major health problem: cancer.”

Leslie-Pelecky told the subcommittee that she is one of thousands of scientists and engineers who had the opportunity to contribute to advances in the understanding of nanomaterials because of the government’s commitment to nanotechnology as a result of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. She said that reauthorizing NNI will further basic understanding of nanomaterials, and help create products and services that will benefit the people of the United States and the economy.

In describing her research, she reminded senators of a toy called “Woolly Willy” – a drawing of a man’s face in a container that also contained iron filings in explaining her cancer work.

“You use a magnet to move the iron filings around to create a beard or hair,” she said. “I do something analogous with magnetic nanoparticles. I attach chemotherapy drugs to the nanoparticles, inject them, and then use magnets outside the body to hold the nanoparticles where I want them – which is at cancer tumors. This magnetic targeting approach allows us to concentrate the chemotherapy drugs near the tumor, increasing efficacy and decreasing side effects.”

She urged the senators to continue supporting nano research because there is much to learn about nanomaterial bioactivity or how a material interacts with biological organisms and the environment. She said work is needed to regulate nanomaterials leading to confidence that new products and manufacturing methods are safe for consumers and workers. She noted that a potentially large market exists for nano products and services that would benefit manufacturing, homeland security, health and medicine and other sectors.

“The National Nanotechnology Initiative has facilitated the growth and development of this very important field,” Leslie-Pelecky said. “Re-authorization of the NNI must include coordination of effort among multiple government agencies, increasing understanding of the environmental health and safety impacts of nanomaterials to facilitate their safe and responsible use in consumer products, and supporting the infrastructure necessary for future research and development.

“Finally, the NNI must promote education at all levels, from the future scientists and engineers that will enable us to maintain global leadership in nanotechnology, to developing the scientific literacy of the public so that they can make informed decisions about the role of nanotechnology in their lives.”

Rockefeller said research is important for the future of West Virginia.

“One of the ways to make West Virginia industry stronger and more competitive is through smart investments in scientific research like nanotechnology,” he said. “I’ve long believed that science, technology, engineering and math – STEM subjects – hold enormous promise for our state.”

WVNano was organized in 2005 and, since 2006, has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the WVU Research Corp. and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research. WVNano’s major objective is to advance the research environment and diversify the state’s economic base by cultivating and growing vigorous nanoscale research and engineering. WVNano’s research focuses on potential applications in the areas of public security, health, energy and the environment.

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CONTACT: Gerrill Griffith: WVU Research Corp.
304.293.3743; Gerrill.Griffith@mail.wvu.edu

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