Electron microscope images show different types of gold nano - stars .

1. PREM researchers have recently synthesized nano-sized stars made of gold called “Texas Stars”. Texas Stars interact with invisible “Near Infrared” laser light in a unique and special way. • UTSA-PREM researchers are interested in biomedical applications of Texas Stars. Recently, PREM researchers injected neurons with Texas Stars and shined a laser on the cells. They found that when laser light was focused on the Texas Stars inside the cell it would cause the cell to expand and explode like a balloon. • More importantly, nearby cells were not harmed in the process. This means that Texas Stars may be synthesized and used as a nanomedical surgical device to selectively destroy single neurons. • This discovery will have impacts not only in nano-medicine but also fundamental neurobiology research. PREM researchers plan to demonstrate that by using Texas Stars they can selectively and surgically ‘turn off’ neuronal pathways in living systems to gain a better understanding of how the brain works. • Additionally, this discovery has the potential to revolutionize the way brain diseases are treated in the future. • For UTSA-PREM researchers, the future is today! The Development of a Nano-Surgical Device Using “Texas Stars”DhirajSardar, University of Texas at San Antonio, DMR 0934218 A single cell is destroyed by shining laser light onto gold nano-stars localized in the nucleus. Electron microscope images show different types of gold nano-stars.