| Posted: July 30, 2007 |
New joint venture for nanotechnology water and process treatments |
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(Nanowerk News) Nalco and Keystone Nano, a nanotechnology development company in State College, Pennsylvania, have formed a joint venture company, NanoSpecialties, LLC. The venture will conduct research and development of nanotechnology that allows for more precise application of various Nalco water and process treatments.
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Keystone Nano has licensed two Penn State University patent applications that protect the creation of NanoJackets™, particles with a diameter of about 40 nanometers. The technology was developed through collaborative efforts between Professor James Adair’s research group in Penn State’s Materials Research Institute and Passanati Distinguished Professor Mark Kester’s research group at the Hershey Medical Center. The NanoJackets can be customized to contain specialty chemicals within an exceptionally small, effective, and safe delivery system.
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These customized NanoJackets will allow:
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• Improved time-release of the treatment agents
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• Precise targeting of the treatments at the molecular level to focus the effects, and
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• More stable treatment agents within an engineered nanoscale package
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“This effort with Keystone Nano will develop cutting-edge means to better deliver Nalco’s world-class chemistries in a variety of applications. Using nanotechnology will further improve the effectiveness of our treatment programs while reducing the amount of chemical used to achieve those results,” said Nalco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. William H. Joyce.
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Jeff Davidson, Keystone Nano’s CEO notes that “Combining the development and marketing strengths of Nalco with Keystone’s nanotechnology capabilities allows us to create some very exciting new products for industrial customers. We are looking forward to commercializing a range of NanoJacket applications with Nalco.”
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Nalco has a long history of work in nanotechnology dating to the 1950s and the development of colloidal silicas. Recent innovations such as Core Shell® polymers, modified at the molecular level for use in wastewater treatment and as process aids in papermaking, petroleum refining, mining and food and beverage processing, continue this commitment to innovation.
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Keystone Nano is currently using NanoJackets to create new medical therapeutics with decreased toxicity and dosage levels. The company is also creating new research and diagnostic imaging applications featuring stable, versatile nano-imaging products.
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