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Map illustrates scale of nanotechnology development across the U.S.

Nanotechnology and its use in drug development has been a growing area of investment in the U.S. and that growth has been mapped in an interactive infographic by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. The map lists nanotechnology companies and organizations across the country by specialties, such as medicine and health, materials, imaging and microscopy, electronics, […]

Nanotechnology and its use in drug development has been a growing area of investment in the U.S. and that growth has been mapped in an interactive infographic by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

The map lists nanotechnology companies and organizations across the country by specialties, such as medicine and health, materials, imaging and microscopy, electronics, tools and instruments, academic and government research, and associations.

The Philadelphia-based Nanotech Institute, formed by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, along with Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania, received a reinvestment of $1.1 million from the Commonwealth. It is forging an alliance with another nanotechnology group in the western part of the state — the Pennsylvania Nanomaterials Commercialization Center, which received $638,900 to assist small and startup companies with early stage prototype development projects.

Anthony P. Green, Ben Franklin director for the Nanotechnology Institute and vice president of technology commercialization in the life sciences for Ben Franklin, said in a statement that the number of company spinoffs, technology licenses and intellectual property assets have grown substantially in the past three years, exceeding the growth during the first 10 years of the institute.  “These activities are being reflected in real economic impact for the region in terms of job growth.”

The Nanotechnology Institute has created more than 30 companies in the region, according to the statement, among them Keystone Nano, which has used nanotechnology to develop drug-delivery solutions for solid and nonsolid tumor cancers, and Leversense, which has developed a diagnostics platform.