biological structures to image nanostructures and biochemical processes. The basic principle of our technology is represented schematically in Figure 1. The biological structures and biochemical processes that have been imaged so far are: 1) Neurons that are grown in a liquid crystal environment (Figure 2) 2) Microtubule and its motility 3) Effect of ions on neurons 4) E-Coli bacteria 5) Paramyxovirus aggregates. Disclosures: Shashidhar R, None . doi:10.1016/j.nano.2005.09.077 66 Tuesday, August 16th (2:00) Concurrent Oral Session V: Clinical and Experimental Nanomedicine Cancer nanoepidemiology Arena JF, Trapido E, Seminara D, Verma M, Rogers S, Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA To help meet the goal of eliminating suffering and death due to cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is engaged in efforts to harness the power of nanotechnology to radically change the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer (http://nano.cancer.gov). The biological mole- cules and structures inside living cells operate at a scale of about 100 nanometers or less. Nanoscience seeks to understand molecular operations on this minute scale. Nanotechnology creates materials and devices for nanoscientists to use as they study the interactions of molecules and atoms. Nanomedicine blends nanoscience with nanotechnology to create highly specific molecular interventions to cure disease and repair damaged tissue (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov). To interpret cancer studies at nanoscience level, novel methodol- ogies need to be conceptualized. As molecular epidemiology is based on general epidemiological concepts, it is possible to think about a concept of cancer nanoepidemiology based on cancer molecular epidemiology. This concept will utilize epidemiological study designs and nanobiological parameters. The intimate dynamic of life at the cellular level can be assessed by nanotechnological tools. Using real time measurements (markers) of relevant exposures (environment and genetics) and their dynamic relation- ship at the various structural levels (mitochondrial activity monitoring) can be informative of the natural history of the disease. The distribution of the disease can be evaluated at the cellular level, and incidence and prevalence rates can be calculated in relation to cells, tissues, or embryonic development. Relative risks and odds ratios can be calculated at the cellular level. Additionally, the causative factors (protein-protein interaction, biomolecular dynam- ics), host characteristics (susceptibility genes, homeostasis capacity of cellular milieu), and cell environmental exposures (pH, radiation, nutrients, viruses) that influence disease risk (analytical epidemi- ology) can be evaluated as potential determinants of disease development. In summary, we anticipate that the new techniques practiced in nanomedicine can be merged with traditional epide- miological methodologies. This merger will give birth to a new field of cancer nanoepidemiology that will further scrutinize molecular interactions thereby detecting biological differences and similarities between normal and tumor cells. Using nanotechnology to detect these differences may unfold new cancer mechanisms at the cellular level and ultimately can be used for validation approaches in population studies. Disclosures: Arena JF , None . doi:10.1016/j.nano.2005.09.078 67 Tuesday, August 16th (2:15) Concurrent Oral Session V: Clinical and Experimental Nanomedicine Crystal clear surgery with self-assembling molecules that act as a bio barrier in the brain and intestine Ellis-Behnke RG a , Tay DKC b , Liang YX b , Zhang S c , Schneider GE a , So KF b , a Brain and Cognitive Sciences, M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, USA, b Anatomy, University of Hong Kong Medical Faculty, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, c Center for Biomedical Engineering, M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, USA We found that a self-assembling peptide (SAP) nanofiber scaffold can provide a transparent cover for the surgical field, while also creating a bio barrier and is an optically clear liquid that allows operation through the resultant gel. The surgical field is often obscured with blood and debris during an operation. In addition, clearing debris from the surgical field usually requires irrigating the site with saline. Saline is only a temporary solution and needs to be continuously applied to maintain a clear surgical field. This poses several issues: 1) Any contamination in existence will easily spread; 2) a small opening will require alternating between irrigation and operating and 3) during intestinal operations movement of liquid can result in a massive infection leading to post-operative complications. Using the SAP for biological confinement will reduce post operative complications in endoscopic and open surgical procedures. All work was done in adult Syrian hamsters and rats. We have performed surgery using this material on 218 animals to date in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, liver, muscle, and on arteries and veins. The figure below (scale bar = 2mm) shows a cut in the intestine with the SAP covering the area within the box. The SAP has stopped the movement of material from moving out into the intraperitoneal cavity. Also note that the SAP is clear and allows for clear viewing and easier manipulation of the surgical field. Several examples of neurosurgical and gastrointes- Abstracts / Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 1 (2005) 243–281 269