Polymer May Provide
Vehicle For Vaccines

Fréchet

A simple method of shuttling proteins into cells via microscopic polymer beads shows promise as a general way of carrying vaccines or bits of DNA for gene therapy, according to chemists at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Professor of chemistry Jean M. Fréchet, with postdoctoral fellow Niren Murthy and their colleagues, designed a polymer that falls apart in acid to form thousands of little molecules that swell and explode the cell's digestive chamber before the acids have a chance to degrade the antigens. Full story.

Laboratory Will Converse
With Neighbors May 8

Berkeley Lab management and scientific initiative leaders will spend an evening on Thursday, May 8, engaging in conversation with members of immediate neighborhoods interested in learning more about the Lab’s current and future activities. Among the topics will be the Molecular Foundry, energy efficiency and the Berkeley Lamp, the supernova program (SNAP), other scientific projects, fire protection and vegetation management, and science education programs. All Lab employees are invited to attend, from 7:30 to 9:30 at Haas Clubhouse, Strawberry Recreation Area, 2nd Floor Club Room. For information, call 7292.