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Bringing Nanotechnology to Health Care for the poor

Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms.Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer,or one-billionth of a meter.These include things like beauty products1 and dirt-resistant clothing.But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine.

Last week,speakers at a program in Washington discussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries.The program took place at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.Peter Singer at the University of Toronto says a nanotechnology called quantum dots2 could be used to confirm cases of malaria.He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person's blood under a microscope.

In poor countries,this process is often not followed.As a result,sick people may get treated for malaria even if they do not have it.Such misuse of medicines can lead to drug resistance.Quantum dots are particles that give off3 light when activated.Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of targeted molecule.4

Experts say nanotechnology shows promise not just for diagnosing diseases,but also for treating them.Piotr Grodzinski of the National Institutes of Health5 talked about how nanotechnology could make drugs more effective.He talked about cancer drugs already developed with nanotechnology.He says if a drug can target a cancer locally in the body,then much less of it might be needed,and that means lower side effects.6

Andrew Maynard is chief scientist for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson Center.He noted that Brazil,India,China and South Africa are currently doing nanotechnology research that could help poor countries.But he also noted that there is some risk in using nano-materials.He says nanometer-sized particles behave differently in the body and the environment compared to larger particles7.Experts say more investment in research is needed to better understand these risks.

注释：

1.beauty product：美容产品

2.quantum dot （QD）：量子点。可取代传统染色法，成为细胞内的突光标记物，可进行长时间、多分子、同时检测。

3.give off：放出；发出（蒸汽、光线、烟雾、气味等）

4.Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.研究人员正在研究为它们编程的方法，以便如果有靶分子存在时能通过发光辨认疾病。light up点灯；发光。targeted molecule：靶分子。

5.National Institutes of Health （NIH）：国立卫生研究院

6.side effect：副作用

7.compared to larger particles：如果与大一点的颗粒比较起来的话。这是一个过去分词短语，作条件状语。

练习：

1.Which of the following uses of nanotechnology is NOT mentioned in the passage？

A.To make beauty products and dirt-resistant clothing.

B.To produce better and lighter building materials.

C.To help more accurately diagnose diseases.

D.To help more effectively treat diseases.

2.How can quantum dots be used to confirm diseases？

A.By traditionally looking at a person's blood under a microscope.

B.By letting a person take some kind of medicine.

C.By lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.

D.By subjecting a person to an X-ray examination.

3.How can nanotechnology be used to make a drug more effective？

A.By making a drug target the focus of a disease.

B.By changing the structure of the body cells.

C.By lowering the side effects caused by a drug.

D.By letting a patient take a dose as large as possible.

答案与题解：

1.B本题项A在第一段第三句提到，选项C在第二段倒数第二句和第四段第一句提到，选项D则在第四段第二、三、四句提到，只有选项B全文均未提及。

2.C第三段最后两句说道，如果存在靶分子的话，量子点就会发光，以此辨认疾病，这正是本题答案。

3.A第四段全段都在讲纳米技术如何提高药物疗效，而中心就在于纳米技术能使药物对准疾病病灶（文章中实际是举已经研发的治癌药为例）从而提高药物疗效。

4.C第五段第二句已经说得很清楚，其中并没有Iran.

5.D第五段第三句说道，纳米技术的应用存在一定的风险，因为与较大颗粒相比，纳米材料的颗粒在体内和在体外环境中的作用可能不太一样。

译文：第一篇 纳米保健技术走向贫困国家

纳米技术的应用对象都是分子级和原子级的物质。如今，长度为一纳米，即十亿分之一米的粒子已被研究人员开发出多种用途，如制造美容产品和抗污型服装等。但其中一个领域科学家认为潜力尤为巨大，那就是医药领域。

在上周于华盛顿Woodrow Wilsom国家学术中心召开的一个项目会议上，科学家们探讨了如何将纳米技术应用于贫困国家人口保健的事宜。来自多伦多大学的Peter Singer 声称一项名为量子点的纳米技术可被应用于疟疾的诊断。他指出相对于传统的仅用显微镜观察血液样本的方法，此技术要先进得多。

由于贫困国家往往没有条件应用此项新技术，许多健康人被误诊为疟疾患者，而药物的滥用又导致类抗药性的产生。所谓量子点是指一些被激活后会发光的粒子，科学家正在研究为它们编程的方法，以便当靶分子存在的时候就能够通过发光来诊断疾病。

纳米技术的优越性不光体现在疾病的诊断，还包括疾病的治疗。国立卫生研究所的Piotr Grodzinski 与大家共同探讨类如何运用纳米技术来增强药效。以一些已经使用类纳米技术的抗癌药物为例，他指出，如果药物可以针对癌症病灶而不是整个人体，治疗所需药量就会大大减少，副作用也会降低。

Andrew Maynard 是Woodrow Wilsom 中心新兴的纳米技术工程部骨干科学家，他注意到巴西、印度、中国及南非正在开发可被贫困国家所应用的纳米技术。与此同时他指出，与较大分子不同，纳米材料的颗粒在人体内和体外环境中的作用可能有所不同，因此纳米技术的应用存在一定风险，专家认为若要深入研究这些风险则需要更大的资金投入。