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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia researchers develop “dimmer switch” to help control gene therapy

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a system that can fine-tune protein expression from gene therapy vectors, addressing the need for controlled dosing. The 'dimmer switch' uses alternative RNA splicing and an orally available small molecule to adjust levels of expression up or down as needed.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2021

Millimetre-precision drug delivery to the brain

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a non-invasive method for concentrating and releasing drugs in the brain with pinpoint accuracy using focused ultrasound. The new technique aggregates drugs at specific sites, reducing dosage requirements by 1,300 times, and preserves physiological barriers between blood and nervous tissue.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 5, 2020

Robot jaws shows medicated chewing gum could be the future

A new study uses a humanoid chewing robot to assess medicated chewing gum, replicating human chewing motion in a closed environment. The researchers found that the robot demonstrates a similar release rate of xylitol as human participants, with the greatest release occurring during the first five minutes of chewing.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 14, 2020

News about drug delivery

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered how increasing amounts of active ingredients in polymeric micelles reduce their dissolution and solubility. The study aims to improve drug delivery systems by understanding molecular interactions and potential structural changes to enhance absorption and dissolving capabilities.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateOct 30, 2019

Drug-delivering device streamlines tuberculosis treatment in pigs

Scientists have developed a retrievable wire-like device that safely delivers large dosages of drugs over several weeks to treat tuberculosis (TB) in pigs. The device, tested successfully, could help patients adhere to treatment regimens more easily, particularly in remote areas where healthcare resources are limited.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 13, 2019

Terahertz wave activates filamentation of actin

Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered that terahertz wave irradiation activates the filamentation of actin protein. This non-invasive method could overcome problems with current drugs used to control actin filamentation and expand its applications in biological technologies.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 29, 2018

Lyndra announces publication of feasibility study of oral once-weekly drug delivery system for HIV antiretroviral therapy in Nature Communications

A recent study published in Nature Communications presents a proof-of-concept for an oral, once-weekly drug delivery platform for HIV antiretroviral therapy. The platform demonstrates sustained oral delivery of potent anti-HIV therapies, offering a potential solution to non-adherence issues.

SourcePure Communications Inc.·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 9, 2018

Novel thermal ablation system for transdermal drug delivery

Researchers at Kumamoto University developed a photothermal ablation system to enhance transdermal delivery of protein-based drugs. The system, using gold nanorods and near-infrared light, increased skin permeability and successfully delivered proteins in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics·DateJul 26, 2017

Shortcut method in drug development

Researchers at Uppsala University develop a small-scale method to determine bioavailability of drugs within cells, facilitating early-stage drug development. The method takes into account how drugs 'disappear' when binding to cell components, offering a promising tool for pharmaceutical companies.

SourceUppsala University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2017