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Non-biological factors and social determinants of health important in women’s CVD risk assessment

The new American Heart Association scientific statement emphasizes the importance of including non-biological factors and social determinants in CVD risk assessment for women. These factors include economic stability, neighborhood safety, education level, and access to quality healthcare, which disproportionately affect women from dive...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation·DateApr 10, 2023

Creating a blueprint for optimized ear tubes and other implantable fluid-transporting devices

Researchers have developed a new ear tube design that combines liquid-infused materials with optimized geometry to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ear infections. The design enables better performance and reduces complications such as impaired hearing and scarring of the eardrum.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2023

A 21st-century remedy for missed meds

Researchers at Rice University have created a new technology called PULSED that can deliver time-released drugs and vaccines for extended periods. The technology uses high-resolution 3D printing and soft lithography to produce microcylinders made of biodegradable polymers, which can be loaded with drugs and release them over time.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2023

[Press Release] SMART researchers develop the world's first microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants

Researchers have developed a microneedle-based drug delivery technique for plants, which can precisely deliver controlled amounts of agrochemicals to specific plant tissues. This method has the potential to improve crop quality and disease management while minimizing resource wastage and environmental contamination.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

Nanosatellite shows the way to RNA medicine of the future

Scientists at Aarhus University and Berkeley Laboratory developed a method called RNA origami to design artificial RNA nanostructures. The technique allowed for the discovery of rules and mechanisms for RNA folding that will make it possible to build more ideal RNA particles for use in RNA-based medicine.

SourceAarhus University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2023

Designing with DNA

A new software program developed by Duke Ph.D. student Dan Fu lets users create 3D structures made of DNA, including tiny vases, bowls, and hollow spheres. The software relies on a way to build with DNA described in 2011 by Hao Yan, which works by coiling a long DNA double helix into concentric rings to form the contours of the object.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 23, 2022

Buprenorphine, not methadone, may be safer treatment for opioid-use disorder during pregnancy

Researchers found that buprenorphine use was associated with better outcomes for the baby, including lower risk of preterm birth, small size for gestational age, and low birth weight. The study suggests increasing access to buprenorphine treatment among pregnant individuals with opioid-use disorder.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 30, 2022

Probiotic 'backpacks' show promise for treating inflammatory bowel diseases

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison develop nanoparticles to neutralize molecules implicated in IBD, significantly improving treatment outcomes. The probiotic bacteria are equipped with nano-backpacks that target reactive oxygen species, reducing inflammation and promoting weight gain and colon length restoration.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2022

Efficient mRNA delivery by branched lipids

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a novel branched ionizable lipid that significantly increases the efficiency of mRNA delivery by LNPs. The new lipid, CL4F 8-6, was found to enhance protein expression in mice and achieve stable formulations.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalSmall Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

Oncotarget | Predictive molecular biomarkers for determining neoadjuvant chemosensitivity in muscle invasive bladder cancer

A study using mRNA and miRNA expression profiles identified molecular signatures that can differentiate muscle invasive bladder cancer patients who respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy from those who do not. The research found distinct gene pathways and subtypes associated with response, which may lead to more effective treatment delivery.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 8, 2022

Fighting tumors with magnetic bacteria

Researchers controlled magnetic bacteria to cross blood vessel walls and infiltrate tumor tissue, delivering liposomes with fluorescent dye to demonstrate their ability to carry therapeutic agents. This approach may revolutionize bacterial cancer therapy by increasing efficacy and reducing side effects.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Flatworm-inspired medical adhesives stop blood loss

Researchers from McGill University developed a medical adhesive inspired by flatworms that uses suction to absorb blood and promote blood coagulation. The adhesive can be removed without causing re-bleeding, making it a potential replacement for wound sutures or delivering drugs.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2022

Distantly related viruses share self-assembly mechanism

Researchers have discovered that two distantly related RNA viruses perform chemical choreography in strikingly similar ways, forming a symmetrical icosahedral shell. This finding has potential applications in improving pharmaceutical delivery and engineering, as well as understanding protein folding mechanisms.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022

New MIT research forecasts effect of two-dose vaccine allocation strategies on cumulative number of infections and death in US

A new MIT model simulates vaccine allocation strategies to predict the effect on cumulative deaths and infections in the US. The research finds that allocating more than 50% of available doses to non-vaccinated individuals can significantly increase lives saved and reduce infections.

SourceMIT Sloan School of Management·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 15, 2022

Destroying tumor cells: Targeted immunotherapy using injectable materials

Researchers at TIBI developed a minimally invasive method for targeted delivery of immunotherapeutic treatments, resulting in slower tumor growth and higher activation of T-cells. The injectable gelatin biomaterial containing silicate nanoplatelets showed sustained drug release and controlled ICI delivery.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2022

Chemotherapy drugs from “rogue” online pharmacies could endanger leukemia patients, suggests research in JNCCN

A study found that a majority of online pharmacies selling imatinib, a chronic myeloid leukemia therapy, are uncertified and operate unsafely. Patients may face risks of nonadherence, treatment failures, and adverse events if they use these pharmacies.

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 28, 2022

Custom suits for worms that really deliver

Researchers from Osaka University have developed a system to coat nematodes with hydrogel sheaths that can carry functional cargo. The study found that the sheaths protect the worms from UV light and hydrogen peroxide while allowing them to deliver anti-cancer agents to kill cancer cells in vitro.

SourceOsaka University·JournalMaterials Today Bio·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 22, 2022

Penn Medicine study reveals imaging approach with potential to detect lung cancer earlier, at the cellular level

Researchers at Penn Medicine have developed an imaging agent that detects cancer cells in real-time during biopsies, offering promise for earlier and more accurate diagnoses. The technology, known as NIR-nCLE, uses a combination of near-infrared tracers and confocal laser endomicroscopy to identify microscopic cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2022

New studies in journal of pharmaceutical analysis demonstrate advancements in nanotechnology and their impact across multiple areas of human health

Recent studies published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis have found applications of nanotechnology in medicine, drug research, and environmental protection. Researchers developed nanodots made of carbon using natural polysaccharides from mushrooms to detect chromium, and created nanozymes that could be used to detect drug con...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2022

A new way to enter the cell using superchaotropic properties of boron clusters

A new class of membrane carriers, based on halogenated dodecaborate cluster anions, has been discovered to facilitate the cell entry of impermeable molecules. These superchaotropic boron clusters interact with hydrophilic cargos without encapsulating or forming aggregates, allowing for efficient transport across biological membranes.

NCCN pharmacy directors forum publishes recommendations for safely dispensing investigational medications for clinical trials

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has published new consensus recommendations to improve the safety and efficiency of research studies involving investigational drugs. The recommendations focus on seven areas, including pharmacy workflows and collaboration with sponsors.

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalAmerican Journal of Health-System Pharmacy·DateMar 15, 2022

The next generation of robots will be shape-shifters

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new coating method for soft robots that allows them to change shape and movement through human-controlled activity. This breakthrough in active matter could lead to the creation of machines governed by individual units that cooperate to determine movement and function.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022