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Chemists develop new approach to inserting single carbon atoms

Researchers have developed a precise and efficient tool using 'single atom skeletal editing' to insert single carbon atoms into cyclic compounds, enabling ring size adjustment from five to six-membered rings. This approach opens up the way for designing and modifying complex molecular structures with potential industrial applications i...

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 9, 2024

A new approach can address antibiotic resistance to Mycobacterium abscessus

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have designed a new version of the drug spectinomycin that overcomes efflux, a key mechanism driving antibiotic resistance in Mab infections. The modified compound, eAmSPCs, shows enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and works well with various classes of antibiotics.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 5, 2024

Nanoparticle transport across the blood brain barrier increases with Alzheimer’s and age, study finds

Researchers develop nanoparticles that selectively bind to activated astrocytes and microglia cells in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's patients, demonstrating increased nanoparticle transport across the blood brain barrier with age. The study provides valuable insights into advancing nanoparticle-based drug delivery for treating neurode...

Scientists in Germany develop a new analytical method, which enables improved insight into (mRNA) nanoparticles and similar pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products

Scientists in Germany developed a new analytical method to precisely elucidate the size of particles, structure, and RNA molecules in pharmaceutical products. This information can help evaluate product quality, enabling improved development of new products.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 19, 2023

Deaths from heart valve infections drop across U.S. overall, but surged among young adults

A new study found that deaths from infective endocarditis decreased overall in the US, but rose sharply among people ages 25-44, likely linked to the opioid crisis. Researchers call for more investigation into the trends and recommend comprehensive care plans including substance use disorder screening and treatment.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateDec 13, 2023

C-Path’s pioneering neuroscience workshop transforms the landscape of neurological disorder therapies

The C-Path Neuroscience Annual Workshop brought together stakeholders to chart a transformative course for neurology research and drug development, focusing on chronic progressive diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Key highlights included recommendations for innovative therapies and tools to address complex disorders.

SourceCritical Path Institute (C-Path)·JournalNeurotherapeutics·TypeContent analysis·DateNov 9, 2023

Screen printed electrodes for measuring endothelial barrier integrity

Scientists have developed a novel organ-on-a-chip device with customizable screen-printed electrodes for measuring endothelial barrier integrity. The device overcomes traditional electrode fabrication challenges, providing a reliable and accurate method for studying the crucial roles of endothelial barriers in healthy and disease states.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalBiomedical Microdevices·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2023

Better together against cancer

Researchers combined three highly potent cancer drugs in a single prodrug that is activated in tumor cells, resulting in improved efficacy and reduced side effects. The new approach has shown promise as a potential solution to reduce the burden on patients' bodies during cancer treatment.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 26, 2023

Computational model helps with diabetes drug design

Researchers developed a computational model to analyze glucose-responsive insulin (GRI) performance in human patients. The model predicted that differences in sugar receptor behavior between humans and lab animals led to the drug's poor effect in clinical trials. This breakthrough helps researchers design better GRIs, potentially reduc...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalACS Pharmacology & Translational Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 20, 2023

New compound unleashes the immune system on metastases

Researchers developed nanoparticles that accumulate in cancer cells and eliminate them after photoactivation, also labeling immune cells to target similar cells throughout the body. This technology has shown promise in treating mice with implanted human tumor cells and could lead to a new treatment approach for metastatic cancers.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 7, 2023

Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels

Medical cannabis use in Australian patients with chronic health issues is linked to significant improvements in overall health-related quality of life and fatigue levels. Patients also report clinically meaningful reductions in pain and moderate-severe anxiety and depression.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateSep 6, 2023

Deep learning for new protein design

Deep learning methods significantly improved protein design success rates by 10-fold using AI-augmented pipelines and machine learning software tools AlphaFold 2 and RoseTTA fold. The study successfully generated accurate models of protein structures, paving the way for new discoveries in fields like cancer and COVID-19 research.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 3, 2023

New technology promises rapid and reliable development of new diagnostic tests

Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have developed a new approach to designing molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins, which can be used in various biotechnological and biomedical applications. The novel technique allows for faster and more accurate diagnostic tests for detecting diseases and monitoring water quality.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2023

Test animals, hold your breath!

Researchers from Kyoto University developed a microchip using human iPS cells to measure transport capacity of membrane proteins, potentially giving test animals respite. The model simulates glucose reabsorption and drug excretion in renal proximal tubules, enabling patient-specific disease modeling and personalized medicine studies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2023

Specialty drugs accounted for most new product launches in the past decade. Why do we know so little about how clinical studies influence their diffusion?

Researchers from McGill University and Ontario Tech University examine the drivers of specialty drug diffusion. They propose a framework that suggests clinical studies affect the diffusion through a multi-stage scientific evidence production process. The study finds that marketing activities have no significant effect on prescriptions.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJun 14, 2023

Using AI to create better, more potent medicines

Researchers at Ohio State University developed an AI framework called G2 Retro to automatically generate chemical reactions for molecules. The framework was shown to cover a vast range of possible reactions and accurately predict the best synthesis routes, offering more efficient drug design options.

SourceOhio State University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 30, 2023

Researchers overcome stem cell delivery barrier, paving the way for regenerative medicine

Scientists have developed a new method to deliver genetic information to stem cells using nanoparticles coated with a specific polymer, enabling more efficient control over cellular differentiation. This innovation has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of regenerative medicine treatments.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023