Scientists enlist tiny biomagnets for faster drug discovery
A new platform brings together CRISPR genome editing with magnetic cell sorting to reveal new drug targets for cancer and regenerative medicine.
Read moreBiochemistry
Tiny, biocompatible nanolaser could function inside living tissues
Researchers have developed a tiny nanolaser that can function inside of living tissues without harming them.
Better samples, better science: New study explores integrity of research specimens
Biological samples can be highly susceptible to changes over time, which often occur when they are removed from deep refrigeration. Degraded samples can produce spurious results in research. To address these concerns, scientists have designed a highly sensitive test that can be used to establish the integrity of blood plasma and serum, the most common biosamples used in medical research.
Read moreNew reaction will make indoline scaffolds available for pharmaceutical development
New approach to producing indolent scaffolds could streamline development and production of small-molecule pharmaceuticals, which comprise the majority of medicines in use today.
Read moreTailored 'cell sheets' to improve post-operative wound closing and healing
Scientists have designed a new method for post-operative wound closing and healing that is both fast and effective. This strategy revolves around engineered 'cell sheets' — or layers of skin-based cells. The procedure culminates in a wound dressing that is custom made for a specific cut or lesion that can be used to effectively treat open skin areas after surgeries. The findings were published in Scientific Reports on July 18th.
Read moreScientists develop DNA microcapsules with built-in ion channels
A Research group reports a way of constructing DNA-based microcapsules that hold great promise for the development of new functional materials and devices. They showed that tiny pores on the surface of these capsules can act as ion channels. Their study will accelerate advances in artificial cell engineering and molecular robotics, as well as nanotechnology itself.
Read moreDrug delivery: Thermo-responsive protein hydrogel
Bio-engineering researchers have created a biocompatible, protein-based hydrogel that could serve as a drug delivery system durable enough to survive in the body for more than two weeks while providing sustained medication release. The research advances an area of biochemistry that is also critical to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Protein hydrogels are more biocompatible than synthetic ones and do not require potentially toxic chemical crosslinkers.
Read moreScientists construct energy production unit for a synthetic cell
Scientists have constructed synthetic vesicles in which ATP, the main energy carrier in living cells, is produced. The vesicles use the ATP to maintain their volume and their ionic strength homeostasis. This metabolic network will eventually be used in the creation of synthetic cells – but it can already be used to study ATP-dependent processes.
Read moreProgrammable swarmbots make flexible biological tools
Biomedical engineers have developed a new platform to create biological drugs using specially engineered bacteria that burst and release useful proteins when they sense that their capsule is becoming too crowded.
Read moreStatistical inference to mimic the operating manner of highly-experienced crystallographer
A research team has developed a novel data analysis method for prior evaluation of single crystal structure analysis. Their proposed method is based on precise estimation of a parameter inherent in preliminary-collected small data set. They demonstrated application of it to guest distinction in host-guest crystals before single crystal structure analysis and measurement design for precise crystallographic observation.
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