Immigrants are crucial for US innovation: our research revealed that 65 countries (apart from the US) have produced at least one founder of a US unicorn. Here is the list of countries with 10 or more US unicorn founders by continent:
• Europe: The United Kingdom leads with 31 founders, followed by Germany (18), France (17), Russia (14), Ukraine (12), and Ireland (10).
• Asia: India leads with 90 founders, followed by Israel (52), China (27), and Taiwan (12).
Targeting therapeutic nanoparticles to the brain poses a challenge due to the restrictive nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Here we report the development of mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) functionalized with BBB-interacting small molecules, thereby enhancing brain delivery and gene expression. Screening brain-targeted mRNA-LNPs in central nervous system (CNS) in vitro models and through intravenous administration in mice demonstrated that acetylcholine-conjugated LNPs achieved superior brain tropism and gene expression, outperforming LNP modifications with nicotine, glucose, memantine, cocaine, tryptophan, and other small molecules. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based model designed to predict the BBB permeability of small-molecule ligands showed strong alignment with our experimental results, providing in vivo validation of its predictive capacity. Cell-specific biodistribution analysis in Cre-reporter Ai9 mice showed that acetylcholine-functionalized LNPs preferentially transfected neurons and astrocytes following either intravenous or intracerebral administration. Mechanistic studies suggest that acetylcholine-LNP uptake is mediated by the functional engagement of acetylcholine receptors (AchRs) followed by endocytosis, which synergistically enhances intracellular mRNA delivery. Moreover, acetylcholine-LNPs successfully crossed a human BBB-on-a-chip model, enabling transgene expression in human iPSC-derived neurons. Their effective penetration and transfection in human brain organoids further support their potential activity in human-based systems. These findings establish a predictive and modular framework for engineering CNS-targeted LNPs, advancing precision gene delivery for brain disorders.
Interesting paper where microintravascular electrodes were inserted into cortical veins of pigs to record somatosensory and visual neuronal activity as well as selectively stimulate motor areas. Compared to electrocorticography, this is a less invasive approach with similar capabilities. #neurotech [ https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202500487](https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202500487)
Intravascular electroencephalography (ivEEG) with microintravascular electrodes enhances neural monitoring, functional mapping, and brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), offering a minimally invasive approach to assess cortical activities; however, this approach remains unrealized. Current ivEEG methods using electrode-attached stents are limited to recording from large vessels, such as the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), restricting access to cortical regions essential for precise BCI control, such as those for hand and mouth movements. Here, ivEEG signals from small and soft cortical veins (CV-ivEEGs) in eight pigs using microintravascular electrodes are recorded, achieving higher resting-state signal power and greater spatial resolution of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) compared to SSS-based ivEEG. Additionally, ivEEG recorded from deep veins clearly captures visual evoked potentials. Furthermore, comparisons between CV-ivEEG and electrocorticography (ECoG) using epidural and subdural electrodes in two pigs demonstrate that CV-ivEEG captures cortical SEPs comparable to ECoG. Targeted electrical stimulation via cortical vein electrodes induces specific contralateral muscle contractions in five anesthetized pigs, confirming selective motor-region stimulation with minimal invasiveness. The findings suggest that ivEEG with microintravascular electrodes is capable of accessing diverse cortical areas and capturing localized neural activity with high signal fidelity for minimally invasive cortical mapping and BCI.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered how to use ultrafast lasers to wiggle atoms in exotic materials, temporarily altering their electronic behavior. By combining cutting-edge microscopes with quantum simulations, they created a nanoscale switch that could revolutionize smartphones, laptops, and even future quantum computers.
Scientists at Rutgers and collaborators have traced the invisible dark matter scaffolding of the universe using over 100,000 Lyman-alpha emitting galaxies. By studying how these galaxies clustered across three eras shortly after the Big Bang, they mapped dark matter concentrations, uncovering cosmic “fingerprints” that reveal how galaxies grow and evolve.
Glucose controls CD8+ T cell function.
The researchers demonstrate that in CD8+ effector T cells, glucose metabolism extends beyond energy production by fueling glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis, a pathway critical for T cell expansion and cytotoxic function.
The authors show that CD8+ effector T cells use glucose to synthesize uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc), a precursor for glycogen, glycan, and GSL biosynthesis. Inhibiting GSL production impairs CD8+ T cell expansion upon pathogen challenge.
Mechanistically, we show that glucose-dependent GSL biosynthesis is required for plasma membrane lipid raft integrity and optimal T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. https://sciencemission.com/Glucose-dependent-glycosphingolipid-biosynthesis
Glucose is required for T cell proliferation and function, but its key metabolic fates in vivo are not well defined. Longo et al. demonstrate that in CD8+ effector T cells, glucose metabolism extends beyond energy production by fueling glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, a pathway critical for T cell expansion and cytotoxic function.
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