Cloning from the clone of a clone of a clone may not be the ingenious idea we thought it was.
Category: biotech/medical – Page 15
Tiny Robots Built From DNA Could Hunt Viruses and Deliver Drugs Inside the Human Body
For most of human history, medical treatment has relied on methods such as pills, injections, and surgery. Now, scientists are exploring a new idea: making tiny, programmable machines from DNA that can move through the bloodstream.
A recent review published in the journal SmartBot says these DNA nanorobots could one day be capable of delivering drugs to specific locations in the body, capturing viruses like SARS-CoV-2, and even helping build tiny computing devices. Even though these ideas are exciting, the technology is still in its early stages.
Early Stages of Development.
What keeps vision cells alive?
Clear patterns emerged: two kinase inhibitors consistently protected cones over extended periods.
The researchers identified inhibitors of casein kinase 1 (CK1) that protected cones, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors that saved cones in the short term but damaged them in the longer term, and broad histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition by many compounds that significantly damaged cones.
The protective effects held across different stress conditions and were further confirmed in a mouse model of retinal degeneration, supporting their broader relevance.
Beyond identifying protective pathways, the study makes a comprehensive dataset publicly available, covering the compounds tested, their molecular targets, and their effects on human cone survival. This resource will guide the development of therapies aimed at preserving central vision and enable a systematic assessment of potential retinal toxicity. ScienceMission sciencenewshighlights.
Scientists have identified genetic pathways and compounds capable of protecting cone photoreceptors from the degeneration that underlies conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
Cone photoreceptors, concentrated in the macula, are essential for reading, recognizing faces, and perceiving colors. Their death, as it happens in many inherited retinal diseases and macular degeneration, leads to the loss of central vision. Despite decades of research, no approved therapies can halt this process. This new study, conducted by researchers addresses this unmet need using a human-based experimental system.
CBD found to reverse brain damage in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. The deficits linked to AD are known to result from the abnormal accumulation of proteins, particularly tau and β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain and between nerve cells, which causes neuroinflammation and can prompt the degradation of brain cells.
The non-psychoactive compound derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, called cannabidiol (CBD), was recently found to show promise for protecting brain cells from damage.
Compared to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound in cannabis that elicits feelings of euphoria and alters a user’s mental state, CBD is safer and could thus be easier to introduce in clinical settings.
Scientists discover hidden brain switch that tells you to stop eating
Your brain’s “stop eating” signal may come from an unexpected source. Researchers found that astrocytes—once thought to just support neurons—actually play a key role in controlling appetite. After a meal, glucose triggers tanycytes, which send signals to astrocytes that then activate fullness neurons. This newly discovered pathway could lead to innovative treatments for obesity and eating disorders.
Apolipoprotein E Mimetic Peptide CN-105 and Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients: The Phase 2 MARBLE Randomized Clinical Trial
A phase 2 trial found that the apoE mimetic peptide CN-105 was safe and feasible in older adults after surgery, supporting the need for a phase 3 trial to assess effects on postoperative delirium.
This randomized clinical trial investigates the safety and feasibility of the apolipoprotein E mimetic peptide CN-105 vs placebo for reducing postoperative delirium in older patients.
3D-printed ‘spanlastics’ could change how cancer drugs reach tumors
University of Mississippi research offers hope that cancer drug therapies packaged in 3D-printed carriers could deliver medication directly to tumors while reducing many of the side effects that cancer patients endure. In a study published in Pharmaceutical Research, the Ole Miss team demonstrated that 3D-printed spanlastics—a tiny carrier filled with cancer-fighting drugs—could be implanted directly at the site of a tumor and kill those cells.
“This paper introduced a new 3D printing concept called FRESH 3D printing,” said Mo Maniruzzaman, chair and professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery. “It uses spanlastics as a new nano-drug delivery vehicle for anticancer drug delivery. We actually applied this on breast cancer cells and we got some really, really promising data.”
Traditional chemotherapy is often given orally or injected into the bloodstream, where the circulatory system disperses cancer-fighting therapy throughout the body.
Water-repelling surfaces reveal surprising charging effects
Materials that repel water are used in countless applications, including industrial separation processes, routine laboratory pipetting, and medical devices. When water touches these surfaces, the interface where they meet tends to acquire a small electrical charge—an effect that is ubiquitous, yet poorly understood. KAUST researchers have now studied this in detail and their findings could have broad implications. The findings are published in the journal Langmuir.
“This is not a niche laboratory curiosity,” says Yinfeng Xu, a Ph.D. student who led the experimental work in Himanshu Mishra’s laboratory. “This phenomenon plays a role in environmental processes such as dew droplets and raindrops; in industrial operations involving sprays, condensates, or emulsions; and in modern microfluidic and liquid-handling systems used in laboratories worldwide.”
$220 Billion Problem: Scientists Uncover the Secret Weapon Bacteria Use To Take Over Crops
Plant-infecting bacteria have a surprisingly direct way of taking over crops. Instead of slowly breaking down defenses, many of them inject proteins straight into plant cells, effectively hijacking the system from the inside.
For decades, scientists have tried to understand one particularly important group of these proteins, known as AvrE/DspE. These molecules are used by pathogens that attack a wide range of crops, including rice, tomatoes, apples, and pears. They are responsible for diseases such as bacterial speck, brown spot, and the devastating fire blight that can wipe out entire orchards.
Tattoos, toxins and the immune system — what you need to know before you get inked
Tattoo ink stays with you for life. Researchers are now asking how these pigments interact with the immune system and whether long-term exposure matters.