Scientists have developed a diamond-based sensor that could make it easier for doctors to detect the spread of cancer.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have created a handheld device that is designed to trace tiny magnetic particles injected into the body.
The scientists said this offers a non-toxic alternative to radioactive tracers and dyes currently used in hospitals.
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) have collaborated with partners at Greifswald University Hospital and University Medical Center Rostock to demonstrate that cold plasma can effectively combat tumor cells even in deeper tissue layers.
What is particularly noteworthy is that, by developing new tissue models, they were able to precisely investigate the effect of individual plasma components on tumor cells for the first time. The research is published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology.
In the past decade, there has been significant interest in studying the expression of our genetic code down to the level of single cells, to identify the functions and activities of any cell through the course of health or disease.
The identity of a cell, and the way that identity can go awry, is critical to its role in many of the biggest health challenges we face, including cancer, neurodegeneration, or genetic and developmental disorders. Zooming in on single cells allows us to tell the difference between variants which would otherwise be lost in the average of a region. This is essential for finding new medical solutions to diseases.
Most single-cell gene expression experiments make use of a technology called single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), which produces a map of exactly which genes are being copied out into short “transcripts” inside the nucleus. However, scRNA-seq only gives us a window into the intermediate step between the genetic code and the proteins which take care of (almost) all the tasks inside our bodies.
Bioelectronics have transformed our capacity to monitor and treat diseases; however, a lack of micrometer-scale, energy efficient communication options limit these devices from forming integrated networks that enable full-body, sensor driven, physiological control. Inspired by our nervous system’s ability to transmit information via ionic conduction, we engineered a Smart Wireless Artificial Nervous System (SWANS) that utilizes the body’s own tissue to transmit signals between wearables and implantables. When SWANS emits signals, it generates voltage gradients throughout the body that selectively turn on implanted transistor switches when exceeding their gate threshold voltages. SWANS’ implantable communication components maintain syringe-injectable footprints and 15x greater power efficiencies than Bluetooth and Near Field Communication. In vivo studies in rats demonstrate SWANS’ ability to wirelessly regulate dual hind leg motor control by connecting electronic-skin sensors to implantable neural interfaces via ionic signaling as well as coordinate bioelectronics throughout the epidermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and gastrointestinal spaces.
Ramy ghanim, yoon jae lee, garan byun, joy jackson, julia Z ding, elaine feller, eugene kim, dilay aygun, anika kaushik, alaz cig, jihoon park, sean healy, camille E cunin, aristide gumyusenge, woon hong yeo, alex abramson.