Often diagnosed when surgery is no longer an option, pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat and has one of the lowest rates of survival among major malignancies. Like many solid tumors, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is shielded by the desmoplastic matrix-a dense barrier … Read more
A new preclinical study shows that red blood cells can be tagged in vivo and used as long-lasting carriers for imaging agents and therapies, opening a new route for safer drug delivery and vascular imaging. Study: In vivo metabolic tagging and targeting of circulating red blood cells. Image Credit: The1969 Studio / Shutterstock In a … Read more
Su, L.-J. et al. Delivery of mRNA for cancer therapy: progress and prospects. Nano Today 53, 102013 (2023). Article CAS Google Scholar Huang, X. G. et al. The landscape of mRNA nanomedicine. Nat. Med. 28, 2273–2287 (2022). Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Baden, L. R. et al. Efficacy and safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. … Read more
One of oncology’s biggest challenges is that the same treatment can work well for some patients but fail completely in others. A study published in Nature Communications, from a multi-disciplinary team led by Dr Louise Fets at the LMS, has mapped the distribution of a type of targeted treatments, known as PARP inhibitors, using advanced imaging techniques and patient ovarian tumour samples. The research reveals that build up of these drugs in lysosomes – small compartments inside cells that normally act as “recycling centres” – can trap and … Read more
After a heart attack, cardiologists can reopen blocked vessels and restore blood flow, but the muscle cells that died will never be replaced. “The heart is one of the organs with the least ability to regenerate,” said Ke Cheng, Alan L. Kaganov Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia Engineering. “The spontaneous regeneration power is very, very limited.” In … Read more
Baylor University researchers have published a novel approach to fight colorectal cancer, using modified bacteria as a courier to deliver potent cancer-killing proteins into tumor cells. Michael S. VanNieuwenhze, PhD, FRSC, University Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Biology, along with Baylor doctoral students and a colleague at Texas Tech University Health Sciences … Read more
A new technology has been developed to suppress immune rejection, the biggest challenge in organ transplantation, without causing systemic side effects. A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Ewha Womans University has developed the “Immune-Shield” technology, which directly sprays immunosuppressants onto the surface of organs using mussel-derived adhesive protein. These … Read more
Scientists have made a key breakthrough for treating respiratory diseases by developing a new drug delivery system that transports genetic therapies directly to the lungs, opening promising possibilities for patients with conditions like lung cancer and cystic fibrosis. The research, led by Gaurav Sahay of Oregon State University’s College of Pharmacy, was conducted in collaboration … Read more
Nanomedicines, especially those based on nanoparticles, are revolutionizing healthcare in terms of both diagnostics and therapeutics. These particles, often containing metals like iron or gold, can serve as contrast agents in medical imaging, act as nutritional supplements, and even function as carriers for drug delivery. Thanks to their unique properties plus careful engineering, nanomedicines can … Read more
Researchers have created a new kind of nanoparticle that could make ultrasound-based cancer treatments more effective and safer, while also helping prevent tumors from coming back. The study, published in the journal Nano Letters, explores a way to make high-intensity focused ultrasound less harmful to healthy tissues. Oregon Health & Science University was the first hospital in Oregon to offer … Read more