Dissociating Tissue into Single Cells Using Electric Fields
A team of scientists at Brown University has developed a technique that allows them to rapidly dissociate a tissue sample into individual cells. The approach involves placing a tissue sample, such as a tumor biopsy, between two electrodes. Electric field fluctuations then help to pull the cells in alternating directions, eventually culminating in their dissociation. Current approaches typically involve using enzymes to digest bulk tissue samples, which takes longer and is more complex. The technique will be very useful for single cell analyses, such as the genetic analyses performed on tumor samples for diagnosis and treat...
Source: Medgadget - July 20, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: etc. Genetics Pathology BrownUniversity Source Type: blogs
Nanoparticle Vaccine for Many SARS-Like Coronaviruses
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology, better known as Caltech, have developed a nanoparticle vaccine that appears to confer broad protection against SARS-like betacoronaviruses. This includes SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the current pandemic, and SARS-CoV, which caused the original SARS pandemic in the early 2000s.
The vaccine consists of protein nanoparticles that are studded with spike protein elements of eight different SARS-like betacoronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, but the researchers hope that it will confer broad immunity to new viral strains, including new and existing variants of SARS-Co...
Source: Medgadget - July 20, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Medicine Nanomedicine Public Health betacoronaviruses Caltech SARS-CoV Source Type: blogs
Surgical Dressing Helps Kill Melanoma, Regenerate Healthy Cells
Scientists at the University of Nottingham in the UK have created a surgical dressing that is specifically designed to facilitate and enhance photothermal therapy following melanoma resection. The dressing allows for near-infrared photothermal therapy that lasts just 15 seconds every 48 hours. The concept involves killing any remaining melanoma cells, while encouraging healthy cells to regenerate within the resection site.
The dressing contains graphene oxide (a photothermal agent, which converts the energy from light to heat, killing cancer cells), elastin, and ethanol. Combining the graphene oxide with elastin reduce...
Source: Medgadget - July 19, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Dermatology Materials Medicine Oncology Rehab Surgery melanoma UniofNottingham Source Type: blogs
Artificial Ventricle Mimics Helical Muscle Fibers
Researchers at Harvard developed a technique that lets them recreate the helical arrangement of cardiac muscle fibers within the heart ventricles in a bioengineered construct. The breakthrough could pave the way for artificial bioengineered hearts.
The researchers used a technique called Focused Rotary Jet Spinning (FRJS) that allows them to deposit tiny polymer fibers in a helical fashion very rapidly. When seeded with cardiac cells, the resulting artificial ventricles begin to beat after a few days, and the researchers showed that this arrangement results in a greater ejection fraction and more rapid electrical signa...
Source: Medgadget - July 19, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Cardiac Surgery Cardiology Materials harvard hseas Source Type: blogs
Smart Textiles Recognize Body Movements
Engineers at MIT have developed smart textiles that can detect and recognize body movements. The garments fit snugly, and contain a network of pressure sensors that can detect movement, and in conjunction with machine learning approaches, the technology can learn to recognize specific movements in wearers. The fabric contains conductive yarns and piezoresistive components that change their resistance when pressure is applied. To reduce the data noise that occurs when the fabrics jostle together during movement, the researchers used thermoforming fabrics that help to stick the knitted layers together. The garments could be ...
Source: Medgadget - July 19, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Materials Medicine Rehab mit MITnews Source Type: blogs
