Nanoparticles, or particles whose size varies between 1 and 100 nanometers, have shown tremendous potential in many areas of science and technology, including therapeutics. However, conventional, synthetic nanoparticles are complicated and expensive to produce. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have emerged as an alternative option to synthetic nanoparticles, show challenges for mass production. Another recently [...]

Novel research on advancing heart valves has included the innovative use of carbon nanotubes modified with heparin. This pre-proof research has been submitted to the journal of Materials Chemistry and Physics and aims to alleviate the burden of heart valve replacements. Heart Valves: What are They and Why are They Important? There are four valves within [...]

Researchers at UC Davis Health have engineered a novel antibody, FuG1, that can directly interfere with the cell-to-cell transmission ability of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. FuG1 targets the enzyme furin, which the virus uses for its efficient chain of infections in human cells. The approach could be added to existing SARS-CoV-2 antibody cocktails [...]

James Dahlman and Phil Santangelo are helping to define an evolving era in medicine, one in which messenger ribonucleic acid—mRNA—can be delivered directly to cells to fight against disease. And their latest groundbreaking study could clear the way to faster therapeutic discoveries. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic put a global spotlight on mRNA-based vaccines, [...]

Scientists have recently applied cellulose nanofibers to mitigate the fire damage in historic papers. This study has been recently published in Nano-Micro Small. Importance of Conserving Historical Papers The Latin proverb “verba volant, scripta manent” has rightly indicated that spoken word flies away but written words stay. A major part of our culture has been documented in [...]

A research team from Universität Hamburg and DESY has developed a new method to 3D print colloidal nanomaterials in the form of a so-called aerogel. This class of material is characterized by exceptional high porosity and opens versatile applications in catalysis, energy storage or sensor technology. In the journal Advanced Functional Materials ("Additive-Free, Gelled Nanoinks as [...]

A novel study published in the journal, Foods, describes edible nanoparticle-based antibacterial agents to control foodborne diseases. This research comprises a ternary nanoparticle with two active ingredients and a carrier material that was prepared from rosemary essential oil, nisin and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides. Using Edible Nanoparticles Interestingly, the use of functional nanoparticles with food-grade biological macromolecules [...]

Past infection with covid-19 does not necessarily confer protection against future infection, especially when it comes to the delta and omicron variants, researchers have warned. Wendy Barclay, head of infectious disease at Imperial College London, told an event organised by the Zoe study group1 on 3 February, “Each variant is different from the starting virus, [...]

A large multinational group of researchers has shown how the Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has gained exceptional immune evasion properties but also a much lower propensity to enter cells such as those in lung alveoli, resulting in its reduced pathogenicity. Their paper is currently released as an [...]

Researchers at ICMAB present a study on new nanovesicles, known as quatsomes, which have been successfully engineered to encapsulate and deliver microRNAs for the treatment of tumors. These nanovesicles are produced by a simple GMP compliant process, an unavoidable requirement for the clinical use of new drug candidates. The study, published in Small, has been [...]