Category Health/Medical

Threads penetrate multiple layers of tissue to sample interstitial fluid and direct it to sensing threads that collect data, such as pH and glucose levels. Conductive threads deliver the data to a flexible wireless transmitter sitting on top of the skin.

For the 1st time, researchers led by Tufts Uni engineers have integrated nano-scale sensors, electronics and microfluidics into threads – ranging from simple cotton to sophisticated synthetics – that can be sutured through multiple layers of tissue to gather diagnostic data wirelessly in real time. The research suggests that the thread-based diagnostic platform could be an effective substrate for a new generation of implantable diagnostic devices and smart wearable systems.

They used a variety of conductive threads that were dipped in phys...

This drawing shows part of the atomic-level structure of coxsackievirus B3 polymerase, which is responsible for making copies of the virus genome. The researchers replaced the orange phenylalanine 364 that is found in two different positions, with the turquoise tryptophan that is larger and covers both positions without needing to move. This causes fewer mutations to be made and reduces the ability of the virus to replicate and cause disease. Credit: Olve Peersen/Colorado State University

A genetic modification to a type of coxsackievirus that strips its ability to replicate, mutate and cause illness. They hope their work could lead to a vaccine for this and other viruses like it...

Highlights • The study of fish shallow-frying is undertaken for the first time by 1H NMR. • Migration of main and minor lipidic compounds between oils and fish occurs. • Thermo-oxidation and hydrolysis reactions in oils and fish lipids are studied. • Pan-frying provokes higher thermo-oxidation than microwave-frying. • As for aldehyde formation, extra-virgin olive oil is safer than sunflower oil.

Researchers have studied the changes that take place in fish lipids and in the oil during frying processes. The frying techniques, the nature of the oil used and the fish species have been shown to exert a great influence on the changes that take place during the process...

Controlling Spatial Heat and Light Distribution by Using Photothermal Enhancing Auto-Regulated Liposomes (PEARLs).

Dr. Gang Zheng and a team of biomedical researchers have discovered a “smart” organic, biodegradable nanoparticle that uses heat and light in a controlled manner to potentially target and ablate tumours with greater precision. The proof-of-concept findings provide a viable approach to boosting the clinical utility of photo-thermal therapy in treating cancer, says Dr. Zheng, Senior Scientist at the Princess Margaret and Professor of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto.He talks about and demonstrates the research at https://youtu.be/EEN6Mz5iWBI.

In the lab, using phantom models, the “smart” nanoparticle the team has dubbed PEARLs – photo-thermal enhancing auto-regula...