Category Health/Medical

Prof. Hyung Joon Cha and his colleagues at POSTECH have developed new tissue adhesive that is mussel-protein based via a photochemical reaction using blue visible light. Myriad medical #applications including sutureless wound closures of delicate organs or tissues beyond surgeons’ reach.

Inspired by nature’, a new light-activated adhesive hydrogel has been developed. The innovative surgical protein glue, called LAMBA, not only closes an open wound on a wet bleeding site within less than 60 seconds but also effectively facilitates the healing process without inflammation or a scar. It works on the same principles as mussels attaching to underwater surfaces and insects maintaining structural balance and flexibility...

Durdu Güney stands in his lab where he and his team work on creating a ‘perfect lens’.
Credit: Michigan Tech

Imagine if we could see nanometer-sized viruses with the naked eye. That’s a real possibility with a “perfect lens.” It is a theoretical perfected optical lens made out of metamaterials, engineered to change the way the materials interact with light. MTU researchers have found a way to possibly solve one of the biggest challenges, getting light waves to pass through the lens without getting consumed. “These findings open the possibility of reviving the early dreams of making ‘magical’ metamaterials from scratch.”

Metamaterials go beyond the limits of natural materials such as glass, plastic, metal or wood...

SRBAL liver implant and Mayo Expert: Artificial Liver Ready for Human Testing: On any given day about 15,000 Americans are on the liver transplant waiting list, hoping they can get a lifesaving donor organ in time: https://youtu.be/bFLgr3G8ZQg

It supports healing and regeneration of the injured liver, and improve outcomes and reduce mortality rates for patients with acute liver failure. ~30,000-40,000 people die from liver disease each year, according to the American Liver Foundation. For acute liver failure, the only proven treatment has been liver transplantation. Developed by Scott Nyberg, M.D., Ph.D...

Images showing the difference in the prevalence of p53 in the oral tissue of a 28-year-old (left) and a 74-year-old (right). Credit: Dr. Reuben Kim

UCLA researchers have found that a protein that serves as a suppressor of cancer diminishes in skin and mouth epithelial cells as the human body ages. Dr. No-Hee Park, UCLA School of Dentistry dean and his team have been studying p53, tumor suppressor protein, “guardian of the genome” involved in DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and cellular deterioration.

“Looking at ways to maintain levels of p53 as one ages may provide a therapeutic clue to preventing cancer development,” said Park. Previous studies have shown p53 accumulates in large quantities as connective tissue cells, called fibroblasts, age and stop dividing...