Research

German scientists develop tumor-targeting microrobots using bacteria

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany have developed tumor-targeting microrobots using bacteria. The team exploited the tendency of bacteria to naturally gravitate towards areas of low oxygen and low ph, which both tend to occur in the vicinity of a tumor. Once near the tumor, the bacteria aggravate the immune system, with the tumor experiencing some collateral damage. However, the researchers also turbocharged the ability of the bacteria to target the tumor by binding magnetic…

Microparticle vaccine to provide booster doses automatically

Researchers at MIT have created a microparticle vaccine that can provide booster doses automatically. The hollow microparticles resemble a coffee cup with a lid, and are made using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), otherwise known as PLGA. The polymer breaks down over time in the body, releasing the contents of the hollow particles. By changing the composition of the polymer and the chemical groups attached to it, the researchers can tweak the release time, allowing them to deliver an assortment of particles that…

Canadian researchers create soft robotic sleeve for treating lymphedema

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada created a soft robotic sleeve to treat lymphedema. Lymphedema involves uid accumulation in tissues because of damage to the lymph system. This wearable sleeve combines a microuidic controller and soft robotic components that apply compression to the arm to reduce and control uid accumulation. The small components avoid the need for a stationary pump to inate the sleeve and allow for tetherless use during regular activities. Lymphedema often strikes breast cancer patients,…

New protein therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich in Germany have developed a new protein therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2. Unlike previously developed antibody therapies and vaccines, the virus is very unlikely to be able to circumvent this latest technology through mutation, as it is based on the viral target site in the body, the ACE2 receptor. The technology consists of the ACE2 protein, which the researchers have fused with a fragment of a human antibody to ensure that it remains stable for…

US researchers develop new bioprinting technique based on voxels

At the University of Virginia researchers developed a new bioprinting technique based on voxels. Voxels are 3D cubes that form basic building blocks in computer graphics, similar to what pixels are for 2D, and have been popularized by games such as Minecraft. The new technique involves printing discrete spherical blobs of bioink (as the voxels) within a supportive matrix that then swell to merge together, forming a porous structure. Sticky bioinks can be difficult to handle and print predictably, but…