Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) is reportedly conducting internal research into whether the iPhone and Apple Watch could be used to monitor drug dosage and wellness data for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The company hopes to show the effectiveness of mobile monitoring, sources told Fast Company. Patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease may only visit their doctor in 6 […]
Research & Development
New drug capsule delivers medicine for weeks after swallowing
Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, spurred by a challenge from Bill Gates, developed a star-shaped drug capsule that can gradually release medication and stay in the stomach for to 2 weeks after being swallowed. The study, published yesterday in Science Translational Medicine, described the team’s work using the device to deliver an anti-parasitic drug, invermectin, which […]
Nanoparticle “barcodes” help track cancer drug efficacy
Researchers from Technion Institute of Technology in Israel reported on a method of tagging cancer drugs with “barcodes” to monitor tumor growth. The team detailed their methods in a study published in the November issue of Nature Communications. The nanoparticle drug delivery system are tagged with synthetic DNA, which act as barcodes used to track the tumor’s response […]
PwC, California Life Sciences report highlights continued investment, growth
The California Life Sciences Assn. and PricewaterhouseCoopers released their annual Life Sciences Industry Report, highlighting continued growth and a robust pipeline of medical devices and other therapies in California this year. California, which is ranked 1st for medical device and biopharmaceutical employment in the country, saw 7% employment growth in the sector between 2011 and 2015. […]
Handheld breathalyzer as noninvasive blood glucose monitor in development
Researchers from the Western New England University have developed a device the size of a small book that diabetes patients can use to monitor their blood glucose levels. Unlike traditional finger stick testing, this minimally invasive breathalyzer uses acetone levels in patients’ breath to determine blood glucose levels. The team, led by Ronny Priefer and […]
Injectable Regeneron biologic therapy reduces triglycerides, cholesterol
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania presented preliminary data from a trial evaluating Regeneron Pharmaceutical‘s (NSDQ:REGN) injectable biologic drug therapy for reducing triglyceride levels. The team, led by Dr. Richard Dunbar, presented their work at the annual meeting of the American Heart Assn. The Phase I, placebo-controlled, double-blind study tested the safety and efficacy of Evinacumab, an […]
Acoustic waves used to move fluid through nanoscale channels
Researchers from the University of California San Diego used acoustic waves to move fluids through small channels, marking the 1st time that surface acoustic waves have been used at the nanoscale. The team’s work was published this week in Advanced Functional Materials. The findings are an important step towards manufacturing small, portable devices for drug discovery […]
Light-driven motor powers nanorobot drug delivery system
Researchers proposed a nanosized, light-driven motor that is powerful enough to carry a certain load and possible act as a drug delivery system, according to the study published in the Journal of Chemical Physics. “The unprecedented characteristics of dipole photomotors based on semiconductor nanoclusters offer the prospect of more than just addressing a certain scarcity of […]
Are tiny ‘supermagnets’ the future of drug delivery?
Researchers from Quingdou University of Science and Technology in China developed a method to produce “supermagnets” that could one day be used as targeted drug delivery vehicles. The team’s work was published in Physics Letters A. Some magnetic materials are small enough that their magnetization randomly flips according to temperature; when scientists apply a magnetic field […]
BD, JDRF ink deal for extended wear insulin delivery device
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX) said today that it inked a research collaboration supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to develop an extended-wear insulin delivery device. The collaboration is a 2-year funding commitment from JDRF to extend the lifetime of insulin infusion-delivery devices. Insulin infusion sets are cleared by the FDA for up to 3 days of […]
Researchers develop artificial cells as drug delivery vehicles
Researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology in Netherlands have developed artificial cells that use enzymes to move like real cells and navigate complex environments, according to a study published in ACS Central Science. Cells maintain a form of homeostasis so that they can accomplish their designated tasks whether their fuel level is low or high. The research […]