Living and breathing lung on a chip: Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute created a living, breathing human lung-on-a-chip. The device mimics the alveolar membrane, the border between air and the bloodstream. Scientists imitated the membrane using a micro-fabrication process that uses clear rubbery materials to create a porous membrane between layers of living cells. Gas exchange does not happen in the synthetic organ yet, but it does respond to bacteria or airborne pollutants the same way a lung in a living body responds. The device is intended to be used to test the effect of drugs and toxins on lung tissue. The research team is also working on implementing other organs onto chips, including gut, bone marrow and cancer models. The results are published in the June 25 issue of Science.
Tooth-regenerating gel may put an end to fillings: Root canal procedures are far from being everyone’s favorite pastime, as only true masochists can enjoy having high speed drills running through their teeth and hot glue guns filling the holes left behind. French researchers are working on a new approach that uses nano-structured and functionalized multi-layered films to help regenerate teeth and fill in cavities with little pain.
Quantum entanglement may play role in maintaining DNA structure: Quantum entanglement is a mysterious process, borne out of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, in which discreet particles can forever be tied to one another. In a system where the connection exists, one particle changes state when the other in the pair changes its state, regardless of how far apart the particles are. Scientists from National University of Singapore and University College London proposed a new theoretical model that uses quantum entanglement to explain DNA’s stability, based on the inherent “strength” of this connection.
Treating cancer with magnets: Berlin, Germany-based MagForce Nanotechnologies received European regulatory approval for its Nano-Cancer therapy. The treatment is based on energy transmission to bio-compatible super-paramagnetic nanoparticles in an alternating magnetic field. The process is related to the principles behind magnetic resonance imaging and similar to the technology employed in microwave ovens. The nanoparticles are very small bits of iron oxide suspended in a liquid that doctors inject into a tumor with a regular cannula. The tumor’s cells absorb the liquid, and when the magnetic field is applied, the particles heat up to 45 degrees Celsius, if used for boosting of conventional radiation or chemotherapy, or 70 degrees Celsius when used alone for thermo-ablation. Because the particles are absorbed by the tumor cells, surrounding healthy tissues are spared.
A weekly roundup of new developments in medical technology, by MedGadget.com.