Medical
Electronic skin patch monitors alcohol levels
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a flexible wearable sensor that can accurately measure a person's blood alcohol level from sweat and transmit the data wirelessly to a laptop, smartphone or other mobile device. The device can be worn on the skin and could be used by doctors and police officers for continuous, non-invasive and real-time monitoring of blood alcohol content.
Lab-on-a-chip technology helps cancer detection
IBM scientists have developed a lab-on-a-chip technology that can, for the first time, separate biological particles at the nanoscale and could enable physicians to detect diseases such as cancer before symptoms appear. As reported today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the IBM team's results show size-based separation of bioparticles down to 20 nm in diameter, a scale that gives access to important particles such as DNA, viruses and ex...
Handheld device captures images with cellular resolution
Engineers and physicians at Duke University have developed a handheld device capable of capturing images of a retina with cellular resolution. The probe will allow researchers to gather detailed structural information about the eyes of infants and toddlers for the first time.
Biomarkers may predict early Alzheimer's disease
University of Wisconsin-Madison Alzheimer’s researchers have identified a scientific approach that may help predict which older adults are more likely to develop cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease well before the onset of dementia. This approach – which statistically analyses a panel of biomarkers – could help identify people most likely to benefit from drugs or other interventions to slow the progress of the d...
GSK and Verily to develop bioelectronic medicines
GSK announced an agreement with Verily Life Sciences LLC (formerly Google Life Sciences), an Alphabet company, to form Galvani Bioelectronics to enable the research, development and commercialisation of bioelectronic medicines. GSK will hold a 55% equity interest in the new jointly owned company and Verily will hold 45%.
SPR devices detect molecules within a few hundred nanometres
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) devices are the benchmark in optical sensing. They are used for detecting biomarkers of disease, discovering drugs, analysing chemicals, ensuring food quality and safety, and detecting pollutants in our environment. SPR devices can detect molecules within a few hundred nanometres of their metal surfaces.
Singapore scientists grow mini human brains
Scientists in Singapore have made a big leap on research on the 'mini-brain'. These advanced mini versions of the human midbrain will help researchers develop treatments and conduct other studies into Parkinson's Disease[1] (PD) and ageing-related brain diseases. These mini midbrain versions are 3D miniature tissues that are grown in the laboratory and they have certain properties of specific parts of the human brain.
Inflammatory response to ceramic scaffolds promotes bone regeneration
In their mission to design biomaterials that promote tissue regeneration, Drexel University researchers have identified how inflammation, when precisely controlled, is crucial to bone repair. Their findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, show that a new type of ceramic scaffold causes inflammatory cells to behave in a way that is more regenerative than scaffolds that are currently used clinically.
SOM speeds design of 4K video transmission equipment
The Valens Colligo System On Module (SOM) – a turnkey, pre-certified HDBaseT 2.0 solution designed to minimise the cost, time and effort of bringing HDBaseT to market is available from L2Tek. With board design issues already managed, the Colligo SOM devices allow developers to focus attention on the interface connections needed to ensure a successful and timely product rollout.
Hydrogel bandage for burns is less painful to remove
A combined team of researchers from Boston University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, also in Boston, has published a paper in the journal Angewandte Chemie describing a type of hydrogel they have developed for use as a bandage for burn patients—one that can be removed by applying another liquid rather than by cutting, as is done with conventional bandages.