Biotechnology News - SciTechDaily

Revolutionary Two-Photon Microscope Captures Brain Activity in Real-Time

Optica — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:00:33 +0000

Researchers have developed a revolutionary two-photon fluorescence microscope that captures neural activity at high speed and cellular resolution, offering unprecedented insights into brain function. This new approach, which images faster and with less harm to brain tissue than traditional methods, could transform our understanding of how neurons communicate in real-time, potentially leading to breakthroughs in [...]

New Brain-Computer Interface Converts Brain Signals Into Speech With up to 97% Accuracy

University of California - Davis Health — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:00:01 +0000

UC Davis Health has developed a groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows individuals with speech impairments, particularly those suffering from ALS, to communicate effectively. This innovative system translates brain signals into speech with up to 97% accuracy, representing a significant breakthrough in neuroprosthetics. A clinical trial participant, Casey Harrell, who has ALS, successfully used the [...]

How a Simple Enzyme Might Revolutionize Clean Energy

Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Nitrogenases, crucial for life, can also reduce CO2 to valuable chemicals. New research reveals that Fe-nitrogenase is more effective at this process, presenting opportunities for sustainable biotechnologies. Nitrogenases are among the most geochemically important enzymes on Earth, providing all forms of life with bioavailable nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH3). Some nitrogenases can also [...]

DNA Doppelgängers: Scientists Develop Artificial Molecules With Life-Like Properties

Tokyo University of Science — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:48:36 +0000

Scientists have created artificial double-helical complexes with properties that allow for controllable chirality switching. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecular system responsible for carrying genetic information in living organisms, utilizing its two helical strands to transcribe and amplify this information. Scientists are highly interested in developing artificial molecular systems that can match or even [...]

MIT’s SPARROW Redefines Drug Discovery With Smart Synthesis

Adam Zewe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:06:26 +0000

Researchers at MIT have developed SPARROW, a groundbreaking algorithm designed to streamline the drug discovery process by optimizing molecular selection for synthesis based on cost and property prediction. The framework, demonstrated through three real-world case studies, effectively integrates a wide range of input molecules and calculates the most cost-efficient synthesis plans, potentially revolutionizing drug discovery [...]

Precise and Scarless DNA Editing: New CRISPR Method Enables Unmatched Efficiency

University of Basel — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 18:12:52 +0000

A new CRISPR-Cas9 based method called SEED/Harvest integrates the Single-Strand Annealing repair pathway to modify the genome of fruit flies more efficiently and without residual damage. This technique allows for precise and efficient DNA modifications across the genome, facilitating research on protein functions in various tissues and developmental stages, potentially benefiting genetics, biotechnology, and medical [...]

Cartilage Regeneration Breakthrough Ushers In a New Era of Joint Health

Northwestern University — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 19:00:18 +0000

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a bioactive material capable of regenerating high-quality cartilage in knee joints. This new material, which closely mimics the natural environment of cartilage, has shown promising results in animal models, potentially reducing the need for knee replacement surgeries and improving treatments for conditions like osteoarthritis and sports injuries. Innovative Cartilage [...]

Revolutionary DNA Nanotech Boosts Mass Cytometry by 500-Fold

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 17:26:03 +0000

ACE, a groundbreaking DNA-powered signal amplification technology, significantly enhances the sensitivity of mass cytometry, providing new insights into various biological and pathological processes. Since the 1950s, researchers have employed “flow cytometry,” a renowned technique devised by Wallace Coulter, to characterize various types of immune cells in research studies and human blood samples. This method has [...]

Two-Step Secret: Scientists Solve Electrochemical Biotechnology Mystery

University of Washington — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:17:51 +0000

New research has revealed that the lag observed in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) when switched on is due to a two-step activation process, providing crucial insights for designing more effective and customizable OECTs for various technological and biological applications. Researchers who want to bridge the divide between biology and technology spend a lot of time [...]

Scientists Have Developed a New Type of Glass With Unique and Even Contradictory Properties

Tel-Aviv University — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:18:06 +0000

Tel Aviv University researchers have created a unique glass that is both an effective adhesive and highly transparent. This spontaneously forming glass could significantly influence multiple high-tech industries. Researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) have created a new type of glass with unique and even contradictory properties, such as being a strong adhesive (sticky) and [...]

Powered by Blood: Innovative Chip Provides Real-Time Health Monitoring

University of Pittsburgh — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:00:41 +0000

Researchers have developed a portable device that utilizes blood to generate electricity for immediate medical diagnostics. This lab-on-a-chip technology, aimed at combating the global rise in metabolic disorders, measures blood conductivity to diagnose conditions like diabetes instantly, especially in underserved areas. Global Surge in Metabolic Disorders Diabetes, osteoporosis, and other metabolic disorders are burgeoning throughout [...]

Secret “Persimmon” Ingredient Could Boost Ethanol Production

Osaka Metropolitan University — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 06:02:20 +0000

Antioxidants sourced from natural origins enhance the growth of a yeast strain in the presence of ethanol. While ethanol in alcoholic drinks can impair motor functions, it can also fuel vehicles in a cleaner, more eco-friendly way. The production of ethanol requires yeast, which, ironically, is stressed by ethanol, affecting its growth. In the pursuit [...]

15 Years in the Making – Scientists Invent “Living Bioelectronics” That Can Heal Skin

University of Chicago — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 05:52:45 +0000

Scientists develop flexible, adaptable, and storable patch that combines bacteria and sensors to interface with the body. Researchers have created “living bioelectronics,” a device combining cells, gel, and electronics to monitor and treat skin conditions. Tested on mice, the device reduces inflammation and holds potential for broader medical applications. The team is working to commercialize [...]

Sweat Smart: New Biomarker Tech Revolutionizes Health Monitoring

National Research Council of Science & Technology — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:56:00 +0000

Successful clinical testing on pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis using a flexible device enabling sweat gland stimulation and simultaneous biosensing. Two-year collaborative research between KIST and Northwestern University. Sweat contains biomarkers that can monitor various health conditions, from diabetes to genetic disorders. Sweat sampling, unlike blood collection, is preferred by users due to its painless [...]

Revolutionary AI Device Mimics Human Brain With Few-Molecule Computing

National Institute for Materials Science, Japan — Sat, 11 May 2024 12:25:38 +0000

Progress in developing compact AI devices using molecular vibrations and confirming their functionality A collaborative research team from NIMS and Tokyo University of Science has successfully developed a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) device that executes brain-like information processing through few-molecule reservoir computing. This innovation utilizes the molecular vibrations of a select number of organic molecules. [...]

Cambridge’s Flexible Implants Promise New Hope for Paralysis Patients

University of Cambridge — Wed, 08 May 2024 18:00:54 +0000

A tiny, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord could represent a new approach to the treatment of spinal injuries, which can cause profound disability and paralysis. A team of engineers, neuroscientists, and surgeons from the University of Cambridge developed the devices and used them to record the nerve signals going back and [...]

AI Transforms Drug Discovery With Faster, Safer Cancer Treatments

University of California - San Diego — Mon, 06 May 2024 09:00:14 +0000

The new platform helped UC San Diego scientists synthesize 32 potential multi-target cancer drugs. Scientists at UC San Diego have developed a machine learning algorithm to simulate the time-consuming chemistry involved in the earliest phases of drug discovery, which could significantly streamline the process and open doors for never-before-seen treatments. Identifying candidate drugs for further [...]

Crafting Programmable Living Materials With Synthetic Biology & 3D Printing

American Chemical Society — Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:46 +0000

New study uses 3D printing and genetically modified plant cells to create complex, self-repairing materials that could revolutionize biomanufacturing and construction. Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid “engineered living materials” are made by embedding cells in an inanimate [...]

CRISPR-Crafted Cuisine: How Genetic Engineering Is Changing What We Eat

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:04:56 +0000

Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future. With animal-free dairy products and convincing vegetarian meat substitutes already on the market, it’s easy to see how biotechnology can change the food industry. Advances in genetic engineering are allowing us to harness microorganisms to produce cruelty-free products that are healthy for consumers and [...]

SpatialData: A Universal Framework for Advancing Spatial Biology

Luca Marconato, Kevin Domanegg and Lisa Vollmar, EMBL — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 18:34:29 +0000

SpatialData is a freely accessible tool to unify and integrate data from different omics technologies accounting for spatial information, which can provide holistic insights into health and disease. Biological processes are framed by the context they take place in. A new tool developed by the Stegle Group from EMBL Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research [...]

Breaking the Oil Habit: How Synthetic Bacteria Could Revolutionize Chemical Production

ETH Zurich — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:35:08 +0000

The chemical industry primarily depends on fossil resources like crude oil to manufacture a range of chemicals, including plastics, dyes, and synthetic flavors. “Globally, it consumes 500 million tons per year, or more than one million tons per day,” says Julia Vorholt, Professor at the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich. “Since these chemical conversions [...]

Tiny Robotic Nerve “Cuffs” Could Transform How We Treat Neurological Conditions

University of Cambridge — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:00:17 +0000

Cambridge researchers have created flexible, minimally invasive devices that can wrap around nerves, offering new ways to treat neurological conditions and control prosthetics. Researchers have developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, combined flexible electronics and soft robotics techniques to develop [...]

How mRNA Is Rewriting the Rules of Cancer Treatment

Zach Winn, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 21:24:06 +0000

MIT spinout Strand Therapeutics has developed a new class of mRNA molecules that can sense where they are in the body, for more targeted and powerful treatments. What if training your immune system to attack cancer cells was as easy as training it to fight Covid-19? Many people believe the technology behind some Covid-19 vaccines, [...]

Quantum Computing Meets Genomics: The Dawn of Hyper-Fast DNA Analysis

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:00:24 +0000

A new project unites world-leading experts in quantum computing and genomics to develop new methods and algorithms to process biological data. Researchers aim to harness quantum computing to speed up genomics, enhancing our understanding of DNA and driving advancements in personalized medicine A new collaboration has formed, uniting a world-leading interdisciplinary team with skills across [...]