Bio and Medicine

Researchers at the University of Toronto and its hospital partners have developed a method for co-delivering therapeutic RNA and potent drugs directly into cells, potentially leading to a more effective treatment of diseases.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to help fight cancer. This is by stimulating the immune response to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. The treatment involves using substances that boost the immune system, teaching immune cells to target cancer, or using engineered cells to specifically target and kill cancer cells.

A research group from Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a novel method for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapy by transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which improved the therapeutic efficacy and realized real-time treatment visualization. The study was published in Science Advances.

A team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), led by Program Head of Chemistry Ali Trabolsi, have developed nanoscale covalent organic frameworks (nCOFs), crystalline organic polymers that have been modified with peptides to treat the most aggressive form of breast cancer, known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

What do firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water-repellent textiles and pesticides all have in common? They all contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS—human-made chemicals that don’t break down naturally. It’s no wonder, then, that PFAS are now contaminating soil and water and can also be detected in the bodies of humans and animals. The dangers are well known: these forever chemicals can damage the liver, trigger hormonal disorders and cause cancer, to mention just a few of their effects.