There are researches, and then there are breakthrough researches; the ones that completely transform the fate of a disease (for the good). And fortunately, this year was densely packed with such discoveries. A full read on each is recommended.
- Contact lenses that deliver drugs directly to the eyeball
This year, scientists overcame the hassle of using eye drops, by bundling medication into a contact lens to prevent and treat eye diseases. The goal was to boost prevention and management of eye diseases by simplifying the treatment process. the lenses gradually deploy their load and are expected to produce better outcomes.
- Miniatures of human brains
Hartung’s group at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore came up with the closest-to-real and the most cost-effective model of a mini brain till date. The in-vitro model is highly useful to study the effect of various pharmaceuticals on the brain of people affected with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and even autism, and also ideal for examining fetal brain development. Know more about the The ‘Giant’ Scope of ‘Mini Brains’
- A New Treatment for Kidney Stones after 3 decades
A new research at the University of Houston offered the first evidence that the compound hydroxycitrate (HCA) is an effective inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystal growth and, under certain conditions, is even able to dissolve them. Read more.
- The Loop ‘hole’ in HIV
For years, scientists have been searching for a way to break the hexamer protein coat of HIV which conceals it from recognition by the host’s immune system. Now they have discovered a glitch in the structure of this deadly virus that might make it vulnerable to treatment; a prototype inhibitor molecule that can block pores and help control HIV infection. The drug is hexacarboxybenzene and it can potentially bring DNA assembly to a halt.
- Lab grown bone
Thanks to Columbia University researchers, it is now possible to grow a real, living bone in a laboratory. Large defects can regenerate in the head and face with implantation of this lab-grown bone, while maintaining basic mechanical function. The experiment employed autologous stem cells from a small sample of the recipient’s fat to form bone around a scaffold. A perfect anatomical fit was achieved using a bioreactor.
- Graphene brain implants
A significant advancement was made by the researchers from Italy’s University of Trieste and the Cambridge Graphene Center demonstrating that untreated graphene can be used to interface with neurons without damaging their integrity. Before this, implants of treated graphene (coated with peptides, amino acids) were used with an aim to favor neuronal cohesion, however, this produced a relatively low signal to noise ratio when compared with untreated graphene. This is, hence, the first functional study of neuronal synaptic activity using uncoated graphene-based materials. Get more insight here.
- Zika vaccine is a step closer
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Baltimore and Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, recently tested three strains of Zika: Asian, African and Puerto Rican and identified compounds that could potentially be employed to inhibit the replication of virus as well as mar its ability to damage brain cells. Here’s a report: Advancements in the treatment of Zika
Also, a human antibody that greatly reduces Zika infection has been isolated that proved safe even for the fetus in pregnant mice infected with the virus.
