Narrow Results

Dobutamine (Dobu) is a widely utilized therapeutic agent for heart failure with emerging potential in oncology. However, its clinical application is constrained by rapid release, short half-life and associated toxicity. This study introduces a dual-polymer nanomicelle system employing Pluronic F127 and lignin to encapsulate Dobu, aiming to enhance its release profile, minimize cytotoxicity and improve therapeutic efficacy. Nanomicelles were synthesized using an oil-in-water emulsion method, achieving encapsulation efficiencies of 99% for F127 and 80% for lignin, along with a controlled drug release profile. This novel dual-polymer nanomicelle system achieves high encapsulation efficiency (99% for F127 versus 80% for lignin) and controlled release, significantly reducing the burst release observed with free Dobutamine. Release studies demonstrated that F127 and lignin nanomicelles significantly reduced burst release compared to free Dobu, extending release durations up to 7 h. Cytotoxicity assays using NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells revealed increased cell viability for encapsulated Dobu, with F127 nanomicelles showing superior biocompatibility. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial evaluations confirmed that the nanomicelles did not inhibit microbial growth, highlighting their suitability for sterile applications. These findings suggest that F127 and lignin-based nanomicelles provide a promising platform for safer, controlled Dobu delivery in cardiovascular and oncological therapies.

This is a review of the recent studies done by the authors in the area of catalysis and photocatalysis by phthalocyanines and related compounds. Several examples of catalytic processes are given. Special attention is paid to the design of new types of photocatalytic systems for photodynamic therapy of cancer and to the development of novel catalytic methods of cancer treatment.

Cancer is a dreadful disease that will affect one in three people at some point in their life; radiotherapy is used in more than half of all cancer treatment, and contributes about 40% to the successful treatment of cancer. Charged Particle Therapy uses protons and other light ions to deliver the lethal dose to the tumor while being relatively sparing of healthy tissue and, because of the finite range of the particles, is able to avoid giving any dose to vital organs. While there are adequate technologies currently available to deliver the required energies and fluxes, the two main technologies (cyclotrons and synchrotrons) have limitations. PAMELA (the Particle Accelerator for MEdicaLApplications) uses the newly-developed non-scaling Fixed Field Alternating Gradient accelerator concepts to deliver therapeutically relevant beams. The status of the development of the PAMELA conceptual design is discussed.

Acrux in Licensing Agreement for Skin Permeation Platform Technology.

Agenix to Begin Human Trials for Blood Clot Imaging Project.

Cancer Vac Successful in Human Trials of Cancer Therapy.

Terumo to Expand Production Scale in China.

Ranbaxy in Licensing Agreement for Brain Drug.

Wockhardt Plans to Expand into US, Europe.

Zydus Vaccicare to Launch Four Vaccines.

Tanabe Seiyaku to Develop Small Molecule LFA-1 Antagonists with Novartis.

Neurogenetics Extends Agreement with Eisai.

Insect Biotech.

Boviquest Discovers Cow Milk Production Gene.

MerLion Pharma Secures US$13.5 Million in Funds.

CordLife Launches Business Partnership Program.

Lytone Announces New Uric Acid Control Product.

Australia — New Federal Research Money for Plant Genomics.

Australia — New Clinical Trial Facility Under Construction in Western Australia.

Australia — New Blood Test to Check for Parkinson's Disease.

Australia — Australian Prime Minister Discusses Possibility of Stricter Immigration Rules for HIV-Positive People.

Australia — Murdoch Study Shows Positive Results for Rockeby.

Australia — Biotech Companies Benefit from Australian Government's Marketing Grants.

China — Chinese Project to Help Prepare for Flu Pandemics.

China — China Experts Identify Cancer-Preventing Gene Type.

China — China Plans On-the-Spot Checks of Drug Manufacturers.

China — HIV/AIDS Victims in Henan Get Free TCM Treatment.

China — WHO Calls for Human Bird Flu Samples from China.

China — Sino-Swiss Center for Cassava Technology Opens in Shanghai.

Hong Kong — HK and Australian Experts to Launch Trials on New Therapy for NPC.

India — NGOs in India Protest Abbott's Decision to Withhold Essential Medicines from Thailand.

India — Global AIDS Research Body CAVD Keen on India.

India — Torrent Pharma Launched the World's First Polypill.

India — India and Germany to Set up Joint Group on Agriculture.

India — India Among Six WHO Developing Nations to Receive Grant for Influenza Vaccine Technology.

India — NHS of Britain to Make Huge Investments in Indian Healthcare Sector.

India — ICMR's HIV Vaccine Showing Positive Response in Clinical Trials.

India — Dr Reddy's Laboratories Cuts Costs of Cancer Therapy.

India — Indian Herbal Remedy Cancer Hope.

Indonesia — Indonesia to get Influenza Vaccine Technology from WHO.

Indonesia — US Sets Up Jakarta Office to Boost Bird-Flu Fight.

Singapore — TNT Appoints New Managing Director.

Singapore — Cancer Research Gets Boost with US$20 Million Donation.

Taiwan — Research Brings Hope for Alzheimer's Cure.

Taiwan — Researchers Demonstrate Cost-Effective Platform for Producing Blood Clotting Proteins.

Others — Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Announce Worldwide Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Anticoagulant and Metabolic Compounds.

Others — WHO's 9-Point Plan will Protect Patients from Medical Errors.

Suzhou Amerigen Pharmaceuticals Co., enters into a marketing and distribution agreement with Sinochem Jiangsu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Japanese Encephalitis vaccine achieves WHO prequalification.

Hutchison MediPharma enters cancer therapy collaboration with Lilly.

Miraculins to negotiate licensing rights for diabetes test in China.

Pall opens new Life Sciences Centre of Excellence in Shanghai.

Guo Guangchang enters the field of medical tumour treatment.

WuXi AppTec receives CLIA certification for its genomics clinical laboratory.

Agilent Technologies Thought Leader award supports Dr Guibin Jiang, Chinese Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences.

SINGAPORE – Human Heart Tissue Grown from Stem Cells Improves Drug Testing.

UNITED STATES – Bioengineered Human Livers Mimic Natural Development.

UNITED STATES – New Cellular Target May Put the Brakes on Cancer’s Ability to Spread.

UNITED STATES – Does Consuming Low-Fat Dairy Increase the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease?

UNITED STATES – Memory Loss and Other Cognitive Decline Linked to Blood Vessel Disease in the Brain.

AUSTRALIA – Fabricating High Performance Nanohybrid Catalysts.

TAIWAN – US FDA Approves Zhaohe Cao-based Botanical Drug as an Investigational New Drug for Cancer Therapy.

KOREA – Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee Elected to the NAS.

SINGAPORE – Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed) Announces Partnership with Duke-NUS Medical School’s Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE), Pledging Joint Commitment to Promote Regulatory Convergence and Capacity Building Across the Region.

SINGAPORE – Guardian Partners with MyDoc to Address Singapore’s Population Health Needs through Integrating Technology and Self-Care.

SINGAPORE & UNITED STATES – CellMax Life’s Precision, Non-Invasive Cancer Testing Now Available throughout Southeast Asia through Asia Genomics.

UNITED STATES – 3-D Printed Models Could Improve Patient Outcomes in Heart Valve Replacements.

UNITED STATES – Promising Target to Protect Bone in Patients with Diabetes.

UNITED STATES – New Antibody Appears to Re-Activate Immune System in Cancer Therapy.

UNITED STATES – Combo Immunotherapy May Herald New Standard of Care for Kidney Cancer.

JAPAN – Chugai’s Bispecific Antibody “Emicizumab” Global Phase III Data in Patients with Haemophilia A with Inhibitors Published in The New England Journal of Medicine Online.

RUSSIA & INDIA – BIOCAD’s Rituximab Biosimilar to Receive Market Authorization Soon in India.

The following topics are under this section:

• AUM Biosciences obtains global rights to novel targeted cancer therapy
• Vitafoods Asia Conference to present top 5 APAC nutraceutical trends
• Weight Loss Made Simple – MyDoc Launches Medically supervised LivingLite™, in Singapore and the region
• Taiwan boosts development of biomedical industry through memorandums promoting a next-generation biomedical research ecosystem
• Mount Alvernia Hospital appoints ICON SOC to build new state-of-theart integrated cancer centre
• Healthy Hearts, Healthy Aging Asia Pacific report calls for specific policy actions and focus in managing cardiovascular disease
• Anticancer agent Halaven approved for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in China
• Advent Access receives CE Mark certificate for pioneering av-Guardian™ vascular access system
• ACT Genomics opens third laboratory in Asia at Hong Kong Science Park
• GSK opens new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Singapore
• Taiwan Protein Project successfully enhances Taiwan' biotechnology R&D industry
• S$6.4 million boost for NUHS to push Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Efficiency and Outcome
• HKUST Researchers Co-Discover a Novel Function of an Enzyme Offering Insight into the Pathology of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

The following topics are under this section:

• A general framework for predictive maintenance of manufacturing systems
• A remote-controlled smart platform for organ repair
• COVID-19 and its genetic relationship with other coronaviruses
• East meets West: cancer therapy using acupuncture and electrochemistry
• A triple-function bismuth oxochromate photocatalyst
• AI enables whole-slide imaging for diagnosis of nasal polyps

The following topics are under this section:

• Combination Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
• Sustainability in Healthcare Financing
• MiRXES – A Game Changer in MicroRNA Applications

Structure and energy calculations of modified complexes of single-walled carbon nanotubes and fullerenol C${}_{60}$(OH)${}_{24}$ with cisplatin have been performed using the quantum chemical method at the DFT/B3LYP/SV/Lanl2DZ level. The nanotubes were modified with COOH groups at the end and sidewall of the nanotube and cisplatin molecules. The dependence of their structure on the presence of a solvent was established.

In this study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized in a single step biosynthetic method using aqueous leaves extract of thymus vulgaris L. It acts as a reducing and capping agent. The characterizations of nanoparticles were carried out using UV-Visible spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR. The surface plasmon resonance of the as-prepared gold nanoparticles (GNPs) showed the surface plasmon resonance centered at 550nm. The XRD pattern showed that the strong four intense peaks indicated the crystalline nature and the face centered cubic structure of the gold nanoparticles. The average crystallite size of the AuNPs was 14.93nm. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to study the morphology of the AuNPs. AuNPs exhibited a spherical shape with diameters ranging 13–53nm. The synthesized stable gold nanoparticles showed more significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 and CAL-51 cells after 48h.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is usual for the treatment of a variety of malignancies, however, its applications are greatly limited due to its poor water solubility. Over the past years, there has been a considerable research interest in the area of nanoscale drug delivery systems (DDSs) as carrier for PTX due to their solubilization, safety, targeting and controlled release. There are many different types and shapes of nanoscale DDSs that have been prepared to deliver PTX, including nanoliposome, lipid nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanocapsule, nanofiber, nanotube, nanopolymersome, micelle and nanoparticle (NP). Nanoscale DDSs can be based on lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, polymers or other materials. The recent strategic developments of PTX formulation have been discussed with emphasis on lipid-, polymer- and protein-based nanoscale DDSs. Here we focus on the comparative analysis of the preparation, morphology, solubilization, targeting, penetrability, controllability and efficacy profile of various PTX-loaded nanoscale DDSs, which were reported in the different researches. Meanwhile the advantages and disadvantages are also discussed for each type of DDS. Furthermore, the current review embodies an in-depth discussion of human serum albumin (HSA) NP formulation, which showed significantly great efficacy and low toxicity. All the information obtained in this review might shed light on designing new and better nanoscale PTX formulations for potential anticancer applications in the clinic.

In order to improve the effects of medical therapy for cancer, we prepared magnetic nanocomposites (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–NH–NH${}_2)$ as doxorubicin (DOX) carriers via two different schemes. Scheme (I): the carriers were synthesized from magnetic silica nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO${}_2)$ via layer by layer modification, scheme (II): the carriers were obtained from amino-modified magnetic silica nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–NH${}_2)$ synthesized by one-step, and followed by surface modification. In order to load DOX effectively, the surface of the carriers were further modified to make the surface with a large number of hydrazine bonds which can form a pH-sensitive bond (hydrazone bond) with DOX. The two kinds of carriers both exhibited a size around 80nm, high stability and superparamagnetic behavior. However, DOX-loaded carriers (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–DOX(2)) performed relatively poorer performance in terms of drug loading and releasing (the loading efficiency of DOX decreased from 67.33% to 42.15%, while the releasing efficiency of DOX decreased from 66.16% to 62.23% within 72h at pH 4.0). Water-soluble tetrazolium salts (WST-1) assays in cancer cells (Hela) demonstrated that the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂–DOX presented high anti-tumor activity, while the carriers were nearly nontoxic. Thus, the results suggested that the magnetic nanocomposites synthesized by the two different methods both can be employed to deliver DOX, while the carriers obtained via the first method may perform better and would be applied in the field of cancer therapy in the future.

Black phosphorus (BP) or phosphorene, a new superstar among two-dimensional (2D) materials, has sparked huge scientific interest since its discovery in 2014. BP offers unique characteristics including high drug loading efficiency, excellent photodynamic and photothermal properties and good biocompatibility. These characteristics expand versatility of BP in nanomedicine. Although the outlook of BP seems promising, its practical biomedical applications are still at the very initial stage especially in comparison to other thoroughly investigated inorganic nanomaterials. This paper reviews BP structure and properties as well as its preparation approaches with the emphasis on techniques to improve BP stability and biocompatibility for their further usage in physiological environment. Meanwhile, recent progress made in various biomedical research fields from bioimaging to biosensing is discussed. Last, but not least, current challenges and prospects for BP in biomedicine are briefly examined, which will be useful to guide future developments of BP.

Crystalline silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) doped with iron (Fe) in the range from 0.02 to 2.5 at.% were prepared by plasma-ablative synthesis and were investigated by means of the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry. While the nanocrystal size in Si:Fe NPs did not depend significantly on Fe content, the hydrodynamic diameter of NPs in aqueous suspensions increases from 50 to 180nm. Both the transverse and longitudinal proton relaxation time were found to decrease in the prepared suspensions of Si:Fe NPs. Maximal shortening of the transverse relaxion was observed for Si:Fe NPs with 0.2 at.% of Fe and the relaxation rate was almost linearly proportional to the NP concentration. Both these findings and in vivo tests indicate that Si:Fe NPs are promising for biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and therapy of cancer.

First, a review is given of fixed field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerators, presenting a bit of their history and basic concepts. Special attention is paid to the concept of scaling (S-FFAG) and nonscaling (NS-FFAG) FFAGs. This notation is used only in the NS-FFAG part of the article. A discussion is then provided on operating FFAGs. A presentation is made of the designs being considered for S-FFAGs. A bit more is said about the concept of the NS-FFAG and a resonance crossing problem resulting from designs of the NS-FFAGs. A beam delivery system (gantry) employing the NS-FFAG concept is presented after that and, finally, future plans and R&D requirements are put forward.

Ion beam therapy for cancer has proven to be a successful clinical approach, affording as good a cure as surgery and a higher quality of life. However, the ion beam therapy installation is large and expensive, limiting its availability for public benefit. One of the hurdles is to make the accelerator more compact on the basis of conventional technology. Laser acceleration of ions represents a rapidly developing young field. The prevailing acceleration mechanism (known as target normal sheath acceleration, TNSA), however, shows severe limitations in some key elements. We now witness that a new regime of coherent acceleration of ions by laser (CAIL) has been studied to overcome many of these problems and accelerate protons and carbon ions to high energies with higher efficiencies. Emerging scaling laws indicate possible realization of an ion therapy facility with compact, cost-efficient lasers. Furthermore, dense particle bunches may allow the use of much higher collective fields, reducing the size of beam transport and dump systems. Though ultimate realization of a laser-driven medical facility may take many years, the field is developing fast with many conceptual innovations and technical progress.

Thermoresponsive nanocomposites were prepared by immobilizing a 2–3 nm thick phospholipid layer on the surface of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles via high-affinity avidin/biotin interactions. Morphological and physicochemical surface properties were assessed using transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The zeta potential of Fe₃O₄ colloids in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) decreased from -23.6 to -5.0 mV as a consequence of phospholipid immobilization. Nevertheless, heating properties of these superparamagnetic nanoparticles within an alternating magnetic field were not significantly affected. Hyperthermia-relevant temperatures > 40°C were achieved within 10–15 min using a 7-mT magnetic field alternating at a frequency of 1 MHz. Loading of the surface-associated phospholipid layer with the hydrophobic dye dansylcadaverine was accomplished at an efficiency of 479 ng/mg Fe₃O₄. Release of this drug surrogate was temperature-dependent, resulting in a 2.5-fold greater release rate when nanoparticles were exposed to a temperature above the experimentally determined melting temperature of 39.7°C. These data underline the feasibility of preparing novel, stimulus-induced drug delivery systems where payload release from a colloid-immobilized phospholipid assembly is triggered by hyperthermia.