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Benitec MOU with Biomics Biotechnologies China.

Arkema & Aussie Chemeq Sign Manufacturing Cooperation Agreement.

AstraZeneca and Mental Health Research Institute in Australia Announce Collaboration to Improve Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease.

Avexa Gets CSIRO Investment.

Living Cell Technologies' Encapsulated Choroid Plexus Cells May Be Used To Treat Hearing Loss.

Sundia MediTech Acquires Protein Folding Technology.

Beijing Cancer Hospital Introduces Fast and Precise RapidArc Radiotherapy Cancer Treatments.

Zydus Cadila and Karo Bio's Research Collaboration has Generated Promising Lead Compounds.

ICON Acquires Veeda Laboratories Limited.

Novavax-Cadila to Conduct Swine Flu Clinical Trials.

Axygen & Astellas form JV to Develop Protein Drugs.

Rexahn, KRICT to Develop Anti-Cancer Drugs.

Japan's Largest Pharmaceutical Firm Opens Regional HQ in Singapore.

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanocrystallites were prepared by sulphuration route with capping in polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer matrix. It is found that PEO could provide a confined environment for particle nucleation and growth of CdS nanocrystallites. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX) studies confirms the presence of CdS nanocrystallites in polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) selected area diffraction (SAD) patterns show that these crystallites have hexagonal structure. The TEM and UV-Visible absorption studies indicate uniform size distribution having size around 2.3 nm and band gap of 2.7 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies reveal that core level energy positions of the Cd is shifted towards the lower binding energy and has similar chemical environment to that of bulk CdS.

A novel and shape-controlled synthesis method for uniformly-shaped poly(p-phenylenediamine) (PpPD) microparticles was developed using (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ (APS) as an oxidant. The results demonstrated that the morphologies of PpPD varied from nanofibers to nanospheres and nest-like microspheres by tuning the pH of solution. Tiny pH change leads to the significant change in product morphology. The structure of microspheres is similar to graphene which was first discovered. Further study showed that the PpPD nanofibers were dimer. The difference in the structure of PpPD nanofibers and nanospheres (microspheres) resulted in different solubility in water. The nanosized oligomer crystallites served as starting templates for the nucleation of PpPD nanofibers. Further growth of nanofibers was proceeded by the self-organization of phenazine units or their blocks located at the ends of the PpPD chains.

The electrochemical properties of poly sodium 4-styrenesulfonate intercalated graphite oxide (PSSGO) have been investigated in a 1 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte. We observed capacitor behavior at scan rate of 1–25 mV/s in a cyclic voltammetry. Specific capacitance obtained from galvanostatic charge and discharge measurements were 6 F/g to 102 F/g at 1 A/g to 0.1 A/g, respectively. The specific capacitance of PSSGO is relatively high compared to that of the precursor graphite oxide in which the specific capacitance was 11–20 F/g at 0.03 A/g. Capacitance retention was 73% after 3000 cycles, proving reliable cyclic stability up to 3000 cycles.

Amphiphilic polymer carriers (PEG–St–$R$) were prepared from cassava starch and their pH response was investigated. First, hydrophobic tapioca starch polymer (St–$R$) was prepared with octyl acyl as the hydrophobic group. The hydrophilic group polyethylene glycol (mPEG) was then introduced into the polymer by esterification to produce amphiphilic tapioca starch polymer (PEG–St–$R$). Its self-assembly behavior was characterized using fluorescent probes. The morphology of PEG–St–$R$ was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Loading of the anti-cancer drug curcumin was used to assess the delivery and slow-release performance of the amphiphilic tapioca starch polymer. Cumulative drug release was explored at various pH conditions, with the greatest release from drug-loaded micelles being observed under acidic conditions and stable in a neutral environment. These results provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of pH-responsive nanomicelle carriers, and a platform for the preparation of novel amphiphilic starch-based polymers.

Devices such as solar and fuel cells have been studied for many decades and noticeable improvements have been achieved. This paper proposes a Micro Photosynthetic Power Cell (μPSC) as an alternative energy-harvesting device based on photosynthesis of blue-green algae. The effect of important biodesign parameters on the performance of the device, such as no-load performance and voltage–current (V–I) characteristics, were studied. Open-circuit voltage as high as 993 mV was measured while a peak power of 175.37 μW was obtained under an external load of 850 Ω. The proposed μPSC device could produce a power density of 36.23 μW/cm², voltage density of 80 mV/cm² and current density of 93.38 μA/cm² under test conditions.

Membrane technologies are essential for water treatment, bioprocessing and chemical manufacturing. Stimuli-responsive membranes respond to changes in feed conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) or external stimuli (e.g., magnetic field, light) with a change in performance parameters (permeability, selectivity). This enables new functionalities such as tunable performance, self-cleaning and smart-valve behavior. Polymer self-assembly is a crucial tool for manufacturing such membranes using scalable methods, enabling easier commercialization. This review surveys approaches to impart stimuli responsive behavior to membrane filters using polymer self-assembly.

Chemical approaches to creating new drug delivery systems and biomaterials are discussed. These delivery systems have been used to study how blood vessels grow and how different molecules affecting the brain behave. They have also been used in treatments ranging from schizophrenia to brain cancer.

By synthesizing new polymeric materials and combining them with growth factors or cells, new tissues and organs can potentially be created for use in drug testing-thereby potentially reducing animal and human testing- and to treat disease. Examples discussed include blood vessels, heart muscle, spinal cord repair, artifi cial skin, cartilage, and pancreas.

Sinus augmentation is a common approach for patients with severe alveolar ridge atrophy but an ideal material to increase the bone volume for dental implantation is still needed. The present study evaluated the effect of a newly developed polymeric bone-filling powder (formed from acrylic acid and N-isopropylacrylamide, ANa) mixed with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for bone generation in a rabbit model of sinus augmentation. A total of 12 New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into three groups based on filling material. All animals underwent a bilateral maxillary sinus augmentation. PRP was prepared using an automatic separation system to obtain a high platelet concentration. ANa powder was individually mixed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or PRP for sinus floor elevation. The left maxillary sinus received the ANa/PBS filling, whereas the right maxillary sinus received a mixture of ANa/PRP gel. Equal volumes of filling material were inserted in each maxillary sinus. Thus, defects with no implantation served as controls. Animals were sacrificed at 4 and 12 weeks, and then all specimens were harvested for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis. On micro-CT evaluation, ANa/PRP significantly increased the bone volume in maxillary sinus augmentation relative to the negative control and ANa/PBS after 12 weeks. New bone areas with osteocytes and osteon formation were found in all three groups at 12 weeks post-implantation. This study confirms that ANa mixed with PRP can effectively increase the bone volume in the sinus cavity. This benefit for sinus augmentation may increase the success of dental implantation because of the formation of a thin layer of alveolar bone.

In the area of tissue engineering, single screw extrusion (SSE) has gained attention due to its versatility and efficiency in fabricating polymer-based scaffolds. Furthermore, advancements such as the implementation of extrusion techniques and the integration of bioactive agents have significantly expanded the capabilities of SSE. This study aims to investigate the configuration of a custom-designed plastic extrusion for tissue engineering, highlighting its potential in fabricating suture technology for various regenerative biomedical applications. Furthermore, the challenges and future perspectives in SSE technology are discussed, with a focus on the need for additional research to optimize processing parameters, enhance structure bioactivity, and facilitate clinical usage. SSE provides precise regulation of structure morphology, mechanical properties, and porosity, which are critical factors that influence cell behavior and tissue regeneration. Overall, SSE holds great promise as a scalable and cost-effective manufacturing technique for producing polymer-based structures with tailored properties, advancing the field of tissue engineering towards effective clinical solutions. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of a filament extruder production machine that is capable of manufacturing high-quality filament sutures (FS) using thermoplastic materials, specifically bio-protein derived from human serum albumin. The main focus of the paper is to explain the design and operation principles of the filament extruder. The extruder is equipped with a die that can measure a range starting from 2.5 mm and going down to smaller scales. This allows for the extrusion of filaments with a diameter as small as 1.75 mm. Although the design of the extrusion apparatus closely resembles that of commercially available machines, the focus here is on its adaptability and cost-effectiveness for laboratory-scale production. Overall, the research contributes to advancing the understanding of extrusion processing technologies in the context of biomedical applications, with a specific focus on utilizing human serum albumin-derived thermoplastics for manufacturing FS.