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Biosensors on demand

Researchers leveraged combination of computational protein design, in vitro synthesis and in vivo testing to establish a first-of-its-kind strategy for identifying custom-tailored biosensors.

Feb 9th, 2016

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Muscles on-a-chip provide insight into cardiac stem cell therapies

Stem cell-derived heart muscle cells may fail to effectively replace damaged cardiac tissue because they don't contract strongly enough, according to a new study. This study may help explain why stem cell-based therapies have so far shown limited benefits for heart attack patients in clinical trials.

Feb 8th, 2016

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Microreactor replaces animal testing

A microreactor developed as part of a collaborative research project enables cultured liver cells to be used as test samples. Unlike animal testing, this novel method enables the assessment of potentially toxic substances on tissue in real time.

Feb 2nd, 2016

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Bio-inspired biomimetics can outperform natural coenzymes

Researchers have developed a range of synthetic biomimetic compounds to replace the relatively expensive natural NADH and NADPH coenzymes in enzymatic conversions of industrial relevance. They show that some of the compounds even outperform their natural counterparts.

Feb 1st, 2016

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New material with built-in vitamin A may reduce scarring

Researchers have developed a new biodegradable material with built-in vitamin A, which has been shown to reduce scarring in blood vessels. This soft elastic material can be used to treat injured vessels or be used to make medical devices, such as stents and prosthetic vascular grafts, to give them intrinsic healing properties.

Jan 27th, 2016

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Making liver tissue in the lab for transplants and drug screening

Engineered liver tissue could have a range of important uses, from transplants in patients suffering from the organ?s failure to pharmaceutical testing. Now scientists report the development of such a tissue, which closely mimics the liver's complicated microstructure and function more effectively than existing models.

Jan 27th, 2016

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Hacking the programs of cancer stem cells

Scientists have discovered a molecule that interrupts biochemical signals essential for the survival of tumor cells called Wnt-addicted cancer stem cells. The discovery is the product of an approach known as 'rational drug design', targeting specific molecules based on a thorough understanding of the biology of a disease and the biochemical signals that support it.

Jan 26th, 2016

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Cell morphology shapes protein patterns

Precise control of the distribution of specific proteins is essential for many biological processes. Researchers have now described a new model for intracellular pattern formation. Here, the shape of the cell itself plays a major role.

Jan 21st, 2016

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Memory capacity of brain is 10 times more than previously thought

Scientists have achieved critical insight into the size of neural connections, putting the memory capacity of the brain far higher than common estimates. The new work also answers a longstanding question as to how the brain is so energy efficient and could help engineers build computers that are incredibly powerful but also conserve energy.

Jan 20th, 2016

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