Fat-trapping microbeads provide drug-free weight loss in rats, study finds
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Aug-2025 22:11 ET (23-Aug-2025 02:11 GMT/UTC)
Researchers have developed edible microbeads made from green tea polyphenols, vitamin E and seaweed that, when consumed, bind to fats in the gastrointestinal tract. Preliminary results from tests with rats fed high-fat diets show that this approach to weight loss may be safer and more accessible than surgery or pharmaceuticals. They will present their results at the ACS Fall 2025 Digital Meeting.
Computer modeling could solve the real-world problem of detecting designer drugs. These drugs are developed to replicate the effects of known drugs but evade law enforcement. The chemical structure variations that help these compounds avoid detection also make them unpredictable and potentially dangerous in the body. A research team has created a database of predicted chemical structures for improved designer drug identification. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
Ice eventually melts into a puddle, but a new alternative called jelly ice won’t leave a mess. Researchers developed a one-step process to create the reusable, compostable material from gelatin — the same ingredient in jiggly desserts. And frozen jelly ice doesn’t leak as it thaws, ideal for food and medical transport. Now, they’re exploring other proteins for food-safe coatings and lab-grown meat scaffolds. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the U.S. Now, researchers propose that a new molecule has the potential to treat acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI) and other inflammatory conditions. As demonstrated in their small-scale AILI mouse study, the small molecule decreased liver inflammation and prevented further liver damage. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.
From electric cars to AI data centers, there is a growing need for electricity. Nuclear fusion could provide vast energy supplies and with minimal emissions, but requires tritium, a scarce radioactive version of hydrogen. In contrast, there is an abundance of radioactive waste in the U.S. from nuclear power plant systems. To address both problems, researchers are evaluating new systems to convert nuclear waste into tritium. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.