Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a device that can detect the acetone content in exhaled breath nearly as accurately as a mass spectrometer. Acetone is produced when the body burns fat. Thanks to a smartphone app that guides test subjects in real time, the hand-held device can also be used reliably by non-experts. In future, this should allow diets and therapies for metabolic disorders to be more closely monitored and personalised. 

A review paper by scientists from Beijing Institute of Technology reviewed the theoretical foundations, key technologies, innovative applications, and future challenges of autonomous robots in precise drug delivery, a field with revolutionary potential.

The new research paper, published on Jun. 29 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, provided a hierarchical, function‑oriented framework that directly links microrobot design to the progressive physiological barriers encountered in vivo, from accessible body cavities to the most challenging immune‑privileged sites.

JMIR Publications, a leading open-access publisher, is proud to announce its official Bronze Sponsorship of the upcoming BioMedEng26 conference. 

For cells to function properly, they must produce the right amount of each protein. It is a delicate balance: both too little and too much can compromise essential cellular functions. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has now shown that even a modest excess of tubulin – the protein that assembles into microtubules, the cell's internal scaffolding – is enough to disrupt tissue architecture and reduce cell viability. Published in Nature Communications, the study demonstrates that the quantity of a protein is just as important as its function.

Researchers have developed a cutting-edge approach to treating glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest brain cancer, that could overcome the limitations of existing drugs.

A Ramsey-based diamond quantum magnetometer developed by researchers at Science Tokyo enables highly sensitive biomagnetic measurements without compromising thermal safety. Using a low-power laser, a light-trapping diamond waveguide, and a compact microwave antenna, the temperature rise in the sensor is just 13 K with a sensor-to-sample distance of 2 mm, enabling detection of picotesla-level (10^-12 T) magnetic fields. The sensor enables safe, close-proximity biomagnetic measurements for future magnetocardiography and magnetoencephalography applications.

Insilico Medicine (“Insilico”, HKEX:3696), a clinical-stage, generative AI-driven drug discovery company, is addressing this critical unmet need by using AI to uncover novel biological mechanisms and develop innovative therapies. The company recently announced the nomination of ISM9528 as a Preclinical Candidate Compound (PCC) for pain management. Identified by PandaOmics, ISM9528 is a potential first-in-class, brain-penetrant, orally available inhibitor of Target Z that offers a novel, non-opioid treatment approach by acting on a previously unexplored biological mechanism. Notably, this marks the 31st PCC nominated by Insilico since 2021, further validating the company’s AI-driven R&D capabilities.