Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University
Upgraded tumor model optimizes search for cancer therapies
27/03/2023
Rice University researchers developed an upgraded tumor model that houses osteosarcoma cells beside immune cells known as macrophages inside a three-dimensional structure engineered to mimic bone. Using the model, bioengineer Antonios Mikos and collaborators found that the body’s immune response can make tumor cells more resistant to chemotherapy.
Fraunhofer IPK / Larissa Klassen
New technologies for producing mRNA-based pharmaceuticals
24/03/2023
Together with partners from science and industry, Fraunhofer IPK is researching how mRNA therapeutics and other medication can be better produced and more effectively applied.
Colourbox
Stem cell model: research into malformation of the newborn lung
15/03/2023
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is one of the deadliest birth defects. To better understand and treat this condition in the future, an international team of researchers involving Leipzig University Hospital designed a new cell model in the laboratory and tested a drug therapy on it.
Carlos Marques / ENS Lyon
Standard model of electroporation refuted
15/03/2023
Technology developed at the University of Freiburg enables experimental test. The new findings could help to improve the transport of active substances into cells
manjurulhaque
RIANA: Viennese start-up develops novel, precise anti-cancer drugs
14/03/2023
The technological basis is a proprietary platform technology for the discovery of drugs that target cancer-causing protein-protein interactions (PPIs).
DC_Studio
New artificial model validates antibodies ability to reach the brain
03/03/2023
A research group at Uppsala University has developed a simple and effective artificial blood-brain barrier model that can be used to determine how well antibody-based therapies can enter the brain.
Paul Scherrer Institut/Markus Fischer
Using light to switch drugs on and off
27/02/2023
In the ImageTox project, the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security are pooling their expertise in the fields of drug discovery and artificial intelligence (AI).
Dietze / HIPS
HIPS and CISPA join forces to make future active ingredients safer
23/02/2023
In the ImageTox project, the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security are pooling their expertise in the fields of drug discovery and artificial intelligence (AI).
HIPS/Boese
New cell model for the human lung
16/02/2023
A team led by Prof Claus-Michael Lehr of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has developed a novel human lung cell line that should enable much more accurate predictions of the behavior of active substances or dosage forms in humans than previous systems.
The Project Team / Claudia Pock
Multinational research consortium to advance nanomedicine manufacturing
15/02/2023
Gattefossé, InProcess-LSP, Knauer, Microfluidics, Skyepharma, and the University of Graz join the RCPE-led European Consortium for Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (ECCPM) to jointly develop a modular, flexible toolkit to advance industrial-scale production of lipid nanoparticles.
Fraunhofer ISC
Bioresorbable membrane for healing internal and external wounds
10/02/2023
Fraunhofer researchers have succeeded in using the bioresorbable silica gel Renacer to produce an electrospun membrane that is neither cytotoxic to cells nor genotoxic.
wichayada69
Funding to produce biodegradable antiviral and antibacterial materials
08/02/2023
A new junior research group at Freie Universität Berlin, which will investigate the production of biodegradable antiviral and antibacterial materials, with one of the goals of synthesis being new alternatives to conventional antibiotics, will receive a total budget of more than 1.8 million euros from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over the next five years.
MPI-P
New insights into the utilization of nanotechnology-based drugs
01/02/2023
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now followed the path of such a particle into a cell using a combination of several microscopy methods. They were able to observe a cell-internal process that effectively separates blood components and nanoparticles.
iLexx
Bacterial electricity: Membrane potential influences antibiotic tolerance
27/01/2023
The electrical potential across the bacterial cell envelope indicates when bacteria no longer operate as individual cells but as a collective. Researchers at the University of Cologne's Institute for Biological Physics have discovered this connection between the electrical properties and the lifestyle of bacteria.
Hoverstock
Sequential antibiotic therapy in the laboratory and in patients
23/01/2023
Rapid switching between different antibiotics could prevent the evolution of resistance and lead to successful treatment of patients.
Amac Garbe/Fraunhofer IWS
Radioactive substances fight cancer in the mini-lab
13/01/2023
Two Dresden research institutes want to reduce the number of animal experiments in radiopharmaceutical research with a new idea.
PantherMedia / MyVector
Successful Strategies to Enter the Medical Market in Africa
11/01/2022
There are many factors to consider when you plan to enter the medical market in another country. Every country requires different market entry strategies – and countries in Africa are no exception.
Autonomous medical technology: independently in the body
01/02/2021
Therapies need to be carried out with high reliability by trained personal. This will not change in the future. But maybe we will be able to let systems in the patient’s body do some of the work. Some approaches are already aiming to make implants more independent so they will be able to flexibly react to changes. Read more in our Topic of the Month!
Intelligent implants: when the material is the key to the solution
01/02/2021
Today we use implants to stabilize or compensate for injuries inside the body and to aid in the healing process. Implants cannot act autonomously and treat the patient if they deem it necessary. However, it is just a matter of time before this happens because research on intelligent implant materials that respond to stimuli is on the cusp of a breakthrough.
Tumor therapy: drug delivery pump instead of injection
01/02/2021
Drugs always have undesired side effects. Cytostatics are powerful drugs used to treat cancer. They reach almost all cells in the body, killing healthy cells as well as cancer cells in the process. A targeted delivery to the specific cellular site would be a gentler treatment.
mein.klinikplan.de
eMMa: medication management app improves patient care
08/05/2020
A conversation between the patient and the doctor is always at the start of the health journey. The idea is to set the stage and share important information. This process can be shortened if information is already available in digital form. In the future, patients can submit their medication plan via app thanks to "eMMa".
Medicine at the pulse of time: Innovations and trends at MEDICA 2019
04/11/2019
Soon, the world's largest trade fair for medical technology will open its doors again: More than 5.000 exhibitors will present their newest products and ideas at MEDICA from 18 to 21 November. You will not only meet well-known companies here, but also lots of young start-ups. Or, you can visit the MEDICA forums and conferences to experience a rich program of lectures and discussions.
Combating antibiotic resistance: One step ahead through technology
01/08/2019
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise in all parts of the world, complicating medical treatment of serious bacterial infections in patients. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 33,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Europe alone. Bacteria that are resistant to multiple or even all known antibiotics pose an ever-increasing threat.
Last-resort antibiotics: "We can identify carbapenemases within half an hour"
01/08/2019
Antibiotic resistance is modern medicine's greatest challenge. Some bacteria only respond to a handful of antibiotics, prompting hospitals to spend a lot of time finding an effective drug. That’s why it is critical for physicians to rapidly identify antibiotic resistance to avoid ineffective treatments.
Antibiotic resistance: technical tricks against pathogens
01/08/2019
An untreatable infection is a nightmare for physicians and potentially life-threatening to the patient. Unfortunately, more and more pathogens emerge that are resistant to drugs, especially antibiotics. We need to use our drugs smartly and come up with technical solutions as well to prevent our weapons from blunting in the future.
Photonics: "We want a rapid and easy method to identify pathogens and antibiotic resistance"
01/08/2019
The medical devices value chain has gaps between academic research and industrial practice that slow down innovation processes. This also applies to time-sensitive and urgently needed products such as rapid diagnostic tests to identify resistant pathogens. At the InfectoGnostics Research Campus in Jena, partners from research and medicine team up to close these gaps.
Multi-organ chips: Drug research without animal testing at vasQlab
15/05/2019
New active substances that are suitable for drugs are initially tested in animal experiments. However, the results cannot always be transferred to the human organism. At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Prof. Ute Schepers from vasQlab explains how active substances can be tested in human tissue without endangering human health.
React early, breathe free – comprehensive COPD management
01/03/2019
COPD is considered the third most common cause of death worldwide and mainly affects smokers. It is not curable, but with the right combination of early diagnosis, therapy and self-management, a significant part of the quality of life can be regained. The comprehensive care is supported by various devices and technical tools. Learn more about the all-round care of COPD in our Topic of the Month.
All-round care for COPD: diagnosis, treatment, self-management
01/03/2019
COPD affects more than 200 million people in the world. Those affected by this chronic pulmonary disease are often slow to notice the symptoms and get a medical diagnosis. This results in secondary complications and high medical costs. That's why an early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, and frequent monitoring are very important. Various devices and tools support this all-round care.
Fraunhofer ITEM/Till Holland
Gentle medication for the little ones – with every breath
22/02/2019
According to the WHO, ten percent of babies worldwide are born prematurely. Since most organs of these tiny babies have not fully developed yet, it can quickly lead to complications and disorders and most notably affect the lungs of the premature infants. What's more, infections require gentle treatment, as the preemies themselves are fragile and susceptible – making this a challenging situation.