"DNA nanorobots" to treat cancer

Researchers have recently published their findings of successful use of DNA nanobots for the treatment of cancerours cells.

They have published their findings in the journal of Science.

Aptamers have been used to target the particular cells and payloads with drug molecules and antibodies were used to deliver drugs.

From SayPeople,

Scientists have used a method called as “DNA origami” to make the container having DNA chains folded in a prescribed manner. Then they used “aptamers” to lock the barrel shaped robot. Aptamers have the ability to recognize the particular cell types. 

Scientists then used these robots and observed the unlocking of the robot on contact with the cancer cell proteins leading to the release of antibodies that stopped the growth of cells.

According to researchers, these methods could be used for various other diseases where targeting of cells are to be done.

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USB memory stick sized DNA sequencer

Researchers from Oxford Nanopore Technologies have developed a USB memory stick sized platform for the sequencing DNA.

They named it MinION that uses the GridIOn platform developed by the company. GridION has scalable instruments with consumable cartridges having array chips for nano-pore sensing. MinION is a disposable device for sensing experiments such as DNA sequencing and protein and other nanopore sensing.

"The exquisite science behind nanopore sensing has taken nearly two decades to reach this point; a truly disruptive single molecule analysis technique, designed alongside new electronics to be a universal sequencing system. GridION and MinION are poised to deliver a completely new range of benefits to researchers and clinicians," said Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore.


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Body clock has an important effect on immunity

Researchers from Yale University have recently published their findings of the effect of Circadian rhythm or body clock on the immunity of the body. Circadian rhythm is an endogenous timing system regulating different metabolic activities.

They have worked on mice model with sepsis and found that a certain protein, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), showed different activity at different times of the night and day showing different affects on sepsis.

Researchers have suggested that optimized treatment strategies could be developed by considering the circadian rhythm.

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MRI scans showed brain changes in Autistic infants

Researchers have worked on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of 92 infants aging from 6 months to 2 years. They have found that there are certain brain connection changes in the infants whose siblings are autistic.

Researchers have published their findings in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

According to researchers, findings of tracking the changes of the brain in the early stages can lead to better developmental outcomes.

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Microchip that can be controlled to deliver drugs

Researchers have successfully developed microchip that can be controlled with the help radio signals to deliver drugs.

Researchers have done this study in Denmark. They have implanted the device containing bone building drugs in 7 older women of ages 65-70 and found that the drug delivery was same as that after injections. The device delivered the drug for 20 days.

They have published this finding in the journal of Science Translational Medicine.

"These data validate the microchip approach to multi-year drug delivery without the need for frequent injections, which can improve the management of many chronic diseases like osteoporosis where adherence to therapy is a significant problem," said study lead author Robert Farra, MicroCHIPS President and Chief Operating Officer. "We look forward to making further progress to advance our first device toward regulatory approvals, as well as developing a range of products for use in important disease areas such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and chronic pain."

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Mountain Lion is the new version of Apple's Mac OS

Mountain Lion is the ninth release by Apple for Mac systems. This version has been released for the Mac Developer Program members and the users will be able to download the version late summer 2012.

“The Mac is on a roll, growing faster than the PC for 23 straight quarters, and with Mountain Lion things get even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The developer preview of Mountain Lion comes just seven months after the incredibly successful release of Lion and sets a rapid pace of development for the world’s most advanced personal computer operating system.”

This new version of OS comes with “Messages, Notes, Reminders and Game Center to the Mac, as well as Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration and AirPlay Mirroring”. iCloud for easier sharing and Gatekeeper for enhanced security features have also been integrated.

Apple has also facilitated the Chinese users for Chinese input method and selecting Baidu in options of Safari explorer.

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"Great Eruption" of Eta Carinae would be resolved soon

Researchers have found the effects of "Great Eruption" of Eta Carinae, a supermassive star 7500 light years away, through mix of visible-light and spectroscopic observations.

Researchers have found that the star was cooler than it was previously suggested.

"When the eruption was seen on Earth 170 years ago, there were no cameras capable of recording the event," explained Armin Rest, who is leading researcher. "Everything astronomers have known to date about Eta Carinae's outburst is from eyewitness accounts. Modern observations with science instruments were made years after the eruption actually happened. It's as if nature has left behind a surveillance tape of the event, which we are now just beginning to watch. We can trace it year by year to see how the outburst changed."

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