https://phys.org/nanotech-news/bio-medicine/ en-us The latest science news on nanobiology, nano medicine, nanotechnology, nanoscience, and nanotech. Canadians swallow millions of pills every day to treat common health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type II diabetes, but scientists are working at the molecular level to turn patients' cells into pharmacies. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanomedicine-cells.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:00:02 EDT news695634855 A tiny antibody component could fundamentally transform the treatment of cystic fibrosis: For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing a so-called nanobody that penetrates directly into human cells and can repair the chloride channel most commonly affected in cystic fibrosis. The innovative therapeutic approach was developed in collaboration between teams from Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP). The results have now been published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanobody-misfolded-cftr-cells-boosting.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:40:01 EDT news695646297 A quiet revolution is underway in modern medicine: Drug development is aiming to move from managing disease to correcting it through RNA and gene-editing therapies. But delivering these treatments safely and precisely to the right cells remains a major hurdle—especially in hard-to-target organs like the brain and kidneys. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-medicine-gene-therapies-theyre.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:40:06 EDT news695649661 Researchers have developed a rapid color-changing test that can distinguish between different strains of golden staph, including those likely to be virulent and antibiotic resistant. Golden staph is a major human pathogen and is a leading cause of infection-related deaths globally, with more than a million fatalities each year. The research paper is published in the journal Small. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dangerous-staph-strains-fast.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:09 EDT news695481241 A simple test developed at Washington State University could eventually allow astronauts and others in round-the-clock occupations to monitor their biological rhythms in just minutes using a drop of blood, a paper test strip, and a smartphone-based reader. An interdisciplinary team of WSU researchers created an inexpensive, 15-minute test using fluorescent nanoparticles to measure melatonin levels, which rise and fall along with a person's internal biological clock. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-rapid-melatonin-astronauts-easily-biological.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:40:07 EDT news695467081 Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid bilayer particles secreted by cells that mediate intercellular communication by transporting biomolecules such as proteins and RNA. Among them, exosomes have attracted significant attention for applications in diagnostics and therapeutics, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, standardized criteria for evaluating their quality and functionality remain insufficient. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-phospholipid-asymmetry-extracellular-vesicle-surface.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:40:04 EDT news695396761 Picture this: your brain is a high-performance engine. Over decades, it doesn't just wear down, it also starts to run hot. Tiny "fires" of inflammation smolder deep within the brain's memory center, creating a persistent brain fog that makes it harder to think, form new memories or even adapt to new environments, all the while increasing the risk to disorders like Alzheimer's disease. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nasal-spray-rewinds-aging-brain.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news695386081 University of British Columbia researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable wash that removed up to 96% of pesticide residue from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss. This could mean safer apples, grapes and other fruit that also stays fresh and crisp for days longer. With rising food prices and nearly half of all fresh produce wasted worldwide each year, finding a way to cut pesticide exposure and reduce spoilage could have a big impact. The findings are published in ACS Nano. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fruit-pesticides-shelf-life.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:30:01 EDT news695319121 An electrochemical sensor developed at Oregon State University holds promise for making food quality testing faster, more accurate, more environmentally friendly, and less expensive. The novel sensor, which also has potential applications in health care and environmental monitoring, is based on the design principle of engineered interfacial chemistry. The sensor requires tiny sample amounts, can be built into portable testing devices, and is fast and highly sensitive. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oxide-based-sensor-door-greener.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:30:01 EDT news695317741 How can a drug be released or activated exactly where and when it is needed in the body? For many treatments, particularly in cancer therapy, the active compound should ideally act only at a specific site. Yet in practice, drugs are distributed throughout the entire body: the disease is local, but the therapy is systemic, with little spatial or temporal control. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-combining-ion-click-chemistry-enables.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:50:03 EDT news695319721 Justus Ndukaife, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and Chancellor Faculty Fellow, and his team have developed next generation nanotweezers that better analyze extracellular vesicles and aid in unraveling the mysteries of how cells package molecules and interact with one another. The research was published in Light: Science and Applications journal on March 20, 2026. Graduate student Ikjun Hong helped to perform the experimental characterization under Ndukaife's direction. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanotweezers-thousands-tiny-cell-packets.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:40:04 EDT news695305381 Light has an increasing number of applications in biology and medicine—it can be used to stimulate cell growth, manipulate neural signals, and treat some cancers—but it doesn't easily pass through tissue. Most methods to bring light deep within the body are invasive, requiring either tissue to be removed or an optical fiber to be inserted. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ultrasound-body-path-treatments.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:00:01 EDT news695300402 Viruses are masters at invading cells thanks to specialized proteins that coat their surfaces. When scientists design vaccines, they often create versions of these viral surface proteins to study how the immune system might respond. But those lab-made proteins typically lack key parts that sit within the virus's membrane, so they don't always behave the way they would on a real virus. This has made it difficult to understand how antibodies actually identify and neutralize these viral targets. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanodiscs-capture-hiv-ebola-surface.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:04 EDT news695290021 Tiny robots—around 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair—open up fascinating possibilities: they enable the controlled manipulation of objects far too small for human hands. This brings us closer to a long-standing dream—the direct interaction with the microscopic world. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanoscale-robotic-cleaner-capture-bacteria.html Bio & Medicine Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:00:02 EDT news694867949 New research by an interdisciplinary team in Lithuania has revealed a promising and unconventional approach to cartilage regeneration. Using extracellular vesicles derived from menstrual blood stromal cells, the researchers demonstrated their potential to stimulate cartilage repair—paving the way for a future cell-free therapy for osteoarthritis. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-menstrual-blood-derived-particles-osteoarthritis.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:40:03 EDT news695034481 The hair cells lining the inner ear are among the most sophisticated structures in the human body: capable of detecting sounds as faint as a whisper, while helping to maintain our sense of balance. Through new models detailed in PRX Life, a team led by Roman Belousov at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory has revealed for the first time how oscillating bundles attached to these cells operate in different thermodynamic regimes—offering a new framework for understanding how our hearing works at a fundamental level. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hair-bundles-ears-tiny-thermodynamic.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:40:03 EDT news694860355 University of Mississippi research offers hope that cancer drug therapies packaged in 3D-printed carriers could deliver medication directly to tumors while reducing many of the side effects that cancer patients endure. In a study published in Pharmaceutical Research, the Ole Miss team demonstrated that 3D-printed spanlastics—a tiny carrier filled with cancer-fighting drugs—could be implanted directly at the site of a tumor and kill those cells. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-3d-spanlastics-cancer-drugs-tumors.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news694708621 Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a technique for simultaneously treating lung cancer and a serious muscle-wasting condition that often accompanies it. The study, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, involves lipid nanoparticles delivering therapeutic genetic material to lung tumors. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanoparticle-therapy-lung-cancer-muscle.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:20:02 EDT news694699142 Mayo Clinic researchers developed an experimental nanotherapy that delivers two cancer drugs directly to brain tumors, according to a study published in Communications Medicine. The strategy extended survival in preclinical models of glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dual-drug-nanotherapy-bloodbrain-barrier.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:01 EDT news694698181 Cells are not isolated units; they continuously exchange proteins, genetic material, and even entire organelles with their neighbors. Intercellular transfer influences how tissues develop, respond to stress, and repair damage. In certain cancers, for example, tumor cells can acquire mitochondria from nearby cells to sustain growth; similar exchanges are also linked to aging processes. However, despite massive advances in gene-editing and molecular-targeting technologies, we still lack the tools to directly and reliably manipulate the cytoplasmic composition of living cells. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-nanotube-injector-cytoplasmic-contents-organelles.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:40:04 EDT news694431001 Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a microscopic DNA needle that can deliver molecules directly into cells—and, crucially, help make sure they remain active once they get there. That addresses a major problem in modern medicine: much of what enters a cell is quickly sealed off in tiny bubbles and put out of action before it ever reaches its target. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-virus-dna-needle-pave-medicines.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:20:01 EDT news694266182 How can cancer cells be targeted without damaging healthy tissue? This is one of the major challenges facing oncology today. Using synthetic DNA strands, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has created a "smart" system that can recognize cancer cells with exceptional precision and release powerful drugs only where they are needed. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-molecular-distinguish-neutralize-cancer-cells.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:20:05 EDT news694264802 Experiments conducted in Brazil using laboratory rats have shown that graphene-based structures can act as a powerful ally in bone regeneration. These structures are made of sheets of the chemical element carbon that are just one atom thick. They can help heal fractures or bone loss. In the tests, the biocompatible matrix containing graphene facilitated nearly 90% repair of the damage sustained by the test subjects one month after the fracture was induced in the laboratory—a superior performance to that of other materials used in the research. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-graphene-scaffold-bone-cells-body.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:30:01 EDT news694271641 Often diagnosed when surgery is no longer an option, pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat and has one of the lowest rates of survival among major malignancies. Like many solid tumors, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is shielded by the desmoplastic matrix—a dense barrier of connective tissue, structural proteins, and specialized cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)—that also suppresses the immune response. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-tumor-cells-lipid-nanoparticles-advance.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:30:02 EDT news694194962 Nanofilm electrodes capable of detecting stress in plants through bioelectric potentials could pave the way for more resilient agriculture, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Thanks to the electrode's small thickness, leaf surface hairs can easily pierce through it, enabling stable and long-term electrical contact without compromising the leaf's natural processes. This work could help improve crop yields by enabling early detection of stress in plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-smarter-agriculture-durable-nanofilm-electrodes.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:40:03 EDT news694167781 Is your houseplant thirsty? Are crops getting enough water? Is a forest at high risk of wildfire? Leaf health can answer all these questions, and researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed new technology to measure hydration levels with greater accuracy and without hurting the plant. The researchers developed an electronic tattoo for leaves that uses the hyperflexible and sustainable material graphene to track hydration levels. It sticks on the leaves without harming them, a major improvement over current methods that work only with dead or dried-out leaves or provide indirect measurements. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-graphene-leaf-tattoo-sensor-tracks.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:10:07 EDT news694108141 Bacteria are a major cause of infections and death in hospital settings, due—in part—to the rising incidence of antibiotic resistance. In the United States, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are involved in more than 2 million infections and cause 23,000 deaths annually. There's a growing need for new options that can both treat infections and limit resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-copper-starch-nanoparticles-bacteria-microbial.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:50:03 EDT news694106161 In a demonstration that could help pave the way for gene therapies with fewer side effects, several human cell types have been genetically modified with protein nanoparticles designed at University of Michigan Engineering and Michigan Medicine. Gene therapy has been enormously successful for treating disorders of the blood, including sickle cell disease and leukemia. However, using a virus as a vector for treatment can create unwanted side effects, such as secondary cancers and immune system overreactions. With the nanoparticles, the research team aims to develop a safer method for delivering gene therapies. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nanoparticles-genetically-human-cell.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:30:02 EDT news694106101 Hygiene in everyday items that touch the body—such as clothing, masks, and toothbrushes—is critically important. The underlying principle of how graphene selectively eliminates only bacteria has now been revealed. In Advanced Functional Materials, a KAIST research team presents the potential for a next-generation antibacterial material that is safe for the human body and capable of replacing antibiotics. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-graphene-oxide-bacteria-human-cells.html Bio & Medicine Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:30:01 EDT news693754306 Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA play a central role in gene therapies and vaccines. They store and transmit biological information. In order for them to work in the body, they must enter the cells using chemical carrier systems. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon are now proposing a new strategy for developing such systems: instead of using the same carrier material for different nucleic acids, the carrier should be individually adapted to the respective payload. This could improve the effectiveness of vaccines, for example. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-lipid-nanoparticles-custom-polymers-ai.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:50:01 EDT news693763621