The field of medical research is one area that has seen remarkable growth and innovation. We have made great leaps in learning about genetics, diseases, and other areas that have resulted in remarkable inventions to help treat and cure severe medical conditions. It is an area where the possibilities of what we can accomplish are endless.
Below are a few of the exciting medical innovations that are coming soon:
1. Medical Gas to Pharmaceutical Product: Gas Therapeutics is being tested for its quality, safety, and effectiveness in a therapeutic environment. Gas enabled medical developments will provide important gains in diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic procedures.
2. New Vaccines for Avian Flu: A modern vaccine that uses an imitation adaptation of the bird virus called a virus-like particle (VLP) is being developed and may provide an improved response in protecting people against avian virus infection. VLPs attach to cells thus prompting a natural immune response that is sufficient enough to protect one from exposure to the avian virus. This innovative technology could wipe out the H5N1 avian flu virus.
3. Combination Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Prototype Machine: MRI tests can establish the existence and structure of tumors. The PET scan shows what is taking place within the cancer and the blood vessels surrounding it. Doctors get better data from this imaging technology than from doing the two tests separately. It will give doctors real-time information about which cancer therapies a patient will respond to faster.
4. Circulating Tumor Cell Technology: A new technology will allow oncologists to measure circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a blood sample. CTCs are cancer cells that have broken away from an existing tumor cell and are found in circulating blood. The detection of CTCs is an important discovery which may help forecast a patient’s prognosis.
5. Warm Organ Perfusion Device: A better system for the transport of a variety of living organs is being developed. After harvesting an organ, donor blood is circulated through the heart-lung pump to the living organ. The donor blood is heated and oxygenated, and the organ is transplanted in a pre-oxygenated state. This warm organ perfusion device will significantly increase the transplant time period.
6. LaparoEndoscopic Single-site Surgery (LESS): This is laparoscopic surgery performed through a single incision in a patient’s navel. LESS may reduce complications that may take place after open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery. The patient’s pain levels are considerably diminished and the recovery period is reduced.
7. Diaphragm Pacing System: This system has the potential to help patients unable to maintain adequate ventilation due to a diaphragmatic malfunction. Diaphragmatic pacing is performed using a collection of electrodes connected to the phrenic nerves on the diaphragm. This innovative technology will drastically reduce the catastrophic effects of extended respiratory pump failure and mechanical ventilation.
8. Nanomedicine: This is the medical application of molecular nanotechnology. (MNT) Nanotechnology in medicine is when nanorobots are programmed for particular biological functions and injected into the blood to work at the cellular level. They will perform such tasks as cleaning arteries, repairing damaged tissue, and attacking cancer cells and viruses.
These are just a few of the amazing medical innovations that are coming soon. In the near future, we expect to see many more remarkable innovations in the medical field.
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We are all now on a Fantastic Voyage
Do you remember ‘Fantastic Voyage’ – the sci-fi film in which scientists shrank a submarine and crew, injected them into a dying man , and saved him from certain death before being resized for more adventures?
Scripted by Harry Kleiner in 1966 and novelized for Bantam paperbacks 6 months later by Isaac Asimov, it spawned an animated TV series as well as a Salvador Dali painting. Now, some 40 years later, it is seeing practical application in space and cancer medicine, as well as arguably more prosaic areas like materials science.
Today it is called ‘Nanotechnology’ and in this series of brief articles we’ll be exploring how it is beginning to influence the world around us. It begins by linking medical and building science.
Nanontechnology in a Nutshell
The science of Nanotechnology deals with very, very small structures, usually less than 100 nanometers in diameter. With 1 nanometer being 1 billionth of a meter, you’ll get some idea of how small this is by imagining the earth as having a diameter of 1 meter with 1 billion apple pips (seeds) inside it. Or, looked at another way, the dimension ratio between a meter and a nanometer is the same as between earth and an apple.
For the mathematical purists among you 1nm = 10 -09 m, i.e. 1/1,000,000,000
Einstein might have imagined this by building a train wagon in his mind, giving this a length, width and height of 1nm and then fitting this inside a few hundreds of hydrogen molecules.
For scientists and technologists this has special interest because at this size materials reveal unique properties when compared not only with ordinary bulk sized materials, but also their molecules. In essence they take advantages of properties that neither individual molecules nor molecular structures exhibit.
For example, if we could see it a gold nanoparticle deposited on a surface would appear purple, rather than shiny and ‘golden’ that we presently recognize.
Again, if you can imagine a molecule as having a very small atom at it’s core with many electrons spinning around this, all held together by the power of attraction, then you’ll get some idea of the scale of things they are working with.
Another example of particular interest to scientists and technologists currently working, or considering working in this area is that of Titanium Dioxide (titania). This is used in paints to give that extremely white, opaque finish. But nanonised titania is completely transparent.
Nanomedicine
Drug discovery, drug delivery and continuing miniaturization are three areas in which medicine has joined our Fantastic Voyage. Long-term, in-vivo diagnostics and more targeted therapy without side effects are on the horizon. Being able to look for drug targets on a cellular rather than multi-cellular, or tissue basis can be much more precise. Biosensors and molecule probes allow cellular processes to be examined and drug development aimed at molecular targets.
Latest treatment techniques already allow a drug to be put inside a nanoparticle, like a carbon or silicon nanotube. This might also hold antibodies to bind the drug, enabling smaller doses to be delivered direct to the targeted tissue. Various nanoparticle drug formulations are already being investigated in animal models and early stage clinical studies in humans.
Treating Cancer & Diabetes
Using such nanobots, i.e. vehicles for carrying treatments, radioactive generators are already being injected. Going direct to the infected tissue these give small radiation doses to treat the cancer without all the unpleasant side effects of radiation therapy.
By encapsulating pancreatic cells inside nanoparticles they can be kept alive to secrete insulin without being attacked by antibodies. It’s not a cure for diabetes, but does avoid unpleasant injections, delivering the insulin in a natural way.
Brain Tumors and Space Medicine
Neuroscientists are developing nanoparticles to cross the brain-blood barrier and could be treating brain tumors within a couple of years. Meanwhile NASA is pursuing remote diagnostics and treatments for space travelers, like radiation damaged cells. As Cecilia Haberzettl, founder and president of TechnoMed Strategic Partners, recently wrote in Nanotechnology
“When a cell is damaged by radiation it expresses different proteins on its surface. The nanobot would detect those proteins and then repair the cell, either by giving it antioxidants or by enhancing the natural mechanisms of DNA repair by some technique yet to be defined. Or, if the damage is severe, the nanobot could trigger the cell to die. All of that could happen while the astronauts are up in space, while avoiding communication delays due to the distance from the Earth.”
Next Time
From treating humans to treating the buildings in which they live, how nanotechnology is being used in materials science and how a Greek entrepreneurial scientist has developed products that protect surfaces from stains, moulds, and fungus. Personally recognised by Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, for the innovative nature of their work, they are undoubtedly delivering cutting edge nanotech inventions and technical excellence to improve and add value to a wide range of everyday products.
Look out for the next article to learn how this little company is experiencing burgeoning international growth by delivering massive advances and technical excellence in surface protections.
Dr Benfield is visiting professor Univ.Wales Newport UK & CEO Benfield ATT Group/Home & Garden Centre. He speaks, writes & consults on timber engineering, MMC, housing, planning,related economic/policy issues. Buy SurfaPore® – ‘C’for cement based surfaces,’R'for clay based surfaces,’T'for granite, marble,porcelain,’W'for timber/wood, from www.hgc.uk.com or trade www.benfieldatt.co.uk
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This report concentrates on innovations in oral solid dose delivery systems (OSDDS) with an emphasis on the links between start up companies and academic collaborations. It deals with the impact of the difficult economic climate with the restriction on funding and opportunities for partnering projects.
Developments are assessed in relation to understanding the dynamics of the market. For instance the report discusses the loss of patent protection for blockbuster drugs peaking between 2007-2012, loss of patent protection for the first-generation of OSDDS in the last few years, the dearth of NCEs coming through the pipeline and puts new developments in the context of a market that is seeing a decline in its value in some therapeutic areas. It identifies the drivers for new OSDDS and the issues surrounding them.
A key theme is the transition of peptides and proteins from intravenous to oral delivery. The report looks at the competitive landscape, making reference to sales and market dynamics. A recurring theme is the reformulation of old generic drugs to get over inadequacies in the original drug for instance: low solubility, bioavailability, short duration of action, high side effect potential, poor stability, poor absorption following oral administration, bitter or unpleasant taste, narrow GI absorption window and inter- and intra-patient variability in absorption.
With a growing geriatric population and with people living longer much of the emphasis is on development of OSDDS drugs to more effectively treat diseases of an aging population such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity, osteoporosis, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Often these treatments have side effects, problems with dosing and short duration of action or have to be administered by injection which reduces their acceptability.
Key features of this report
* Analysis of innovative platform technologies, companies and product development pipelines involved in transitioning injectable to oral drug delivery.
* Review of companies and technologies developing oral formulations of peptides and small proteins, highlighting stage of development, indications and competitive nature of the area.
* Providing an understanding of the specific problems involved in transitioning intravenous peptides to oral delivery and the mechanisms of crossing the GI mucosa, together with a review of approaches utilized.
* Analysis of sales data, growth rates, market share, generic entrants, new products for therapeutic areas in which the new products using the new technologies will compete.
* Assessment of market potential of the new osdds products in relation to the current market and competitors.
Scope of this report
* Get a comprehensive understanding of the range of new innovative osdds technologies and how they can overcome problems with the original active ingredient.
* Identify potential novel technologies which might allow you to overcome a problem with your own drug portfolio or which would allow you to extend your products’ franchise in the market place.
* Allow you to identify potential licensing opportunities or collaborations with innovative technology companies and assess the potential with respect to recent products commercialized.
* Allows you to identify which companies and which therapeutic areas are successful in gaining backing for their technologies and those that are not.
* Identify the time scales, hurdles and progress in developing new innovative technologies such as nanotechnologies/nanomedicines, oral peptides and proteins, new prodrugs and assess market factors affecting the developments and their success/failure.
Key Market Issues
* Asthe population ages and those elderly people live longer there is a greater need for better drugs which treat chronic conditions associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes and obesity,cancer, hypertension and heart disease.
* The specific challenges in providing for mentally ill patients in which compliance is a problem is driving the demand for formulations which get over problems with swallowing difficulties, frequent dosing, variability in oral absorption or bioavailability,unacceptable side effect potential .
* The low numbers of new chemical entities approved annually (around 30 compared to 40-50 three decades ago), the record number of blockbuster drugs becoming generic up to 2012 and the first-generation delayed-release products losing patent protection is depressing the sales value in certain billion dollar therapy markets.
Key findings from this report
* The development of oral peptide hormones is a highly competitive area with many companies developing oral versions of the same peptide and these products will have to compete with new developments in inhaled peptides and very long-duration transdermal or sc depot products which are several years ahead of oral formulations.
* The failure of Exubera (inhaled insulin) has had a knock on effect on the development of new oral insulins with investors seeing oral insulins as being more risk prone and in addition the issues encountered with some oral insulins has meant that some companies are no longer considering this area a key focus.
* Many dds companies have switched their development focus to new oral GLP-1 analogs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity in the light of Byetta’s success but these oral products are several years behind the development of new long-acting transdermal, injectable and inhaled GLP-1 analogs .
* Generic nasal calcitonin products have depressed the value of second-generation nasal preparations which are still patent protected thus this does not bode well for prices achievable for oral salcatonin products which are nearing the market as they have to offer better therapeutic outcomes in order to achieve higher prices and ultimately market share.
Key questions answered
* What oral peptide products have the greatest growth potential and how far along the development path have they reached?
* What are the strategies employed by brand leaders to protect their franchise in the $10 billion US antiepileptic market in the face of recent generic competition?
* How has the failure of Exubera (inhaled insulin) affected the oral insulin developments and oral peptides in general?
* What are the main diseases and how advanced are the oral peptide and protein formulations?
* How successful is prodrug technology in terms of drug development and what are the latest developments?
* What innovative companies and platform technologies are attracting investment and collaboration agreements?
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