This week we discover the first drugs based upon the CRISPR gene editing tool. A new way to treat and potentially eliminate genetic based diseases. We investigate a new method of relieving post surgical pain without the use of any drugs and we examine a fast and economic way of turning Methane into Methanol. Finally we meet Robochop, a robotic gardening assistant that will take care of all the mowing and pruning in the garden.
CRISPR Gene editing Drugs
We have spoken about the gene editing tool, CRISPR previously. It won its’ creators the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. CRISPR is a set of molecular scissors that are used to snip out problematic DNA sections in a patient’s cells to cure them of a genetic disease.
We will soon see regulators approve the first treatment using this gene-editing technology. It is part of an effort to combat rare inherited blood disorders that affect millions of people across the planet.
Beta thalassemia is characterized by damaged or missing genes that cause the body to produce less hemoglobin. Potentially leading to enlargement of the liver or heart and malformed or brittle bones. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen. It affects 1 in 100,000 people globally and requires regular blood transfusion to stave off the most serious effects.
The new therapy dubbed exa-cel, has already shown in trials that it can help patients with Beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD). All 75 patients in a trial showed zero or a greatly reduced need for blood transfusions or incidences of life threatening blockages (in the case of SCD) after taking the drug. All but 2 of the 44 Beta thalassemia patients have not needed a single blood transfusion in the 37 months of follow up after the administration of the treatment. All 31 of the SCD patients experienced no life threatening crises in the 2 to 31 months of post treatment followup. Previously they experienced an average of 4 per year.
There are currently 20 US FDA approved cell and gene therapies (none yet based upon CRISPR). More than 60 are expected to be on the market in the US by 2030. We may see a transformation in the way that we think about incurable conditions ranging from rare diseases to HIV and heart disease.
Relieving Pain without Drugs
Researchers at NorthWestern University have developed a soft, flexible implant that will relieve pain on demand. It does not use any drugs and will dissolve after use. The device is an alternative to the highly addictive opioids and other similar medications that have become such a problem for so many recovering from surgery.
The device is likely to be highly valuable for patients who undergo routine surgery or amputations where post operative pain killers are required. The device would be implanted during the procedure to manage the post operative pain.
The device contains a liquid coolant that is prompted to evaporate at the specific location of the sensory nerve. The device wraps around the nerves to deliver precise and targeted cooling. This numbs the nerve and blocks pain signals to the brain. The technology uses the same mechanism that causes our fingers to feel numb when cold.
An external pump allows the user to remotely activate the device and control the intensity. The device can be turned off and on instantly. Once the device is no longer needed, the components of the device are naturally absorbed into the body over the following days or weeks. No need for surgical extraction.
Approximately the thickness of a piece of paper the device specifically targets peripheral nerves that send pain signals to your brain. By cooling just one or two targeted nerves, pain signals in one specific region of the body can be modulated. The device is flexible and can move with the natural bending, flexing, and twisting of the body.
Turing Methane into Methanol
An international team lead by the University of Manchester have developed a fast and economical method of turning methane (natural gas) into liquid methanol. Industry has long sought an economical and efficient way to manage this conversion.
A continuous flow of methane/oxygen saturated water run over a metal organic framework (MOF) catalyst is used. The MOF is porous and contains different compounds that have a role in absorbing light. The flow of methane and oxygen is passed through the MOF whilst exposed to light. This transfers electrons and brings together the methane (CH4) and oxygen. The resulting liquid methanol (CH3OH) is easily extracted from water. The process is similar to how plants absorb CO2 and sunlight by using a photocatalytic process to turn these elements into sugars, oxygen and water vapor.
Naturally occurring methane is abundant and used for ovens, furnaces, water heaters, cars and turbines. Renewable sources of energy are likely to replace all of these uses in the coming years. Methane is also a greenhouse gas, much more dangerous in the atmosphere than CO2. Methane gas is more volatile and difficult to transport than liquid methanol.
Methanol can be used to make thousands of products including solvents, antifreeze, acrylic plastics, synthetic fabrics and fibers, adhesives, paint, plywood and chemical agents. This new process is simple, cheap and quick and provides an economic incentive for repurposing unneeded methane rather than burning it off. It will also provide an economic use for natural gas as demand declines over the coming decades as alternative sources of renewable energy become more integrated into the grid.
Robochop
We have spoken previously about robot lawn mowers. Now Professor Bob Fisher from the University of Edinburgh has developed TrimBot2020, a robot gardening device that does more than just mow the lawn.
Based upon a commercially available robot lawnmower the robot trims hedges, prunes roses and shapes topiary whilst auto navigating the garden. The robot uses a ring of cameras to draw a 3D map of your garden. It then uses robotic snippers and tons of computing power.
There are a total of 10 cameras used in the creation of the 3D map of the garden. This gives the robot a 360 degree view and allows the robot to match the camera view to a hand drawn garden map created by the user. Upon command the TrimBot moves toward individual bushes, scans the bush using its’ computer vision and once it knows where the stems are, the robotic arm starts snipping away.
The initial target is commercial horticultural businesses that maintain parks and gardens. The robot can prune away whilst the human gardener undertakes more complex tasks. Current robotic lawnmowers require users to mark out exact areas to be mown. The TrimBot is able to manage itself once it understands the map of what is required to be completed.
Paying it Forward
If you have a start-up or know of a start-up that has a product ready for market please let me know. I would be happy to have a look and feature the startup in this newsletter. Also if any startups need introductions please get in touch and I will help where I can.
If you have any questions or comments please comment below.
I would also appreciate it if you could forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might be interested.
Till next week.