Welcome to 2024. This is bound to be an exciting year full of new discovery. AI has entered a new phase where it will become part of everything. We will see more and more breakthroughs powered by or at least assisted by AI.
This week we are going to investigate a new Molecular Jackhammer that can bust apart cancer cells. We look into a new way of delivering many medicines that used to be delivered by injection. Oral Peptides open up a new way of drug delivery. We discover the rhythm of the Earth’s core and we examine a breakthrough in Hydrogen Batteries for electric vehicles.
Molecular Jackhammers
A team from Rice University have discovered that a small dye used for imaging can vibrate in unison when stimulated by a near-infrared light. This vibration causes the membrane of cancerous cells to rupture. Tests have shown that the method has 99% effectiveness against lab cultures of human cells. Half of the mice with melanoma tumors that were tested became cancer free after treatment.
The team has called the process molecular jackhammering. Previously, Feringa-type motors were used to manage the spin of a chain of atoms and drill through the outer membrane of infectious bacteria, cancer cells and treatment resistant fungi. This new process is one million times faster in its’ mechanical motion and can be activated with near infrared light which can penetrate deep into the body (up to 4 inches), giving access to organs or bones without damaging tissue.
The molecules are simple dyes that have been used for a long time. They are biocompatible and stable in water. Inside the body they attach themselves to the fatty outer lining of cells. This may prove to be an effective treatment for some cancers. At the least it may help in reducing tumor size.
Oral Peptides
A team from EPFL Scientific Research Laboratories in Switzerland have developed an oral method for providing patients with peptides. Currently these molecules require injection limiting their availability in some locations and causing inconvenience for patents in others.
Small protein molecules struggle to bind to proteins with flat surfaces or require specificity for particular proteins. Larger biotics can target these proteins however they require injection. There are many diseases which could be treated with smaller molecules including types of cancer where protein-protein interactions are important for limiting tumor growth.
Using the enzyme thrombin which has a central role in blood coagulation the team used a two step process to synthesize a vast library of cyclical proteins with thither bonds which enhance metabolic stability when taken orally. This means that they have generated cyclic peptides (short chains of amino acids) that bind to a disease target and can be administered orally.
When tested on rats 18% of the drug taken orally makes it to the bloodstream which is enough to have a therapeutic effect. The process is versatile and may lead to breakthroughs in other areas where we don’t currently have effective treatments. Automation of the process will allow libraries of one million proteins to be developed. This will give a much larger library of proteins to be tested for medical use.
The Rhythm of the Earth’s Core
A team from China have confirmed the existence of an approximately 8.5 year Inner Core Wobble (ICW) of the Earth’s Core. The core is a solid, dense sphere composed primarily of iron and nickel about 2,400 kilometers in diameter. It is located beneath a liquid outer core.
The wobbling motion has been observed in measurements of polar motion, rotational axis periodic movements and changes in Earth’s rotational speed.
The core has a crucial role in Earth’s geophysical processes. It influences the magnetic field of the planet and contributes to the overall dynamics of the interior. Understanding the core will help us unravel mysteries relating the Earth’s structure, seismic activity and magnetic field.
Better Hydrogen Batteries
A team at the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research in Japan have developed a solid electrolyte for transporting hydride ions at room temperature. This brings solid state hydrogen based batteries and fuel cells within reach and potentially improving safety, efficiency and energy density.
Current hydrogen based fuel cells that are used in electric cars work by allowing hydrogen protons to pass from one end of the fuel cell to the other via a polymer membrane when generating electricity. For this to be efficient it requires water to ensure that the membrane does not dry out. This adds complexity and cost to the battery and fuel cell design.
The challenge was finding a way to move negative hydride ions through a solid material at room temperature. The team used a combination of Lanthanum, Strontium, Hydrogen and Oxygen to create a crystal that could conduct hydride ions at a high rate. They then tested it in a solid state fuel cell made from the crystal and titanium. They were able to achieve a 100% conversion of the titanium to titanium hydride. Nothing was wasted.
The next step will be to create electrode materials that can reversibly absorb and release hydrogen. This will allow batteries to be recharge as well as allow hydrogen to be placed in storage and easily released it when needed. This breakthrough combined with the myriad of sodium and lithium battery breakthroughs indicates the potential for a massive leap in electric vehicle batteries in the coming years.
Paying it Forward
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Till next week.