https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. For patients suffering from traumatic injuries that leave behind "volumetric" gaps—where significant bone and blood vessels are lost—the clock is always ticking. Without a nearby blood supply, cells in the center of a large injury cannot survive, often leading to permanent tissue loss or failed grafts. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-natural-protein-scaffold-bone-blood.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:40:04 EDT news700413241 A heart attack is far from an isolated, acute event. The consequences of an attack can cause serious and lasting damage, including heart failure. However, researchers and clinicians have been unable to determine a standardized treatment route to prevent long-term structural changes to the heart after a heart attack. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-combination-mrnas-mitigates-heart-failure.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:40:01 EDT news699613827 A vital tool for health care practitioners, electroencephalography (EEG) systems measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp, but getting reliable readings can be surprisingly difficult. Hair interferes with contact between the electrodes and skin, and the gels used to improve those connections often dry out over time, weakening signal quality. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-thermoreversible-biogel-hairy-problem-wearable.html Sat, 23 May 2026 10:00:04 EDT news698669682 Understanding and controlling how cancer cells transition between different states remains a critical challenge in tumor biology. In a recent publication in Advanced Materials, a team from the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) presents a data-driven strategy to guide these transitions using engineered biomaterials. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-driven-biomaterials-pancreatic-cancer-organoids.html Thu, 21 May 2026 18:00:04 EDT news698592241 A new implantable device which aims to maximize the effectiveness of light-sensitive drugs could improve outcomes for bladder cancer patients in the future. Engineers and cancer scientists from the University of Glasgow are behind the development of the device, which uses wirelessly powered micro-LEDs to boost the delivery of light through tissue-mimicking models in the lab. The platform, developed by a team led by Professor David Flynn, is a first step towards a more precise, affordable and comfortable application of photodynamic therapy to treat bladder cancers in the years ahead. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-implantable-tech-bladder-cancer-treatment.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:20:05 EDT news698586181 Implanting a device into the deep temporal cortex of a mouse without damaging the brain has long been a major challenge in neuroscience research. A team at Meijo University and Dokkyo Medical University has now overcome this barrier with a flexible sheet thinner than a human hair that slides into place without penetrating the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-flexible-neural-sheet-device-deep.html Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:08 EDT news697809301 Jeffrey Stansbury, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research and professor at the CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine, has four properties he wants the next generation of dentures to include: that they are cheaper, faster to make, and more durable than current dentures; and that they are potentially able to combat bacteria and fungus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-qa-3d-revolutionize-dentures.html Tue, 05 May 2026 16:40:06 EDT news697215721 A swarm of tiny, shape-changing, all-metal robots might someday deliver drugs and capture biopsy samples painlessly and then safely dissolve without the need for extraction, according to a study presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2026. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-biodegradable-metal-microrobots-drug-delivery.html Tue, 05 May 2026 00:10:07 EDT news697105141 NeeDoh is the latest squishy sensory toy to go viral. Social media is reporting how these blobs of gel are flying off the shelves, and are in short supply. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-squishy-toys-good-needoh-craze.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:20:09 EDT news696769441 Researchers at McGill University have developed a rapid way to engineer blood clots that stop severe bleeding and support tissue healing more effectively. Their technique, called "click clotting," links red blood cell surface proteins through a chemical reaction, resulting in a biocompatible clot that is 13 times more resistant to fracturing and four times more adhesive than natural blood clots. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-click-clotting-fast-emergency.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:17 EDT news696590411 A new study shares the results of a clinical trial into the use of a catheter coated with a bacteria-resistant material. The Camstent Coated Catheters feature a bacteria-resistant polymer coating developed by scientists at the University of Nottingham, and the results of the trial showed catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) were reduced by a third using the coated catheters and the need for antibiotics was cut by more than half when compared to those receiving standard care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-bacteria-resistant-coating-catheters-infection.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:00:01 EDT news696504302 Researchers at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization, and the University of California, Berkeley, have created a novel microfluidic platform that can assess women's breast cancer risk at the cellular level. The first-of-its-kind platform squeezes individual breast epithelial cells, creating a taxing environment to measure how they deform, recover, and behave under stress, according to a new study published in eBioMedicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-individual-breast-cells-cancer.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:30:01 EDT news696167581 Researchers have created heart monitoring sensors that conform to the skin, are comfortable, and can be worn while people are moving. With performance comparable to sensors already on the market, the new technology can be made using existing manufacturing processes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-heart-material-term-ecg.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:20:01 EDT news695917801 Dr. Yangzhi Zhu from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation has published a research paper titled "Real-time intraocular pressure monitoring and responsive drug delivery in preclinical models by an all-polymer smart contact lens" in Science Translational Medicine. The study introduces an innovative smart contact lens that integrates AI-enabled real-time intraocular pressure monitoring with closed-loop treatment delivery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-contact-lens-ai-track.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news694867198 Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that is typically removed surgically. Now, researchers publishing in ACS Nano report they have developed a potential noninvasive treatment for melanoma in the form of a stretchy, heat-activated patch similar to a bandage. When activated, the patch releases copper ions that kill the underlying cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. In tests with mice, the researchers say the patch reduced melanoma lesions without damaging surrounding tissue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-patch-melanoma-cells-surgery.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:20:05 EDT news694262881 In a new study, orthodontics researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine recently discovered how synthetic polymers, including clear aligners, retainers and sleep devices, may affect the immune system. Thikriat Al-Jewair, DDS, L.B. Badgero Endowed Chair and associate professor, and Stephen Warunek, DDS, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics, collaborated with medical researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute to explore how plastic orthodontic devices could affect the oral cavity and the overall health of users. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-orthodontics-microplastics-effect-immune.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:09 EDT news694168947 Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have developed a polymeric biohybrid cardiac device that harnesses the power of light to electrically and mechanically control living heart tissue without the use of metal electrodes. The innovation represents a leap forward in how scientists study heart disease, test cardiac drugs and potentially treat life-threatening arrhythmias. The project is outlined in a paper published in the journal Cell Biomaterials. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-powered-biohybrid-cardiac-interface-synchronize.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:07 EDT news693671942 Deep cuts from accidents or surgeries require stitches, typically followed by oral anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. While these medications help with pain, they don't act specifically on the wounds. Consequently, the site of the stitches can get inflamed, which could slow healing and lead to scarring. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-surgical-anti-inflammatory-drugs-wound.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:02 EDT news693473461 Biomedical engineers from Brown University have developed a new wound dressing material that releases antibiotic drugs only when harmful bacteria are present in a wound. In the new study, published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers show that the material could help rapidly clear wound infections to accelerate healing while reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics—a major driver of antibiotic resistance and hard-to-treat "superbug" infections that claim tens of thousands of lives worldwide each year. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-smart-wound-antibiotics-demand-resistance.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:06 EDT news693048361 Anyone who has ever had to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan knows that magnetic and highly conductive materials are a no-go in the tube-shaped scanners. However, for complex diagnoses and medical research, this imaging technique often needs to be combined with other methods that require conductive cables. As part of an Innosuisse project with the Swiss company TI Solutions, researchers at Empa have developed polymer-based cables that function safely and reliably in MRI machines. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-polymer-cables-mri-applications-metal.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:00:02 EST news688122916 Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) derived from a patient's own cells have garnered significant attention as a new alternative for treating intractable intestinal diseases due to their low risk of rejection. However, clinical application has been limited by safety and regulatory issues arising from conventional culture methods that rely on animal-derived components (xenogeneic components). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-intractable-intestinal-disease-treatment-xenogeneic.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:06:23 EST news685724761 The human brain comprises billions of neurons, synapses, and cell types, making it one of the universe's most intricate and dynamic structures. However, the complexity and sensitivity of the brain can make it extremely difficult to treat brain diseases, as current treatments can harm healthy brain tissues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-combating-brain-diseases-polymer-based.html Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:27:04 EDT news670768022 A scientific team from the University of Liège has just developed an innovative polymer, PHOx, which could significantly improve the safety of implantable medical devices, while being more environmentally friendly. This invention is the subject of an international patent application. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-phox-safer-polymer-implantable-medical.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:55:44 EDT news670604137 Researchers have developed a new therapy that can be injected intravenously right after a heart attack to promote healing and prevent heart failure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-protein-polymer-tissues-heart.html Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:17:50 EDT news664795067 Zwitterions sound like a distant cousin of Twitter (X), but in fact they are a common macromolecule found in human cells. Scientists at the University of Sydney are also now using Zwitterions to create materials that could stop blood clots from forming in medical devices and implants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-curious-polymer-blood-clotting-medical.html Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:01:04 EST news659170862 Implants that steadily release the right dose of a drug directly to the target part of the body have been a major advance in drug delivery. However, they still face some key challenges, such as ensuring the drug is released at a constant rate from the moment it is implanted and ensuring that the implant is soft and flexible enough to avoid tissue damage but tough enough not to rupture. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-soft-implantable-polymer-balloon-enables.html Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:24:04 EDT news636643442 Every organism needs to breathe—including cells that we use in in vitro microphysiological systems. We now have promising results with a material that enhances the quality of our experiments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-special-polymer-microfluidic-chips-animal.html Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:56:04 EDT news617457361 Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have realized a new polymer that can effectively transport plasmid DNA into T-cells during chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a key treatment for blood cancer. Importantly, it can get genes into floating T-cells, not only ones fixed to surfaces. It is stable, non-toxic, and doesn't use viruses. It outperforms polyion compounds considered a gold standard in the field, paving the way for new therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-hairy-polymer-balls-genetic-blueprints.html Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:22:03 EDT news615457321 A team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a biodegradable polymer system to treat rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, by working in concert with the power of the human immune system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-biodegradable-polymer-rheumatoid-arthritis.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:58:16 EDT news599828288 A cationic conjugated polymer (CCP)-based multistep fluorescence resonance energy transfer (MS-FRET) technique, which identifies hypertensive risk alleles, can improve and shorten the time to blood pressure control, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of Science Translational Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-cationic-conjugated-polymer-technique-hypertension.html Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:56:40 EDT news597934595