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Vulnerable DNA sites make cancer cells sensitive to PARP inhibitors

A small subset of vulnerable DNA sites can make cancer cells highly sensitive to targeted drugs called PARP inhibitors, a new study shows.

5 Nov 2026

Scientists develop slug-inspired hydrogel to seal gastrointestinal fistulas

Gastrointestinal fistulas are abnormal passages between the digestive tract and another organ or tissue. They are a common complication of surgery, trauma, inflammatory diseases, and malignant tumors and can be life-threatening in severe cases.

5 Nov 2026

Scientists discover water-triggered reactions that may explain microplastic harm

Researchers found that six common types of microplastics spontaneously generate reactive oxygen species at their interfaces with water, with more hydrophobic plastics showing greater chemical activity. Laboratory experiments also linked these surface properties to biomolecular adsorption, protein aggregation, and mouse red blood cell damage, although the implications for human health remain uncertain.

15 Oct 2026

Vascular anatomy influences experimental stroke treatment effectiveness

A preclinical study from Duke University researchers suggests that the effectiveness of an experimental approach to limiting stroke-related brain injury may depend not only on the drug itself, but also on the brain's collateral circulation: the network of small "backup" blood vessels that can help sustain tissue when a major artery is blocked.

12 Oct 2026

Many herbal toothpastes fell short on a key cavity-fighting ingredient

A study on herbal toothpastes reveals varying fluoride levels, antibacterial efficacy, and cytotoxicity, highlighting safety concerns in oral hygiene products.

5 Oct 2026

Salt-purified seaweed compound suppresses inflammatory and allergic reactions

Food allergies affect an estimated 3%–4% of the global population, yet no definitive cure is currently available.

22 Sep 2026

Sex-specific biological clocks reveal how aging differs across the body in women and men

Researchers developed 38 sex-specific biological aging clocks across 15 organ systems, finding differences between females and males in genetic architecture, molecular signatures, disease associations, and mortality patterns. Brain aging clocks were linked to progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease in both sexes and to sex-dependent cognitive trajectories among solanezumab-treated A4 participants, while the authors stressed that sex-pooled and sex-interaction models remain complementary approaches.

17 Sep 2026

Salk scientists demonstrate B cells directly enhance killer T cell function

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, according to a 2026 Cancer Research Institute report. Cancer biologists are keenly aware of this statistic, as it drives them to innovations that revolutionize cancer care-innovations like immunotherapy.

17 Sep 2026

Cannabis-derived nanovesicles showed early antitumor potential in mice

Researchers developed a Cannabis sativa hairy root culture system that produced stable plant-derived nanovesicles capable of promoting dendritic cell maturation and activating T-cell responses through TLR2- and TLR4-associated signaling. Oral administration also restored selected immune responses in immunosuppressed mice and suppressed tumor growth in an E.G7 lymphoma model, providing preliminary evidence for their immunomodulatory and antitumor potential.

15 Sep 2026

Could scorpion venom inspire new treatments for liver disease?

Scorpion venom peptides show promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects, with experimental evidence suggesting that some candidates could target pathways involved in chronic liver disease and viral hepatitis. The review highlights Kv1.3-blocking peptides and antiviral compounds as potential therapeutic leads, while emphasizing that limited hepatic efficacy data, poor pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges must be overcome before clinical translation.

8 Sep 2026

Tumor environments sculpt diverse natural killer cells for cancer therapies

For decades, natural killer (NK) cells have been classified into two main groups based on surface markers: one specialized for cytokine production and the other for direct killing.

4 Sep 2026

Insilico Medicine releases frontier AI models for drug discovery

Insilico Medicine, a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, today announced the release of a series of frontier specialist models for chemistry and biology, trained through its MMAI Gym for Science framework.

2 Sep 2026

New injectable microgel system delivers precise radiation to keloids

Researchers in Korea are developing a new approach to localized brachytherapy that could improve the treatment of keloid scars.

27 Aug 2026

Glioma microenvironment emerges as key target for future therapies

The prognosis for glioma patients remains extremely poor despite aggressive multimodal standard therapy: maximal safe resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide chemotherapy, with median survival rarely exceeding 15 to 18 months.

20 Aug 2026

Computational pipeline uncovers subtype specific targets for cervical cancer

A new study presents a multi-layered strategy for identifying cell-surface targets that could help guide more precise antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development for cervical cancer, with different targets showing distinct potential across tumor subtypes.

17 Aug 2026

Cigarette smoke extract primes airway cells for greater nanoplastic damage

Researchers found that cigarette smoke extract weakened epithelial barriers and increased the proportion of human airway cells that were polystyrene nanoparticle-positive. Sequential treatment caused greater metabolic disruption and increased mucus-producing cells, suggesting heightened epithelial vulnerability, although the findings are limited to in vitro models.

30 Jul 2026

Prototype smart ring tracks multiple sweat biomarkers

The CHARM smart ring enables continuous monitoring of biochemical markers in sweat, paving the way for advanced metabolic health tracking and diabetes support.

27 Jul 2026

Computational framework identifies synergistic compound pairs in herbal medicines

Herbal medicines have long been used in disease treatment, often through formulas that combine multiple herbs to enhance therapeutic effects and reduce side effects.

16 Jul 2026

Genome-mining tool reveals new antibiotic hidden in a silent gene cluster

Researchers developed DiscERN, a genome-mining platform that combines four complementary algorithms to identify evolutionarily related biosynthetic gene clusters and prioritize candidates for experimental study. The approach revealed discomycin A, a previously unknown calcium-dependent lipopeptide antibiotic with potent activity against several Gram-positive bacteria.

15 Jul 2026

Targeted nanoparticles destroy tumor cells by triggering cuproptosis

A promising cancer treatment strategy called cuproptosis, which uses copper-dependent cell death to eliminate tumor cells, faces a major challenge: many approaches require adding external copper, potentially increasing toxicity beyond the tumor.

15 Jul 2026