When Dr. Pere Santamaria arrived in Calgary in 1992 to join the Cumming School of Medicine, he never could have imagined he would make a groundbreaking discovery that would lead to a spinoff company. When I arrived, I found out that the grant money I was expecting hadnt come through, says Santamaria, a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases and member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. So I had an empty lab with no research assistants and no salary. I had to beg my supervisor to give me $10,000 to start my research.

Despite the rocky start, Santamaria has achieved something many scientists dream of making a discovery that has practical applications for health care. Santamarias discovery revolves around the use of nanoparticles coated in proteins to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

They can be modified for different diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis without compromising the entire immune system, Santamaria explains. Instead, they basically work to reset the immune system.

Nanomedicines unique mechanism has the potential to disrupt the pharmaceutical industry entirely. Developing a new class of drugs is rare. With the assistance of Innovate Calgary, Santamaria started a company, Parvus Therapeutics Inc., to represent the technology and explore ways of bringing it to market. Announced in April 2017, Parvus entered into an exclusive deal with the Swiss pharma giant Novartis, hopefully leading to the development and commercialization of Parvuss nanomedicine to treat Type 1 diabetes.

Its a good partnership, Santamaria says. Bringing a drug to market requires science as well as money.

Supporting commercialization should be a top priority for all research, he continues. Our biggest responsibility is to the patients and making sure they have access to the medicine they need. With that in mind, Santamaria shares his insight for other researchers who may be interested in bringing their discoveries from the lab bench to the market.

If youre interested in investigating spin-out opportunities, get in touch with Innovate Calgary, which offers mentors, coaching, business skill development programs, intellectual property services and other back-office support.

Throughout the years, Santamarias work has been funded by numerous organizations, including Diabetes Canada, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Diabetes Association, Foothills.He is a member of the Snyder Institute and associate member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.Santamaria named his company Parvus from the Greek word meaning small.

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UCalgary researcher signs deal to develop nanomedicines for treatment of Type 1 diabetes - UCalgary News

Alfaisal Universitys development of polymer nanocomposites is creating new materials with exceptional properties

When we talk about technological advancements transforming the way we live, our focus is often on the digital revolution, such as the effects of artificial intelligence and smart technologies. But within physics and chemistry, research into nanomaterials is creating equally profound and important changes in the physical world.

Edreese Alsharaeh, professor of chemistry at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, works with graphene-based composites that are synthesised with nanoparticulate matter to enhance their physiochemical properties. He believes that every aspect of our lives and almost every product that we use could be transformed by the application of nanomaterials and likens their discovery to the synthesis of the first polymers.

Almost 100 years ago, the use of polymers had a major, major impact on our daily life, he says. We replaced steel. We replaced aluminium. We preserved a lot of natural resources. Nanomaterials nowadays are like polymers 100 years ago. In my line of work, it is the synergetic effect when adding a small percentage of this graphene into the polymer that can do magic.

Of course, there is no magic, but nanomaterials are perhaps as close to sorcery as contemporary chemistry gets. As Professor Alsharaeh explains, nanomaterials have an inordinately high surface-to-volume ratio compared with materials composed of larger particles, and are thus more reactive, with nano-enhanced materials dramatically more efficient in their design. In some respects, nanotechnology builds on the fundamentals already established by the physical sciences, such as Professor Alsharaehs work with graphene and silver composites.

Silver has antimicrobial physiochemical properties capable of killing a wide range of bacteria and fungi, which is why wound dressings often incorporate it as a means of reducing the risk of infection. But by using graphene and silver nanocomposites, these antimicrobial properties can be achieved using far less silver. This, explains Professor Alsharaeh, is a synergetic effect that can make a graphene composite with 5 per cent of silver nanoparticles behave with the same antimicrobial properties as 100 per cent silver. Because graphene is flexible, these composites can be used in biomedical contexts such as engineering next-generation bone cement for hip surgery, where infection can be a major cause of morbidity, because the physical demands placed on hips require super-durable orthopaedic solutions.

We need a product that can stop clinical problems such as infection when you do implants, says Professor Alsharaeh. We chose the silver and the graphene because graphene is stronger than steel yet elastic. In our product, the toughness increases 70 per cent and the elasticity is increased by 150 per cent, all from adding 2 per cent graphene.

With multiple drug resistant bacteria increasingly a problem, finding novel strategies for combatting hospital infections is also a priority for medical science. This is an area where the antimicrobial properties of both graphene and silver might provide the answer; and so it is the focus of extensive research at Professor Alsharaehs lab, where graphene and silver have been found to be effective in disinfecting MDR bacteria and E. coli, with the electronic structure of graphene in particular inhibiting bacteria growth. Everyday medical apparatus could incorporate nanocomposites of graphene and silver to stop the spread of infection.

This composite is very good for coating biomedical devices, which is something that is a major deal when you use a catheter, for example, says Professor Alsharaeh. People are [developing an] infection and I think when we coat [devices] with some kind of material like this, that will change. This is in our product development phase now, in addition to the bone cement.

Graphene has the potential to revolutionise nanocomposite materials. That it can be anchored with any number of nanoparticles only enhances its versatility and increases the number of real-world applications it could be used for. It is strong, flexible and thermoconductive. You can make any device out of it, says Professor Alsharaeh. It can be used as a substrate for multifunctional properties.

As he explains, graphenes structure with carbon atoms bonded in a flat, hexagonal lattice is key. Because it is a two-dimensional structure, it restricts electrons to movements along an X or Y axis, and this confinement creates energy that endows graphene with useful optical and electronic properties. Its electronic properties are actually one of the most attractive things about the graphene, says Professor Alsharaeh, who adds that graphene can conduct electricity up to 150 times faster than silicon, and be used for superconductors and to manufacture dramatically more efficient integrated circuits for computer processing.

The goal for Professor Alsharaehs lab at Alfaisal is to take this research into product development as soon as possible. Besides its medical applications, Alfaisal has a patent with oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco on a graphene-based product that is in the process of commercialisation. The Kingdom puts a lot of resources in, says Professor Alsharaeh. From 2010, since I came to Saudi Arabiathere has been major funding for all scientists, which is a major plan for this energy sector. With agriculture, medicine, energy and textiles sectors all set to reap the benefits of nanotechnology, the commercial potential of graphene nanocomposites is invaluable.

Professor Alsharaeh adds that he is a chemist, and his passion is for discovery and teaching. It is very, very rewarding for me to see [that some students] have now finished their PhDs and are making their way in the world, he says. This is also about building the culture for future scientists. And I think nanotechnology is the future for all future-first technologies.

That future will still be shaped by the digital revolution, but when the smart devices in our pockets, homes, workplaces and hospitals are all enhanced by nanomaterials, perhaps that future should be considered a joint venture with nanotechnology.

Learn moreabout Alfaisal University.

Read more here:
Graphene research that breaks the mould - Times Higher Education (THE)

Global Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2026

The latest report on Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market published by Reports And Markets provides a detailed analysis of the market. The objective of the report is to provide a comprehensive analysis of this market to its readers.

This report studies the Nanotechnology for Healthcare market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Nanotechnology for Healthcare market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.

New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The report will answer questions about the current market developments and the scope of competition, opportunity cost and more.

The key players covered in this study: Amgen, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, UCB, Roche, Celgene, Sanofi, Merck & Co, Biogen, Stryker, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, 3M Company, Johnson & Johnson, Smith & Nephew, Leadiant Biosciences, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Shire, Ipsen, Endo International

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Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market in its database, which provides an expert and in-depth analysis of key business trends and future market development prospects, key drivers and restraints, profiles of major market players, segmentation and forecasting. A Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market provides an extensive view of size; trends and shape have been developed in this report to identify factors that will exhibit a significant impact in boosting the sales of Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market in the near future.

This report focuses on the global Nanotechnology for Healthcare status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Nanotechnology for Healthcare development in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central & South America.

Market segment by Type, the product can be split into

Market segment by Application, split into

The Nanotechnology for Healthcare market is a comprehensive report which offers a meticulous overview of the market share, size, trends, demand, product analysis, application analysis, regional outlook, competitive strategies, forecasts, and strategies impacting the Nanotechnology for Healthcare Industry. The report includes a detailed analysis of the market competitive landscape, with the help of detailed business profiles, SWOT analysis, project feasibility analysis, and several other details about the key companies operating in the market.

The study objectives of this report are:

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Table of Contents:

Global Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market Size, Status and Forecast 2020-2026

Chapter One: Report Overview

Chapter Two: Global Growth Trends

Chapter Three: Market Share by Key Players

Chapter Four: Breakdown Data by Type and Application

Chapter Five: United States

Chapter Six: Europe

Chapter Seven: China

Chapter Eight: Japan

Chapter Nine: Southeast Asia

Chapter Ten: India

Chapter Eleven: Central & South America

Chapter Twelve: International Players Profiles

Chapter Thirteen Market Forecast 2020-2026

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Nanotechnology for Healthcare Market to See Massive Growth by 2026| Amgen, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Abbott, UCB, Roche, Celgene, Sanofi, Merck & Co,...

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Research scholars working with pieces of equipment that are used for testing the novel Coronavirus at chemistry, biotechnology and even physics labs from across India say they would be able and are willing to help the clinics and personnel with the testing equipment train them properly and also work with them. But they need the government's permission to do so. They have written to various ministries but have not received any reply yet.

Hundreds of researchers from Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Varanasi, Kolkata, Mohali and even tier-II and tier-III cities are willing to contribute as volunteers in any way possible. "We have expertise in molecular diagnosis clinical sample handling, RNA isolation, cDNA preparation and RT-PCR data analysis. We handle such complicated equipment day in and day out in our labs. We learn and perform experiments with these types of equipment on a daily basis," said Vikas Shukla, who is working on Nanomedicine and chronic inflammatory diseases at the Department of Zoology of the Delhi University. "If we possess a skill set that can help the nation in a dire situation like this shouldn't we be allowed to help? We need approval so that we can go and help as volunteers. I understand that this involves a virus and we need to know the protocol. We can start our work with a dummy sample as well for the training," he added.

Harsha, a postgraduate in Optoelectronics and Communications from Thrissur in Kerala wants to be a part of this as well. "I want to help out in any way I can," she wrote to the researchers. But she cannot move out. She is a nursing mother of 10-month-old twins. "This is the only way we can give back to our society right now and I want to be a part of the process," she added.

The CSIR-CCMB has been training medical staff to handle the testing process of Coronavirus but Nikhil Gupta, a Research Fellow at the Centre of Biomedical Research, SGPGI, Lucknow says that the researchers can learn the procedures faster. "We already have the training to handle such equipment. We can learn faster and even spread the knowledge. We can train others when we have the know-how of the equipment. So why not trains? Won't it be more efficient?" he asked.

The researchers have written to Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Minister of Science & Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Science and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (PSA). He has also written to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath to allow them to participate in this war against the virus that has affected 562 individuals and claimed nine lives till now. They are now waiting for the government's green signal to start their work.

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Hundreds of research scholars working at chem, bio labs across India want to help test COVID-19. But the govt isn't letting them - EdexLive

Cancer, unfortunately, is widespread throughout the world. It affects millions of lives, in many different ways, on a daily basis. Before we dive into the topic of nanomedicine and nanoparticles, lets first look at the current state of cancer treatment.

Most therapeutic options for cancer are detrimental to the body They dont just kill cancer cells, they can also damage healthy tissues causing serious side effects.

Cancer chemotherapy drugs suffer from poor biodistribution and, therefore, require high doses. [1] Resistance can also develop to one or more of the drugs being used on a regular basis. This means that oncologists must continually develop new drug cocktails to keep treating their patients.

Some of the drugs used, particularly in later rounds of chemotherapy, may also be relatively ineffective.

So far, the benefits of chemotherapy have outweighed the risks but with the dawn of the age of nanomedicine and nanoparticles, the situation may soon change.

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology. According to Johns Hopkins:

Nanomedicine can include a wide range of applications, including biosensors, tissue engineering, diagnostic devices, and many others. [It involves]harnessing nanotechnology to more effectively diagnose, treat, and prevent various diseases.

It also involves the development of new approaches to more efficiently deliver medications to the site of action with the aim of improving outcomes with less medication (and fewer medication side effects).

Nanoparticles are amongst the most promising treatment options in oncology, They have the potential to revolutionize the usual therapies by improving the usage and delivery of chemotherapy drugs [2].

The ability to control nanoparticle shape, size, and surface, as well as their ability to transport and deliver drugs to specific locations in the body, make nanoparticles highly useful in oncology[3].

Nanoparticles use has also spread to other areas of the medical world,[4] including:

Almost. Cancer is often debilitating with few treatment options that include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. The side effects of these treatments can be detrimental to a patients way of living. They can often experience insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss among a long list of other adverse reactions [5].

With a cancer diagnosis and treatment, a patients quality of life can quickly nose-dive. But with nanomedicine, patients may experience a dramatic decrease in chemotherapy side effects, including a reduction of toxicity from the drugs used [6]. This, combined with all the other possible advantages of administering nanoparticles, makes nanomedicine an attractive new cancer therapy option.

Nanoparticles are attractive treatment options because their outer surfaces can be modified to attack specific cancer cells. They are biocompatible and biodegradable. They also offer increased stability to their drug payload[7].

Other possible advantages include:

There are three main types of nanoparticles [8] as follows:

Lipid-based nanoparticles have many advantages over other variations of nanoparticles. This accounts for their increased use in the delivery of drugs. Lipid-based nanoparticles have better biocompatibility than other nanoparticles. This means they work better with living tissue. Lipid-based nanoparticles are also more versatile, making them a better option in many therapies, like cancer treatments.

Liposomes are formulated with a wide range of natural, synthetic, and modified lipids to help them deliver drugs as well as contrast agents for medical imaging. Liposomes are used to treat cancer, fungal infections, vaccines, and more.

Polymeric nanoparticles are currently used for the following:

Polymer-based nanoparticles improve the efficiency of drugs as well as decrease drug side effects and toxicity.

Efficiently. The purpose of nanoparticles is to deliver drugs directly to the cancer cells and not the rest of the body. They are administered intravenously and are then moved around the body by the circulatory system.

Nanoparticles are designed to locate and then accumulate on the cancer tissue, penetrating through the walls of a tumor to deliver the chemotherapy drug they carry [8]. This way, the chemotherapy drug is delivered directly to the site of cancer versus distributed throughout the body. Mass distribution to both diseased and healthy tissues is usually the cause of drug side effects.

There are different methods of releasing the drugs being administered via nanomedicine [9]:

Nanoparticles can also be designed to transform under different conditions to either release or hold onto their drugs.

While widely used for cancer therapies, nanoparticles are also used for diagnostics, a type of nanomedicine referred to as nanodiagnostics[10]. Several nanoparticle formulations have already been designed for diagnostic use only. Though currently in limited use, nanodiagnostics is a growing field with imaging applications, such as use in magnetic resonance monitoring of tumor blood vessels and coronary arteries in patients.

On top of diagnostics, nanoparticles are also used in research opportunities, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases[11], and theranostics, which is a term used to describe pre-clinical research and trials of drug therapies and other treatments[12].

The production and use of nanoparticles face many challenges [13], including:

The creation process for lipid-based nanoparticles has a significant variation between each batch developed.

The manufacturing process is challenging to develop and maintain to the point that significant, quality nanoparticles can be produced.

The production of nanoparticles is time-consuming and extremely labor-intensive, requiring specialized knowledge and tools.

Related content: Why Drug Discovery is So Hard and High Risk

Nanoparticles are intended to maximize the benefit/risk ratio of therapies. Rather than causing many debilitating symptoms in the hopes of curing one disease, like current cancer treatments, nanoparticles are designed to minimize any side effects while treating that same disease.

But the technology isnt 100 percent ready for prime time yet. More research is needed and more dollars must be spent on analyzing both the effectiveness of nanomedicine as well as the long-term effects on the body.

While lipid-based nanoparticles are the most promising prospect because they are made of natural elements and have more advantages than other types of nanoparticles, they are not yet a perfect solution for drug delivery. We need more significant investments in clinical trials in both the government and private sectors to advance the technology.

Nanomedicine is used to treat a variety of different diseases and conditions, but it is in the oncology segment where nanoparticles see the most use and the most promise. To date, there are 51 nanopharmaceuticals approved for use in clinical practice[14]. More are being studied in clinical trials for cancer and other diseases.

Clearly, nanomedicine is a field to watch closely. I believe with continual research, trials, and advancements, the future of nanomedicine and nanoparticles is bright.

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Related content: Why Drug Discovery is So Hard and High Risk

References:

[1] Torchilin, V.P. and Lukyanov, A.N., 2003. Peptide and protein drug delivery to and into tumors: challenges and solutions. Drug discovery today, 8(6), pp.259-266..

[2]Shi, J., Kantoff, P.W., Wooster, R. and Farokhzad, O.C., 2017. Cancer nanomedicine: progress, challenges and opportunities. Nature Reviews Cancer, 17(1), p.20.

[3] Cho, K., Wang, X.U., Nie, S. and Shin, D.M., 2008. Therapeutic nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer. Clinical cancer research, 14(5), pp.1310-1316.

[4] Heiligtag, F.J. and Niederberger, M., 2013. The fascinating world of nanoparticle research. Materials Today, 16(7-8), pp.262-271.

[5] Griffin, A.M., Butow, P.N., Coates, A.S., Childs, A.M., Ellis, P.M., Dunn, S.M. and Tattersall, M.H.N., 1996. On the receiving end V: patient perceptions of the side effects of cancer chemotherapy in 1993. Annals of oncology, 7(2), pp.189-195.

[6] Landesman-Milo, D., Ramishetti, S. and Peer, D., 2015. Nanomedicine as an emerging platform for metastatic lung cancer therapy. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, 34(2), pp.291-301.

[7] Doane, T.L. and Burda, C., 2012. The unique role of nanoparticles in nanomedicine: imaging, drug delivery and therapy. Chemical Society Reviews, 41(7), pp.2885-2911.

[8] Singh, R. and Lillard Jr, J.W., 2009. Nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery. Experimental and molecular pathology, 86(3), pp.215-223.

[9] Mura, S., Nicolas, J. and Couvreur, P., 2013. Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for drug delivery. Nature materials, 12(11), pp.991-1003.

[10] Baetke, S.C., Lammers, T.G.G.M. and Kiessling, F., 2015. Applications of nanoparticles for diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The British journal of radiology, 88(1054), p.20150207.

[11] Godin, B., Sakamoto, J.H., Serda, R.E., Grattoni, A., Bouamrani, A. and Ferrari, M., 2010. Emerging applications of nanomedicine for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 31(5), pp.199-205.

[12] Lammers, T., Aime, S., Hennink, W.E., Storm, G. and Kiessling, F., 2011. Theranostic nanomedicine. Accounts of chemical research, 44(10), pp.1029-1038.

[13] Prabhakar, U., Maeda, H., Jain, R.K., Sevick-Muraca, E.M., Zamboni, W., Farokhzad, O.C., Barry, S.T., Gabizon, A., Grodzinski, P. and Blakey, D.C., 2013. Challenges and key considerations of the enhanced permeability and retention effect for nanomedicine drug delivery in oncology.

[14] Bobo, D., Robinson, K.J., Islam, J., Thurecht, K.J. and Corrie, S.R., 2016. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharmaceutical research, 33(10), pp.2373-2387.

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The Promising Future of Nanomedicine and... - The Doctor Weighs In

Over the past decade, healthcare has been aggressively organizing to use data for better medical care. Healthcare professionals today are routinely using electronic health records (EHRs) to improve their ability to diagnose medical conditions, at the same time reducing and even preventing medical errors for better patient outcomes.

Medical tablets and touchscreen PCs provide the portals into that data. Medical equipment manufacturers collaborate with both hardware and software providers to bring their solutions to the healthcare market, positively impacting patients and providers alike.

In the past, doctors recorded patient information with a pen and clipboard and stored patient files in office filing cabinets. In the mid-2000s, HIPPA and other healthcare regulators made it a requirement to keep electronic medical records (EMRs), also called electronic health records (EHRs). The final deadline for healthcare organizations to switch from paper records to electronic records was in 2014.

For a few years, clinicians continued gathering patient data on paper, and inputting that data into a computer. The transfer of data was sometimes sloppy and inaccurate, and it was a time-consuming process. But then healthcare systems began placing computers at the point of care, to skip the pen and clipboard all together. Now, according to a national survey of doctors cited on the HealthIT.gov website:

Mobile computers and computers installed at the point of care are enabling medical professionals to acquire a wealth of data on their patients and improve their care. The benefits of EHRs can include the ability to manipulate data that can detect problems with the patients health and in the hospital or clinics operational system.

Medical computers are designed to stand up to harsh, medical-grade cleaners.

Medical touchscreen PCs allow providers to deliver continuity of care, manage risk and prevent liability, but not just any computing device can enter a healthcare environment. Computers used in hospitals and other medical facilities must meet patient needs, safety requirements and the strict demands of the field.

While the requirements can vary drastically depending on the application, there are several standard features for use in a healthcare setting.

Provide the basics. The medical-grade touchscreen PC must have basic functionality: processing speed, storage, inputs and outputs, and the ability to securely connect to a wireless or wired network to allow various medical providersbut not unauthorized users to access patient records.

Reliability. Healthcare never stops, so in hospitals, medical-grade touchscreen PCs must be able to run 24/7/365 and therefore have the same ruggedness as those units used in the rough world of manufacturing. Reliability is crucial in a demanding healthcare setting, which, of course, is one place where reliability can mean life or death.

Compliance. Does the computer support HIPPA-compliant EHR practices, and is it compatible with the manufacturers current operating system and software? There are a lot of compliance measures for medical devices to ensure they are secure and reliable.

Most electronic devices used in medical facilities must carry certifications regarding electrical charge and flow from the device. Some of the common certifications are CE, FCC class A or B, UL60601-1, EN60601-1 and IEC60601-1. 60601-1 certification is the core certification pertaining to the placement of computers near patients or sensitive equipment.

Medical computers also need to have sterile and easy-to-clean bezels. Though computers may seem clean, bacteria, undetectable to the human eye, can easily build up. Standard PCs are not sterile enough for a hospital or other healthcare environment. Medical computers are designed with minimal cracks and crevices to deny hiding places for bacteria to grow. Flush-front designs also make it easy to wipe down the computer between patient visits or surgeries.

Medical computers are built with special antibacterial plastic, or they can have antibacterial coatings that impede the growth of bacteria and germs. The plastic housing is also designed to stand up to harsh, medical-grade cleaners that can degrade and damage the bezel of non-medical-grade computers.

OEM projects have special requirements not typically seen in standard medical computer deployments.

Fanless cooling. Fans can build up dust and debris, leading to early computer failure. They are also a common point of failure on mobile computers that are bumped or moved around often. Fanless cooling systems dont push around dust or germs and they allow the computer to run silently.

Fully sealed enclosures. These are easy to clean with sanitizer and dont allow moisture to invade the inside of the PC.

Antimicrobial touchscreen and enclosure. Antimicrobial plastic or coating prevents the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other infections by 95%.

Carefully selected I/Os. Standard computers are not designed with medical applications in mind. They can lack important I/Os (inputs and outputs) that are used to connect the computer with common medical devices and peripherals, and they may include irrelevant I/Os that usually go unused in healthcare.

Long life. To meet the demands of medical settings, touchscreens should have a useful life of 100 million touches, and both the internal and external components of the computer need to last (usually a minimum of five years). Installing new computer hardware in a healthcare facility or hospital is a costly undertaking that can take months or even years. So, it is all the important that the computers are built to last.

Mounting design. Units with standard VESA mounts allow easy and reliable attachment to your equipment or system. Some OEM medical machines require a panel-mount or open-frame computer. Medical tablet PCs typically come with a docking station for drop-and-go charging, and sometimes require a customized mounting solution for OEM devices.

Surge protection. Computers that are directly connected to a patient must have surge protection, lest they interfere with the patient or other medical equipment. The best way to protect the patient is to outfit the input/output ports with 4kV isolation, which is accounted for under the IEC60601-1 4th Edition Certification.

Security. It is vital that hospitals protect patient records to satisfy multiple government standards. To ensure a fully secure computing environment, computers used in healthcare should come equipped with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The TPM serves as a hardware authentication tool to be used in conjunction with software-based security solutions. TPM is widely considered to be the safest form of computer security and is trusted to keep patient records private.

Though medicine has been using PC touchscreens for the past 30 years, you can imagine how far weve come, particularly recently. Wireless technology has benefited both computer carts and stationary equipment using touchscreens, particularly with facilities using booster devices and mesh systems.

With the advent of hot-swappable batteries, clinicians now have the option of unplugging the AIO computer from a power source and moving to the next room without restriction. Battery-powered computers now come in 21.5 in. and 23.8 in. and can run up to eight hours without needing to be plugged into power.

As for operating systems, Android isnt just for smartphones. Thanks to the flexibility offered by this operating system, computers will function successfully with a variety of systems used in a healthcare facility. Plus, Android gives equipment designers a high level of flexibility when it comes to device functionality.

Android provides the flexibility that healthcare, which is always evolving, needs. The operating system makes medical-grade computers even more appealing to developers, who can easily customize applications to accommodate unique I/O devices and create GUIs to manage any medical need.

Android medical-grade computers do not require additional storage capacity and memory requirements that are necessary for Window-based computers. The significant cost savings associated with these differences are driving medical applications towards Android-based computing.

Size is also making a difference. Manufacturers are providing smaller, slimmer, lighter-weight computers that are better able to move around a facility, as cart-mounted computers on wheels (COWs). Mobile computing devices continue to get smaller, too. Medical tablets are easy to carry around and handheld devices can fit into the pocket of a white coat.

As components are shrinking, this compactness (combined with durability) enables these units to go wherever clinicians go. When mounted, these computers take up less room on COWs or in equipment, yet the screens are very readable and available in large-enough sizes for DICOM imaging and medical chart or image reading.

Computers installed at the point of care enable medical professionals to collect a wealth of data.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) projects have special requirements that arent typically seen in standard medical computer deployments. This process is best explained with an example.

In 2017, a medical OEM was searching for a computer with 60601-1 certification, a PCIe slot for a graphics card and an anti-bacterial enclosure. The computer would be used with the OEMs autonomous tissue removal robot that treats lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH (enlarged prostate). They tested a 21.5-in., medically certified, all-in-one touchscreen computer from Teguar.

After the OEM approved the medical computer in terms of hardware performance, the researchers used the device in clinical trials outside the United States. After a couple of years of successful trials abroad, which included a 181-patient, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, the technology for the treatment of prostate disease gained approval by the FDA for access to the U.S. market.

Throughout the whole process, in this case several years, the OEM and the computer manufacturer must communicate clearly and timely, as to not delay any aspect of the project. Over that time, a consumer-grade computer model will undergo several upgrades, or even be discontinued for a newer model. Medical devices are certified to their exact specs, so the computer cannot simply be switched out for the newer model. This is where a long life cycle is essential. The CPU used in this computer was on Intels embedded roadmap, ensuring that it will be available from Intel for more than 10 years.

Today, the manufacturer has deployed about 150 of its autonomous tissue removal robots. They are creating a better healthcare experience for patients by reducing the invasiveness of the surgery and minimizing the commonly experienced complications in current methods for the removal of prostatic tissue. Over the next few years, the device manufacturer expects the device to gain traction in terms of deployment and market use.

This collaboration has been successful because the computer used in this project provided a forward-looking solution. The computer met the project needs at the time and in the future, in terms of spec requirements, but also would meet the stringent FDA requirements.

Jacob Valdez is a sales manager at Teguar Computers, a Charlotte, N.C. provider of industrial and medical PCs.

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Medical Computers Impact the Standard of Care - Machine Design

"The FDAs decision to grant Fast Track designation is not only important for the development of NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy, which is now eligible for accelerated approval and priority review, but even more critically it underscores the unmet needs and limited options of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. The available public data and our development plans moving forward give us confidence that NBTXR3 could significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients. Fast Track development in head and neck cancer is a major step forward." Laurent Levy, CEO of Nanobiotix

Regulatory News:

NANOBIOTIX (Paris:NANO) (Euronext: NANO - ISIN: FR0011341205 the "Company"), a clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to the treatment of cancer, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for the investigation of NBTXR3 activated by radiation therapy, with or without cetuximab, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer who are not eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy.

Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and accelerate the review of drugs for serious conditions and that have the potential to address unmet medical needs. The purpose is to expedite the availability of new treatment options for patients.

A product that receives Fast Track designation is eligible for1:

About NBTXR3

NBTXR3 is a first-in-class product designed to destroy tumors through physical cell death when activated by radiotherapy. NBTXR3 has a high degree of biocompatibility, requires one single administration before the first radiotherapy treatment session, and has the ability to fit into current worldwide radiotherapy radiation therapy standards of care. The physical mode of action of NBTXR3 makes it applicable across solid tumors such as lung, prostate, liver, glioblastoma, and breast cancers.

NBTXR3 is actively being evaluated locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) of the oral cavity or oropharynx in elderly and frail patients unable to receive chemotherapy or cetuximab with limited therapeutic options. Promising results have been observed in the phase I trial regarding local control. In the United States, the company has started the regulatory process for the clinical authorization of a phase II/III trial in locally advanced head and neck cancers.

Nanobiotix is also running an Immuno-Oncology development program. The Company received FDA approval to launch a clinical trial of NBTXR3 activated by radiotherapy in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies in locoregional recurrent (LRR) or recurrent and metastatic (R/M) HNSCC amenable to re-irradiation of the HN and lung or liver metastases (mets)from any primary cancer eligible for anti-PD-1.

The other ongoing NBTXR3 trials are treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases, locally advanced or unresectable rectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy, head and neck cancer in combination with concurrent chemotherapy, and prostate adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the company has a large-scale, comprehensive clinical research collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (9 new phase I/II clinical trials in the United States) to evaluate NBTXR3 across head and neck, pancreatic, thoracic, lung, gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers.

About NANOBIOTIX: http://www.nanobiotix.com

Incorporated in 2003, Nanobiotix is a leading, clinical-stage nanomedicine company pioneering new approaches to significantly change patient outcomes by bringing nanophysics to the heart of the cell.

The Nanobiotix philosophy is rooted in designing pioneering, physical-based approaches to bring highly effective and generalized solutions to address unmet medical needs and challenges.

Nanobiotixs first-in-class, proprietary lead technology, NBTXR3, aims to expand radiotherapy benefits for millions of cancer patients. Nanobiotixs Immuno-Oncology program has the potential to bring a new dimension to cancer immunotherapies.

Nanobiotix is listed on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (Euronext: NANO / ISIN: FR0011341205; Bloomberg: NANO: FP). The Companys headquarters are in Paris, France, with a US affiliate in Cambridge, MA, and European affiliates in France, Spain and Germany

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1https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/fast-track

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Nanobiotix and its business, including its prospects and product candidate development. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Nanobiotix considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the reference document of Nanobiotix registered with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorit des Marchs Financiers) under number R.19-018 on April 30, 2019 (a copy of which is available on http://www.nanobiotix.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Nanobiotix operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Nanobiotix or not currently considered material by Nanobiotix. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Nanobiotix to be materially different from such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200210005720/en/

Contacts

Communications Department Brandon Owens VP, Communications +1 (617) 852-4835contact@nanobiotix.com

Pascalyne Wilson Senior Manager, Corporate Marketing +33 (0) 1 70 61 00 18contact@nanobiotix.com

Investor Relations Department Noel Kurdi (US) Director, Investor Relations +1 (646) 241-4400investors@nanobiotix.com

Ricky Bhajun (EU) Senior Manager, Investor Relations +33 (0)1 79 97 29 99investors@nanobiotix.com

Media RelationsFrance TBWA Corporate Pauline Richaud + 33 (0) 437 47 36 42Pauline.richaud@tbwa-corporate.com

US RooneyPartnersMarion Janic +1 (212) 223-4017mjanic@rooneyco.com

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NANOBIOTIX Announces Fast Track Designation Granted By U.S. FDA For Investigation of First-in-class NBTXR3 In Head and Neck Cancer - Yahoo Finance

The Wuhan Coronavirus has rapidly become a global health crisis and is producing hourly headlines. As a result, many of the vaccine tickers started to experience parabolic reactions as investors speculate on who will benefit from the growing health crisis. NanoViricides (NNVC) is one of these tickers and has rocketed from ~$3 to around $19 per share. On January 30th, NanoViricides announced it is has already initiated a program for developing a treatment for the 2019-nCOV." In addition, the company believes that their platform technology allows them to possibly have the most rapid pathway for new drug development against viral diseases. This triggered a sharp spike in the share price and has investors keeping a close eye on NNVC for their next move. Unfortunately, the company has yet to gain support from governmental and international agencies, so it doesnt appear NanoViricides is going to be in lead considering Moderna (MRNA) at least has a clinical collaboration with NIH. What is more, the company has started several pipeline programs but has yet to put one into human trials. Consequently, I believe investors need to be cautious around this ticker and should be skeptical about its ability to be a long-term investment.

I intend to provide a brief background on the companys platform technology and pipeline programs. In addition, I discuss my concerns around the companys technology and the ability to get one of their programs through the FDA. Moreover, I recap the companys history of publicizing their intention to develop a therapy for the latest outbreak but has yet to get one of these programs into the clinic.

NanoViricides is committed to the advancement of nanomedicine drugs in the battle against viruses. The companys nanoviricide platform technology intends to develop first-in-class drugs to envelope virus particles, which should block a virus from infecting a healthy cell and will eventually destroy the virus.

Figure 1: NanoViricide Mechanism of Action (Source: NNVC)

NanoViricides has its own c-GMP capable manufacturing facility that can be used to produce their own product candidates for both clinical and commercial use. In terms of pipeline programs, the company has multiple preclinical programs that are moving closer to an IND and into human trials (Figure 2).

Figure 2: NanoViricide Pipeline (Source: NNVC)

At the moment, the company is focused on bringing their NV-HHV-101 HerpeCide program into human trials. This would be the companys lead product candidate for a topical treatment for shingles rash and would be the companys first clinical program. According to the company, NV-HHV-101 had positive GLP Safety/Toxicology and non-GLP studies. Unfortunately, the company hasnt been able to produce any animal models in order to evaluate their dermal treatment but has been using ex vivo human skin organ culture model studies to determine some safety and efficacy. NanoViricides is preparing to file an IND and transition into a clinical-stage biotech.

Once NV-HHV-101 is in the clinic, the company expects to advance their HSV-1 cold sores and of HSV-2 genital ulcers programs. In addition, the company has several preclinical programs that include therapies for HIV, Dengue, Ebola, Bird Flu. These programs are at different stages of preclinical development and have demonstrated safety in animal models. According to the company, their anti-HIV drug candidate has demonstrated complete suppression of the HIV virus in mouse models, which would lead to a functional cure.

My Concerns

Does the NanoViricide entice or attack a virus? After reading through the companys presentation, I couldnt come to a conclusion about how their platform works. The company has illustrated that their NanoViricides attacks and envelopes the virus (Figure 1). However, they have also stated that the NanoViricides fools the virus that it is a host cell and then entraps the virus. Perhaps the NanoViricides work both ways, but it still has me wondering about how it is supposed to act inside the bodya human host cell is astronomically bigger than the virus that is attempting to infect it (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Size Comparisons (Source: Research Gate)

Viruses are measured in nanometers and human cells are measured in microns, yet, the NanoViricide is attempting to trick the virus to thinking it is human cell. Indeed, a virus doesnt decide to attach to a human cell because of its size but rather surface receptors. Still, I dont see it as it being tricked but rather just getting stuck and consumed...which makes me wonder about the size of a NanoViricide...How big of a virus can it cover? Can multiple NanoViricides work on one virus?

How does the NanoViricide destroy the virus? Viruses are quite resilient for just being RNA or DNA encapsulated in a protein coat. A virus requires host cells to carry out the remaining life processes in order to reproduce. This gives our bodies a chance to identify and destroy viruses with our innate and adaptive immune systems by several complex mechanisms. So, an explanation of how a NanoViricide destroys a virus needs to go beyond it encapsulates and destroys. The company explains that the NanoViricide delivers a devastating payload of active pharmaceutical ingredients API into the virus particle, thereby completely destroying the enemy. What is this API? Does it cause cytotoxicity? Is it relying opsonization? The company has a slide (Figure 4), that shows NanoVircide dismantling the capsid.

Figure 4: NanoViricide Dismantling (Source: NNVC)

Admittedly, the company is attempting to be one of the leaders in nanomedicine, so perhaps the mechanisms are beyond me and contemporary medicine. Unfortunately, we cant rely on currently approved products or science to understand how NanoViricide works, which doesnt bode well in my opinion. Contemporary vaccines, antibodies, and anti-viral drugs are effective against viruses, so I have to imagine health agencies and organizations are going to side with the standard-of-care modalities rather than take a chance with unproven technology.

Another issue I have with their technology is how they plan to run clinical trials for some of their pipeline programs. Take their shingles cream candidate, which is intended to be a topical treatment for the shingles rash. How is the company supposed to run a clinical trial for this? What would be an inclusion or exclusion trial for this? How would they know if it is better at clearing up a rash vs. placebo alone? A shingles rash appears abruptly and can last several weeks, so, determining if NanoViricides were able to shorten or diminish the impact of the rash would be difficult to measure. I have the same issue with infectious viruses, where the company is attempting to prove their NanoViricides work against a dangerous virus. With vaccines, companies are able to determine their ability to stimulate the immune system and elicit some seroprotection without the subject being infected with the virus. NanoViricides is not a vaccine, so the subject would have to be infected with the Wuhan Coronavirus in order to determine if it is effective against the virus. Overall, I see the company having a hard time clearing some of these regulatory hurdles and being able to prove its product works the way it is intended.

The other concerning issue is the companys history of developing the current global health crisis and has yet to get that program into the clinic. The company started to develop an Avian Bird Flu drug back in 2006, and yet, it has yet to hit the clinic. The same can be said for their Dengue program that was started in 2007, and the same with Ebola in 2008 and 2014. In addition, the company promoted their efforts against MERS in 2014 and has been attempting an HIV program for several years. Unfortunately, none of these programs have made it into the clinic for human trials but investors cash has made it into the companys bank account. It appears the company takes advantage of any major global health crisis by claiming they have a potential product and they are working hard to quickly progress their NanoViricides against the most recent headline virus. In reality, the company doesnt move out of discovery and preclinical studies. Sadly, investors have been enticed by the prospects of investing in a company that has an answer to the current scare, only to experience dilution that has devastated the share price over the years (Figure 5).

Figure 5: NNVC Weekly Chart (Source: Trendspider)

Even if the company wanted to push forward with development and start human trials, it will need a large amount of cash to get the ball rolling. What is more, the company would most likely need to secure commercial partners to produce and distribute their products. Admittedly, the company just raised about $7.5M in a public offering after the stock popped once the Wuhan virus started to catch the publics eye. Still, the company will most likely need some additional funding to get one of their product candidates through the FDA.

NanoViricide might be working on a potential treatment for the Wuhan Coronavirus, but investors need to be cautious here. The company has a 15-year history of promoting their attempts to develop a leading therapy for the latest virus but has yet to get one of these programs into human trials. Even if the company is able to develop a potential candidate, it is going to need the help from government agencies and institutions to be used and it looks as if some of the worlds biggest pharmaceutical and biotechs are already starting to send some of their anti-viral products to China to help with the outbreak. In fact, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is already working on a vaccine and has donated some of their HIV medications. What is more, NanoViricides is not even listed on a CNBC list of companies working on a Coronavirus vaccine or drug (Figure 6).

Figure 6: List of Coronavirus Companies (Source: CNBC)

Considering these points, I would advise investors to wary of investing until the company is able to get an IND and reports their first human data. Until then, I expect shorts to start piling on once the market realizes the company is reusing its old playbook of promoting a program and never following through with it.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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NanoViricides: A History Of Producing Headlines Without Producing A Product - Seeking Alpha

Syed Abdullah Alkaff, 1 Krishna Radhakrishnan, 1 Anu Maashaa Nedumaran, 1 Ping Liao, 2 Bertrand Czarny 1, 3

1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University 639798, Singapore; 2Calcium Signalling Laboratory, National Neuroscience Institute 308433, Singapore; 3Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University 639798, Singapore

Correspondence: Bertrand CzarnySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, Block N4.1, #02-17 639798, SingaporeTel +65 67904613Email bczarny@ntu.edu.sg

Abstract: The technology of drug delivery systems (DDS) has expanded into many applications, such as for treating neurological disorders. Nanoparticle DDS offer a unique strategy for targeted transport and improved outcomes of therapeutics. Stroke is likely to benefit from the emergence of this technology though clinical breakthroughs are yet to manifest. This review explores the recent advances in this field and provides insight on the trends, prospects and challenges of translating this technology to clinical application. Carriers of diverse material compositions are presented, with special focus on the surface properties and emphasis on the similarities and inconsistencies among in vivo experimental paradigms. Research attention is scattered among various nanoparticle DDS and various routes of drug administration, which expresses the lack of consistency among studies. Analysis of current literature reveals lipid- and polymer-based DDS as forerunners of DDS for stroke; however, cell membrane-derived vesicles (CMVs) possess the competitive edge due to their innate biocompatibility and superior efficacy. Conversely, inorganic and carbon-based DDS offer different functionalities as well as varied capacity for loading but suffer mainly from poor safety and general lack of investigation in this area. This review supports the existing literature by systematizing presently available data and accounting for the differences in drugs of choice, carrier types, animal models, intervention strategies and outcome parameters.

Keywords: nanoparticle, drug delivery system, stroke, animal model, nano medicine, therapeutics

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Nanocarriers for Stroke Therapy: Advances and Obstacles in Translating | IJN - Dove Medical Press

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Yes, the future is here. Its not by luck that were seeing extensive development happening and much of it in the innovation space, said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.

Virtual reality, energy from graphite, and using plants rather than plastic are three different themes for three different companies Mayor Ardis says will lead Peoria into a bright future.

Enduvo, a content authoring, and delivery platform removes the complexity and high cost associated with creating virtual reality and augmented reality training.

Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Matthew Bramlet, created Enduvo.

His developments utilize virtual reality in workforce training.

Enduvo reaches beyond the medical field, helping engineers and the United States military.

They can actually put their own experts into VR and create their own training modules that can convey complex flight patterns, terrain, engines or medic training, medical device training, Dr. Bramlet said.

Learn more about Enduvo here.

Natural Fiber Welding on Galena Road is working to use plants rather than plastics to create sustainable materials like later alternatives.

We have the potential, when this thing takes off, to replace a lot of the old textile jobs that were huge in this country that all left mostly to Mexico and China, said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.

Lastly, a nano-tech company called NTS has made groundbreaking devices like wireless sensors and GPS trackers.

NTS CEO Don Meyer says he wants to build his companys headquarters in Peoria.

We want to keep it at home. If we can do that, build a community like all these folks who are sitting up here are doing, thats the key, Meyer said.

The buzz of new business is centered by the new 9-block Innovation District downtown Peoria offering a place for startups and entrepreneurs to come and thrive.

Mayor Ardis announced Tuesday, the Peoria Innovation Alliance has helped Peoria secure the first North American competition for the Future Agro Challenge Startup Competition.

Hundreds of people will be in town mid-April to pitch their ideas for sustainability, agriculture production, and more.

The winner will advance to a competition in Greece with the chance to win $100,000 for their project.

Ardis emphasized that innovation isnt new to Peoria. He highlighted the work Caterpillar has been doing in the area for nearly a century.

For 50 years, the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria has done clinical research and collaborated with community partners all while educating future healthcare providers.

Ardis praised UnityPoint and OSF Healthcare for the investments those systems have made in the Peoria Area, employing about 16% of the workforce.

A high-profile developer was honored during Tuesdays address.

Kim Blickenstaff is this years recipient of the Mayors Outstanding Community Service Award.

Hes the financial force behind projects including revitalizing the Peoria Armory and transforming the Scottish Rite Cathedral into a concert hall.

Blickenstaff is also creating an outdoor resort in his hometown of Spring Bay and bring back the Al-Fresco Park.

He hopes bringing more visitors to the area will help them see what all Peoria has to offer.

Thats part of what were trying to do with the Scottish Rite, or the Scotty as you guys call it. You have the Ronald McDonald House down there as well. You got to invest to move forward, otherwise, things are always going to stay the same, Blickenstaff said.

Blickenstaff was behind the Betty Jayne Community Performing Arts Center which opened last August in Peoria Heights. He also broke ground on a boutique hotel in the Heights last May.

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Bright light Peoria to be fueled by innovation, ground-breaking technology according to Mayor Jim Ardis - CIProud.com

Saturday, 11 January 2020

An international group of scientists has reported on a technique to kill cancer cells in mice using a combination of immunotherapy and nano-particles of copper oxide.

The group is made up of researchers from the universities of Leuven, Bremen in Germany and Ioannina in Greece, as well as the Leibnitz Institute for Materials Engineering, also in Bremen. Their results are published in English in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

The bodys own immune system is being used more and more often in medical treatments for cancer, but not always successfully.

The team discovered that cancer cells are very sensitive to nano-particles of copper oxides, which dissolve in the body and are fatal to the cancer cells. However, using copper oxide particles alone did not prevent the cancer from returning.

But when the nano-particles are coupled with the bodys own immune system, and found that not only were the cancer cells killed, the bodys immune system learned to attack cancer cells on its own, and they were never able to re-establish. To test the result, after treatment with the reinforced immune cells, the team re-injected cancer cells into the now-healthy mice. The immune system in the mice was now able to recognise the cancer, and it was wiped out before it had a chance to take hold.

The team argues that the technique could be effective in a range of different cancers those caused by a mutation in the tumour protein TP53. Those include forms of cancer of the breast, lung, ovary and colon.

As far as I can tell, this is the first time that metal oxides have been used to fight cancer cells effectively in living models, commented Professor Stefaan Soenen of the department of imaging and pathology of the KULeuven. Now we want to look at other metal nano-particles and identify which particles influence which types of cancer. That would result in an extensive database.

The team now plans to test cancer cells based on tissue taken from cancer patients. If the results are as positive, Prof. Soenen plans to set up a clinical trial using human subjects.

Nano-medicine is becoming more and more popular in the US and Asia, but Europe is falling behind. It is a challenge to achieve progress, since physicians and engineers often speak a different language. We need more inter-disciplinary cooperation, to allow us better to understand each other, and to build upon each others knowledge.

Alan HopeThe Brussels Times

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Researchers combine immunotherapy with nano-particles to kill cancer cells - The Brussels Times

Yaser H Gholami, 1 4 Lee Josephson, 3 Eman A Akam, 5 Peter Caravan, 5 Moses Q Wilks, 3 Xiang-Zuo Pan, 3, 6 Richard Maschmeyer, 1 Aleksandra Kolnick, 3, 7 Georges El Fakhri, 3 Marc D Normandin, 3 Zdenka Kuncic, 1, 4, 8Hushan Yuan 3

1The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Physics, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 2Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, The Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia; 3Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; 4Sydney Vital Translational Cancer Research Centre, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; 5The Institute for Innovation in Imaging and the A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States; 6Bouve College of Health Sciences, CaNCURE Program, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; 7Internal Medicine Residency Program, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA; 8The University of Sydney Nano Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Correspondence: Hushan YuanGordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13 th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USATel +1 617-643-1963Email hyuan@mgh.harvard.edu

Purpose: Using our chelate-free, heat-induced radiolabeling (HIR) method, we show that a wide range of metals, including those with radioactive isotopologues used for diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy, bind to the Feraheme (FH) nanoparticle (NP), a drug approved for the treatment of iron anemia.Material and methods: FH NPs were heated (120C) with nonradioactive metals, the resulting metal-FH NPs were characterized by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and r 1 and r 2 relaxivities obtained by nuclear magnetic relaxation spectrometry (NMRS). In addition, the HIR method was performed with [ 90Y]Y 3+, [ 177Lu]Lu 3+, and [ 64Cu]Cu 2+, the latter with an HIR technique optimized for this isotope. Optimization included modifying reaction time, temperature, and vortex technique. Radiochemical yield (RCY) and purity (RCP) were measured using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC).Results: With ICP-MS, metals incorporated into FH at high efficiency were bismuth, indium, yttrium, lutetium, samarium, terbium and europium (> 75% @ 120 oC). Incorporation occurred with a small (less than 20%) but statistically significant increases in size and the r 2 relaxivity. An improved HIR technique (faster heating rate and improved vortexing) was developed specifically for copper and used with the HIR technique and [ 64Cu]Cu 2+. Using SEC and TLC analyses with [ 90Y]Y 3+, [ 177Lu]Lu 3+ and [ 64Cu]Cu 2+, RCYs were greater than 85% and RCPs were greater than 95% in all cases.Conclusion: The chelate-free HIR technique for binding metals to FH NPs has been extended to a range of metals with radioisotopes used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Cations with f-orbital electrons, more empty d-orbitals, larger radii, and higher positive charges achieved higher values of RCY and RCP in the HIR reaction. The ability to use a simple heating step to bind a wide range of metals to the FH NP, a widely available approved drug, may allow this NP to become a platform for obtaining radiolabeled nanoparticles in many settings.

Keywords: nanomedicine, radiolabeling, radionuclide therapy, HIR, Feraheme

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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A Chelate-Free Nano-Platform for Incorporation of Diagnostic and Thera | IJN - Dove Medical Press

Honor your favorite local businesses by nominating them in the first-ever Daily Journal Readers Choice Awards.

The public is invited to nominate their favorite local businesses in categories such as children and education, dining, entertainment, health and beauty, home services, places, shopping and vehicle dealer and services.

Once the nomination period ends, the public is again invited to vote for their favorite in each of the categories, Jan. 15 through Jan. 28.

Winners in each category will be announced and featured in the Daily Journal in February.

Olivet Nazarene University recently reimagined and revamped the Department of Computer Science and Emerging Technologies, formerly known as the Department of Computer Science.

Based on the advice of industry leaders, the Council of Software Programmers and the Universitys CSET Advisory Council, the Walker School of Engineering and Technology decided to modify requirements, expand course concentrations and add more certification options.

Changes to the curriculum and degree requirements will go into effect for the fall 2020 semester.

The program changes also will incorporate the universitys cybersecurity lab, housed in Reed Hall of Science.

Olivets department of CSET is an Amazon AWS Academy offering courses in cloud foundations, cloud architecture and cloud development. Students can pursue certifications in CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Server+, CompTIA Linux+, AWS-CDA, AWS-CP, AWS-CSA, EC-CIH and EC-CEH and will become familiar with Python, Java, PHP, C and Assembly languages.

ONU offers three degrees in the department, a bachelor of arts degree in computing technology, a bachelor of science degree in computer science and emerging technologies and a bachelor of science degree in cybersecurity.

OAK Orthopedics, with offices in Bradley, Frankfort, New Lenox and Watseka, now offers diagnostic imaging and minimally invasive surgery using NanoScope by Arthrex.

This surgical technology, nano arthroscopy, an even less invasive form of arthroscopy, uses a small camera to find and repair joint problems.

For decades, arthroscopy has provided patients with a minimally invasive joint repair treatment option. Now, nano arthroscopy offers the next step in efficient and precision care for joint injuries and conditions.

The NanoScope is even smaller and more flexible than traditional arthroscopes, and OAK Orthopedics use it as a diagnostic tool with alternative views and a treatment tool.

This technology is going to optimize what we can do for our patients, said fellowship trained sports medicine surgeon Dr. Michael Corcoran of OAK Orthopedics. From navigating a tight or curved joint area to being able to access areas that are difficult to visualize even with an MRI, the NanoScope allows surgeons to see and treat problems in a more efficient way.

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Heard on the Street: Nominate your favorite local businesses - Kankakee Daily Journal

Ongoing advancements in cancer research continue to lead to the introduction of newer and better treatment options including drug therapies. The provision of newer drugs and treatments is expected to improve the diagnostic and treatment rate for triple-negative breast cancer. Some of the recent clinical efforts are being targeted at the molecular level characterization of triple-negative breast cancer across emerging therapeutic targets such as epigenetic proteins, PARP1, androgen receptors, receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, and immune checkpoints. These initiatives are anticipated to boost revenue growth of the triple-negative breast cancer treatment market. In a new research study, Persistence Market Research estimates the globaltriple-negative breast cancer treatment marketrevenue to cross US$ 720 Mn by 2026 from an estimated valuation of just under US$ 505 Mn in 2018. This is indicative of a CAGR of 4.7% during the period 2018 to 2026.

Development of generics is another key opportunity area in the triple-negative breast cancer treatment market. With the rapidly expanding number of cancer cases across the world, there is a need for effective cancer management, including the provision of better and more efficient drugs. Developing economies are faced with challenges on several fronts including paucity of funds and lack of proper treatment options, calling for more innovative approaches to affordable healthcare. The availability of biosimilars and affordable generic anti-cancer drugs in developing regions is expected to significantly reduce the burden of cancer care. A projected cost reduction to the tune of more than 30% 40% and extended use of generic drugs is expected to reduce overall cancer treatment costs, thereby increasing the treatment rate for triple-negative breast cancer. This is further anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities in the global triple-negative breast cancer treatment market.

Advances in Cancer Treatment and Introduction of Innovative Cancer Treatment Drugs to Boost Revenue Growth of the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Market

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women, and over the years, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies have been conducting advanced research and development activities to devise newer treatment options and drugs to treat breast cancer. Several new drug formulations are currently in the pipeline in different stages of clinical development and this is expected to bode well for the triple-negative breast cancer treatment market. Innovation in oncology therapeutics has shifted focus towards an outcome based approach to cancer care, with an increasing emphasis on combination drugs and newer therapeutic modalities. This is further likely to put the global triple-negative breast cancer treatment market on a positive growth trajectory in the coming years.

Combination Therapy and Advancements in Nano Medicine Research Trending the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Market

One of the biggest trends being observed in the global market for triple-negative breast cancer treatment is the shift towards combination therapy. Companies in the global triple-negative breast cancer treatment market are conducting clinical trials for combination therapies by collaborating with other players in the market. Combination therapies are the latest innovation in the field of oncology and the combination of therapeutic drugs with chemotherapy is said to be an effective protocol for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.

Another huge trend in the triple-negative breast cancer treatment market is the emergence of nanotechnology as an efficient tool in the clinical management of critical diseases such as triple-negative breast cancer. It has been observed that the combination of gold nanoparticles and folic acid results in higher cell entry rate in both in-vitro and in-vivo models, indicative of the fact that folate receptors are effective targeted therapies for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Nanoparticles facilitate systematic and efficient delivery of drugs and agents to the site of the tumor. Advanced R&D in nanotechnology and nano medicine is one of the top trends likely to impact the global triple-negative breast cancer treatment market in the years to come.

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Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Market Analyzed by Business Growth, Development Factors and Future Prospects - chronicles24

This month, a paper published by University researchers Richard Terek and Qian Chen highlighted a potential nanotechnology therapy that targets chondrosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. Using nanoparticles, the team effectively delivered therapies directly into tumor cells and observed decreases in tumor volume and prolonged survival in mouse models.

Chondrosarcoma currently has no FDA approved treatments. The complex makeup of these cancer cells makes them uniquely difficult to treat. Specifically, one challenge to (drug) delivery in chondrosarcoma is the negatively charged proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix that needs to be penetrated to reach the tumor cells, according to the study.

Terek, the chief of musculoskeletal oncology at Rhode Island Hospital, an orthopedic oncology surgeon with the Lifespan Cancer Institute and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Warren Alpert, studies chondrosarcoma and collaborated with Chen, a molecular and nano-medicine researcher, director of the NIH-funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Skeletal Health and Repair at Rhode Island Hospital and a professor of orthopedic research and medical science, on this study. The pair aimed to develop a nanopiece delivery platform capable of penetrating the convoluted chondrosarcoma matrix.

We develop nanomaterial (that) we call nanopieces and we found that it can deliver nucleic acid therapeutics to tissues that normally are very difficult to be penetrated, Chen said.

In addition to getting drugs to the tumor tissue, the researchers also studied the biology of how chondrosarcoma spreads. The other thing is we dont totally understand what drives cancer cells to metastasize. That part of the work involves trying to disentangle which types of pathways have gone awry, Terek said.

The underlying principle of the therapy is that miRNA, short 21-nucleotide sequences, are overexpressed in chondrosarcoma tumor cells. These miRNA end up functioning in a way similar to oncogenes, genes which drive cancer formation, by indirectly affecting other genes in the cancer pathway.

Tereks work over the past decade has culminated in the identification of the cancer-causing, or oncogenic, miRNA involved in chondrosarcoma formation. That process involved microarray analysis of primary human tumor tissues. We used a variety of screening techniques to identify which miRNA were overexpressed in tumors, Terek said.

These detrimental effects of the oncogenic miRNA can be prevented by synthesizing a molecule of the opposite sequence of nucleotides. Once delivered into the cell with the nanoparticles it will counteract and annihilate the overexpressed miRNA Terek said.

Once the target miRNA was identified, the small, opposing sequence of RNA needed to be delivered, a process that is normally very difficult because of the charge and structure of the matrix formed by the tumor. What we do in the lab is formulate this nanomaterial specifically for penetrating into the matrix, Chen said.

The laws kind of break down when you get to these nano levels. At the nano level, these particles somehow get through the cell wall and into the cell, even though the cell wall is classically thought of as this impenetrable structure around the cell, Terek said.

The nanomaterial delivery vehicle is composed of a small molecule, weighing about 400 daltons, which assembles into a nanotube structure that contains RNA. The molecule itself is biomimetic. Its half composed of nucleic bases and half of the molecule is amino acids, so its fused together. Because of that it also has a very low level of cell toxicity, Chen said. The nanoparticle is designed to be comparable to a natural biological structure, enabling the particle to be generally accepted by cells, so it can enter and affect them.

In previous studies, Chens lab has shown successful use of nanoparticle therapy in the treatment of multiple other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, they also received a grant from the National Institutes of Health funding research on the treatment of Alzheimers disease using a similar nanopiece delivery system that can traverse the blood brain barrier.

In further developing this drug therapy, Terek said one possibility is to combine multiple miRNA sequences with these nanoparticles to impact more pathways and get maximal inhibition of tumor spread. This involves both counteracting overexpressed miRNA, and restoring beneficial cancer suppressor miRNAs to combine multiple therapeutics with one dose of the nanoparticles.

Another potential approach is to pair the miRNA therapy with other cancer drug therapies. Since some miRNAs prevent the effective use of typical cancer treatment drugs, this approach can be used to reverse drug resistance, allowing for the use of conventional therapies, like chemotherapy.

In order for nanoparticle therapy development to succeed, investors, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies and other collaborators need to give time and money to projects like this, Chen said. As far as moving it into the clinic, thats always a big hurdle, Terek said. One intermediate step the team might take is to collaborate with veterinarians allowing them to incorporate their treatment method beyond mouse models.

Brown and Lifespan have helped establish a startup called NanoDe so that we can continue the process, Chen said. Moving forward, the team will continue to work on collaborating with other researchers and developers to advance this drug therapy for chondrosarcoma.

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Nanoparticle therapy shows promise for treatment of rare cancer - The Brown Daily Herald

The report titled Global Nano Chemotherapy Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 provide (6 Year Forecast 2019-2025)enhanced on worldwide competition by topmost prime companies (Amgen, Celgene, MagForce AG, Nanotherapeutics, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Ablynx, AMAG, CytImmune, Delpor, Nanospectra, Merrimack, Tarveda) which providing information such asCompany Profiles, Capacity, Gross, Gross Margin, Product Picture and Specification, Production, Price, Cost, Revenueand contact information. This Nano Chemotherapy market report crucial insights that facilitate theMarket Trends, Drivers, Market Dynamics, Overview, Scope, Definitions, Classifications, Opportunities, Competitive Landscape. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Nano Chemotherapy market manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.

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Nano Chemotherapy Market: Global Segments, Top Key Players, Size And Recent Trends By Forecast To 2025 - Market Research Sheets

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Nanorobotics Market is accounted for $4.10 Billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $11.88 Billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period. Growing application of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine, rising acceptance and preferment of entrepreneurship and increasing investments by government and universities are the key factors fuelling the market growth. However, high manufacturing cost may hinder the growth of the market.

Nanorobotics is an evolving technology arena that creates robots or machines which have machinery near to the scale of a nanometre (109 meters). It denotes the nanotechnology engineering regulation of planning, designing, and building nanorobots, primarily from molecular components. Nanorobotics is an attractive new field, especially in medicine, which focus on directed drug delivery using nanoscale molecular machines.

By Type, Nanomanipulator is expected to hold considerable market growth during the forecast period. Nanomanipulator is a specialized nanorobot and microscopic viewing system for working with objects on an extremely small scale. Nanomanipulators are mainly used to influence the atoms and molecules and were among the first nanorobotic systems to be commercially accessible. By geography, Europe dominated the highest market share due to rising aging population and rising governmental healthcare expenditure.

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Some of the key players in Nanorobotics include Bruker, JEOL, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ginkgo Bioworks, Oxford Instruments, EV Group, Imina Technologies, Toronto Nano Instrumentation, Klocke Nanotechnik, Kleindiek Nanotechnik, Xidex, Synthace, Park Systems, Smaract and Nanonics Imaging

Types Covered: Nanomanipulator Magnetically Guided Bacteria-Based Bio-Nanorobotics

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Regions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo UKo Italyo Franceo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando South Koreao Rest of Asia Pacific South Americao Argentinao Brazilo Chileo Rest of South America Middle East & Africao Saudi Arabiao UAEo Qataro South Africao Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers: Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments Market share analysis of the top industry players Strategic recommendations for the new entrants Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options: Company Profilingo Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3) Regional Segmentationo Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check) Competitive Benchmarkingo Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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Nanorobotics Market: Emerging Technologies, Competition & Strategies of Key Players, Regional Analysis and Forecast By 2026 - Downey Magazine

Fact Sheets about Genomics | NHGRI Skip to main content

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has produced this series of fact sheets to explain complex concepts in genomics research to a non-scientific audience. Teachers, students and the general public alike will find the materials clearly written and easy to understand.

A biological pathway is a series of actions among molecules in a cell that leads to a certain product or a change in the cell.

Genomics is the study of all of a person's genes (the genome), including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person's environment.

Chromosomes are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells.

Cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity.

Comparative genomics is a field of biological research in which researchers compare the complete genome sequences of different species.

DNA sequencing determines the order of the four chemical building blocks - called "bases" - that make up the DNA molecule.

Epigenomics is a field in which researchers chart the locations and understand the functions of all the chemical tags that mark the genome.

Genetic mapping offers evidence that a disease transmitted from parent to child is linked to one or more genes and clues about where a gene lies on a chromosome.

A knockout mouse is a laboratory mouse in which researchers have inactivated an existing gene by replacing it or disrupting it with an artificial piece of DNA.

Newborn screening tests use a dried blood sample collected during the first week after birth to measure the presence of disease biomarkers.

Data used to estimate the cost of sequencing the human genome over time since the Human Genome Project.

The X chromosome determines your sex, gives some females super color vision and lends its magic to a certain breed of cat.

The Y chromosome of all living men is related through a single male ancestor who lived over 100,000 years ago.

Genetics refers to the study of genes and their roles in inheritance. Genomics refers to the study of all of a person's genes (the genome).

Last updated: November 9, 2015

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Fact Sheets about Genomics | NHGRI - genome.gov

Pubmed NLM ID: 101562615SJR H Index:19ICDS 2017: 3.8RG Journal Impact: 0.55

Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology is an open access bi-monthly journal publishing peer-reviewed articles in all major and minor specializations of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology.

The Journal of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology primarily focuses on synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and nanomaterial for engineering, biological and biomedical applications as well as innovative theoretical concepts having substantial pharmacological, toxicological or clinical relevance. Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology includes the manuscript related to Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology, Material Science Research, Nanobiotechnology, Nanoengineering, Nanobiopharmaceutics, Nanoelectronics, Nanofluids, Nano delivery, etc.

The journal is an online international Journal publishing all aspects of Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology including research article, review article, case study, mini-review, opinion, editorial, prospective, etc. Journal is trying to create the basic platform to maintain the international community for upcoming researcher.

The journal encourages researchers, professors, academicians, doctors, faculties, and students from all over the world to submit their findings or new results related to the journal. All articles will be published and archived through single blind peer-review process. Readers can access or download the published articles free of cost. Journal is following peer-review and publication under open access creative commons attribution license.

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Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Peer Reviewed Journals

Along with this there is another way also through which the drug can work.

Chloroquine is a weak base an alkaloid. So, when it gets into a membrane-bound structures of the cell organelles (which incidentally are also attacked by the virus), the drug interferes with the acidification of the cell organelles.

The study suggests that chloroquine induces inhibition of acidity-dependent viral fusion in various cell organelles.

The cell organelles thus, including endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies etc. could prevent themselves from becoming centres of viral activity inside the cell.

Favourable outcomes

The cautious optimism over the use of the drug in therapeutic use against the virus does have a scientific basis.

Other combinations of drugs have been tried to treat Covid-19 too; as in the case of a French group study published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents on 20 March this year.

The study involves the treatment of 42 patients with Covid-19, who were treated in-house. Of these, 26 were given hydroxy-chloroquine and the remaining were given the usual care.

Of the 26, six were additionally given antibiotic azithromycin.

By the end of the fifth day, all the six were cured of Covid-19.

Then, among those who took hydroxy-chloroquine alone, seven were completely cured.

In the control group for the same period, only two tested negative for the virus.

Earlier in India, doctors from the Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur had reported how they had cured three patients with a cocktail of anti-viral medicines, a combination of 200mg Lopinavir and 50 mg of Ritonavir twice a day besides Oseltamivir along with chloroquine.

Chloroquine in history

Chloroquine is a synthetic drug. Its natural form is quinine, which in turn is the bark of the cinchona plant.

The indigenous shamanic medicine of Peruvians used it for a long time in curing the illness of Peruvians.

When Christendom conquered Peru, the Jesuits learned the bark powder extraction and then took the knowledge to the West.

Later, as colonialism and Christianity spread, so did malaria to the new lands they conquered.

When the local shamanic knowledge of Peru failed to cure malaria, the missionaries demonstrated the power of their medicine and hence the superiority of their God through the white pills of quinine.

Ethno-botanist Mark J Plotkin has a telling scenario in his famous book The Shamans Apprentince .

Here is an extract from the scholastic version that explains how the missionaries used malarial pills for proselytising:

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A Short Introduction To Chloroquine: The Anti-Malarial Drug Being Tested As Cure For Covid-19 - Swarajya