University of Connecticut Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

This biodegradable brain implant delivers cancer-treating drugs

[Image from Milad Fakurian on Unsplash]

Researchers say they developed a biodegradable brain implant capable of helping to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors.

Medscape News reported that the research marks another step toward using ultrasound to combat cancer. According to the team, led by Thanh Nguyen, these drugs can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to reach these brain tumors. Nguyen serves as lead author of the study and associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut.

The team used paclitaxel in its study, a drug that generally struggles to break through the blood-brain barrier. This blood vessel lining keeps molecules from passing from blood to brain, but can also prohibit chemotherapy from reaching cancer cells.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

Could breath power a brain stimulator?

[Image from UConn]

Researchers at the University of Connecticut recently shared their development of a new method for charging brain stimulators.

A report in Cell Reports Physical Sciences last month highlighted a charging method using a person’s own breathing movements. This could alleviate the issues caused by the surgery required each time an implantable deep brain stimluator’s batteries need changing.

Most pacemaker batteries last for seven to 10 years, according to the UConn researchers. However, most DBS batteries typically require charging every two to three years. This happens because of their high energy consumption. But, the UConn DBS development never needs its batteries changed.

UConn chemists Esraa Elsanadidy, Islam Mosa, James Rusling and collaborators developed this platform.

Instead of using a battery, the device converts the motion of the user’s chest as they breathe into e…

Could breath power a brain stimulator?

[Image from UConn]Researchers at the University of Connecticut recently shared their development of a new method for charging brain stimulators.

A report in Cell Reports Physical Sciences last month highlighted a charging method using a person’s own breathing movements. This could alleviate the issues caused by the surgery required each time an implantable deep brain stimluator’s batteries need changing.

Most pacemaker batteries last for seven to 10 years, according to the UConn researchers. However, most DBS batteries typically require charging every two to three years. This happens because of their high energy consumption. But, the UConn DBS development never needs its batteries changed.

UConn chemists Esraa Elsanadidy, Islam Mosa, James Rusling and collaborators developed this platform.

Instead of using a battery, the device converts the motion of the user’s chest as they breathe into electricity. The chest wall, with every breat…