Audio Library

Patients with cartilage damage were successful in regenerating new cartilage tissue, thanks to an innovative technique that creates a scaffold by combining the use of a photoreactive biogel and a strong biological adhesive. It was recently tested in a small clinical trial in patients undergoing microfracture surgery, a first-line therapy for cartilage repair.

NIBIB grantee Dr. John Boone describes the development of his dedicated breast CT scanner, which allows the breast to be imaged in three dimensions and could help radiologists detect hard-to-find tumors. The scanner uses a radiation dose comparable to standard x-ray mammography and doesn’t require compression of the breast.

Drs. Stephen Miller and Lonnie Shea of Northwestern University, Evanston describe how they used antigen-coupled microparticles in mice to repress the part of the immune responsible for causing multiple sclerosis while leaving the rest of the system intact. The technique could potentially be adapted to treat other autoimmune diseases and prevent rejection of transplants.

By attaching a molecular "passport" to nanoparticles, scientists have found a way to sneak tumor-fighting drugs past cells of the immune system, which would normally engulf the particles, preventing them from reaching their target. 

NIBIB researchers have developed a novel ultrasound applicator that can be worn like a band-aid over chronic wounds. The applicator delivers low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound directly to wounds and was recently found to accelerate healing of venous ulcers.

NIBIB grantee Mehmet Toner of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center describes his work to create a chip that can sort circulating tumor cells (CTS), which break off tumors into the bloodstream and are responsible for metastasis, from other types of cells found in the blood. Detection of CTS can play an important role in early diagnosis, characterization of cancer subtypes, and treatment monitoring.