Researchers at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) have developed MitoCatch, a system that enables targeted delivery of healthy mitochondria to specific cell types. By overcoming a long-standing challenge in mitochondrial transplantation, the approach allows efficient and selective transfer of functional mitochondria to specific cell types in multiple tissues. The technology opens new avenues for research and potential therapies for diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, including neurodegenerative disorders, optic nerve diseases, and heart failure.

Cancer cells excel at evading detection, but subtle chemical differences set them apart from healthy cells. Now, a team of scientists from Wageningen University & Research and Van Andel Institute has identified a way to exploit this distinction. Using a variant of CRISPR, a modern tool for editing DNA, they distinguished tumor DNA from healthy DNA and selectively cut only the former. The study, published today in Nature, is an early but promising step toward a cancer therapy that targets and destroys tumor cells with high precision.

A new study in Engineering unveils the diameter-transformed fluidized bed reactor, a tailored design optimizing catalytic reactions for cleaner gasoline and more efficient chemical production. It breaks down the reactor’s scientific foundations, engineering solutions to key flow and reaction challenges, and its wide industrial applications—plus future AI and kinetic research to advance this game-changing technology further.

Duracyte is a biotechnology company developing implantable “living pharmacy” devices designed to continuously produce therapeutic proteins inside the body. The company plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial this year evaluating patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Duracyte is the third company launched by RBL LLC, following Sentinel BioTherapeutics and SteerBio, reinforcing Houston’s growing role as a biotechnology innovation hub.

Machining, involving the precise cutting and shaping of materials, is a key manufacturing process. As industries increasingly adopt the use of high-performance materials with high strength and hardness, traditional machining methods often fall short in delivering the required precision. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a ground-breaking machining technology that combines laser and magnetic fields during diamond cutting, enhancing cutting smoothness and surface quality while reducing a material’s subsurface damage and tool wear. This dual-field approach demonstrates exceptional manufacturing capabilities that surpass existing field-assisting cutting techniques, making possible ultra-precision machining of a range of challenging advanced materials.