A group of immunologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have reportedly developed a “super-small” inhalable vaccine that could provide better protection against viral infections than conventional injectable vaccines. A single dose of the aerosol-propelled drug delivers microscopic 2.8 micron-thick particles that produced a sustained immune response in several lab subjects, including mice, hamsters…
Chinese roboticists from Beijing’s prestigious Beihang University have created a flexible robotic appendage capable of mimicking the movements of an octopus’s arm. The research team believes the breakthrough design marks a significant step in soft robotics and human-robot interaction. The device, which has been named an electronics-integrated soft robotic octopus arm (E-SOAM) has the agility…
Chinese agronomists are using genetic engineering to create a corn cultivar with significantly higher iron content. Those close to the project are hopeful the iron-rich strain could offer hope to people suffering from anaemia, a potentially life-threatening condition characterised by a lack of healthy red blood cells. Iron is a mineral that plays an important…
Chinese scientists have created a biodegradable wireless charger they claim can be safely implanted into the human body and used to power bioelectronic devices such as drug delivery systems and sensory devices. Although bioelectronic devices like pacemakers and cochlear implants have been used in medicine for several decades, they require external energy sources that ultimately…
A Shanghai-based pharmaceutical company has developed a novel medication that could offer hope to those suffering from a rare form of throat cancer. The innovative antibody drug is the first Chinese-developed cancer treatment approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and could be made available for clinical use as soon as next…
Depression affects millions of men and women and is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders globally. The often stigmatised and sinister affliction is the leading catalyst of suicide in teenagers and young adults. Individuals suffering from the disease or symptoms associated with it, have a life expectancy of up to a decade shorter…
A team of Chinese geneticists claims to have created a bio-artificial liver using stem cell technology that could help millions of people battling cirrhosis and other life-threatening liver diseases. Chinese authorities have approved trials for the device that helps the compromised organ function until it regenerates or until a suitable donor liver is sourced. Every…
Chinese researchers say they have created a gene-editing method that could return sight to people afflicted with inherited retinal diseases. Those close to the project say the breakthrough could assist with research into other rare genetic disorders. An estimated two million people suffer from some form of retinal disease, for which there are no known…
Scientists from the Shanghai-based AI and robotics firm, Fourier Intelligence, have created a human-looking robot that they claim can aid China’s elderly and disabled citizens. Revealed at the World AI conference, GR-1 is the size of a small adult and can perform a variety of simple functions, such as walking, holding objects and avoiding obstacles.…
A Shanghai-based team of medical researchers claims to have developed a targeted drug delivery “nanoplatform” that fights cancer by locating malignant tumours and deploying medicine to attack the diseased area. The scientists say the novel treatment inhibits the spread of cancer while simultaneously assisting with the body’s immune response. While the treatment could see use…