Recent News

Purdue News: Device for Rapid Detection of Bacterial and Viral RNA in Biological Fluids

March 13, 2024

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new method to detect enveloped bacteria and viruses. High-accuracy virus/bacteria-detection methods such as PCR require DNA amplification and are time-consuming. On the other hand, the Purdue technology rapidly detects small amounts of the RNA released when the viral/bacterial envelope is compromised under high-temperature conditions. This technology uses single-stranded DNA primers specific to a virus/bacterial strain, coated between layers of graphene and a flexible polymeric substrate. This device can be used as a platform of point-of-care testing for enveloped bacteria and viruses.

Purdue News: Device for Rapid Detection of Bacterial and Viral RNA in Biological Fluids

Purdue News: Nanoparticle-based Opioid Abuse Deterrent Formulations

March 13, 2024

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new method to deter opioid tampering. Drug abusers may tamper with opioids to experience the analgesic effects as quickly as possible. Tampering methods include pulverizing the drugs or extracting them with common household solvents such as ethanol or vinegar. Abuse deterrent formulations (ADFs) are used to limit the physical and chemical tampering of drugs without compromising their therapeutic effects. However, there are publicized methods to circumvent ADFs. The Purdue researchers' method to prevent opioid tampering uses nanoparticles along with ADFs. The researchers encapsulated opioid compounds in nanoparticles resistant to household solvents to prevent solvent extraction. The nanoparticle-based ADF is also resistant to pulverization because they are too small to crush. What's more, if injected, nanoparticles preferentially accumulate in the liver, where they are converted to inactive forms. The nanoparticle ADFs used by the researchers also prevent physical manipulation by gelling when subjected to liquids.

Purdue News: Nanoparticle-based Opioid Abuse Deterrent Formulations

Maternal obesity may promote liver cancer

March 12, 2024

Obesity, which could reach 50% of the population in certain developed countries by 2030, is a major public health concern. It not only affects the health of those who suffer from it, but could also have serious consequences for their offspring. Scientists have studied the impact of maternal obesity on the risk of developing liver disease and liver cancer. Using an animal model, the team discovered that this risk was indeed much higher in the offspring of mothers suffering from obesity.

Maternal obesity may promote liver cancer

Research sheds light on new strategy to treat infertility

March 8, 2024

New research describes the science behind a promising technique to treat infertility by turning a skin cell into an egg that is capable of producing viable embryos. The technique could be used by women of advanced maternal age or for those who are unable to produce viable eggs due to previous treatment for cancer or other causes. It also raises the possibility of men in same-sex relationships having children who are genetically related to both parents.

Research sheds light on new strategy to treat infertility

Psychosocial stressors linked to higher inflammation in Black pregnant women

March 6, 2024

Living in neighborhoods with more white residents and greater lifetime experiences of racial discrimination are linked to increased systemic inflammation during pregnancy among Black women, according to new research

Psychosocial stressors linked to higher inflammation in Black pregnant women

COVID-19 physiological impacts vary by sex, wearable technology reveals

March 6, 2024

Males and females have differential physiological responses to COVID-19 infections, with males having larger increases in skin temperature, breathing rate and heart rate during an acute infection, according to a new study that used data from wearable devices.

COVID-19 physiological impacts vary by sex, wearable technology reveals

Factors associated with age-related hearing loss differ between males and females

March 6, 2024

Certain factors associated with developing age-related hearing loss differ by sex, including weight, smoking behavior, and hormone exposure, according to a new study.

Factors associated with age-related hearing loss differ between males and females

Vaginal Ring and Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Found Safe for HIV Prevention Throughout Pregnancy

March 5, 2024

The monthly dapivirine vaginal ring and daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine were each found to be safe for HIV prevention among cisgender women who started using one of them in their second trimester of pregnancy, according to findings presented today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver. Pregnant people are estimated to be three times more likely to acquire HIV through sexual intercourse than similarly aged people who are not pregnant.

Vaginal Ring and Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Found Safe for HIV Prevention Throughout Pregnancy

Purdue News: Researchers explore noninvasive method for sampling drug response

March 5, 2024

Biochemical messengers called extracellular vesicles could earn role in personalized medicine

Purdue News: Researchers explore noninvasive method for sampling drug response

Purdue News: Purdue Health Equity Summit, campus retreat “an invitation” to reflect on health equity work in Indiana

March 5, 2024

On February 29, 2024, Health Equity Initiatives (HEI) at Purdue University hosted its third-annual Health Equity Summit. The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) partnered with HEI to host the event, which featured keynote speaker Francis Collins, MD, PhD. Collins served as the director of the National Institutes of Health from 2009 to 2021.

Purdue News: Purdue Health Equity Summit, campus retreat “an invitation” to reflect on health equity work in Indiana