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NYU Abu Dhabi Develops Cancer-Fighting Nanospheres
The biotech breakthrough promises safer and more effective treatments using photodynamic and photothermal therapies.
A Research team from NYU Abu Dhabi’s Magzoub lab has made considerable advances in the fight against cancer using biocompatible nanospheres that have the potential to replace traditional forms of treatment.
The experiments trialed photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), which use non-invasive light waves to destroy cancers, avoiding the well-known side effects of chemo and radiotherapy.
Photodynamic therapy works by releasing a torrent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) onto cancer cells, whereas photothermal therapy converts light into searing heat, destroying tumor tissues through hyperthermia.
The research team has detailed their findings in a paper entitled “pH-Responsive Upconversion Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres for Combined Multimodal Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Photodynamic and Photothermal Cancer Therapy”. The literature goes on to explain how the nanospheres are able to protect encapsulated photosensitizers and photothermal agents from degrading, enabling them to be delivered directly to cancer cells.
Alongside thermal and fluorescent imaging, traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used for tumor detection and monitoring. Once cancer is detected, the PDT and PTT can kill tumors without leaving toxic traces in the body.
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Loganathan Palanikumar, a senior researcher in the NYUAD Magzoub lab, explained the process, “To make PDT effective, we need enough photosensitizer in the tumor tissue, while PTT requires a substantial accumulation of photothermal agents within tumors”.
Mazin Magzoub, NYUAD associate professor of biology and Magzoub lab leader, added, “New therapeutic approaches are desperately needed to enhance the existing arsenal of cancer-fighting treatments”.
Magzoub lab’s new treatments offer real hope that cancers could soon be treated with minimal stress and danger to patients, leading to a brighter future free from one of the world’s most feared and destructive diseases.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
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