Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) have developed a device that can be 3D-printed and can be used to screen drug combinations in oral cancer patients. The design relies on patient-specific stem-like spheroids cultured on a chip. This innovation could help examine how individual patients respond to drugs before treatment begins.

A research team, led by Santosh Kumar Upadhyay, at Panjab University, Chandigarh, conducted a detailed study on the RBOH (respiratory burst oxidase homolog) genes of the bread wheat, Triticum aestivum (TaRBOH). RBOHs are vital proteins in plants, and their thorough characterisation in wheat and other crop plants could lead to the development of crops better equipped to withstand stress conditions.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) and West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, have 3D printed knee meniscus with a new silk-based bio-ink that can be customised to the kneecap dimensions of the patient. This innovative approach paves the way to treating knee injuries in a patient-specific manner and minimising repetitions of invasive surgical procedures.

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future outbreaks, a collaborative study from Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (SNIoE), Noida, and other research institutes discovered a chemical compound called STL522228. This promising compound inhibits a crucial protein in the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, shedding light on the pressing need for effective antiviral treatments.

In a recent collaborative study, researchers from the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, and Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, uncovered the role of a host protein, nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR1), in modulating tuberculosis.

Candida infections, caused by pathogenic fungi, pose a significant threat, especially to vulnerable individuals. Researchers from Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, have developed a gelatin-based platform that closely mimics human skin, aiding in the study of Candida biofilm formation and potentially speeding up drug development to combat these infections.

A research group working on packaging antitumour drugs from Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, and Amity University, Haryana, has successfully trained immune cells to attack tumour cells. They have developed a hydrogel-based anticancer drug delivery system that reduces toxicity and targets tumours directly. This innovation shows promise for more effective cancer treatment pending further research and clinical trials.