Researchers in Singapore have developed a green tea-based nano carrier that encapsulates cancer drugs like Herceptin. In animal studies, this nano carrier delivered twice as much of the drug to cancer cells while reducing the drug levels in other organs like the liver, kidneys, and lungs by 40-70% compared to using the drug alone. It is the first use of green tea to deliver cancer drugs and showed promising results for more effective tumor targeting and reduced tumor growth.

3. Many of us drink green tea for its
wonderful health benefits, including
proven antioxidant, antimicrobial,
anti-aging and anti-cancer
properties. Now, researchers in
Singapore have taken its cancer-
fighting properties to the next level,
developing a green tea-based nano
carrier that encapsulates cancer-
killing drugs. It is the first time green
tea has been used to deliver drugs to
cancer cells, with promising results.

4. Animal studies using the green tea-
based nano carrier loaded with
Herceptin, a drug used to treat
cancer, delivered promising results.
Twice as much Herceptin accumulated
in cancer cells than if the drug had
been used alone, enabling more
effective tumor targeting and reduced
tumor growth. On the other hand, the
level of Herceptin in surrounding
organs was significantly lower, with a
70 percent reduction in the liver and
kidneys and a 40 percent reduction in
the lungs.

6. While most are familiar with the
potential for 3D printers to pump
out plastic odds and ends for
around the home, the technology
also has far-reaching applications
in the medical field. Research is
already underway to develop 3D
bioprinters able to create things as
complex as human organs, and
now engineering students in
Canada have created a 3D printer
that produces skin grafts for burn
victims.

7. So far, the 3D-printed skin grafts
have been tested on mice.They
were recently named the
Canadian winners in the 2014
James Dyson Awards, giving them
US$3,500 to continue
development and putting them in
the running for the $60,000 main
prize.

9. The animal kingdom
contains many examples
of efficient forms of
locomotion, so it's no
wonder that we've been
seeing a lot of animal-
inspired robots – recent
examples have included a
robotic cheetah, fish and
snake.

10. Plants, however, just sit there
... don't they? Actually, they do
move, just not necessarily in a
Point A to Point B manner.With
that in mind, Europe's
PLANTOID project consortium
is now in the process of
developing a tree-like robot. Its
descendants might ultimately
find use in the exploration of
other planets.

12. The recently-unveiled Leia
Display System (LDS) is a lot like
a large touchscreen, but with one
important difference: its screen is
not solid, but rather made from
mist.This means you can walk
right through the screen,
manipulate displayed images
using hand gestures reminiscent
of Minority Report, or even
interact with the display using
your whole body.

14. Sign language is a great option
for the hearing impaired to
communicate. A general lack of
understanding of sign language
among people with good hearing
can create difficulties when
someone needs to use signs to
communicate with them. A new
bracelet and ring set could be the
ticket to help those who are
hearing impaired communicate
better.

16. Concept smartphone for the
next generation of
technology.Though the
design and hardware is not
yet possible (at lease for mass
manufacturing), the concept
visualizes how the
smartphone, which is
completely flexible, can bend
around to convert/transform
itself as a smartwatch.

17. The left side of the smartphone
houses a removable, flexible
Bluetooth headset, while the
rear houses the strap.The
smartphone itself is made of a
plastic OLED display
(supposedly) which is flexible.
The internal electronics and the
battery is also made of flexible
materials, yet efficient enough
to last you at least a day long.

18. Nokia Concept
Phone Runs on
Coke

19. As a general rule, cell phone
batteries are costly, resource-
intensive, and difficult to dispose
of properly. So why not ditch
them and run our cell phones on
soda?That’s the thinking behind
designer Daizi Zheng’s concept
phone for Nokia. Instead of
running on traditional batteries,
the concept phone uses a bio
battery that generates electricity
from carbohydrates.

20. Fuel cells powered by sugar are
nothing new — they’ve been in
use for years — but Zheng’s point
seems to be that we shouldn’t
overlook innovative uses for the
products we consume everyday.
And of course, maybe Coke does
belong in a battery more than it
belongs in our bodies. It doesn’t
hurt that the bio battery can
operate for three to four times
longer than a lithium-ion battery
on a single charge, either.