MindPharm Blog

Vaccines that require refrigeration or freezing for storage add at least $200 million to the cost of distributing vaccines in developed countries this new preservation technique offers a solution.

New vaccine storage technology could revolutionize immunization in the developing world | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times

British researchers have devised a way to capture vaccines in a glass-like membrane composed of sugar, a feat that could eliminate the need for refrigeration of vaccines and revolutionize their distribution in the developing world. Tests have shown that the technique can preserve vaccines for as long as a year at tropical temperatures, according to the report Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

This interesting study describes a new class of broad-spectrum antivirals effective against
enveloped viruses that target the viral lipid membrane and compromises its ability to mediate virus?cell fusion. 

A broad-spectrum antiviral targeting entry of enveloped viruses ? PNAS

an antiviral small molecule, LJ001, effective against numerous enveloped viruses including Influenza A, filoviruses, poxviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviruses, paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, and HIV-1. In sharp contrast, the compound had no effect on the infection of nonenveloped viruses. In vitro and in vivo assays showed no overt toxicity.

Here is an article at PhysOrg about a new spray-on coating of SiO2 that appears to have an incredible range of uses.  It links to related articles that speculate about the safety aspects of its use for food-handling surfaces, but even so it appears to have a lot of potential.

Spray-on liquid glass is about to revolutionize almost everything

Spray-on liquid glass is transparent, non-toxic, and can protect virtually any surface against almost any damage from hazards such as water, UV radiation, dirt, heat, and bacterial infections. The coating is also flexible and breathable, which makes it suitable for use on an enormous array of products.