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Scientists Float Soap Bubbles As a More Effective Drug Delivery Method

Posted by Soulskill on from the bad-news-if-you-enjoy-getting-stabbed-by-sharp-objects dept.

Zothecula writes: As if soap bubbles don't spread enough happiness on their own, scientists have discovered a way of coating them in biomolecules with a view to treating viruses, cancer and other diseases. The technology has been developed at the University of Maryland, where researchers devised a method of tricking the body into mistaking the bubbles for harmful cells, triggering an immune response and opening up new possibilities in the delivery of drugs and vaccines.

15 comments

  1. This may explain.... by Zephyn · · Score: 1

    ...why Lawrence Welk lived into his late 80s.

  2. The real question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... delivery of drugs and vaccines.

    The question: Will 2 year-old children swallow soap bubbles?

    1. Re:The real question by Caesar+Tjalbo · · Score: 1

      ... delivery of drugs and vaccines.

      The question: Will 2 year-old children swallow soap bubbles?

      Don't worry, you can put your vaccines in sand or shit and still deliver the payload to babies voluntarily. The challenge is usually to prevent a baby from eating stuff.

      --
      "I'm not much interested in interoperability. I want substitutability. I want to be able to throw your software out."
  3. Bubbles in Bloodstream is Dangerous by ad454 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Having bubbles in ones bloodstream is extremely dangerous, and potentially fatal. Just ask any informed scuba diver about the biggest risk they face.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...

    Even worse, there is evidence that bubbles in the bloodstream get covered by platelets, resulting in cumulative neurological damage.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pm...
    https://www.uhms.org/images/DC...

    The damaged caused by bubbles in the bloodstream will typically outweigh any medical benefit from this type of drug/vaccine delivery.

    1. Re:Bubbles in Bloodstream is Dangerous by louic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The things these researchers use are not bubbles. Not even close. As usual, science reports by journalists and PR offices are terrible.

    2. Re:Bubbles in Bloodstream is Dangerous by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You get the bends from high levels of nitrogen dissolved in blood plasma under pressure. If you move to low pressure regions near the water's surface too fast, the nitrogen is able to separate out into bubbles that get stuck in tissues and blood vessels.

      These things are "round" like gas bubbles, but they're more like some sort of fake dummy cells, with a fluid interior surrounded by something that looks like a lipid bilayer made of soap-like molecules that bind together by van der Waals forces and have charged tips that interface with the surrounding water. There is no gas.

      It's a badly written article- "oooh bubbles!" People should try not to write stupid shit like this, especially about vaccines. I'm already blue in the face screaming at thick skulled idiots on #CDCwhistleblowers who post crap about how vaccines cause autism because Big Pharma stuffs them with disgusting crap like dihydrogen monoxide.

  4. micelles by kencurry · · Score: 4, Informative

    FTFA - "The soap bubbles—formally known as functionalized catanionic surfactant vesicles—are made of a combination of soap-like components that have an affinity for each other and spontaneously form capsules when mixed together." I think they mean to say micelles; they just needed to fancy it up for the patent apps, board meetings, and press releases.

    --
    sigs are for losers (except to point out that sigs are for losers)
    1. Re:micelles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Michelle Obama done cured disease for all time!

    2. Re:micelles by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 1

      Yeah; and for all those people who don't know what micelles are, they could have said surfactants. It's still a novel idea and soft on hands while you do dishes, but much less media-friendly.

    3. Re:micelles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What ever breaks the tension I guess.

  5. But ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... can bubbles compete with this: http://www.hoax-slayer.com/drug-runner-boat.shtml ?

  6. If only... by Virtucon · · Score: 1

    Lawrence Welk were still alive, he'd be at the forefront of big pharma. He cornered bubbles for years. "A wunnerful A wunnerful"

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  7. What will the DEA do? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh no, now the drug cartels are blowing Giant bubbles that floating across the border....

  8. Tiny Bubbles by PPH · · Score: 1

    ... make me feel fine.

    Just what sort of drug are we talking about here?

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.