Author Archives: taiki matsumoto

Drug Sponge: Absorbing up the problems

Posted on March 27, 2019 | Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQsYw5brVw8&t=7s

Chemotherapy is a well-known treatment for cancer, using drugs to destroy cancer cells. However, doctors administrate these anticancer drugs with caution because they are also considered poisonous. After cancer treatments, excess drugs can stay in the human body, causing damage to healthy cells, resulting in unwanted toxic side effects. What if there was something that can absorb these drugs like a portable filter?

Various chemotherapy treatments on the growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). MSC is found in bone marrow cells, that contribute to regenerating bone and muscle tissues. Source

Dr. Steven Hetts from the University of California Berkeley initially thought of an idea, to introduce a  sponge-like polymer that can absorb excess chemotherapy drugs. Sponges have immensely grown in popularity in the pharmaceutical field, as the metabolites produced hold biologically active natural products. Approximately 5300 different natural products extracted from sponges have shown pharmaceutical properties, such as anticancer and antibacterial active properties.

Schematic diagram of the developed 3D printed porous absorber. Source

In early 2019, he shared this concept among researchers from other American universities, eventually publishing a paper that describes the development of a porous absorbent polymer. The researchers built the lattice structure using 3D printing that allows the blood to circulate through the bloodstream. In addition, they coated the polymer with a polystyrenesulfonate copolymer, essential for absorbing the chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin: a chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. Source: Wikimedia Commons

This innovative biomedical device showed great promise, as the polymer efficiently absorbed 64±6% of the drug. Even though this was tested on pigs with healthy livers, the understanding of this device allows researchers to focus on improvements. Lattice size, the type of coating, the thickness of the coating, and the number of absorbers are all possible approaches to a more effective drug sponge.

With this in mind, doctors can potentially administrate higher doses of drugs for more aggressive tumors. In addition, modifications to the drug sponge’s coating can absorb other types of powerful chemotherapy drugs. Although testings on humans are not yet approved by the FDA, the drug sponge is a huge step towards minimizing chemotherapy toxic side effects.

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Are artificial sweeteners the better alternative?

Posted on March 7, 2019 | 1 comment

Currently, there are many sugar substitutes that replace table sugar.  They give the desired sweetening taste while providing fewer calories. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate and approve sugar alternatives that meet the criteria.

Sweetener prices with relative to sugar. Adapted from Sugar and Sweetener Guide

In addition, many sweeteners are a lot cheaper, and still provide the same sweetness as table sugar. Although these substances are generally recognized as safe, consuming artificial sweeteners have some drawbacks to one’s health. Recently there has been news that shows the products are perhaps more dangerous than beneficial.

Neotame chemical structure. Source: Wikimedia

Artificial sweeteners require an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), informing how much of that substance an individual can take daily, without the risk of receiving toxic effects. Neotame, a recently approved sweetener by the FDA, has an extremely low ADI level of 0.3 mg/kg. Even though it has sweetness 7000-13000 times more than table sugar, it is still approved because there are no deadly effects.

In 2017, research by many researchers in the United States further investigated the effects of neotame, on a mice’s gut microbiota in their digestive system. After four weeks, the mice that consumed neotame (dose level of 0.75 mg/kg) experienced decreased levels of malic acid and glyceric acid, both important acidic components to aid food digestion. In addition, fecal metabolism exhibited decreased activity, causing the concentrations of fatty acids, lipids, and cholesterol levels to rise. This shows how neotame can harm our digestive system in the long run.

A collection of soft drinks. Source: Flickr

For sugar alternatives in soft drinks, people are stating that the only real side effect of no-calorie sweeteners is the tendency to eat even more. This won’t happen immediately, but several studies claim that soft drinks will eventually lead to weight gain. At the same time, another study showed the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the United States was linked to a 121% increase in type 2 diabetes. Even though the sweetness is there, people’s appetite won’t be satisfied until the calories are consumed, ironically leading to a craving for more food.

Examples of other sugar alternatives. Source

Sugar substitutes are still common to use for many because of their lost cost, adding little to no calories to a daily diet. There is no way one can completely avoid sugar consumption, for sugar is essential energy to our body. Instead, consumers should be more aware of what sugar substitutes they are consuming while reducing sugar intake, to stay as healthy as possible.

 

-Taiki Matsumoto

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Coffee Extinction: A step toward genetic modification

Posted on January 28, 2019 | 1 comment

We all are familiar with coffee, whether we drink it or not. The 2018 Coffee Association of Canada Study states that 72% of Canadians aged 18-79 drank coffee yesterday. Often, we think coffee is a source of addiction for its nice taste and a stimulating sensation. Others make efforts to withdraw from drinking too much because of the toll it takes on their health. We rarely think coffee will disappear because it sounds so abundant. Yet we don’t realize that coffee is leading towards extinction faster than we think.

Coffee beans. Source: Flickr

Coffee cultivation is significantly decreasing due to human activities. Deforestation and fossil fuel usage have raised temperatures, affecting the quality and quantity of coffee production. In addition, diseases such as coffee rust eat up the leaves and negatively impacts the coffee plantations. While it is not an immediate concern, a computerized climate model predicted that wild Arabica could go extinct by 2080. Despite the concerns shown by the industry and researchers, there is no commercial genetically modified (GM) coffee. However, there have been efforts in research to develop GM coffee, in hopes of a longer lifetime.

Predicted climate change outcomes for indigenous Arabica localities for one emission scenario. Source

Researchers used genetic engineering to introduce herbicide resistant coffee plants, a method to decrease weed damage while reducing phytotoxicity. In a Coffea canephora P study, researchers produced a genetically transformed coffee, by a particle bombardment of a DNA plasmid pCambia3301. Both transformed and non-transformed leaves were sprayed with herbicide ammonium glufosinate in greenhouse conditions. The non-transformed leaves showed clear signs of darkening and wilting, but the transformed leaves stayed in good condition.

One week after transformed leaves (A) and non-transformed leaves (B), sprayed with herbicide ammonium glufosinate. Source

Geneticist Juan Medrano from UC Davis College released the first public sequenced genome of Coffee Arabica in 2017.  He hopes that not only researchers but also coffee consumers and farmers can use this information. Modifications to the sequence can give new insights to combat environmental stresses and infections. In addition, introducing new flavors and fragrances can keep Coffee Arabica’s quality.

Although genetically modified coffee technology is already available, many consumers remain skeptical regarding their consumption. This is due to their nature as chemically treated foods, also known as “Frankenfoods”. Because of human impact on the Earth and Mother Nature’s response, it is inevitable that genetically modified foods will slowly dominate the food industry. Time goes by quicker than we think, so take a moment to cherish the natural coffee while it lasts.

-Taiki Matsumoto

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