In all disciplines and industries, scientific discoveries take place every day, so how can you stay ahead of new trends in a thriving landscape?At CAS we have a unique overview of the latest scientific breakthroughs, the historical discoveries on which they were built, and the expertise to navigate the opportunities for us.In 2023 we identified ourselvesTop scientific breakthrough, and 2024 has even more to offer.New trends to keep an eye on include the accelerated expansion of green chemistry, the clinical validation of CRISPR, the rise of biomaterials and the renewed progress in the treatment of non-dragging diseases, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases.what the experts of Lawrence Liverpool National Lab and Oak Ridge National Lab have to say about this subject,Participate in a free webinarOn January 25 from 7 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. EDT to a panel debate over the trends that can be seen in 2024.
The rise of AI in R&D
While the future of AI has always been forward-looking, the AI revolution in chemistry and drug discovery has yet to be fully realizedSetbackmore breakthroughs should be closely monitored as the field continues to evolve. Generative AI has an impact on pharmaceutical productsdiscoverywhere machine learning is used moreenvironmental research, and large language models in which chatgpt is testedhealthcareapplications andclinicalInstitutions.
Many researchers are watchingalphafold,DeepMind's protein structure prediction software that revolutionized the way proteins are understood. DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs recently announced how their latest model shows improved accuracy, can generate predictions for almost every molecule in the protein database, and expands coverage toLiganden, nucleic acids and post-translational modifications.Discovery of therapeutic antibodies enabled by AIwins tooPopularityAnd platforms such asRubrYc Therapeutics antibody discovery enginewill help promote research in this area.
Although many people look at AI development with excitement, the worries are overAccurate and available training data,,fairness and partiality,,lack of legal control, influence onAcademia, scientific research and publishing,,Hallucinations in large language models, and even worry aboutInfodemic threats to public healthHowever, continuous improvement is inevitable with AI, so expect many new developments and innovations in 2024.
'Green's' green chemistry
Green chemistryis an area of rapid development that is constantly looking for innovative ways to minimize the environmental impact of chemical processes. Here are several new trends that are seeing major breakthroughs:
- Improving green chemistry -for results/results: One of the biggest challenges in green chemistry is to predict the environmental impact of new chemicals and processes. Researchers develop new calculation tools and models that can help predict these influences with greater accuracy. This can design chemists safer and environmentally friendly chemicalies.
- Reduction of plastic:More than350 million tonsA large amount of plastic waste is generated every year.In the landscape of manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, reducing the use of plastics for single use and microplastics is crucialMiterroRecycling industrial door products and biomass waste for environmentally friendly and cheaper gypsum offset will soon be industry expectations. It will be important to reduce costs and plastic footprints everywhereDe hele supply chain.
- Alternative battery chemistry:In the batteries, search for energy storage space alternatives for the button "endangered items"Just like lithium and cobalt, they will be crucial.Although they are essential in many batteries, they become scarce and expensive.New investments in lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that do not use nickel and cobaltextended, with a share of 45% of the EV market share for LFP in 2029.Research is expected for more development in the field ofalternative materialsSuch as sodium, iron and magnesium, which are more abundant, cheaper and more durable.
- OnlySustainable catalysts:Catalysts speed up a chemical reaction or reduce the energy required without being consumed. At their disposal. The busturative catalysts are made from soil elements that are also non-toxic. Their roles and environmental impact will create meaningful progress in reducing carbon footprints.
- Recycling of lithium-ion batteries: Lithium-ion recyclinghave increasedInvestmentwith more than 800 patents already published in 2023. Solid useelectrolyteor fluidnot flammable Electrolytescan improve the safety and durability of LIBs and reduce their material use. Finally a method to make electrodes without itsolventS could reduce the use of outdated solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, which require recycling and careful handling to prevent emissions.
Increase in biomaterials
New materials for biomedical applications could revolutionize many healthcare segments by 2024. An example is bioelectronic materials that provide interfaces between electronic devices and the human body, such as the brain-computer interface system being developed by Neuralink. This system, which uses a network of biocompatible electrodes implanted directly into the brain, was givenFDA good inspectionTo begin human trials in 2023.
- Bio-electronic materials:They are often hybrids or composites containing nanoscale materials, highly developed conductive polymers and bioresorbable substances. Recently developed devices can be implanted, used temporarily, and then safely reabsorbed by the body without the need for removal.Combined sensor-threadless power receiverMade from zinc and the biodegradable polymer, poly (lactic acid).
- Natural biomaterials:that are biocompatible and naturally derived (such as chitosan, cellulose nanomaterials and silk) are used to produce advanced multifunctional biomaterials by 2023. For example, they designed an injectableHydrogel Brain ImplantFor the treatment of Parkinson's disease based on reversible cross-bonding formed between chitosan, slorenic acid and gold nanoparticles.
- Bio-ink:Used for 3D printing of organs and transplantation development that can cause a revolution in patient care.3D printing heartmodels for heart disorders and3D-geprinte longmodels to test the effectiveness of medicines.Specialized bio-inkImprove the quality, efficiency and versatility of 3D printed organs, structures and results. Finally, new approaches such as Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM) are of impeccable qualitysilk-Based biobrk opens new frontiers for innovation in 3D printing.
To the moon and further
The Global Artemis Program is a NASA-led international space exploration program aimed at landing the first woman and first person of color onMaanBy 2025 as part of the long -term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon.Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, to study the presence of water and its habitability. Chinese mission,Service 6, plans to bring samples from the moon back to Earth for further research. Japan's Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) missionJaxaPlan to bring samples back from Phobos, one of the Mars -Mans.boeing is also expected to make a test flight of his recyclable space capsuleStarline, which can launch humans into low Earth orbit.
However, Artemis' R&D impact extends to more domains than just aerospace engineering:
- Robotics:Robots will play a crucial role in the Artemis program and perform many tasks, such as collecting samples, building infrastructure and conducting scientific research.This will stimulate the development of new robot technologies, including autonomous systems and agile manipulators.
- Kuraygenekeskende:The Artemis program requires the development of new technologies to protect astronauts against the dangers of space travel, such as exposure to radiation and micro-gravity.This includes scientific discoveries in the field of medical diagnostics, therapies and countermeasures.
- Earth Sciences:The Artemis program offers a unique opportunity to study the moon and its environment.This will lead to new insight into the history, geology and the climate of the earth.
- Material expertise:The extreme space environment requires new materials that are light, durable and radiation resistant. This will be used in many industries, including space, construction and energy.
- Information Technology:The Artemis program will generate a huge amount of data that will need to be processed, analyzed and shared in real time. This will drive the development of new IT technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The CRISPR payment
After years of research, setbacks and minimal progress, the first formal proof of CRISPR as a therapeutic agentPlatform technologyThe clinic was realized.Intellia TherapeuticsReceived FDA approval to initiate a pivotal phase 3 trial of a new drug for the treatment of HATTR, using the same Cas9 mRNA. A new drug to treat another disease, angioedema, was achieved by changing just 20 nucleotides of guide RNA, suggesting that CRISPR can be improved. used as therapeutic platform technology in the clinic.
The second big moment for CRISPR Drug Development Technology cameVertex en CRISPR Therapeuticsannounced the approval of the first CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy, Casgevy™, by the UK MHRA, for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. This was the first approval of a CRISPR-based therapy in human use and is a milestone in realizing the potential of CRISPR to improve human health.
In addition to the remarkable possibilities to edit the genome, it has been shown that the CRISPR-CAS system is effective in many applications, includingDiagnosis of early cancer. CRISPR-based genome and transcriptome engineering and CRISPR-Cas12a and CRISPR-Cas13a appear to have the necessary properties to be robust detection tools for cancer therapy and diagnostics. CRISPR-Cas-based biosensor system ushers in a new era for accurate diagnoses of early-stage cancer.
My engineers have also designed a new nanoparticle DNA-encoded nanosensorUrine biomarkersIt can enable early cancer diagnoses with a simple urine test.
Put an end to cancer
The immunoncology field has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Approved products such as cytokines, vaccines, tumor-oriented monoclonal antibodies and immune checkpoint blockers continue to grow in market size. New therapies such asTAC01-HER2is currently being tested clinically.This unique therapy uses autologous T cells that are genetically manipulated to incorporate T-cell antigen coupler (TAC) receptors that recognize the presence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on tumor cells to eliminate them.This could be a promising therapy for metastatic, HER2-positive solid tumors.
Another promising strategy is aimed at using the Car-T cells against solid tumors in combination with aVaccine increasingImproving the immune system helps the body create more host T cells that can target otherstumor antigensThat Car-T cells cannot kill.
Another remarkable trend is the development of improved and effective personalized therapies. For example, a newly developed personalizedRNA-neoantigenVaccine, based on uridine mRNA lipoplex nanoparticles, proved effective against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Major challenges in immuno-oncology are therapy resistance, lack of predictive biomarkers and tumor heterogeneity. As a result, devising new treatment strategies may be a future research focus.
Low -carbon energy
Several well-funded efforts are underway to decouple energy production by replacing fossil fuel energy sources with sources that generate no (or much less) CO2 by 2024.
One of these efforts is integratingLarge energy storage unitsin the existing energy network. This is an important part of enabling the use of renewable sources, as they provide additional supply and demand for electricity to supplement ongoing sources. They can quickly dispose of it in the grid, are under development. Some are physical (flywheels, pumped hydro and compressed air) and some are chemical (traditional batteries, powerBatteries, supercapacitors andhydrogen), but they are all the subject of research in the field of active chemistry and materials development. The US government is encouraging development in this area throughtax deductionas part of the inflation reduction law and a 7 billionplanTo determine regional hydrogen junctions.
In the meantime, nuclear energy will remain an active R&D area in 2024.Various companies are developing in the field of nuclear splittingsmall modular reactors(SMRS) for use in generating electricity and chemical production, including hydrogen. The development of nuclear merger reactors includes basic research in physics and material science. A major challenge is to find a material that can be used for the wall ofThe reactor with which the merger plasma is confronted; so far, candidate material has includedHigh entropy alloysevenmelted metal.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases pose a major public health problem as aMain causedeath and disability worldwide. Although there is currently no cure for any neurodegenerative disease, new scientific discoveries and understanding of these pathways could be critical to improving patient outcomes.
- Alzheimer's disease: Two immunotherapies have received FDA approval to reduce both cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer's disease.Aducannumab(Aduhelm®) Received approval in 2021 and is the first new treatment approved for Alzheimer's since 2003 and the first treatment targeting the pathophysiology of the disease, reducing beta-amyloid plaques in the brain in patients with early Alzheimer's disease.Lecanemab(Leqembi®) Received traditional approval in 2023 and is the first drug to target the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease to demonstrate clinical benefits, reducing the rate of disease progression and reducing cognitive and functional decline in adults with early stages of the disease.
- Parkinson's disease: New treatment modalities beyond medications and deep brain stimulation are being investigated and approved by the FDA for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The non-invasive medical devices,Eksablere Neuro(Approved by the FDA in 2021), uses focused ultrasound on one side of the brain to provide relief from severe symptoms such as shaking, limb stiffness, and dyskinesia.2023 brought great news for Parkinson's disease research with the validation of the biomarker alpha-synuclein.Researchers have developed a tool calledα-synuclein entenversterking Asswhich detects the biomarker in the spinal fluid in people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and those who have not demonstrated clinical symptoms.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Two pharmaceutical products have received FDA approval in the past two years to slow disease progression in people with ALS.Relyvrio® was approved in 2022 and works by preventing or slowing increased neuronal cell death in patients with ALS.Tofersen(Qookody®), an Antisense-Oligonucleotide, was approved in 2023 via the accelerated approval process.Tofersen focuses on RNA produced from mutated superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) genes to eliminate the production of toxic SOD1 proteins.RecentlyPublished genetic researchDiscussions of how mutations contribute to ALS are ongoing, and scientists have recently discovered how NEK1 gene mutations lead to ALS. This discovery suggests a possible rational therapeutic approach for stabilizing microtubules in ALS patients.
