Mast cells are packed with inflammatory compounds and respond within seconds when activated. The research team investigated whether this rapid, powerful response could be redirected to break through the immune suppression commonly found in tumours.

Gu Zhen, a professor at Zhejiang University’s School of Pharmacy and a lead author of the study, said the idea emerged from observing how excessive immune reactions operate in allergies and asking whether a similar mechanism could be used against cancer.

Instead of reacting to allergens, the scientists reprogrammed mast cells using IgE antibodies designed to recognise proteins expressed on tumour cells.

Once injected into the bloodstream, these engineered mast cells homed in on tumours and released intense bursts of inflammation when they encountered their specific cancer targets.

The induced reaction helped alert the immune system, converting so-called “cold” tumours — which normally evade immune detection — into “hot” tumours that immune cells are able to recognise and attack.

The researchers also demonstrated that mast cells can act as transport vehicles for oncolytic viruses, which selectively infect and destroy cancer cells.

Encased within mast cell vesicles, the viruses were shielded from destruction in the bloodstream and released only after the mast cells reached and were activated inside tumours.

Tests in mouse models of melanoma, breast cancer and lung metastases showed increased infiltration of cancer-killing T cells and slowed tumour growth, the study reported.

The approach was also effective in patient-derived tumour models, where human mast cells equipped with IgE antibodies targeting the HER2 tumour marker and carrying oncolytic viruses produced strong T-cell responses and significant tumour suppression.

Gu said the findings point towards future personalised therapies, in which IgE antibodies could be matched to individual tumour markers, while mast cells could also be used to deliver drugs, proteins or nanomedicines, with further work planned to move the strategy towards clinical use.

At roughly 300 microns long and 70 microns wide, it is believed to be the smallest implant ever to both detect and transmit electrical signals inside the brain without the need for wires.

The implant, known as a microscale optoelectronic tetherless electrode (MOTE), was tested in mice and remained functional for more than 12 months, capturing both individual neuron spikes and broader activity patterns while the animals continued normal behavior.

Developers say the size matters as much as the functionality. Conventional brain implants and optical fibers can trigger inflammation and immune reactions because they move against soft tissue. 

The Cornell team argues the MOTE’s footprint is small enough to reduce those effects.

“As far as we know, this is the smallest neural implant that will measure electrical activity in the brain and then report it out wirelessly,” said electrical engineer Alyosha Molnar, who co-led the project. 

Molnar said the device uses optical communication methods similar to those in satellite systems to send data with minimal power.

The implant is powered by red and infrared light that passes through brain tissue and returns data encoded in light pulses. 

Researchers said the materials and design could eventually allow neural recording during MRI scans — something current implants typically can’t withstand — and could be adapted for spinal or peripheral nerve monitoring.

The project involved engineers, physicists and neuroscientists at Cornell and Nanyang Technological University, with support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

In a recent study published in Epilepsia, 17 children were tested with the tool; 12 underwent surgery to remove lesions and 11 are now seizure-free. Experts say the advance could transform treatment for the roughly one in 200 children living with epilepsy.

How it works

Why it matters

Researchers said the glue could withstand more than 400 pounds of force, with a shear strength of about 0.5 MPa and compressive strength near 10 MPa, making it a potential alternative to implants and surgery.

Lin Xianfeng, associate chief orthopedic surgeon at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and the project’s lead researcher, said the team took inspiration from oysters, whose natural glue allows them to cling to bridge pylons underwater. 

Bone 02 has been tested on more than 150 patients, according to local media Zhejiang Online.

In South Korea, scientists reported a similar breakthrough in bone-repair technology, re-engineering a standard arts-and-crafts glue gun to deliver a specialized bone-healing compound. 

The team at Sungkyunkwan University developed an “in situ printing system” that loads the gun with hydroxyapatite. a mineral found in human bones. and polycaprolactone, a biocompatible plastic with a low melting point.

Researchers said the handheld device offered greater surgical precision and allowed procedures to be completed more quickly. In tests on rabbits with severe leg fractures, the method produced fewer infections, faster operations and better bone regrowth. 

Findings of the South Korean study can be viewed on the online technologies journal Device .

Developments like these could transform one of the most common surgical needs worldwide. An estimated 6.8 million people break a bone each year, many of which are resolved through traditional surgical (metal and rod implants) and non-surgical (casts, splints or braces) methods.