Innovative Research
Under the leadership of Prof. Malachi Noked, along with Prof. Doron Aurbach, Prof. Doron Naveh, and their team, a significant advancement has been achieved. This breakthrough has been recognized and published in the highly respected Nature Nanotechnology journal. Their research addresses a pivotal issue in the advancement of all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs)—balancing cost-efficiency with performance. The team introduced a sulfide-based ASSLB featuring a high-energy, cobalt-free LiNiO2 cathode, distinguished by its robust structure. This innovation stems from a high-pressure oxygen synthesis process, followed by the atomic layer deposition of an ultrathin, multi-element LixAlyZnzOδ protective layer. This layer not only fortifies the cathode's structure but also improves the dynamics at the interface, reducing degradation and side reactions. The result? An ASSLB that boasts an impressive areal capacity of 4.65 mAh cm−2, a specific cathode capacity of 203 mAh g−1, remarkable cycling stability with 92% capacity retention over 200 cycles, and commendable rate capability, maintaining 93 mAh g−1 at a 2C rate. This study paves the way for cost-effective yet high-performing ASSLBs, circumventing the need for expensive materials traditionally used in cathodes and coatings. It's a significant step forward in our quest for sustainable energy solutions. Dive into the full paper for a deeper understanding at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01519-8
Dr. Nitzan Gonen and her team have recently published exciting research on understanding male development in mammals at Nucleic Acids Research. Their study sheds light on the critical role of two SOX transcription factors, SRY and SOX9, in embryonic testis. They previously discovered that the deletion of Enhancer 13 (Enh13, 557 bp long) of the Sox9 gene can lead to XY male-to-female sex reversal. While individual microdeletions in Enh13’s transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) still allow for normal testicular development, the combined microdeletions of just two SRY/SOX binding motifs can fully abolish Enh13 activity, leading to XY male-to-female sex reversal. This underscores the importance of these few nucleotides of non-coding DNA for proper male development. Interestingly, Dr. Gonen found that the nature of these TFBS mutations can lead to dramatically different phenotypic outcomes. This finding explains the distinct clinical outcomes observed in patients harboring different variants of the same enhancer.
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A recent publication in the esteemed Angewandte Chemie journal features the innovative research of Prof. Dan T. Major and his team on the role of terpene synthases (TPS). Terpenes, a broad category of substances naturally produced by plants, bacteria, and fungi, have a range of medicinal applications. These include acting as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, mood stabilizers, and even exhibiting anti-cancer properties. Additionally, terpenes contribute to the diverse array of natural fragrances found in citrus fruits, roses, cannabis, and more.
In their innovative study, Prof. Major's team has, for the first time, identified notable differences in how these substances are synthesized in plants as opposed to bacteria and fungi. Their research methodology involved various computational tools, spanning both computational biology (for sequence comparison and motif identification) and computational chemistry (for predicting the geometry of the precursor substance that forms terpenes within the enzymes that produce them). One of these tools, specifically tailored for this study, was developed in Prof. Major's laboratory.
This pioneering research holds the potential to produce precisely and on a large scale terpenes for various medicinal and industrial applications. For more detailed insights, please visit the published article at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202400743
New technique for improving CT scan resolution
A technique for improving the resolution of X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans is presented in a proof-of-principle study published in Communications Engineering.
The technique developed by Sharon Shwartz, Adi Ben-Yehuda and colleagues combines a single-pixel imaging method with a deep learning algorithm and a CT image reconstruction tool to measure scattered radiation produced during CT scanning, which can blur and distort images. They used their technique to reconstruct a high resolution three-dimensional CT image of a cow bone sample. They estimate the resolution of the images obtained using their method to be 500 micrometres, which they suggest is approximately an order of magnitude higher than the typical resolution of scattered X-ray imaging techniques.
The authors suggest that, with further development, their technique could have the potential to enhance the image quality of medical CT images by enabling small and complex details to be viewed at lower radiation doses, which could minimise radiation exposure for patients.
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New publication from the laboratory of Dror Fixler, in which a groundbreaking biosensor for the accurate measurement of blood oxygen is presented .
With conventional methods, scattering is often overlooked, leading to errors in blood oxygen measurement. Our optical biosensor, which utilizes the Iso-Pathlength (IPL) point, isolates absorption from scattering, enabling accurate extraction of oxygen saturation.
With a single light source and multiple photodetectors (PDs), our biosensor achieves remarkable accuracy with a margin of error of only 0.5%. It has been tested on thirty-eight people under normal and extreme conditions, proving its reliability in real-life scenarios.
This innovation promises more reliable and accessible blood oxygen monitoring.
Prof. Shulamit Michaeli in collaboration with Prof. Ada Yunath recently unveiled the intricate dance of Trypanosomes at Nature Communications. These notorious protozoan parasites cycle between insect and mammalian hosts, triggering sleeping sickness. Prof. Michaeli and her team mapped the elusive changes of pseudouridine (Ψ) modification on rRNA across the parasite’s two life stages, employing not one but four genome-wide approaches. The results? Knocking out the snoRNAs that guide Ψ on helix 69 (H69) of the large rRNA subunit proved to be lethal, highlighting their critical role. But it gets more intriguing. A single knock-out of a snoRNA guiding Ψ530 on H69 shook up the 80S monosome’s composition, impacting the translation of a specific protein subset. Supported by a high-resolution cryo-EM structure, their study suggests that altering rRNA modifications could lead to ribosomes with a preference for translating proteins beneficial to the parasite’s state. This discovery advances our understanding of parasitic mechanisms and opens the door to targeted treatments.
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Exciting Breakthrough in Testis Modeling: Introducing Testis Organoids!
Dr. Nitzan Gonen's latest paper presents a significant advancement in the field of male reproductive health research by establishing the first-ever testis organoid model. This innovative model holds immense potential for understanding and treating disorders of sex development and male infertility.
A recent study delving into the effects of Ga ion irradiation on freestanding monolayer graphene, with a specific focus on the behavior of defect-induced Raman lines, was initiated by Nahum Shabi and published in Surfaces and Interfaces. The article was authored by three members of the BINA team: Nahum Shabi, Dr. Olga Girshevitz, and Dr. Madina Telkhozhayeva.
EIC grant for nanoparticle-based research for cancer treatment
Prof. Rachela Popovatzer from the Faculty of Engineering and the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials won a grant of €150,000 for research aimed at making drug treatment more effective and focused
What will the next generation of cancer drugs look like? What will make them more effective and focused? The European Union is investing in the implementation of an innovative Israeli project based on gold nanoparticles, for the more effective treatment of various cancers, including breast cancer. Behind the study is Prof. Rachela Popovatzer, Vice Dean of the Kopkin Faculty of Engineering and a leading researcher at the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University. Prof. Popovatzer's innovative project, called Golden-ADC, proposes a new concept for combining antibodies and chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of tumors, such as those characteristic of breast cancer.
Prof. Popovatzer's patent is based on insulin-coated gold nanoparticles, which serve as an innovative platform for transporting antibody-based drugs (ADCs) to tumor areas. The use of gold nanoparticles makes it possible to overcome a number of challenges that have faced biological treatment to date, including how the drug binds to the antibody. This greatly improves the effectiveness of treatment. "As part of the Golden-ADC project, we envision achieving significant progress in the development of the technology, by demonstrating a proof-of-concept that combines efficacy and safety in triple-negative breast cancer models," notes Prof. Popovatzer.
The European Research Council also believes in Prof. Popovatzer's project, and therefore awarded him the EIC (Proof of Concept Grant) of 150,000 euros. This grant funds researchers previously supported by the European Research Council, enabling them to advance their ideas from the groundbreaking research phase towards practical applications of the findings, including the first stages of commercial use.
This is not the first time Prof. Popovetzer has been awarded a grant from the European Union. In March 2022, she was awarded the Council's Consolidator Grant for the innovative research project BrainCRISPR, which presented a novel gold nanoplatform for inserting CRISPR biomolecules into the brain to cure rare genetic brain diseases.
Exciting breakthrough! New article written by Dr. Eliahu Cohen's group, in collaboration with Prof. Ernesto Galvão's group at INL, introduces a novel approach that connects and unifies key quantities crucial in quantum computation, sensing, simulation, and communication. The work presents Bargmann invariants as foundational building blocks, revealing unique quantum properties. Coherence, a fundamental phenomenon across physics, underlies these quantities, broadening its scope beyond conventional optics towards sets of quantum states. "Our quantum circuits, developed through this approach, enable straightforward measurement of important quantities using quantum computers", says Dr. Cohen. The research is a result of a two-year collaboration with INL, initiated and partially funded by BINA.
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New article written by Prof. Orit Shefi in collaboration with Prof. Ester Segal from the Technion, demonstrating targeted cancer treatment by biolistic delivery of porous silicon chips loaded with light activated drug.
