Sangeeta Bhatia
Coverage of Sangeeta Bhatia in the Nexus archive.
- Engineered “mini livers” could be injected as an alternative to transplantation
A technology developed by Professor Sangeeta Bhatia and colleagues uses hepatocytes injected with hydrogel microspheres to form liver-like structures, offering an alternative to liver transplants. The cells remain viable in mice for two months and could serve as a bridge to transplantation while researchers explore immune system evasion methods.
- A breath test could diagnose pneumonia in minutes
A portable breath test called PlasmoSniff, developed at MIT, could diagnose pneumonia and other lung conditions by detecting biomarkers in exhaled breath. The test uses nanoparticles that release biomarkers in the presence of infection-related enzymes, which are then measured via enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Researchers aim to create a handheld device for clinical or home use.