Chinese scientists have reported findings recently in their latest experiments aboard the Tiangong space station: while brain cells migrates faster, muscle repair process is more slowly, and medicines for lipid metabolism disorders show a pronounced boost in potency in weightless environment.
The discoveries could reshape approaches to Alzheimer's therapy, muscle-atrophy prevention and next-generation drug research and development.
"Currently, our in-orbit observations show that neurons in organ-on-a-chip move faster in space than on the ground. This may indicate that the unique environment of space promotes cell movement in our brain tissue," said Jin Xuena, principal designer of life sciences of the Space Application Engineering and Technology Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
A parallel experiment tracking skeletal-muscle precursor cells shows the opposite trend.
In the weightless environment, the cells' migration rate drops sharply and the overall timeline for muscle regeneration is delayed.
The finding underscores the difficulty of repairing damaged muscle in space.
A third study examined how lipid-nanoparticles ferry nucleic-acid drugs into cells.
On-orbit data reveal that cellular uptake of the drug is markedly higher in microgravity, and levels of disease-related proteins decline more rapidly.
"In a space environment, the therapeutic effects of drugs for lipid metabolism disorders are significantly enhanced. Therefore, the microgravity environment in space may serve as a new approach for future drug intervention or drug development," said Jin.
Experiments in China's space station create new path for treating brain disorders
A delegation of foreign diplomatic envoys visited south China's Hainan from Wednesday to Saturday, learning about the province's rapid development and exploring potential areas of cooperation.
The trip, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together over 30 ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, representatives of international organizations, and senior diplomats from countries including Kenya, Serbia, Spain and Vietnam.
In Sanya's Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, the delegates gained insights into China's independent innovation in the seed industry and the country's agricultural technological transformation in response to climate change.
"We can invite a lot of the persons from this institute to come to Dominica to teach us some of the advanced technologies and the practices that we should employ in agriculture," said Martin Charles, Dominica's Ambassador to China.
The delegates also toured the innovative drug and medical device exhibition, as well as health and wellness institutions in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.
Hailed as China's sole "medical special zone", the pilot zone is home to over 30 top-tier domestic and international medical institutions.
"The medical advances are the ones that have struck me most for the moment. There are so many fields where we can cooperate," said Javier Garcia-Larrache, Spain's charge d'affaires ad interim in China.
The delegates also visited villages to experience folk culture, including Li brocade from the Li ethnic group, traditional Chinese medicine sachets, and bamboo pole dances, immersing themselves in the province's rich and vibrant local cultures.
Foreign diplomatic envoys visit Hainan
Foreign diplomatic envoys visit Hainan
