Articles tagged with Biomedical Engineering
Researchers have made breakthrough in developing artificial kidney tissue from scratch, which could reduce the need for dialysis and transplantation. The study discovered a potential governor of kidney growth, tiny mechanical stress waves, to understand how nature builds the organ.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have found that plasma irradiation can enhance tendon-to-bone junction repair, leading to faster healing rates and stronger repairs. The study used rabbit models to test the effects of plasma on rotator cuff injuries, showing promising results.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a miniature, soft lithium-ion battery with features like high capacity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The battery was used to power small devices in animal models and demonstrated promising results for wireless and biodegradable devices in clinical medicine.
A new hydrogel semiconductor has been developed by the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, enabling better brain-machine interfaces, biosensors, and pacemakers. The material's soft mechanical properties and high charge-carrier mobility make it ideal for tissue-level interfaces.
Researchers at the University of Chicago and UC San Diego have developed a cutting-edge bioelectronic device that harnesses the natural electrical activity of certain bacteria to manage infections. The device achieves remarkable results by delivering gentle electrical signals, reducing bacterial colonization nearly tenfold.
A new study in mice shows a unique mRNA delivery method can successfully edit faulty genes in fetal brain cells. The technology has the potential to stop progression of genetic-based neurodevelopmental conditions like Angelman syndrome and Rett syndrome before birth.
GeniPhys secures $500k NSF grant to support regulatory and commercial readiness of Collymer SAS for soft tissue restoration in advanced wound care. The technology promotes regenerative remodeling without inflammatory response, facilitating faster healing and tissue repair.
The ASHG 2024 Annual Meeting will showcase the latest research in human genetics and genomics. The event will feature a Presidential Symposium on Mendelian traits and a Distinguished Speakers Symposium on the promise of human genetics and genomics, among other sessions.
Researchers aim to improve gene therapy design for life-long correction of genetic diseases, but face unknowns including immune response and genomic changes. A five-year NIH award will fund an analysis of genetic and cellular determinants of gene therapy longevity.
Researchers are creating microphysiological systems to simulate infection and treatment in vitro, linking human lung and brain tissue models. This project aims to explore the relationship between respiratory diseases and neurological symptoms, potentially leading to new treatments.
A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the clinical success of a new nanoparticle-based, laser-guided therapy for prostate cancer treatment. The therapy successfully eliminated cancerous cells in 73% of patients after 12 months while preserving key functions and side effects.
The National Institutes of Health has announced the winners of the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge, an $8 million prize competition to develop innovative diagnostics for postpartum maternal health. Six finalists won grand prizes of $525,000 each, and two runner-up teams won prizes of $300,000 each.
A UMass Amherst-led team has developed a sensor to detect sodium ions in breastmilk, a biomarker of elevated mammary permeability and potential milk supply issues. The device provides highly sensitive readings inexpensively and quickly, with results delivered in three minutes and costs just $1 per test.
Biomedical engineer Jeff Saucerman has received a $3.1 million NIH grant to study low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 and its impact on heart failure and treatment outcomes after a heart attack.
Researchers have developed a cell culture platform to form two distinct, interconnected vascular networks, replicating human physiology and reducing animal testing costs. This breakthrough enables the study of cellular interactions in vascularized tissues.
Scientists create synthetic biology approach to mechanistically study tissue patterning and engineer organoid structures by combining morphogens with cell adhesion control. The model system reveals a key feature of E-cadherin for forming sharp boundaries in synthetic tissue domains.
Researchers developed a microchip that captures exosomes from blood plasma to identify signs of lung cancer, achieving 10x faster detection and 14x greater sensitivity. The chip uses twisted gold nanoparticles to distinguish between healthy patients and those with lung cancer.
A Carnegie Mellon University-led team is developing a bioelectronic implant called ROGUE that can produce a year's supply of treatment for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The device will offer continuous, adjustable therapy deployment via a minimally invasive procedure.
A Carnegie Mellon-led team has secured a $42 million grant to develop implantable, cell-based bioelectronic devices for real-time therapy and disease monitoring in patients with thyroid disorders. The devices will offer adjustable, low-cost treatment and continuous biomarker measurement.
A team of engineers and scientists from Caltech has developed a headset-based device that can noninvasively assess a patient's stroke risk by monitoring changes in blood flow and volume. The device uses speckle contrast optical spectroscopy to differentiate between individuals at low and high risk of stroke.
A new hand-held scanner can generate highly detailed 3D images in seconds, paving the way for earlier disease diagnosis. The technology uses laser-generated ultrasound waves to visualize subtle changes in blood vessels, helping inform patient care and diagnose conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Recent engineering efforts develop various sensors and devices for addressing challenges in personalized pain treatment. These intelligent sensors and devices offer real-time, accurate pain assessment and responsive treatment options.
A team from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry has patented a new regenerative bone graft material that can regenerate about eight times more bone than existing scaffolds. The breakthrough could transform bone grafts for millions of people who require them, reducing costs and complications associated with traditional methods.
A study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society uses wrist-worn voice recorders to collect real-time data on balance loss among community-dwelling older adults. The findings suggest that these recorders can capture the circumstances and context of balance losses more accurately than traditional recall methods.
Researchers created an artificial blood vessel model using 3D bioprinting to test new therapies for glioblastoma. This device enables the creation of personalized disease models, potentially improving patient survival rates.
A study published in Neuron found that psychedelics, such as DOI, activate fast-spiking interneurons in the ventral hippocampus, which helps to silence other neighboring neurons and reduce anxiety in mice and rats. This understanding of brain chemistry could lead to the development of new drugs targeting anxiety.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed a ventilator-on-a-chip model that simulates lung injury during mechanical ventilation. The device detects real-time cellular changes, revealing shear stress from air sac collapse and reopening as the most injurious type of damage.
Researchers at UMass demonstrated the effectiveness of homemade play putty as an interface to measure electricity or bioelectrical potentials from a human body. The material effectively captured various electrophysiology measurements, including EEG for brain activity and ECG for heart recordings.
A University of Houston team developed non-invasive, comfortable, and safe wearable sensors to monitor eyeball movements, providing early warning signs of brain-related disorders. The new sensors have potential applications in diagnosing conditions like ADHD, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers developed a deep learning method to customize complex strain fields in bioreactors using dielectric elastomer actuator arrays. The method achieved precise control over individual actuators, replicating biomechanically significant strain fields and customizing them based on tumor-stroma interfaces.
Biomedical engineers at the University of Rochester have developed a novel technique using ultrasound waves to organize endothelial cells into patterns that promote the growth of new vessel networks. The team aims to treat ischemic injuries caused by damaged tissue in reconstructive and plastic surgeries.
The new diagnostic test system combines a field-effect transistor with a paper-based analytical cartridge, achieving over 97% accuracy in measuring cholesterol levels. This innovation has the potential to transform at-home testing and diagnostics with its high sensitivity, low cost, and machine learning capabilities.
Researchers developed a tri-culture heart-on-a-chip model of cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells to mimic in vivo cardiac behavior. The study successfully replicated endothelial cell morphology and functionality, as well as cardiac function with increased contractility.
A novel synthetic biology platform enables rapid and cost-effective transformation of protein binders into high-contrast nanosensors for various applications. The platform uses fluorogenic amino acids to increase fluorescence up to 100-fold, enabling the detection of specific proteins, peptides, and small molecules.
Researchers investigated peptide clumping behavior using molecular dynamics simulations and AI techniques. They discovered that aromatic amino acids enhance aggregation, while hydrophilic ones inhibit it, offering insights into peptide structure and function.
The University of Kentucky has been awarded a six-year, $18 million NSF grant to establish the NSF ESCAPE center for assessing pathogen emergence. The center will focus on environmental surveillance using social science, engineering, bioinformatics, and risk modeling to predict and prevent pandemics.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a computer model that simulates nerve responses to electrical stimulation, enabling the efficient design of more effective and targeted neuromodulation therapies. The new tool, called S-MF, runs thousands of times faster than current industry standards without sacrificing accuracy or detail.
Researchers led by Prof. Michael Brand successfully regenerated photoreceptors in zebrafish, demonstrating they regain their normal function and allowing the fish to recover complete vision. This breakthrough could potentially revolutionize treatment of diseases like retinitis pigmentosa or macular degeneration.
A recent case report presents a comprehensive diagnosis of Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) using advanced diagnostic techniques, including brain imaging, CSF tap tests, and infusion study. The study's results show significant improvements in patient outcomes and reduced clinical costs.
A new implant has been developed to encourage nerve cell repair after spinal cord injury. The implant uses electrical signals and a 3D-printed scaffold to bridge the gap and direct axons to grow back in the correct formation, promoting healing and recovery.
Researchers at the University of Utah developed Diadem, a noninvasive device that stimulates deep brain regions to disrupt faulty signals causing chronic pain. In a recent clinical trial, participants experienced significant pain relief after just one treatment session.
Researchers found that Prunin laurate, derived from citrus and coconut biomass, inhibits bacterial growth in periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. The compound is tasteless and hypoallergenic, making it a potential inexpensive antimicrobial solution for preventing oral inflammation.
A new textured heart valve implant has been shown to be less likely to cause clotting, improving health outcomes for patients who receive the implant. Certain conditions such as cancer and smoking elevate the risk of blood clots after heart surgery.
Researchers developed a new brain-computer interface that translates brain signals into speech with up to 97% accuracy, enabling a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to communicate with friends and family. The system was tested in real-time conversations with continuous updates, achieving high word accuracy rates.
Researchers have developed a suite of parameters that can be used to quantitatively measure different physical characteristics of the lung. The parameters were found to be highly sensitive and specific for diagnosing fibrosis and edema in an animal model, using only five necessary parameters.
Researchers developed an inexpensive, water-powered electric bandage that accelerates wound healing in chronic wounds. The bandage produces an electric field that promotes healing and reduces inflammation, with animals treated with the bandage showing a 30% faster rate of wound closure.
Researchers at Linköping University have created soft electrodes made of gold nanowires and silicone rubber, capable of stimulating nerve signals and capturing electrical signals. The material is expected to last for at least three years and has potential applications in medical devices.
Liheng Cai, a UVA engineering professor, has received a $1.9 million NIH grant to create advanced biomaterials that can be used to repair living tissues and build organ structures. His lab aims to develop polymers that mimic human biology and integrate healthy cells into the human body.
Researchers have reviewed advancements in wearable cuffless blood pressure monitoring, focusing on flexible electronics and machine learning. The integration of sensors, signal processing, and algorithms enables accurate blood pressure estimation, promising personalized medicine applications.
Scientists have developed a new way to 3D print materials that are strong enough to support human tissue and vary in shape and size. The breakthrough, known as CLEAR, helps pave the way toward a new generation of biomaterials for personalized implants and tissues.
A research group developed a long-acting artificial hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mimetic molecule using cyclic peptides and protein engineering. The molecule improved liver fibrosis, lipid accumulation, and inflammation in a mouse model with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), providing an option for NASH therapeutics.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a novel, non-invasive approach to measure intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with traumatic brain injuries. The AI-powered method uses extracranial physiological waveforms to estimate ICP severity with high accuracy.
A team of researchers from Rice University has received a $2.5 million grant from the Lemelson Foundation for a graduate education program that aims to prepare students to be Kenya's next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs. The 'Impact Invention' master’s degree program focuses on project-based learning, collaboration, and entre...
Researchers from Chiba University developed a foldable pouch actuator that enables finger extension in soft rehabilitation gloves, overcoming the limitation of existing actuators. The FPA facilitates joint-specific movements and has potential applications in telerehabilitation and care facilities.
A new study from University of Florida researchers found that quick learners rely on the visual cortex in their brains when acquiring new motor skills. The study used brain-monitoring electrodes to analyze how people learn to walk at different speeds, revealing a clear difference between fast and slow learners.
Researchers have developed a new technique called burst sine wave electroporation (B-SWE) that can disrupt the blood-brain barrier around brain tumors without causing significant damage to healthy tissue. This method shows promise for treating aggressive brain cancers like glioblastoma, which currently have limited treatment options.
LMU researchers have developed strategies to repair mutated proteins that cause an inherited stroke disorder called CARASIL. The team used a combination of in-vitro and in-vivo methods to restore the function of the protease HTRA1, which plays a crucial role in maintaining equilibrium in the extracellular matrix.
Professors Philip LeDuc and Burak Ozdoganlar have developed a novel 3D ice printing technique that enables the creation of micro-scale structures with tailored geometries. Their method uses water as an ink substitute, allowing for the deposition of precise internal voids and channels.
Researchers developed a library of 27 polymers to improve RNA drug delivery, using design-of-experiment approach and statistical analysis. The study improves quality, efficiency, and precision of RNA drugs with optimized polymer nanoparticles.
A team of scientists at Harvard University developed a new RNA synthesis process that produces RNA with efficiencies comparable to current industry standards. The novel method can incorporate all common molecular modifications found in RNA drugs, expanding the RNA therapeutic design space.