Articles tagged with Biomedical Engineering
Researchers developed a hair-thin patch that can measure pulse wave signals with high accuracy, creating a 2D pressure map on the wrist. This technology enables at-home diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and pre-diagnosis of related conditions.
Researchers have discovered a genetic difference in the meniscus that makes about 50% of females more prone to developing knee osteoarthritis than males or other females. The study suggests potential for a blood test to identify high-risk individuals, allowing for early interventions and prevention strategies.
A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain processes visual information by studying populations of neurons across multiple brain areas. The study reveals that feedforward and feedback signaling involve different neural activity patterns, shedding new light on how the brain communicates with itself.
A new form of drug delivery microparticle mimics the properties of a red blood cell, enabling controlled release of drugs and targeting specific destinations. The goal is to bypass the body's filtration systems, allowing for improved efficacy and reduced negative side effects.
Remote monitoring of patients with continuous pulse oximetry and heart rate devices was associated with reduced death rates. This technology advance improved patient safety, lowered mortality, and increased accuracy in care.
A new study by University of Michigan researchers found that genetics play a crucial role in how our bodies respond to vaccines and booster shots. The team identified a specific form of an antibody-related gene that predicts whether boosting will be effective for increasing innate immune responses.
Researchers at RMIT University used high-frequency sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, overcoming challenges in mass production and pain associated with extraction. The innovative treatment is faster, simpler, and more efficient than existing methods.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use focused ultrasound device that can precisely target the mouse brain. The $80 device, created using a 3D printer, has been shown to achieve sub-millimeter targeting accuracy and improve drug delivery outcome.
A new HMI system, Robotic VR, allows users to teleoperate robots with precision and feel, enabling complicated tasks such as Covid-19 swab tests and patient care. The system provides immersive feedback via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet.
Dr. Jansen will test hypotheses on intracellular domain of pLGIC proteins, aiming to gain insights into assembly, chaperone-modulation and functional conformational transitions in various diseases. Her research focuses on neurotransmitter-gated ion channels and their interactions with RIC-3-like chaperone proteins.
A recent review highlights the effects of different intestinal bacteria on colorectal cancer, exploring new therapies for disease prevention and treatment. Beneficial probiotics, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, exhibit anticancer properties and reduce CRC cell proliferation.
Developed by University of Seville researchers, the new methodology has a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 87.5%. It can detect SARS-CoV-2 in saliva and synthetic viruses with minimal equipment and training.
Researchers found that kitchen sponges provide an optimal environment for microbial diversity by mimicking the separation and communal spaces found in healthy soil. This complex structure supports both solitary and diverse bacterial communities, leading to higher biodiversity levels.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a novel droplet manipulation method called WRAP, which can transport micro-sized droplets using electromagnets or programmable electromagnetic fields. The method overcomes challenges in traditional magnetic actuation, such as contamination from added magnetic particles.
A new machine learning process has been developed to identify and classify hip fractures from X-rays, achieving 92% accuracy and confidence. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce care costs, and alleviate the bottleneck of unreported radiographs in the UK.
Researchers developed a fully autonomous biohybrid fish from human stem-cell derived cardiac muscle cells that recreates the muscle contractions of a pumping heart. The device has two layers of muscle cells that work together to propel the fish for over 100 days.
Researchers developed an optogenetic approach to control parathyroid hormone secretion and prevent secondary hyperparathyroidism-associated bone loss. The method partially attenuated SHPT-associated bone loss in animal models, suggesting its potential as a treatment for hyperparathyroidism-induced bone disease.
Researchers at UC Davis Health have developed an engineered antibody, FuG1, that can interfere with the cell-to-cell transmission ability of SARS-CoV-2. The approach targets the furin enzyme, which is critical for viral transmissibility, and could be added to existing SARS-CoV-2 antibody cocktails.
Markita del Carpio Landry, a young immigrant scientist, receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise for her groundbreaking research on neurochemical communication and gene-editing technologies. Her work aims to address medicine's most compelling problems, including aberrations in neurotransmitter signaling.
The IEEE forum identified four major challenges to address during the pandemic: healthcare, screening, tracing, and treatment. The panel highlighted socioeconomic and education status as critical factors impacting mortality rates and hospital admission lengths.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a gene therapy that helps heart muscle cells electrically activate in live mice. The approach features engineered bacterial genes that code for sodium ion channels, which could lead to therapies to treat electrical heart diseases and disorders.
Researchers at Rosalind Franklin University have identified a new therapeutic approach for treating cystic fibrosis. The treatment uses antisense oligonucleotides to restore CFTR function by removing stop mutations. This strategy has shown promise in treating CF patients with class I mutations and similar types of mutations.
Researchers have developed a prototype insulin-loaded patch that comfortably sticks to the inside of a person's cheek, offering a less invasive way to manage blood sugar levels. The patch, activated by heat, releases insulin into the bloodstream several times faster than through skin, showing promise for diabetes treatment.
A multidisciplinary research team from the University of Pittsburgh seeks to improve vascular graft integration by developing fully biodegradable tissue-engineered vascular grafts. The goal is to keep compliance-matched as it degrades and remodels, reducing long-term graft failure rates.
UCSF cancer biologist Hani Goodarzi is recognized for his groundbreaking research on cancer metastasis and novel molecular players. His work has led to the discovery of a protein driving breast cancer metastasis and orphan noncoding RNAs in cancerous cells.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new laboratory test model to investigate fibrosis treatments without the use of animals. The model uses human cells and replicates not only the structure of human tissue but also its mechanics, enabling scientists to study the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis and test potential treatments.
Researchers at MIT have developed a pill that can deliver RNA to the stomach, potentially making vaccines easier to tolerate and treat gastrointestinal diseases. The capsule is designed to release RNA in the stomach, where it can stimulate an immune response without being degraded by digestive enzymes.
A new diagnostic tool combines grayscale B-mode and strain elastography ultrasound imaging to detect breast cancer with high accuracy. The model achieved a detection rate of 90% in the study, surpassing individual models trained on either B-mode or SE imaging alone.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a novel microfluidic device that can efficiently harvest and sort tumor-eating immune cells from tumors. This technology has shown dramatic results in shrinking tumors in mice compared to traditional methods.
Case Western Reserve University researchers create nanoparticles that generate a protein mesh to stabilize blood clots and reduce blood loss. The technology could help save lives by rapidly stabilizing clots to reduce blood loss from traumatic injuries.
Researchers at OHSU are developing a new approach to scientific imaging to study the dynamic organization of cells by examining how tiny molecules make cells work. The W. M. Keck Foundation has awarded $1 million to develop a one-of-a-kind imaging and computational system.
A research team has developed a new cancer treatment that targets lymph nodes using a prodrug that selectively reacts with glutathione to release nitric oxide. In a metastasis mouse model, the mice treated with the drug showed significantly reduced weight of metastatic cancer cells and improved survival rates.
Researchers at Kumamoto University developed a novel 'supermolecular' material that binds to protein drugs, prolongs their effect without impairing activity, and improves overall drug performance. The material, called PEG-PRX, adds polyethylene glycol chains to proteins without compromising biological action.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have developed a molecular framework that solves the challenge of predicting peptide structures. The framework bridges experimental and computer sciences, enabling the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to model peptide structures for materials engineering.
Researchers at University of Washington developed a fast, cheap test for COVID-19 that combines speed of antigen tests with accuracy of PCR tests. The Harmony COVID-19 test detects genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 virus with 97% accuracy and provides results in under 20 minutes.
A team of researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute and ETH Zurich have developed a computational approach to identify genomic safe harbors (GSHs) with high potential for safe insertion of therapeutic genes. The study validated two GSH sites in adoptive T cell therapies and in vivo gene therapies for skin diseases.
Researchers from Osaka University created patient-derived heart cells that exhibit reduced contractility and impaired desmosome assembly when carrying a mutation associated with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Replacing the mutated gene restored normal function, suggesting a potential treatment approach for this disease.
Researchers at MIT have developed an all-in-one approach to diabetes treatment, streamlining the process of blood glucose measurement and insulin injection. The new device can automate procedures such as pricking skin, collecting blood, calculating glucose levels, and dispensing insulin, reducing the need for multiple devices and makin...
Researchers at West Virginia University have created a simple microwave catalytic process to upcycle single-use plastics into high-value benzene, toluene, and xylene. This technology aims to increase the recycling rate of plastic waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative source of petrochemical materials.
Researchers have developed a combination of materials that can morph into various shapes before hardening, similar to the natural process of bone development in the human skeleton. The soft material can be used to create microrobots that can inject themselves into complicated bone fractures and expand to form new bone.
A pre-clinical study showed that the use of extracellular matrix supports improved nerve fibre regeneration across large nerve defects. The team's novel ECM-loaded medical device increased pro-repair inflammation, blood vessel density, and regenerating nerves, offering a promising alternative to current therapies.
Researchers successfully engineered mesenchymal stromal cells to carry and deliver therapeutics specifically to targeted tissues, offering a precise and reliable approach for treating diseases. This novel cargo-carrier, dubbed 'Cargocytes,' retains most of its cellular functionality while greatly enhancing therapeutic capacity.
A team from Tokyo Medical & Dental University has created a jigsaw-shaped peptide that functions as an extracellular matrix for injured tissue regeneration. The peptide's ability to incorporate and release growth factors stimulates cell growth and vascular formation, showing promise in regenerating tissues.
Researchers develop a nanobomb that selectively targets cancer cells with heat and releases anticancer drugs, offering a promising multimodal treatment approach. The nanobomb's biodegradability and safety make it an attractive option for cancer therapy.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used machine learning to understand how locusts can consistently recognize smells despite environmental factors, finding that combining the activity of ON and OFF neurons provides a simple yet effective solution.
Researchers developed a new class of nanomaterials that capture chemotherapy drugs before they interact with healthy tissue, reducing off-target effects. The highly efficient approach captures DOX at a capacity more than 3,200% higher than other platforms.
Researchers have developed a custom finger clip device that measures blood pressure and other vital signs like heart rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and respiratory rate. The device uses photoplethysmography sensors and achieves an accuracy rate of about 90% for systolic blood pressure.
Researchers have developed a technique called cryobioprinting that combines bioprinting with cryopreservation to create frozen, complex structures. The technology allows for the fabrication of anisotropic tissues with microscale pores aligned in specific directions, opening up new possibilities for muscular tissue engineering and beyond.
A team of researchers from Georgia Tech developed a 3D-printed tracheal replacement splint to treat Ramiah, a 4-year-old girl with tracheal agenesis. The Airway Support Device was used in her successful surgery and has improved her breathing capabilities.
Researchers have developed a new methodology combining in vitro experiments with mathematical and computational methods to understand complex regulations in intervertebral discs. This approach aims to slow down or deactivate degenerative processes, increasing understanding of lower back pain treatment options.
Researchers developed a new photoacoustic imaging technique to visualize deep tissues using a contrast agent based on surfactant-stripped semiconducting polymer micelles. The method achieved the deepest penetration depth among PA preclinical studies, exceeding 5.8cm in tissue thickness.
Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center found that the brain processes attended and unattended speech differently, converting attended speech into linguistic units for understanding. This study contributes to developing better wearable devices, such as hearing aids.
A new study found that a specific type of carbohydrate called ‘fodmaps’ can aggravate intestinal problems, but its impact is not as significant as previously believed. IBS symptoms were found to be influenced more by psychological factors and individual differences in metabolism and intestinal flora.
Researchers at Washington State University discovered that combining gallic acid with stretching decreases inflammation markers and improves protein production in arthritic cartilage cells. This finding suggests a potential new procedure for treating osteoarthritis by growing healthy cartilage tissue.
Researchers discovered that mechanical forces guide cell development, influencing gene expression and potentially leading to pathologies like heart disease. The findings could inspire advances in engineering authentic artificial tissue for medical applications.
Researchers have developed a gel that improves the formation of arteriovenous fistulas, a vital connection site for kidney failure patients undergoing dialysis. The gel helps reduce intimal hyperplasia and vein narrowing, leading to better blood flow and increased success rates.
Researchers at Skoltech have created an optoacoustic endoscopic probe that can analyze atherosclerotic plaques by forcing molecules to sound their presence. The device uses laser light to make biomarkers oscillate, producing ultrasound signals that can be detected by a sensitive microphone.
A new rapid test developed by Duke University researchers can measure patient immunity against multiple COVID-19 variants like Omicron and Delta. The CoVariant-SCAN test uses a polymer brush coating to detect neutralizing antibodies, allowing for quick and accurate assessment of antibody effectiveness.
Researchers at University at Buffalo successfully freeze-dried a liposome-based liquid vaccine formula, offering a thermostable solution for future COVID-19 vaccines. The freeze-dried product showed stability at elevated temperatures and induced effective antibody responses in mice.
Duke researchers developed a method to increase the depth of view of optical coherence tomography (OCT), allowing for clear images from beyond a millimeter beneath the skin's surface. The new technique, known as dual-axis OCT, tilts the light source and detector to collect more scattered light from deep tissues.