Articles tagged with Biomaterials
Liheng Cai has challenged long-accepted rules of polymer physics, offering new theories to explain the behavior of associative polymers and solving a conundrum that stumped scientists for nearly 200 years. His work has led to breakthroughs in designing better materials for healthcare and sustainability.
The RODIN project aims to discover the subtle key structural features that cells engrave into materials when they are driven to produce specific tissues. The team will learn from this 'architectural wisdom' of cells to design new generations of higher performance biomaterials.
A new, fully degradable cranial clamp made from poly-L-lactic acid has been developed to address traditional fixation system drawbacks. The study compared its performance to Aesculap CranioFix through laboratory tests and a clinical trial involving 90 patients, showing improved safety and healing outcomes.
Researchers aim to understand how mixtures of charged polymers form microscopic droplets with unique properties, enabling drug delivery and adhesive applications. The team uses high-resolution measurement techniques to study complex coacervates.
Researchers developed a gel-like material that mimics the softness and microstructure of slow-twitch muscle tissue, successfully cultivating cells with genetic and metabolic traits of slow-twitch fibers. The technology has far-reaching implications for regenerative medicine, drug screening, and muscle transplantation therapies.
Researchers have developed a novel vaccine strategy using biomaterial scaffold vaccines to protect against Staphylococcus aureus infections in orthopedic device implants. The vaccines, made with immune cell-attaching molecules and S. aureus-specific antigens, create a beneficial immune response that significantly lowers bacterial burden.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully produced muscle tissue using a new biofabrication system called G-FLight in microgravity. The process enables rapid production of viable muscle constructs with similar cell viability and muscle fibers as those printed under gravity.
Chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers are driven by persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. Emerging immunomodulatory strategies aim to restore immune balance and promote healing.
A team of researchers has developed an artificial retina model using 3D printing technology, which closely replicates the pathological microenvironment of retinal vein occlusion. The model exhibited responses similar to those observed in clinical cases, validating its potential as a preclinical drug evaluation system.
Global experts discuss the future of additive manufacturing in various applications, including bioprinting living tissues and creating smart consumer products. Researchers showcase advancements in machine learning, real-time sensing, and multi-material 3D printing.
A team of Pitt engineers has created self-powered spinal implant technology capable of transmitting real-time data from inside the body. The innovation utilizes new human-developed composites known as metamaterials to harvest energy and transmit signals wirelessly.
A soft coral's ability to stiffen its skeleton in response to danger has been studied by Penn Engineers, revealing a mechanism known as granular jamming. By compacting mineral particles and expelling water, the coral's tissues create a rigid structure that can withstand external forces.
Researchers are developing 'biohybrid robots' that flex and move using biological tissue, offering potential applications in medicine and industry. The field is advancing through advanced fabrication methods, such as 3D bioprinting and electrospinning, which enable precise control over muscle cells.
A UH crystals expert has shown how to bend and twist crystals without physical force, using a molecule called a tautomer. This discovery has potential applications in drug delivery and material properties, such as optoelectronics and soft robotics.
Researchers have discovered that seaweed can be used as a biocompatible material for tissue engineering, reducing the need for animal testing. The study found that decellularized seaweed scaffolds promote cell growth and are compatible with human cardiomyocytes.
The study introduces a synthetic, animal-free gel that enables the long-term growth of 3D organoids, overcoming limitations of traditional animal-derived gels. The PIC–invasin gel offers robustness, consistency, and potential for widespread use in research and clinical settings.
Researchers developed a composite bioabsorbable hemostatic sponge inspired by mussels and extracellular matrix. The sponge quickly absorbs blood and firmly adheres to tissues, enhancing hemostatic performance. It promotes wound stabilization, accelerates blood clotting, and reduces inflammation and tissue damage.
Scientists have developed an end-to-end microbial process converting renewable plant oils into sustainable polyesters comparable to petroleum-based plastics. The two-step process achieved record-setting yields and productivity, paving the way for a scalable and environmentally viable alternative to fossil fuels.
A new AI-based system helps researchers design polymers with tailored electronic properties for next-generation bioelectronics. By processing a wide range of experiments, the system reveals the importance of local polymer order and dopant-polymer separation in controlling electronic properties.
Griffith University researchers have developed a method to tune cancer cell behavior using re-entrant microstructures, which can guide cell attachment, spreading, and multiplication. The study uses simple design rules to achieve mechanosensitive behaviors that emerged when curvature and confinement were introduced.
A UVA researcher has created a new way to deliver sustained medical treatments using a polymer-based system that assembles itself inside the body. The technology uses hierarchical assembly to create precise, stable structures that hold and release multiple vaccine components over time.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggests that the stability of alpha amino acid backbones led to their selection as the foundation for proteins. The research proposes an assembly-driven model for the origins of life, offering fresh insight into how chemistry shaped biology.
Researchers developed nacre-derived biphasic calcium phosphate composite scaffolds that combine osteogenic and angiogenic functions, accelerating bone regeneration and promoting vascular growth. These 'smart scaffolds' show great promise for efficient bone defect repair and could serve as a bone graft substitute.
Researchers at IIT and UniBz developed a biodegradable hydrogel that retains water and supports plant growth in drought conditions, enabling minimal water usage. The material also exhibits potential for real-time monitoring of plant health and soil conditions.
The research team developed multifunctional nanocomposites that demonstrate excellent tumor-targeting capability through the EPR effect. Irradiation with near-infrared laser light achieved multidimensional therapeutic effects, including complete elimination of transplanted mouse cancers within 5 days.
Researchers demonstrate that intraoral administration of abaloparatide combined with orthodontic force supports alveolar bone thickening. ABL-induced alveolar bone formation is linked to the focal adhesion pathway, where FAK activation plays a crucial role.
A research team led by Professor Shikha Dhiman has discovered that the speed of receptors in model cell membranes plays a crucial role in binding to biomaterials. When ligands move at similar speeds, they can bind to receptors, enabling effective tissue engineering and medical applications.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a soft but strong metamaterial that can be controlled remotely to rapidly transform its size and shape. The new material is designed for implantable and ingestible medical devices and addresses critical safety concerns such as gastric ulcers and puncture injuries.
Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough by 3D bioprinting miniature placentas, which can accurately replicate the human placenta. This technology has the potential to transform pregnancy research by allowing for the study of serious complications like preeclampsia.
Scientists developed hollow microspheres with adjustable pore size, adhesion, and lubricity properties using mucus and polydopamine. These spheres can be used as drug delivery agents and may prevent tissue damage or provide a protective coating.
Researchers at UMC Utrecht developed a new AI-powered printer called GRACE that can print implantable tissues with improved cell survival and functionality. The printer uses computer vision and laser-based imaging to design and print complex structures, including blood vessels and cartilage layers.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS have developed a gentler, more sustainable way to break down keratins and turn leftover wool and feathers into useful products. The process uses concentrated lithium bromide to create an environment favorable for spontaneous protein unfolding.
Researchers developed novel artificial bone scaffolds with high deformation recovery capabilities, exceeding those of natural bone and conventional metallic scaffolds. These scaffolds allow for flexible adjustments of properties like strength and modulus to meet specific implantation site requirements.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a wearable noninvasive brain-computer interface system that utilizes AI to interpret user intent, allowing participants to complete tasks significantly faster with assistance. The system demonstrates promising results for technology to assist individuals with limited physical capabilities.
Researchers developed novel sweat sensors that mimic the microtexture of rose petals, enhancing stability, performance, and comfort. The sensors demonstrate a self-cleaning effect, reducing skin irritation and improving user comfort, making them suitable for wearable devices like smartwatches.
The procedure uses a combination of advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing to create a customized implant tailored to each patient's unique anatomy. This technology allows for more precise spinal alignment, reduced surgical complications, and faster recovery times.
BioPACIFIC MIP accelerates biomaterials innovation with autonomous experimentation and robotics, supporting over 130 research projects across the US. The platform aims to connect fundamental research with industry needs, fostering paradigm shifts in new material discovery.
A wearable robot has been upgraded to provide personalized assistance to ALS and stroke patients. The device uses machine learning and a physics-based model to adapt to an individual user's movements, offering more nuanced help with daily tasks.
A new study demonstrates the potential to produce cellular spheroids from clinically relevant embryonic stem cells to generate scaffold-free chondrogenic or osteochondrogenic graft tissues. The researchers successfully cultured ES-MSC cellular spheroids, which matured into neocartilage tissues expressing cartilage-associated genes.
Researchers have created 'skin in a syringe' by mixing cells with gelatine beads, allowing for 3D printing of functional dermis. This technology could lead to new ways to heal burns and severe wounds with minimal scarring.
Researchers found that biological neural systems are more efficient in learning with limited samples, outperforming deep reinforcement learning algorithms in a Pong simulation. This breakthrough suggests actual intelligence may be biological.
Researchers at Chiba University have developed novel microfluidic devices that incorporate microcones to detect and characterize circulating tumor cells in blood. The devices demonstrated highly selective capture of human breast and lung cancer cells, with high efficiency even at high flow rates.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of bioplastic, called LEAFF, which is strong, biodegradable, and printable. This innovation uses cellulose nanofibers to address the limitations of current bioplastics and has potential applications for sustainable packaging.
Scientists have developed high-performance textile fibers from invasive paper-mulberry bark using a simple, scalable route. The coated fibers exhibit excellent tensile strength and antimicrobial properties, outperforming traditional materials like cotton.
Bioengineers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a computational model called BrainFlow that simulates cerebrospinal fluid flow in the presence of shunt implants, providing insight into optimal shunt design and placement for hydrocephalus patients.
GeniPhys has received FDA clearance for its self-assembling collagen scaffold, Collymer Self-Assembling Scaffold (SAS), which supports cellular infiltration and vascularization. The technology is indicated for various wound types and anchors a growing intellectual property portfolio with nearly 20 issued or pending patents.
Tina Rost will use a $800,000 NSF CAREER award to control the disorder in high-entropy ceramics, making them stronger and more heat-resistant. Her team aims to develop new materials with tailored electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties using machine learning-enhanced analysis.
The study highlights the challenges of commercializing renewable polymers, but also emphasizes the potential of chemical modification to improve their properties for clinical use. The research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these sustainable materials in biomedical practice.
Researchers develop biodegradable material that cools temperatures by up to 9.2°C and reflects 99% of sun's rays, reducing energy consumption by 20% a year in hot cities.
Researchers developed biomaterial patches loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor to enhance esophageal anastomosis healing. The study showed improved mechanical strength, increased fibroblast proliferation, and enhanced collagen secretion in the experimental group compared to controls.
Researchers developed a novel amine-functionalized graphene oxide (NGO) membrane reactor for ultrafast synthesis of propranolol, achieving nearly 100% conversion and selectivity in under 4.63 seconds at 23°C. The NGO membrane exhibited higher catalytic flux and turnover frequency compared to the acidic graphene oxide (GO) membrane.
Bioengineering researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed a soft, thin, stretchable bioelectronic device that can be implanted into a tadpole embryo's neural plate, recording electrical activity from single brain cells with millisecond precision.
Scientists at Penn State created mats from tiny fibers made from milk protein and cellulose, showing promise for sustainable food packaging, wound dressings, cosmetics, filtration and more. The fiber mats can be transformed into clear films that hold potential for food wrap.
Scientists replace toxic additives in hydrogels with D-sorbitol, a safe sugar alternative found in chewing gum, to create bioelectronic devices that are soft, safe, and integrated with natural tissue. The new material has increased biocompatibility and improved electronic performance.
The University of Houston has launched a $3M Cancer Immunotherapy Biomarker Core to accelerate early diagnosis and treatment response in cancer. The core will offer comprehensive targeted proteomic cancer biomarker screens, enabling researchers to identify better biomarkers for cancer.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a method to create artificial blood vessels using ultrashort laser pulses, enabling the creation of mini organ models with precise control and reproducibility. The technology has been successfully applied to liver tissue models, resulting in improved metabolic activity and adequate nutrient supply.
The Stuttgart Cluster of Excellence IntCDC will continue to develop innovative construction methods that reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions through computational design and engineering methods. The cluster aims to evolve its Co-Design approach into a Co-Agency approach, focusing on bio-based building materials, AI technologi...
Materials researchers at Harvard have created a way to produce natural rubber that retains its stretchiness and durability while improving its ability to resist cracking. The new material is four times better at resisting slow crack growth during repeated stretching and 10 times tougher overall.
Antonios Mikos, a leading expert in biomaterials and tissue engineering, has been elected to the European Academy of Sciences. He is recognized for his groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine, controlled drug delivery, gene therapy, and disease modeling.
Researchers found that microscopic structural changes in heart cells naturally narrow with age, stabilizing heart rhythm and reducing the risk of irregular heartbeats. This discovery challenges the idea that all age-related changes in the heart are harmful.