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Self-assembling material that grows and changes shape could lead to artificial arteries

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London developed a method for self-assembling organic molecules into complex tissue-like structures without moulds or 3D printing. This discovery could enable the engineering of tissues like veins, arteries, or the blood-brain barrier, facilitating disease research and implant development.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature Chemistry·DateSep 28, 2015

Lung cell phenotype reverts when seeded onto decellularized lung matrix

Researchers found that type II lung epithelial cells differentiated into mesenchymal cells instead of type I cells when seeded onto decellularized lung matrix. This study highlights the importance of factors like cell populations, growth medium, and stimuli in achieving physiologically appropriate environments for lung tissue growth.

How to grow a human lung

Researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully grown a 3D mini lung from embryonic stem cells, replicating the organization of human airways. The study demonstrates a novel method for morphogenesis in a dish, enabling the creation of lung tissue with cell types found in the lungs.

SourceeLife·DateMar 24, 2015

The mechanics of tissue growth

Carnegie Mellon researchers found that mechanical processes, not just chemical signaling, are essential for cell communication during tissue growth. The study used a microfluidic control system to analyze cellular mechanics and revealed that disabling these connections impairs cell communication.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 23, 2014

Bioengineers create functional 3-D brain-like tissue

Researchers have successfully created functional 3D brain-like tissue that exhibits grey-white matter compartmentalization and can survive in the lab for over two months. The tissue displays physical properties similar to rodent brain tissue, enabling scientists to study traumatic brain injury in real-time.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

How does a tree know it's time to grow again?

Researchers from Michigan Technological University have discovered a gene, 'Early Bud-Break 1,' that enables trees to start growing again after winter. The EBB1 gene helps awaken plant cells responsible for growth, allowing trees to grow at the right time, avoiding damage from late spring frosts and climate extremes.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 16, 2014

Pause the paunch and halt the hair loss

Scientists have discovered that changes in the hair growth cycle affect fluctuations in the thickness of underlying fat tissue, allowing skin to regulate fat production. This breakthrough could lead to topical creams that 'pause' fat cell growth, treating obesity and hair loss.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 1, 2014

Computer simulation of blood vessel growth

Researchers created a computer simulation to accurately predict blood vessel growth in the laboratory. By studying real blood vessels from rats, they found that denser extracellular matrix impairs vessel formation. This breakthrough aims to develop new treatments for diseases related to blood flow and cancer metastasis.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 22, 2014

Do palm trees hold the key to immortality?

Recent review reveals palm trees have living cells sustained throughout their lifetime, potentially holding the key to longevity and understanding cellular structure in plants. Palm trunks consist of individual cells living for centuries, unlike most long-lived trees with dead woody tissues.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateDec 18, 2012

Giraffes are living proof that cells' pressure matters

Physicists developed a two-component model accounting for cell expansion and fluid dynamics. The model revealed that homeostatic pressure, not fluid pressure, drives cell division in biological tissues. This discovery could help understand cancer growth by disrupting homeostasis.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJul 3, 2012

Study finds 'Western diet' detrimental to fetal hippocampal tissue transplants

Researchers found that a high-saturated-fat, high-cholesterol diet elevated microglial activation and reduced neuronal development in middle-aged laboratory rats. However, treatment with IL-1Ra alleviated these effects, suggesting potential use in neurological disorders involving neuroinflammation.

First model of how buds grow into leaves

Scientists developed a computer model to accurately emulate leaf growth from a bud, discovering simple rules controlling leaf shape. The model, created using molecular signals and an inbuilt orientation system, can now help identify genes controlling leaf shape and understanding plant development.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalScience·DateMar 1, 2012

New ability to regrow blood vessels holds promise for treatment of heart disease

Researchers have developed a new and effective way to regrow blood vessels, potentially bypassing surgery and repairing damaged vessels through injection of a lipid-incased substance. This method has shown promise in treating chronic myocardial ischemia disease, affecting up to 27 million patients in the US.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 16, 2012