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Making the invisible visible: A clearer ‘picture’ of blood vessels in health and disease thanks to new imaging approach

Researchers developed a new imaging approach called VascuViz to visualize blood vessels at different spatial scales. The method enables detailed mathematical models and complementary images to clarify the role of blood flow in health and disease, advancing our understanding of tissues throughout the body.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Methods·DateFeb 28, 2022

Cellular tornadoes sculpt our organs

A team from UNIGE demonstrates that cells can self-organize to generate forces that model the shapes of our tissues. Topological defects create cellular tornadoes that concentrate forces and shape tissues similar to those observed in embryo development.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Materials·TypeNews article·DateFeb 11, 2022

Lighting up tough pancreatic cancers

Researchers have designed a nanoparticle system that can deliver fluorescent dyes to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer tumors. The system overcomes the challenge of reaching cells deep within dense tumor masses, enabling detailed images of tumor structures and potentially targeted therapies.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJACS Au·DateFeb 2, 2022

Brown researchers develop new model to investigate fibrosis treatments without use of animals

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.

SourceBrown University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 1, 2022

‘Cryobioprinting’ serves up towers of frozen cells

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.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 30, 2021

The shape of things

A team of researchers has identified a mechanical process by which sheets of cells morph into complex shapes, enabling organs to function. The process involves the production of hyaluronic acid, which swells with water and is constrained by thin connectors between cells.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

It takes guts to make a heart

Researchers developed a new kind of organoid that grows both heart and gut cells together, mirroring their cooperation in embryonic development. This breakthrough could improve understanding of tissue communication and inform research into congenital disorders.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateDec 2, 2021

Eye imaging technology breaks through skin by crossing beams

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.

SourceDuke University·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 1, 2021

Lung model proves viability of spectroscopy technique

A lung model mimicking complex anatomy has enabled the assessment of respiratory volumes using a gas-in-scattering-media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) technique. The study demonstrates the feasibility of GASMAS to sense changes in gas volume in a controlled environment, paving the way for potential clinical applications.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

Primordial ‘hyper-eye’ discovered

A team of researchers has found a 390-million-year-old hyper-facet eye system in trilobites that is unique to the animal kingdom. The discovery suggests that this ancient eye may have been an adaptation for life in low light conditions, and could provide insights into the evolution of visual systems.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateSep 30, 2021

Scientists have proposed effective ways to reduce metal cavitation damage

Researchers developed a WC-20CrC-7Ni coating with high anti-cavitation resistance, extending the life of aquatic environment mechanisms. The coating's fine structure increases surface area, requiring more energy for crack formation. This innovation can protect critical equipment parts in power engineering, metallurgy, and shipbuilding.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalJournal of Thermal Spray Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2021

Synthetic tissue model with blood vessels

Scientists create a cell culture system where blood vessels can grow within a framework made of synthetic materials. The team investigates material properties that promote blood vessel formation and refines the model to improve its performance, paving the way for growing implantable tissues.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2021

First 3-D view of TB granulomas alters paradigm of their shape and formation

Researchers created a 3D view of diseased lung tissue using microCT to reveal that TB granulomas are complex and branched, with unique connections to airways. This has significant implications for treatment, including the potential for aerosolized drug delivery to reduce treatment times.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2021

National survey IDs gaps and opportunities for regenerative medicine workforce

A national survey reveals a pronounced lack of needed skills in the regenerative medicine biomanufacturing workforce, highlighting key findings and recommendations to address this gap. The study suggests five strategies for developing the workforce ecosystem, including faculty development opportunities, work-based learning, and policy ...

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalStem Cells Translational Medicine·DateJul 15, 2021

New shape-changing 4D materials hold promise for morphodynamic tissue engineering

Researchers developed novel hydrogel-based 4D materials that can change shape in response to physiological stimuli, supporting high cell densities and mimicking natural tissue development. These materials have potential for bioengineering blood vessels, organs, and studying biological processes involved in early development.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateFeb 24, 2021