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Resetting the biological clock by flipping a switch

Researchers from the University of Groningen and Nagoya University developed a compound that can elongate the 24-hour cycle and be activated or deactivated using light. The study shows that it is possible to change the 24-hour cycle in cells or tissues to a 28-hour cycle, providing a new approach to analyzing the circadian clock system.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 26, 2021

Biological artificial organs like skin, vessels...now produced more easily

A Korean research group has developed a new cell co-culture platform that enables the differentiation of stem cells into desired cell types without special pretreatment. The platform displays surface traits similar to those of the extracellular matrix, providing cells with an environment similar to that of the body.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 7, 2021

Developing human corneal tissue

Scientists at Osaka University have developed a new method to isolate and generate human corneal tissue from induced pluripotent stem cells. By using specific proteins and magnetic-activated cell sorting technology, researchers were able to purify corneal epithelial cells and produce highly pure corneal sheets for therapeutic purposes.

SourceOsaka University·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 21, 2020

Brain tissue kept alive for weeks on an artificial membrane

Researchers developed a microfluidic device to keep brain tissue viable for months using a semi-permeable membrane, allowing gas exchange while preventing dehydration or drowning. This breakthrough enables long-term study of biological development and organogenesis, facilitating drug discovery and tissue research.

SourceRIKEN·JournalAnalytical Sciences·DateOct 9, 2019

Measuring stress around cells

Researchers developed sensors to map cell-generated forces in 3D tissues, finding that small tensions can balance large compressive loads. This insight could help understand developmental processes and develop novel tissue-engineering strategies.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 30, 2019

Making an eye for you

A team at Kyoto University has discovered that individual cells sense and modulate themselves to form the spherical shape of the eye through a process called self-bending. This phenomenon generates a hinge that pushes cells into the cup-like structure, resulting in the formation of an optic cup.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 21, 2018

Saving the paintbrush lily from extinction

A major conservation effort is underway to conserve the last remaining paintbrush lilies in Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden. The species, Haemanthus pumilio, has declined drastically due to habitat destruction and invasive species. The garden aims to increase the population through micropropagation and control burns.

Glycans as biomarkers for cancer?

Scientists have developed a bioorthogonal labeling approach to identify sialylated glycoproteins in prostate cancer tissue, which could serve as tumor markers. The method allows for direct assessment of tumor metabolism in its natural environment, providing insights into cancer biology.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 26, 2017

Looking to the future of organs-on-chip

Advances in lab-on-a-chip technology allow for more accurate analysis and translation of research to the clinic. Organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) technology has great potential in helping screen drugs in a more cost-effective manner, reducing failures and costs.

SourceFuture Science Group·JournalFuture Science OA·DateJun 6, 2017

Zika infection of placental macrophages in culture

Researchers found that Zika virus productively infects primary human placenta-specific macrophages, with 10-15% of placental macrophages infected. The study suggests that placental macrophages may play a role in maternal-fetal Zika transmission and warrants further investigation.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJCI Insight·DateAug 18, 2016

Threatened plant gets boost from biotech lab

Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute developed a tissue culture procedure to propagate the rare and threatened woodland agrimony, multiplying its numbers by 1013. The study aimed to understand why this species is in decline, with results suggesting grazing deer as an important factor.

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalNative Plants Journal·DateMar 16, 2016

Tissue engineers recruit cells to make their own strong matrix

Scientists at Brown University have successfully cultured cells to produce extracellular matrix with strength comparable to natural tissues. By using specialized molds to guide cell growth and alignment, the researchers created ECMs with specific mechanical properties, such as collagen fibers aligned along a tendon-like structure.

SourceBrown University·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 9, 2015

An accessible approach to making a mini-brain

The researchers created mini-brains using living tissue from a single rodent, which can form complex neural connections and produce electrical signals within two weeks. The approach is expected to reduce animal use in neuroscience research and make it more accessible to labs without advanced equipment.

A 'clear' choice for clearing 3-D cell cultures

Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to clear 3-D cell cultures, allowing for clearer imaging and analysis of neural tissues. The ClearT2 method works within 1.5 hours and preserves the size of the tissue, making it ideal for studying neural growth and development.

SourceBrown University·JournalTissue Engineering·DateSep 3, 2014

Bioengineers make functional 3-D brain-like tissue model

The Tufts team created a modular design that replicated fundamental features relevant to the brain's tissue-level physiological functions. The model exhibits biochemical and electrophysiological responses, offering new options for studying brain function, disease, and trauma, and treatment.

SourceTufts University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

Maglev tissues could speed toxicity tests

Scientists use magnetic levitation to create laboratory techniques for growing tissues virtually identical to those found in people's bodies. Researchers combined four cell types to replicate bronchiole deep inside the lung, creating realistic lung tissue.

SourceRice University·JournalTissue Engineering Part C Methods·DateJan 24, 2013

Human umbilical cord blood cell co-culture supports embryonic stem cell expansion

Researchers have developed a safe co-culture system using human umbilical cord blood cells to support the expansion of human embryonic stem cells. This method eliminates the risk of tumor formation associated with traditional feeder cultures, making it a more feasible option for cell transplantation.

Preserving a world favorite flavour

Scientists at the University of Nottingham's Malaysia campus are working on a new method to improve the commercial production of vanilla plants through tissue culture. The research aims to overcome issues with genetic instability in micropropagated sub-clones, which can lead to reduced quality and yield.

Automatic slicing system: Ex-vivo culture normal and cancerous pancreatic tissue

Researchers have developed an automatic slicing system to culture normal and cancerous pancreatic tissue from patient specimens, allowing for reproducible testing of novel treatment options, including gene therapy. This new ex-vivo model assesses cellular heterogeneity and extracellular matrix accumulation in human tumors.

SourceWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·DateMar 24, 2009

Advancement in tissue engineering promotes oral wound healing

A research team developed an autologous full-thickness oral substitute that mimics the characteristics of gingiva, providing a promising solution for oral cavity reconstruction. The study's results support the need for larger clinical trials to further evaluate the effectiveness of this new tissue-engineered product.

Expanding waistlines triggered by your genes

Researchers at U-M's Life Sciences Institute discovered that the MT1-MMP gene regulates fat cell size and metabolic gene expression. In three-dimensional environments, the gene plays a critical role in adipocyte development, potentially leading to novel therapeutics for obesity prevention.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalCell·DateMay 4, 2006