Browse Topic: Biological sciences
Researchers at Tufts School of Engineering have developed a method to detect bacteria, toxins, and dangerous chemicals in the environment with a biopolymer sensor that can be printed like ink on a wide range of materials — including wearables
Scientists have taken a significant step toward the development of tailor-made chiral nanocarriers with controllable release properties. These nanocarriers, inspired by nature’s helical molecules like DNA and proteins, hold immense potential for targeted drug delivery and other biomedical applications
Sustainability remains a dominant trend in packaging and processing, continuing to attract the attention of the life sciences industry and inspire its new initiatives. Although pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers must prioritize patient safety and product protection, concerns about climate change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, plastic waste, and pressure to move toward a circular economy are prompting a greater focus on improving the sustainability of their products and packaging
For many patients waiting for a donor heart, the only way to live a decent life is with the help of a pump attached directly to their heart. This pump requires about as much power as a TV, which it draws from an external battery via a seven-millimeter-thick cable. The system is handy and reliable, but it has one big flaw: despite medical treatment, the point at which the cable exits the abdomen can be breached by bacteria
A new robotic suction cup which can grasp rough, curved, and heavy stone, has been developed by scientists at the University of Bristol. The team, based at Bristol Robotics Laboratory, studied the structures of octopus biological suckers, which have superb adaptive suction abilities enabling them to anchor to rock
Engineers are increasingly eager to develop robots that mimic the behavior of animals and biological organisms, whose adaptability, resilience, and efficiency have been refined over millions of years of evolution
Developed by engineers at the University of Bath, the prototype LoCKAmp device uses innovative Lab-on-a-Chip technology and has been proven to provide rapid and low-cost detection of COVID-19 from nasal swabs. The research team said the technology could easily be adapted to detect other pathogens such as bacteria — or even conditions like cancer
Medical component manufacturing must meet stringent regulations for quality and product consistency, making process control a critical issue with materials, machining, assembly and packaging. This is vitally important with fluid dispensing applications used in the assembly of medical devices, point-of-care testing and near-patient testing products, medical wearables and other life sciences applications, which require accurate and consistent deposition of fluid amounts of UV-cure adhesives, silicones and other fluids in their manufacture
A novel surgical implant developed by Washington State University researchers was able to kill 87 percent of the bacteria that cause staph infections in laboratory tests, while remaining strong and compatible with surrounding tissue like current implants
A University of Bristol-led study, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates how to make conductive, biodegradable wires from designed proteins. These could be compatible with conventional electronic components made from copper or iron, as well as the biological machinery responsible for generating energy in all living organisms
Pump systems are ubiquitous in medical and life science products, from blood pressure monitors and drug-delivery devices, to pipettors and diagnostic instruments. As the demand for smaller, less intrusive — sometimes even wearable — products grow, engineers must meet these expectations without compromising on pump system performance
An advancement in 3D bioprinting of native-like skeletal muscle tissues has been made by scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI). The key to the TIBI scientists’ approach lies in their specially formulated bioink, which contains microparticles engineered for sustained delivery of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1
Caterpillar revealed its next-generation 255 and 265 compact track loaders at its Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center in Peoria, Illinois, in October. Based on D3 series, the 255 and 265 are a ground-up redesign of the previous models. Caterpillar claims the 255 and 265 offer major improvements in lift and tilt performance, as well as greater stability and operator comfort. “We kept the DNA of the D3 series while reimagining the possibilities of loader performance using voice of customer feedback to lead the way,” said Trevor Chase, product application specialist for Caterpillar. “Both next-generation models leverage the many benefits offered by the vertical lift design. The new Cat 255 replaces the 259D3, while the 265 replaces both the 279D3 and 289D3 machines
Researchers have developed an integrated microfluidic chip (BSI-AST chip) for rapid AST from positive blood cultures (PBCs). Using the chip, the process from bacteria extraction to getting AST results takes less than 3.5 hours, thus promising to be a powerful new tool in managing bloodstream infections
A novel aero-elastic pressure sensor, called eAir can be applied to minimally invasive surgeries and implantable sensors by directly addressing the challenges associated with existing pressure sensors
A low-cost biosensor, called Neosens, will allow doctors to diagnose sepsis in a matter of minutes. Neosens works by detecting interleukin 6, a messenger that’s secreted by newborns’ immune systems in response to a host of biological conditions. It’s also the main early marker for sepsis
Mass spectrometry (MS), which is used to identify molecules within a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions, is employed across many fields of study, including biology, chemistry, physics, and clinical medicine. As the technology continues to evolve, so will the applications that can benefit from this important tool
Engineering researchers have developed a next-generation miniature lab device that uses magnetic nano-beads to isolate minute bacterial particles that cause diseases
Scientists have developed a device that works with a smartphone or tablet to capture medical images that can identify infected wounds. By capturing the heat produced by a wound and the fluorescence of bacteria, it helps clinicians tell the difference between inflammation and a potentially dangerous infection. This could allow for quicker intervention, catching infections before they become serious threats to health
A multi-faceted device is effective for treating deep, noncompressible, and irregularly shaped wounds. The device provides rapid hemorrhage management, has minimal inflammatory effects, and provides infection control. It also has tunable biodegradation rates, making it usable for both internal and external use and features sensing capabilities for long-term hemorrhage monitoring. The device is highly beneficial for timely alerts and control of bleeding from surgical wounds, traumatic injuries, and critical illnesses
First, a particular type of microbe evolved in an acidic hot spring. Fast-forward millions of years, when a geomicrobiologist finds this type of microbe in Yellowstone National Park while conducting NASA-funded research on organisms that thrive under extreme conditions
Muscle contraction hardening is not only essential for enhancing strength but also enables rapid reactions in living organisms. Taking inspiration from nature, the team of researchers at Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science has successfully created an artificial muscle that seamlessly transitions between soft and hard states while also possessing the remarkable ability to sense forces and deformations
Sports medicine and wound management have been strong growth areas for Smith & Nephew, which has also seen its orthopedics business gain momentum since the end of 2022. With COVID behind them and patients and their physicians returning to elective procedures, the company is seeing strong market revenue growth in 2022, according to CEO Deepak Nath, who spoke during its first quarter trading update
A team of researchers from Heidelberg University and Max Planck Institute for Medical Research have created a new technology to assemble matter in 3D. Their concept uses multiple acoustic holograms to generate pressure fields with which solid particles, gel beads, and even biological cells can be printed. These results pave the way for novel 3D cell culture techniques with applications in biomedical engineering
As rains get heavier and more frequent, flooding, especially in cities, is becoming a serious problem. The traditional way of managing stormwater has been to quickly get it off the road and into the storm sewer system to be sent downstream, said Lauren McPhillips, Assistant Professor of civil and environmental engineering and of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State. “With the stormwater out of sight, the problem was out of mind.” However, whisking the water away increases risks of extreme flooding downstream
The animal kingdom has fascinated man from the beginning of time. From the most minute organisms to undersea and land creatures that have perfectly evolved to adapt to their environments, we have looked to their perfection for guidance to create some of the most technologically advanced engineering feats that are being adopted in the rapidly growing fields of medical design and development
A research team has designed a new microneedle patch to offer a highly effective nonantibiotic approach for the treatment of skin infection. In brief, the design engineered with ultrasound-responsive zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) antibacterial nanoparticles promises pain-free delivery to treat bacterial infection on skin tissue and facilitate skin repair at the same time. The team was led by Prof. Kelvin Yeung Wai-kwok, department of orthopaedics and traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (HKUMed). The novel microneedle is around 50 μm in diameter, similar to a typical hair. The findings have been published in Science Advances
With the help of an AI, researchers have succeeded in designing synthetic DNA that controls the cells’ protein production. The technology can contribute to the development and production of vaccines, drugs for severe diseases, as well as alternative food proteins much faster and at significantly lower costs than today
The collaborative process can foster the kind of creativity and ingenuity that leads to the most innovative medical technology. In this Expert Insight, Nadia Hajjar, Category Manager for Life Sciences at Porex, provides perspective on the ins and outs of designing custom components, including leveraging customization to decrease device complexity and reduce component costs. Hajjar spoke with Medical Design Briefs about how the company focuses on innovation by identifying new materials even within their traditional material platforms and how deeper relationships with suppliers reduces the complexity and adds speed to the design process
Penn State researchers have developed a low-cost, RNA-based technology to detect and measure biomarkers, which can help decode the body’s physiology. The presence of protein biomarkers can indicate chronic or acute conditions, from arthritis to cancer to bacterial infections, for which conventional tests can cost anywhere from $100 to upwards of $1,000. The new technology can perform the same measurement for about a dollar
Researchers have pioneered a 3D printable ink that contains Sporosarcina pasteurii: a bacterium that, when exposed to a urea-containing solution, triggers a mineralization process that produces calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The ink — dubbed BactoInk — can be used to 3D print virtually any shape, which will then gradually mineralize over the course of a few days
A team of Cornell University researchers have laid the foundation for developing a new class of untethered soft robots that can achieve more complex motions with less reliance on explicit computation. By taking advantage of viscosity - the very thing that previously stymied the movement of soft robots - the new approach offloads control of a soft robot's cognitive capability from the “brain” onto the body using the robot's mechanical reflexes and ability to leverage its environment. A soft robot is made from soft, flexible materials, such as silicone or other elastomers, rather than rigid materials such as metal or plastic used in non-soft robots. Soft robots are designed to mimic the movement and flexibility of biological organisms
A new microfluidic device can detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus with high accuracy and speed, using a unique DNA/RNA duplex technology. The device can prove to be a game-changer in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD Developing single photon UV detection for compact chemical and biological sensors. This report summarizes the main lines of effort for the Electro-Optics Materials Research (EOMR) program including its goals and major accomplishments, focusing on the past 5 years. This EOMR program was an effort within 601102A.31B.1 titled “Optoelectronic and Integrated Photonic Materials and Device Research” for FY16-FY19 and 611102A.AA8.1 titled “Photonic Materials and Device Research” for FY20-FY21. The focus of this EOMR for most of the program was to develop novel semiconductor optoelectronic devices to reduce the size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of chemical and biological detection and identification systems. Specifically, the program addressed the need for high sensitivity photodetectors in the near-UV (NUV) spectrum between 300 and 350 nm for biological agent detection using light-induced fluorescence techniques employed by the Tactical Biological
A synthetic biosensor that mimics properties found in cell membranes and provides an electronic readout of activity could lead to a better understanding of cell biology, development of new drugs, and the creation of sensory organs on a chip capable of detecting chemicals, similar to how noses and tongues work
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have designed an apparatus and method that controls the growth and proliferation of 3D biological cells and mammalian tissue in the presence of a pulsating, alternating ionic magnetic resonance field (AIMR). The technology applies a spectrum of electromagnetic fields to control the growth of all mammalian cells and tissues while simultaneously enabling cellular dedifferentiation and lifespan extension through the control of ionic transport and particular ion frequency resonances
This report summarizes the main lines of effort for the Electro-Optics Materials Research (EOMR) program including its goals and major accomplishments, focusing on the past 5 years. This EOMR program was an effort within 601102A.31B.1 titled “Optoelectronic and Integrated Photonic Materials and Device Research” for FY16-FY19 and 611102A.AA8.1 titled “Photonic Materials and Device Research” for FY20-FY21. The focus of this EOMR for most of the program was to develop novel semiconductor optoelectronic devices to reduce the size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of chemical and biological detection and identification systems
Preclinical laboratories at academic facilities and contract research organizations (CROs) have traditionally relied on five main imaging modalities: optical, acoustic, x-ray, MRI, and nuclear. Now, photoacoustic imaging, which combines optical and acoustic modalities, is enabling some of the most promising medical research, including providing images of biological structures for increased visibility during surgery and facilitating the analysis of plaque composition to better diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD
If a chemical spill in a river goes unnoticed for 20 minutes, it might be too late to remediate. Living bioelectronic sensors developed by a team of researchers at the Rice University can help. A team led by Rice synthetic biologists Caroline Ajo-Franklin and Jonathan (Joff) Silberg and lead authors Josh Atkinson and Lin Su, both Rice alumni, have engineered bacteria to quickly sense and report on the presence of a variety of contaminants. Their study in Nature shows the cells can be programmed to identify chemical invaders and report within minutes by releasing a detectable electrical current
Manufacturers of high-value products in life science industries share two common challenges as these products are moved into and out of cleanrooms, isolation chambers, and gloveboxes: 1) ensure that the purity or sterility of these products are not compromised and 2) make certain that any hazardous materials that are used or waste products that are created are handled safely and securely
Researchers from Santa Clara University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the University of Hong Kong have been able to successfully teach micro-robots how to swim via deep reinforcement learning, marking a substantial leap in the progression of micro-swimming capability
A fully rubbery stretchable diode maintains performance. Flexible devices can behave more like biological tissue, allowing for better bio-integrated devices. An example may be a soft patch device that could be implanted on the heart
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