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An article in Science reports a co-polymer with both semiconducting and adhesive properties, which can effectively stick an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT)-based sensor to living tissues.
Synthetic living materials are dynamic and responsive, actively interact with and integrate into biological systems, and predictably evolve. This Perspective discusses the engineering of synthetic living materials and their applications in cancer biology.
Advances in digitizing human tissue slides and progress in artificial intelligence have boosted progress in the field of computational pathology. This Review consolidates recent methodological advances and provides future perspectives as the field expands to take on a broader range of clinical and research tasks.
Flexible and stretchable materials and devices can be applied for the design of soft bioelectronics. This Review discusses soft electronic materials that can be engineered into implantable and wearable devices for the monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
An article in Nature Communications reports that substitution of animal-based food by plant-based alternatives greatly reduces agricultural input use, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.
An article from Nature Biomedical Engineering reports the development of an infrared light-emitting cancer nanovaccine and two other nanoprobes for tracking the vaccine and the associated immune response.
To address inappropriate behaviour in the scientific community and nurture a culture of accountability, individuals must be empowered to speak up. Guidance on preventing and handling inappropriate behaviour at conferences, using case studies and checklists, to build a community that thrives on respect and inclusivity is presented.
Microneedles are an effective tool for the collection of interstitial fluid in a minimally invasive manner. Coupling microneedles with biosensors would allow for deep tissue sensing and fast continuous monitoring. This Review discusses the capabilities of microneedles for analyte sampling and further analysis, the development of microneedle-based biosensors for disease and drug monitoring, and the clinical translation potential.
An article in Science Robotics reports a soft robotic drug-delivery device that can sense and respond to the formation of scar tissue in real time to maintain its ability to deliver drugs long-term.
At the LV Prasad Eye Institute in India, we developed an ophthalmic electronic medical record and hospital management system, integrating clinical, surgical and operational functions in one platform to allow digital eye care services at the point of care.
Recreating human immune biology poses a grand challenge owing to its unique complexity and diversity. This Review discusses advances in bioengineering lymphoid and mucosal tissues, with an emphasis on their translational value.
The US Food and Drug Administration’s internal database of 510(k)-cleared medical devices was searched for additively manufactured devices cleared between 2010 and 2020. The information and analysis provided will assist the medical device community to further understand the application of additive manufacturing to regulated devices.
Bioengineers need to adopt holistic and human-centred design principles in the development of technologies intended for applications in low-resource settings, to overcome infrastructural limitations and ensure functionality in all environments.
Wearable flexible microfluidic sensors may enable health monitoring and disease diagnosis at the point of care. This Review discusses the integration of flexible microfluidics with wearable biosensors for the detection of clinically relevant analytes in biofluids.
Silk protein can be applied as an edible food coating to extend the shelf life of food products by slowing dehydration and reducing oxidative stresses. Here, we highlight the commercialization of Mori Silk, from lab discovery and first proof of concept to manufacturing, scale-up, field validation, regulatory approval and forward-looking challenges.
The potential of tissue engineering to deliver clinical advances hinges on a connected ecosystem that includes academics, funding agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies. Open dialog on goals and risks across these stakeholders is key to implementing bioengineered tissue models in drug development and tissue therapies.
Academic researchers interested in the commercialization of regenerative-medicine therapies stand to benefit from an understanding of the overall commercialization process. This Review covers, with specific examples, the salient commercialization aspects of protecting intellectual property, navigating regulatory pathways and obtaining funding.
Radiotheranostics combines disease-specific molecular imaging and radionuclide therapy. We present new and promising targets, tracers and isotopes for radiotheranostics and outline the road to clinical translation of the 177Lu–LNC1004 radiopharmaceutical, which has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a phase I clinical trial.
Photosynthetic electron transport chains convert solar energy into chemical energy. In this Review, engineering efforts to rewire these electron transport pathways for electricity and chemical production are discussed, highlighting major advances alongside outstanding research problems for achieving real-world applications.
