Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
An article in Nature Machine Intelligence reports a deep learning-guided framework that can help pathologists to discover new prognostic tissue biomarkers from well-performing deep learning models.
The implementation or insertion of medical devices into the body can lead to infections and inflammation, which are often challenging to treat because of the presence of microbial biofilms and antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. This Review outlines preclinical testing strategies for medical devices with antimicrobial properties to avoid and reduce medical-device-associated infections.
The Spark M-20 is a nanotechnology-based, handheld device that detects toxic methanol in beverages and sanitizers, which may soon also be applied for intoxication screening in human breath. Here, we share our pathway and experiences during the translation of this university-originated innovation into a commercial product that today is serving customers in 23 countries on 6 continents.
Neurological disorders or traumatic events that cause hand paralysis considerably limit our ability to proactively interact with our surroundings. This Review discusses neuroprosthetic solutions to restore voluntary hand movements by bypassing the neural lesion.
Phase separation of biomolecular condensates provides a new framework to understand cellular organization and functions. In this Review, the authors discuss the applications and design considerations of synthetic biomolecular condensates to regulate cellular functions as a new paradigm for synthetic biology.
Stem cell therapies are being explored for the treatment of various diseases, and stem cell-derived exosomes may provide similar clinical benefits without the biosafety concerns. However, large-scale manufacturing and analysis of the complex cargos of exosomes will need to be addressed to enable their clinical translation.
An article in Science Advances reports a biohybrid neural interface device that integrates a cell layer on a microelectrode array, achieving high-resolution mapping of neuronal inputs and restoration of nerve function.
Adoptive immunotherapy, particularly chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, has had considerable success in treating haematological malignancies. However, the variability, time commitment and cost of engineering cells limit their application. Human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells could provide an off-the-shelf, cheaper and scalable solution.
Circulating biomarkers can be detected and analysed in the form of liquid biopsies to improve disease diagnosis and monitoring. This Review discusses the integration of specific assay designs in miniaturized device platforms for the detection of circulating biomarkers, including whole cells, extracellular vesicles and cell-free factors.
An article in Science Advances reports the development of a wireless electronic stent to stimulate the lower oesophageal sphincter and treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Scientific bias originates from both researchers and techniques. Evidence-based strategies to mitigate this bias include the assembly of diverse teams, development of rigorous experimental designs, and use of unbiased analytical techniques. Here, we highlight potential starting points to decrease bias in bioengineering research.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell activities can be remotely controlled to provide spatiotemporal precision of CAR T cell activity and improve the safety of cellular immunotherapies. This Review discusses physical and chemogenetic stimuli and the combination of stimuli-responsive nanotechnologies with immuno-engineering to design controllable CAR T cell therapies.
Physical properties affect immune signalling and effector functions in distinct immune cell subtypes. This Review discusses the impact of engineering nanomaterial physical characteristics on modulating immune responses and thus promoting efficient and effective cancer immunotherapy.
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering has established a new Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration, dedicated to applying engineering principles to biomedical discovery and therapeutics. We talk to the Center’s Director Manu Platt about their plans and the focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
Plant-based recombinant protein production has the power to ensure rapid and global-scale deployment of biopharmaceuticals. This Review discusses genetic tools and systems for the plant-based production and engineering of biopharmaceuticals, including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
The debate on whether science has become less disruptive is white-hot, prompting us to reflect on how such observation mirrors in an inherently multidisciplinary field such as bioengineering.
Organoids recapitulate many aspects of native tissues and even display tissue and organ-level functionality, although with limited control over morphogenesis. This Review describes an emerging framework, termed middle-out tissue engineering, that facilitates spatiotemporal control of tissue-specific cell niches to enable deterministic organoid self-organization and build more advanced in vitro tissue models.
