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The ability to detect precancer at the point of care is important to reduce global inequities in cancer outcomes. This Review outlines how low-cost optical imaging technologies, slide-free microscopy and machine learning can improve imaging performance and provide real-time interpretation in settings with limited resources.
Microneedle technologies for drug delivery and biosensing have progressed through the integration of material sciences, nanotechnologies and electronic devices. This Review discusses the development and clinical translation of microneedle biomedical devices.
Metabolic engineering allows the design of microorganisms for the bioproduction of specific metabolites, such as value-added chemicals. This Review discusses autonomous dynamic regulation approaches, including metabolite-specific transcriptional regulation and non-specific systems using environmental factors, quorum sensing and growth-phase regulation.
Antimicrobial peptides have the potential to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance; however, their clinical translation remains challenging. Here, we discuss molecular farming as a sustainable approach to antimicrobial peptide production, outlining different platforms to produce antimicrobial peptides using plants and viral vectors.
Controlling blood circulation, biodistribution and tissue accessibility of nanomedicines is key to their clinical translation. In this Review, bioengineering strategies to overcome gatekeeping barriers and promote the targeting, safety and efficacy of nanomedicines are discussed.
Regenerative tissue engineering aims to functionally restore damaged tissues. This Review discusses how advances in single-cell RNA sequencing techniques and analysis methods can expand our understanding of tissue injury responses to inform the design of new regenerative biomaterials and therapeutics.
Fluid protein condensates are utilized as precursors in the production of high-performance biological fibres, adhesives and composites. This Review outlines the key role of condensates in the formation of several well-studied biological materials and highlights bioengineered materials with biomedical applications that draw inspiration from these archetypes.
Academic research plays a central role in the translational ecosystem, sitting on one end of the valley of death, that is, the gap between preclinical research and real-world clinical applications. Considering clinical need and applicability early in research and development, and knowing about regulatory and commercialization processes, may help academics push innovations across the valley.
Vaccination and immune-regulation strategies are crucial for the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases. This Review discusses the design and optimization of nanomedicines for vaccines and immunotherapeutics for respiratory infectious diseases.
In addition to systemic inequity, the lack of adequate parental leave conditions at many US institutions can negatively affect career trajectories for women in STEM. Support structures are needed at the institutional, departmental and funding agency level to promote the success of pregnant women and parents with childcare responsibilities in academia.
Microbial engineering can enable the development of cell factories that produce value-added chemicals from various feedstocks. This Review highlights recent efforts to engineer microorganisms for the utilization of various waste streams for sustainable bioproduction and presents state-of-the-art strategies that can accelerate the advancement towards a bio-based circular economy.
The human microbiome plays a central role in health and disease. This Review discusses the design of human organ-on-a-chip platforms to model host–microbiome interactions in vitro and investigate microbiome-associated diseases as well as microbiome-mediated interventions.
Social connections are an important means for people to cope with adversity and illness. Thus, technologies, such as social network analysis, that can leverage close, face-to-face social networks could help optimize healthcare interventions and reduce healthcare-related costs, particularly in low-resource settings.
Engineered food has taken the step out of laboratories and started entering the market. However, whether engineered food technologies present a real opportunity for systemic change will depend on research advances, socio-political and economic considerations and acceptance by consumers.
Access to prosthetic and orthotic devices remains limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the lack of manufacturing and specialized healthcare facilities, and the limited access to skilled, certified medical personnel. Rise Bionics makes devices with digital fabrication and access-conscious engineering to increase accessibility and affordability.
Diffusion models are deep-learning-based generative models that can generate new data from input parameters. This Review discusses applications of diffusion models in bioinformatics and computational biology.
Rehabilitation after ischaemic stroke can promote only limited recovery for many patients with stroke. This Review discusses how the distinctly reparative environment of the subacute time window after stroke can inform the design of biology-driven biomaterial-based stroke therapies.
Robotics technologies are finding their way into the food production chain, from agriculture robots ‘working’ on farms, to 3D food printers generating customized dishes in the kitchen. In this Viewpoint, two roboticists, Hod Lipson and Salah Sukkarieh, discuss the possible roles of robotics in shaping the future of food, highlighting how robots may be able to produce more, healthier and sustainable foods with fewer resources and a lower carbon footprint.
