Tag

Bioengineering

All articles tagged with #bioengineering

science9 days ago•14 min saved

Hagfish Slime Sparks a Sustainable Materials Revolution

Hagfish slime rapidly expands into a dense gel when seawater is present, using ultra-thin protein threads that self-assemble into a fibrous network and can clog predators’ gills in seconds. Produced at room temperature in seawater with no toxic byproducts, this slime is inspiring researchers to develop sustainable biomaterials—self-assembling fibers that could rival spider silk. Scientists aim to isolate the slime proteins’ genes for production in microbes, but scaling, control of assembly, and durability remain key hurdles.

via A-Z Animals|

#bioengineering #biomaterials #hagfish

biotechnology26 days ago•11 min saved

Lab-grown liver assembloids edge toward miniaturized human livers

Researchers combine multiple donor liver cell types to form in vitro liver assembloids that recapitulate periportal tissue, moving toward miniature human livers for faster drug testing and personalized therapies.

via Nature|

#bioengineering #biotechnology #in-vitro

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

Small Machines, Big Inside Cells: 3D-Printed Devices Take Shape Within Living Cells

Researchers have 3D-printed microstructures inside living cells using two-photon polymerization by injecting a light-sensitive resin and curing it with a femtosecond laser; the resulting structures, including a 10 μm Elephant-like model, float in the cytoplasm and can be inherited when cells divide. Viability after 24 hours is about 55% for printed cells, with most losses due to membrane damage from the injection rather than the printing itself. Demonstrations include barcodes, diffraction gratings, and microlasers, signaling potential for intracellular tagging and sensing, while challenges in viability and integration remain.

via Indian Defence Review|

#bioengineering #cell-viability #intracellular-3d-printing

science3 months ago•6 min saved

Scientists Develop Powerful Pigment for Octopus Camouflage

Scientists at UC San Diego have developed a groundbreaking method to produce large quantities of xanthommatin, a pigment responsible for octopus camouflage, using engineered bacteria, which could revolutionize material production and have applications in cosmetics, coatings, and sensors.

via Phys.org|

#bioengineering #biotechnology #camouflage

science5 months ago•3 min saved

AI-Designed Viruses Successfully Reproducing and Killing Bacteria

Researchers from Stanford and the Arc Institute have used AI to design and successfully produce viruses that target bacteria, demonstrating the potential of AI in bioengineering, though ethical concerns about misuse remain.

via Futurism|

#ai-designed-viruses #bacteriophage #bioengineering

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Address Doomsday Threats of 'Mirror Life'

Scientists worldwide are discussing the potential risks and benefits of creating mirror life, synthetic cells made from molecules that are mirror images of natural ones, due to concerns about environmental and health dangers versus potential medical and scientific benefits. The conference in Manchester aims to establish guidelines for safe research in this emerging field.

via Gizmodo|

#bioengineering #chirality #mirror-life

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Scientists Develop Ultra-Strong, Biodegradable Plastic Outperforming PET

Scientists at Kobe University have engineered bacteria to produce a biodegradable plastic called PDCA, which is stronger than PET and has potential for sustainable manufacturing, overcoming previous production challenges through innovative metabolic engineering.

via ScienceDaily|

#biodegradable-plastic #bioengineering #kobe-university

science7 months ago•4 min saved

Innovative Bioplastics and Living Materials Paving the Way for Martian Colonization

Scientists have developed autonomous living materials using synthetic lichens that can turn Martian soil into building structures, potentially enabling sustainable construction on Mars without heavy materials from Earth, using a self-growing microbial system that only requires local resources like regolith, air, and light.

via SciTechDaily|

#bioengineering #living-materials #mars

health8 months ago•4 min saved

Innovative Bioengineered Dental Implants Mimic Natural Teeth in Function and Feel

Researchers from Tufts University have developed a bioengineered dental implant that not only fills the gap but also reconnects with nerves to restore sensory feedback, mimicking real teeth. The implant uses stem cells and growth proteins within a biodegradable coating, and is installed via a less invasive press-fit method, showing promising results in rats. This innovation could significantly improve dental restoration by restoring natural sensation and function, with future plans for larger animal trials and human clinical trials.

via ZME Science|

#bioengineering #dental-implants #health

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Microbe Discovery Offers Clues to Life's Origins and Energy Conversion

Scientists have discovered a new microbe in California's The Cedars that converts carbon dioxide into energy-rich chemicals through a unique metabolic pathway, offering insights into early life processes and potential applications in biofuel production and carbon sequestration. This archaeon, named Met12, uses a novel gene, MmcX, to enhance its energy metabolism, which could be harnessed to improve microbial manufacturing efficiency. The findings also provide clues about the origins of life and the potential for life in extreme environments, both on Earth and extraterrestrial.

via SciTechDaily|

#astrobiology #bioengineering #carbon-fixation

science-and-technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Squid-Inspired Device Offers Needle-Free Drug Delivery Solution

Bioengineers have developed a new drug delivery device inspired by cephalopods, such as cuttlefish, that can be swallowed to deliver drugs typically requiring injections. The device uses jets to inject drugs into the digestive tract lining, improving bioavailability compared to traditional oral methods. This innovation aims to combine the convenience of oral delivery with the efficiency of injections, potentially transforming how medications like insulin are administered. While promising, further testing and human trials are needed to assess long-term efficacy and safety.

via STAT|

#bioengineering #cephalopods #drugdelivery

science-and-technology1 year ago•5 min saved

Squid-Inspired Device Revolutionizes Needle-Free Drug Delivery

Researchers from MIT and Novo Nordisk have developed a bioinspired ingestible capsule that can deliver drugs directly into the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, potentially replacing the need for injections. Inspired by cephalopods, the capsule uses compressed gas or springs to propel drugs into the tissue, offering a needle-free method for delivering large proteins like insulin and RNA. This innovation could significantly improve the administration of drugs that are currently injected, enhancing patient comfort and compliance.

via MIT News|

#bioengineering #drug-delivery #insulin

environment1 year ago•3 min saved

"Neo Px: The Super Plant Battling Air Pollution"

Neo Px, a bioengineered plant developed by French startup Neoplants, can purify indoor air at a scale equivalent to 30 regular houseplants. It uses a symbiotic system where bacteria colonize the plant's roots, soil, and leaves to absorb harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The plant, sold in the U.S. for $120, aims to address indoor air pollution, which can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air due to VOCs from household products. Future plans include genetically modified plants for direct air purification and tackling global warming issues.

via Phys.org|

#air-pollution #bioengineering #environment

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Unveiling RNA's Role in Early Life and Bioengineering

A study from Tokyo University of Science has engineered a ribozyme structure to mimic the early RNA world, shedding light on RNA's role in primitive life and its potential in bioengineering. The research explores the assembly of functional ribozymes and reveals insights into the evolutionary history of protein synthesis systems. The study also demonstrates the allosteric regulation of ribozymes by ATP and histidine, providing new perspectives on the role of RNA in early evolution and its applications in targeted drug delivery, therapeutics, nano-biosensors, and enzyme engineering.

via Phys.org|

#bioengineering #evolution #ribozymes

science-and-technology1 year ago•5 min saved

"Advancing mRNA Technology with Lipid Nanoparticles"

Michael J. Mitchell, an associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, specializes in designing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver mRNA inside human cells for potential applications in medicine, including cancer and other diseases. His lab uses microfluidics to create LNPs and has developed a new LNP that mimics a space shuttle to improve mRNA delivery efficiency. They have also successfully targeted the lungs of mice with LNPs and are working on crossing the blood-brain barrier for potential therapeutic applications.

via The Philadelphia Inquirer|

#bioengineering #drug-delivery #lipid-nanoparticles