Lars Knaack/INM
OptoAssays: New light-controlled tests simplify cost-effective diagnostics
04/10/2024
A team of researchers from the University of Freiburg and the INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials has developed a bio-based test procedure that can diagnose complex diseases simply and cheaply. These “OptoAssays” use light control to move biomolecules and read out results without mechanical support - with potential applications in on-site diagnostics.
Shichao Ding
Sweat-powered finger wrap enables continuous health monitoring
19/09/2024
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a sweat-powered finger wrap that monitors vital health biomarkers such as glucose, lactate, vitamin C, and levodopa. This wearable device utilizes sweat from the wearer’s fingertip for both power and health monitoring, making it a convenient and non-invasive tool for personalized health tracking.
Thomas Dennison/University of Cambridge
Lab-grown 'mini-guts' offer new insights for Crohn’s disease treatments
06/09/2024
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed lab-grown "mini-guts" to better understand and treat Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting millions worldwide. These mini-guts, or organoids, mimic the gut lining's key functions and could pave the way for more personalized and effective treatments.
Casey Cass/CU Boulder
3D printed custom implants for the heart
05/09/2024
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, have developed an advanced 3D printing method to create materials that support human tissue effectively. This new approach could lead to significant improvements in personalized medical implants and tissue repair.
From lab to market: How vessel-chips are changing drug testing
20/08/2024
As the medical field seeks more ethical and accurate alternatives to traditional drug testing, vessel-chip technology is a prospective solution. This technology promises greater accuracy and a reduced need for animal trials.
Dr Norbert Radasci, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
3D-printed blood vessels offer new hope for heart bypass surgery
15/08/2024
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed 3D-printed blood vessels that mimic the properties of human veins. These artificial vessels could significantly improve the outcomes of heart bypass surgeries by reducing complications such as scarring, pain, and infection.
David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering
Wearable ultrasound patch enables cerebral blood flow monitoring
23/07/2024
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a soft, stretchy ultrasound patch for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow. This wearable technology offers three-dimensional data, advancing beyond the current clinical standard.
Wei Gao, California Institute of Technology
Smart bandages: Advancing chronic wound treatment
02/07/2024
A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is developing advanced electronic bandages and other tools to improve the monitoring and healing of chronic wounds. These wearable bioelectronic systems, tested in animal models, have the potential to enhance wound care through controlled drug release and electrical stimulation.
Alessandro Winkler University Hospital Bonn (UKB)
First successful birth after vitrification of ovarian tissue in Europe
12/06/2024
A team at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) has established a modern method for the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue known as vitrification. This technique is used to preserve fertility before cancer therapies.
YuriArcursPeopleImages
Artificial intelligence in the laboratory: current developments and applications
28/05/2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of modern laboratories. AI systems based on machine learning and algorithmic analysis are used in various scientific and medical disciplines to automate processes, increase efficiency, and gain new scientific insights.
MPIKG
Harnessing light to control cellular dynamics
23/05/2024
Researchers led by Rumiana Dimova at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces have developed a technique that uses light to understand and control the inner dynamics of cells. By employing lights of different colors, they can alter the interactions within cellular components, offering a precise and non-invasive method to administer drugs directly into the cells.
Michelle Bixby/Penn State
3D-printed skin technique potentially enhances reconstructive surgery
15/04/2024
A breakthrough in reconstructive surgery may be on the horizon, as researchers develop a 3D-printed skin that integrates hair follicle precursors, leveraging adipose tissue for more natural results.
Oliver Dietze/Saarland University
Bone fracture healing through smart implants with micro-massage
09/04/2024
Saarland University presents a breakthrough in medical technology: smart implants that not only stabilize bone fractures, but also actively promote the healing process.
Wound closure: soldering with light and nanotechnology
02/04/2024
With "iSoldering", the Particles Biology Interactions Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in St. Gallen and the Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory at ETH Zurich have developed a method that does not require surgical sutures or synthetic adhesives. Instead, nanoparticles and light enable secure wound closure.
Northwestern University
Ultrasound sticker for monitoring post-surgical recovery
28/03/2024
Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed an ultrasound sticker, offering a new way for clinicians to monitor patients' organ health and deep tissue post-surgery.
Silke Riegger, 3R-Center
Diabetes: technology enhances molecular understanding
26/03/2024
With over seven million individuals in Germany affected by diabetes, science still faces challenges in drug research. However, under the leadership of Prof. Peter Loskill from both the NMI and the University of Tübingen, scientists have devised a method that markedly enhances our understanding at the molecular and cellular levels within the pancreas.
UGRSKIN: artificial skin as a game-changer in burn treatment
11/03/2024
The University of Granada (UGR) has pioneered a solution for burn treatment with its artificial skin “UGRSKIN”. Developed by the Tissue Engineering Research Group, this advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) has improved the approach to treating severe burns, offering patients new hope and enhanced outcomes.
Universität Bayreuth
Advanced 3D printing technology improves tissue engineering
19/02/2024
Advancements in 3D printing technology are improving tissue engineering, offering promising prospects for the artificial production of biological tissues. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a changing technique that combines hydrogels and fibers, opening new avenues for tissue fabrication.
Viscient Biosciences
Revolutionizing liver disease research with 3D bioprinted model
07/02/2024
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), previously known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a liver disease characterized by inflammation and scarring, reaching epidemic proportions with an estimated 1.5 percent to 6.5 percent of U.S. adults affected.
Contact lenses for early glaucoma detection
31/01/2024
Glaucoma affects approximately 70 million people worldwide and poses a significant threat to vision, often leading to irreversible vision loss if left untreated. Nearly half of those afflicted with this condition remain unaware of its presence. Typically progressing gradually, glaucoma often escapes early detection, making it crucial to develop new tools for its timely diagnosis and treatment.
Empa
Smart wound sealing with nanoparticles and light soldering
24/01/2024
Empa researchers have pioneered a novel soldering process that employs nanoparticles and lasers to gently fuse tissue, ushering in a new era in wound closure.
Fraunhofer CMI
Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones
08/12/2023
Titanium hip implants do not last forever — they gradually loosen, sooner or later losing their hold on the bone as it recedes over time. Researchers at the Fraunhofer IAP have been working alongside the Fraunhofer IGB and the Fraunhofer CMI to develop a tissue adhesive that can help avoid early replacement of prostheses in the future.
Leibniz-IPF, Ivan Minev
New era of cyborganics – Prof. Ivan Minev receives ERC Consolidator Grant
30/11/2023
Over the next five years, the ERC will provide two million euro of funding for the development of a new class of electronic components that consist almost entirely of water and could make the interface between biological tissue and machine seamless.
Singh et al. Physics of Fluids (2023) / MPI-CBG
New computer code for mechanics of tissues and cells in three dimensions
28/11/2023
Open-source supercomputer algorithm predicts patterning and dynamics of living materials and enables studying their behavior in space and time.
HIPS
Strengthening of drug bioinformatics at the Saarbrücken site
21/11/2023
In the context of the tenure negotiations for Drug Bioinformatics Professor Olga Kalinina, the Klaus Faber Foundation is providing €100,000 to the "bioINFpro" project, thereby enabling her long-term stay at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Saarland University.
BellaSeno
Bioactive composite supports healing of broken bones
09/11/2023
A broken bone failing to heal represents an enormous burden for patients. Fraunhofer researchers have worked alongside partners to develop a composite material to be used in the treatment of such non-union cases. The resulting implant is designed to significantly improve treatment success rates and speed up the healing process.
NMI
Menopause: leveraging organ-on-chip technology for new insights
09/10/2023
Addressing the impact of female menopause on dynamic resilience and exploring preventive and therapeutic strategies is the aim of an international and interdisciplinary research group led by Prof. Dr. Peter Loskill from the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute and the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.
Malmö University
New sensors could replace current infection testing
04/10/2023
New technology could pave the way to a future of rapid testing in hospitals and at home for both covid and urinary tract infection. It could also be used to keep track of blood sugar levels during operations and wireless monitoring of various bacterial infections.
Christian Wißler/UBT
EXIST funding for bacterial magnetic nanoparticles
28/09/2023
BioMagnetix uses bacterial magnetic nanoparticles as innovative materials for biomedical applications. The founding team aims to develop and continuously improve high-quality and highly functional magnetic nanoparticles for imaging techniques and therapeutic purposes, such as cancer treatment.
TUD
Diagnostics: pioneering approaches for the detection of viral antigens
22/09/2023
Scientists from the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at TU Dresden (TUD) have made considerable progress in the development of highly innovative solutions for the detection of viral pathogens in two studies they presented recently.
Knoblich Lab / IMBA-IMP Graphics
Autism: brain organoid shows genetic bases
21/09/2023
Technology, developed by researchers from the Knoblich group at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Treutlein group at ETH Zurich, permits the identification of vulnerable cell types and gene regulatory networks that underlie autism spectrum disorders.
wosunan
Microrobots: opportunities for cancer treatment and wound healing
18/09/2023
A group of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed the world’s first microrobot (“microbot”) capable of navigating within groups of cells and stimulating individual cells.
Joakim Palmqvist
Advanced biosensors to detect tumors, viruses and bacterial diseases
06/09/2023
Linnaeus University is partnering with industry and healthcare to develop advanced biosensors, investing SEK 35 million in a project aimed at faster and cost-effective diagnoses of aggressive lung cancer, viral, and bacterial diseases, potentially enabling self-testing at home.
ETH Zürich / Bar-Nur Lab
Building muscle in the lab
23/08/2023
A new method allows large quantities of muscle stem cells to be safely obtained in cell culture.
University of Nottingham
PeptiMatrix: Platform could replace use of animals in research
09/08/2023
PeptiMatrix is the latest spin-out company from the University of Nottingham, providing access to an innovative 3D cell culture platform that aims to replace the use of animals in research.
Patrick Mansell/Penn State
High-speed bioprinting of bones, tracheas, organs
28/07/2023
Developing technology to quickly and efficiently bioprint human tissues at scale is the goal of a new project led by Penn State researchers. When fully developed, the technology will be the first to enable the fabrication of scalable, native tissues such as bones, tracheas and organs.
ellinnur
Biomaterials: toolbox for the development of bioadhesives
28/07/2023
The team of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel, Chair of Biomaterials at the University of Bayreuth, has compiled a current overview of the state of research on protein-based bioadhesives.
Hannezo Group | ISTA
Cell dynamics: how cells talk to each other
26/07/2023
Like us, cells communicate. Well, in their own special way. Using waves as their common language, cells tell one another where and when to move.
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung
Jasmina Gačanin investigates living biomaterials
20/07/2023
Dr. Jasmina Gačanin, postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in the department of Prof. Dr. Tanja Weil, has been appointed as a “Peretti-Schmucker Fellow”.
Masson-Simon
Brain: a varied life boosts functional networks
18/07/2023
The findings in mice provide unprecedented insights into the complexity of large-scale neural networks and brain plasticity. Moreover, they could pave the way for new brain-inspired artificial intelligence methods.
KIMM
3D bioprinting technology to be used for removing cancer cells
14/07/2023
KIMM develops the world’s first 3D bioprinting technology that enhances the function of NK immune cells. The new technology is expected to improve effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Joseph Puthussery
Biosensing: air monitor can detect COVID-19 variants
13/07/2023
Scientists are looking at ways to surveil indoor environments in real time for viruses. By combining recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a real-time monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants in a room in about 5 minutes.
rawf8
Improved cancer therapy: TimeTeller shows what makes the body tick
06/07/2023
Using the internal clock to optimize chemotherapies in cancer treatment - that is the goal of the start-up TimeTeller. If the drugs are administered at the ideal time of day for chemotherapy, it can reduce side effects and improve the effect. TimeTeller has developed a method for determining the internal clock to make this possible.
mihacreative
Personalized cartilage replacement helps with knee pain
27/06/2023
Knee osteoarthritis is a widespread form of arthrosis that limits those affected in their everyday lives. The wear and tear in the cartilage tissue often causes pain and movement restrictions. In order to improve treatment, researchers have developed a process that allows artificial cartilage tissue to be individually tailored to sufferers.
Empa
Sensor patch for abdominal surgery
23/06/2023
Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have developed a plaster with a sensor function to ensure that wounds in the abdomen remain tightly closed after an operation.
BarcelonaTech (UPC)
Medical implants: new generation of antibacterial materials
23/06/2023
The UPC’s Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT) leads the international project Bio-TUNE, which aims to develop multifunctional materials with high antibacterial potential and efficient tissue integration.
Gregor Hübl / Universität Bonn
Researching organoids: two new Argelander Professors at the University of Bonn
21/06/2023
Two new assistant professors at the University of Bonn are setting out to develop “mini-organs” in order to study metabolic and disease mechanisms.
Buntan2019
Biofilms: Infection model from the 3D printer
21/06/2023
Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have developed a novel method to place biofilms on lung cells in the laboratory. The model system produced by means of "bioprinting" should help to better understand infection processes and assist in the development of new active substances.
K. Selsam, Fraunhofer ISC
Wound healing: Fraunhofer Institutes develop bioresorbable membrane RENACER
13/06/2023
Treating large-area and internal wounds and promoting their often protracted healing remains a challenging task for medicine. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM) have developed the bioresorbable membrane RENACER®.
Empa
Antibiotics crisis: rapid test for sepsis with nanoparticles
09/06/2023
For Qun Ren, every minute counts. The Empa researcher and her team are currently developing a diagnostic procedure that can detect life-threatening blood poisoning caused by staphylococcus bacteria rapidly. This is because staphylococcal sepsis is fatal in up to 40 percent of the cases.
Fotogenia - Renate Trummer
Tissue Engineering: TU Graz revolutionises production of biocompatible microfibres
02/06/2023
Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated. Responsible for the development are Carole Planchette and her team from TU Graz.
Ella Marushchenko
Breaking through bacterial barriers in chronic treatment-resistant wounds
24/05/2023
Researchers in the UNC School of Medicine's Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the UNC-NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering have developed a new strategy to improve drug-delivery into chronic wounds infections.
NTU Singapore
Why wavy wounds heal faster than straight wounds
19/05/2023
Wavy wounds heal faster than straight wounds because shapes influence cell movements, a team of researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has found.
WFIRM
Bioprinting research makes history when it soars to the ISS
17/05/2023
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) will make history this month when the first bioprinted solid tissue constructs soar to the International Space Station (ISS) on board the next all private astronaut mission by commercial space leader Axiom Space.
UBT / Chr. Wißler.
Regenerative medicine: cell-specific properties of novel spider silk materials
12/05/2023
Materials made of spider silk can be specifically modified or processed in such a way that living cells of a certain type adhere to them, grow and proliferate. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of Bayreuth under the direction of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel.
DZNE/AG Milovanovic
Tuning brain cells with light
11/05/2023
An international research team, comprising scientists from University Hospital Bonn, DZNE, the Netherlands, and the US has been awarded a US$ 1.3 million grant by the “Human Frontier Science Program” to investigate brain immune cells and manipulate them via light irradiation.
Universität des Saarlandes/Oliver Dietze
Exploring the molecular mechanisms of ageing
09/05/2023
A team led by bioinformatics experts Andreas Keller and Fabian Kern from Saarland University together with researchers at Stanford University have gained new insights into manifestations of ageing at the molecular level.
TUD/Magdalena Gonciarz
A sweet solution to a cracking problem: new bio-inspired molecules to promote bone regeneration
08/05/2023
An interdisciplinary team of scientists in Dresden developed novel bio-inspired sugar-based molecules that show potential to improve bone regeneration.
svitlanah
BioDevCenter: biologicals are the future of medicine
27/04/2023
Not all advances in medical technology immediately catch your eye – take biologicals, for example. These are molecules that are biotechnologically designed for a specific application. In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the Biologicals Development Center (BioDevCenter) and its infrastructure aim to bring them to market faster in the future.
Magnus Johansson
Wound dressing reveals infection
26/04/2023
A nanocellulose wound dressing that can reveal early signs of infection without interfering with the healing process has been developed by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden.
Pekka Ruusuvuori
AI-based method to replace chemical staining of tissue
21/04/2023
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based method for virtual staining of histopathological tissue samples as a part of the Nordic ABCAP consortium.
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine
Microelectrode array: hammock for brain organoids
20/04/2023
Novel microelectrode array system enables long-term cultivation and electrophysiological analyses of brain organoids.
Cyborg and Bionic Systems
Bioprinting technology and AI enable high quality in vitro models
19/04/2023
In the process of organoid manufacturing, bioprinting technology not only facilitates the creation and maintenance of complex biological 3D shapes and structures, but also allows for standardization and quality control during production.
Daniel Kokotek
New method makes rare cell types visible
13/04/2023
In cooperation with Helmholtz Munich, Professor Matthias Meier from the Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine at Leipzig University and his research group have developed a new, effective and comparatively inexpensive method to make rare cell types, cell communication types and disease patterns visible in tissue.
Fraunhofer-Translationszentrum/Fraunhofer ISC
SAPs4Tissue: human tissue models with customized biomaterials
12/04/2023
In a joint project of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, and the Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Würzburg, scientific principles and biomaterials for the standardized production of valid tissue models are to be developed.
BLINK DX
BLINK DX: revolutionizing digital PCR
11/04/2023
The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, plays a major role both in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and in research. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has become widely known. At MEDICA 2022, the BLINK AG from Jena, Germany, presented the BLINK Beads, a technology that is bound to revolutionize the applications of PCR.
Daniel Delang / TUM
Mini-heart in a Petri dish: organoid emulates development of the human heart
11/04/2023
The team working with Alessandra Moretti, Professor of Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease, has developed a method for making a sort of "mini-heart" using pluripotent stem cells.
Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung
Further advance in super-resolution fluorescence microscopy
16/03/2023
Scientists led by Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg have developed a super-resolution microscope with a spatio-temporal precision of one nanometer per millisecond.
Carlos Marques / ENS Lyon
Standard model of electroporation refuted
15/03/2023
Technology developed at the University of Freiburg enables experimental test. The new findings could help to improve the transport of active substances into cells
DC_Studio
New artificial model validates antibodies ability to reach the brain
03/03/2023
A research group at Uppsala University has developed a simple and effective artificial blood-brain barrier model that can be used to determine how well antibody-based therapies can enter the brain.
Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023
Healing the brain: hydrogels enable neuronal tissue growth
03/03/2023
Synthetic hydrogels were shown to provide an effective scaffold for neuronal tissue growth in areas of brain damage, providing a possible approach for brain tissue reconstruction.
imagesourcecurated
Electrodes grown in the brain – paving the way for future therapies for neurological disorders
02/03/2023
The boundaries between biology and technology are becoming blurred. Researchers at Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body’s molecules as triggers. The result, published in the journal Science, paves the way for the formation of fully integrated electronic circuits in living organisms.
Pressmaster
AI analyses cell movement under the microscope
22/02/2023
The enormous amount of data obtained by filming biological processes using a microscope has previously been an obstacle for analyses.
Rawpixel
Packaged DNA: new method to promote bone growth
17/02/2023
DNA can help to stimulate bone healing in a localised and targeted manner, for example after a complicated fracture or after severe tissue loss following surgery.
Kai Melde, MPI für medizinische Forschung
Creating 3D objects with sound
17/02/2023
Scientists from the Micro, Nano and Molecular Systems Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials at Heidelberg University have created a new technology to assemble matter in 3D.
HIPS/Boese
New cell model for the human lung
16/02/2023
A team led by Prof Claus-Michael Lehr of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has developed a novel human lung cell line that should enable much more accurate predictions of the behavior of active substances or dosage forms in humans than previous systems.
The Project Team / Claudia Pock
Multinational research consortium to advance nanomedicine manufacturing
15/02/2023
Gattefossé, InProcess-LSP, Knauer, Microfluidics, Skyepharma, and the University of Graz join the RCPE-led European Consortium for Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (ECCPM) to jointly develop a modular, flexible toolkit to advance industrial-scale production of lipid nanoparticles.
Vaibhav Srivastava
Mucus-based gel improves bone graft results, promotes healing
14/02/2023
Molecules from mucus can be used to produce synthetic bone graft material and help with the healing of larger bone loss, a new study found.
Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Contact lenses to treat dry eye syndrome
06/02/2023
A collaborative team from the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) has developed a contact lens prototype that is specifically designed to prevent contact lens-induced dry eye (CLIDE).
iLexx
Bacterial electricity: Membrane potential influences antibiotic tolerance
27/01/2023
The electrical potential across the bacterial cell envelope indicates when bacteria no longer operate as individual cells but as a collective. Researchers at the University of Cologne's Institute for Biological Physics have discovered this connection between the electrical properties and the lifestyle of bacteria.
Beachbumledford
Controlled manufacture, storage and freezing of artificial retinal cells
25/01/2023
Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a new method for the production and clinical application of stem-cell-based retinal implants, which could contribute towards the successful treatment of AMD.
Asociación RUVID
Biomaterial capable of regenerating bones and preventing infections
15/12/2022
Researchers from the Bioengineering and Biomaterials Laboratory of Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV) have developed a new porous material capable of regenerating bones and preventing infections at the same time.
DegrooteStock
Wound care: healing with technology
01/12/2022
Wound care by nurses is directly about cleaning, sterile covering, and documentation. Medical and surgical interventions may also be necessary. In this context, wound care also offers potential for the use of technical aids that can help prevent complications.
ARTFULLY79
Technology in wound care: tools for better healing
01/12/2022
Wounds – both acute and chronic ones – can have many different causes. They all have in common that they require meticulous care because complications in wound healing can severely reduce both the patients’ health and quality of life. But there is more to modern wound care than just cleaning and bandaging them. Nursing staff and physicians can also access technical aids for this work.
beta-web/Roth
Wound treatment: printing instead of grafting
01/12/2022
Currently, wound care is limited to either waiting for wounds to heal while keeping them clean and free of infection or using grafts from the patient’s own body to cover larger defects. With the ongoing development tissue engineering and bioprinting, there could be a third option in future: Will we be able to print new tissue directly in the OR to cover surgical wounds?
Lena Holm
Scientists develop gel made from spider silk proteins for biomedical applications
19/08/2022
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have discovered that spider silk proteins can be fused to biologically active proteins and be converted into a gel at body temperature.
PantherMedia/benschonewille
Technology against organ shortage – Support for the successful transplant
03/02/2022
The waiting time for a donor organ is long nowadays since the need for organs vastly exceeds their availability. But we have possibilities to improve the situation and help as many people as possible to survive despite organ failure: Some organ functions can already be substituted by technology. But medicine is also researching ways to make more organs available for transplant.
PantherMedia/NikD51
Donor organs: Solving the shortage with technology
03/01/2022
Patients waiting for a donor organ must have a lot of patience and a bit of luck. Aging and a rise in chronic disease prevalence means the need for donor organs is much greater than the number that is available. To help those who need organ transplants, scientists must create new technologies.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Machine Perfusion: Increasing the Safety of Marginal Organ Transplants
03/01/2022
The shortage of donor organs is a major global issue. An aging population, a reluctance towards organ donation, and logistical challenges related to organ shipping play an important role in this setting. Machine perfusion can be a way to expand and preserve the donor pool for eligible transplant recipients.
PantherMedia/Richmanphoto
COPD: How long before the implantable lung is here?
03/01/2022
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often a last resort treatment for patients with acute respiratory failure. The method uses an external pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream. However, the use of ECMO for long-term support is not possible for patients with chronic respiratory failure.
PantherMedia/Meseritsch Herby
Implants for the senses – Hearing and seeing with technology
01/12/2021
We can replace certain functions of the body with implants nowadays, others we cannot. When it comes to the human senses, we are still quite at the beginning. The technologies and materials we can use are way to coarse compared to our nervous system. But implants can also help us to maintain senses.
UT Arlington
Wearable device could reduce racial disparities in blood measurements
29/10/2021
Bioengineers and scientists at The University of Texas at Arlington, in collaboration with Austin’s Shani Biotechnologies, LLC, have developed a new noninvasive technology that may help real-time monitoring of key blood parameters, such as hemoglobin, especially in Black patients.
PantherMedia/PhotoChowk
Improving strength, stretchiness and adhesion in hydrogels for wound healing
31/08/2021
Scientists use the adhesive capabilities of mussels as a model for optimizing hydrogels’ mechanical properties.
PantherMedia/Wavebreakmedia (YAYMicro)
Chronic wounds: new, inexpensive wound dressing
29/07/2021
An MSU-led team is developing an inexpensive biopolymer dressing to heal injuries like diabetic foot ulcers that affect millions of patients all over the world.
PantherMedia/Wavebreakmedia Ltd
Controlling insulin production with a smartwatch
15/06/2021
Many modern fitness trackers and smartwatches feature integrated LEDs. The green light emitted, whether continuous or pulsed, penetrates the skin and can be used to measure the wearer's heart rate during physical activity or while at rest.
Autonomous medical devices: running well in your body
01/02/2021
In theory, autonomous medical technologies can be used in a diagnostic or therapeutic capacity inside the body under certain conditions. This may not sound like a new invention at first. After all, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators have monitored and fixed abnormal heart rhythm for many years.
Autonomous medical technology: independently in the body
01/02/2021
Therapies need to be carried out with high reliability by trained personal. This will not change in the future. But maybe we will be able to let systems in the patient’s body do some of the work. Some approaches are already aiming to make implants more independent so they will be able to flexibly react to changes. Read more in our Topic of the Month!
Tissue Engineering and Bioprinting – From artificial heart valves and printed humans
27/01/2021
Drug research and artificial skin replacement - these are the areas in which tissue engineering and bioprinting are already used today. What else could be possible in the future? We asked Dr. Nadine Nottrodt from Fraunhofer ILT and Prof. Sabine Neuß-Stein from RWTH Aachen University Hospital!
Multi-photon lithography: printing cells with micrometer accuracy
01/12/2020
How do cells react to certain drugs? And how exactly is new tissue created? This can be analyzed by using bioprinting to embed cells in fine frameworks. However, current methods are often imprecise or too slow to process cells before they are damaged. At the TU Vienna, a high-resolution bioprinting process has now been developed using a new bio-ink.
"Cells are highly sensitive" – material development for bioprinting
01/12/2020
The big hope of bioprinting is to someday be able to print whole human organs. So far, the process has been limited to testing platforms such as organs-on-a-chip. That's because the actual printing process already poses challenges. Scientists need suitable printing materials that ensure the cell's survival as it undergoes the procedure. The Fraunhofer IGB is researching and analyzing this aspect.
Bioprinting: life from the printer
01/12/2020
It aims at the production of test systems for drug research and gives patients on the waiting lists for donor organs hope: bioprinting. Thereby biologically functional tissues are printed. But how does that actually work? What are the different bioprinting methods? And can entire organs be printed with it? These and other questions are examined in our Topic of the Month.
SmartLab: all-in-one automation, digitalization, and miniaturization
01/09/2020
Laboratories have to analyze and interpret an ever-increasing number of samples for research and diagnostic services, generating lots of data in the process. At the same time, labs are required to produce quality results and operate with speed. Processes that could once be managed using laboratory notebooks and isolated systems must become smart in the future to improve lab efficiency.
PantherMedia/everythingposs
Israeli medical devices showcase digital innovations at MEDICA
24/08/2020
For the annual MEDICA trade fair, companies from all over the world assemble in Düsseldorf. The Israel Export Institute has been a part of it for the last couple of years. They present medical devices and digital innovations from different Israeli companies at their joint booth.
rhCollagen: genetically engineered building block for regenerative medicine
03/02/2020
Collagen is the stuff that holds our bodies together and that houses our cells. In regenerative medicine, it is also the stuff that can be applied to wounds to support healing. However, collagen from animal or human sources has some drawbacks for today’s medicine. This is where rhCollagen from the Israeli company CollPlant comes into play.
Angiogenesis: light shows blood vessels the way
03/02/2020
Regenerative medicine aims to replace damage in the body with functional tissue and restore normal function. The first defense for large defects are implants made of hydrogels, designed to promote cell growth. They need their own blood supply, which is a problem when it comes to larger implants because you cannot regulate where and how the blood vessels grow - until now.
Regenerative medicine: creating a new body?
03/02/2020
Regenerative medicine aims to repair the human body after injuries, accidents or major cancer surgery. Unfortunately, we are still not at a stage where this process can achieve optimal results for every conceivable situation. Having said that, various new methods are on the cusp of breakthrough.
Multi-organ chips: Drug research without animal testing at vasQlab
15/05/2019
New active substances that are suitable for drugs are initially tested in animal experiments. However, the results cannot always be transferred to the human organism. At the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Prof. Ute Schepers from vasQlab explains how active substances can be tested in human tissue without endangering human health.
Organ-on-a-chip systems: limited validity?
01/02/2019
Organ-on-a-chip systems are technically a great enhancement of medical research because they facilitate testing of active ingredients on cell cultures in the chambers of a plastic chip. This replaces animal testing and improves patient safety. That being said, they are not a true-to-life replication of the human body and can only simulate a few functions and activities.