Progress in biomedical engineering (Bristol, England)最新文献

This review explores the current state of eversion robotics in the context of colonoscopy, given the need for less invasive, more patient-friendly screening technologies. Conventional colonoscopy often leads to discomfort and patient reluctance, contributing to delayed diagnoses and high colorectal cancer mortality rates. Eversion robots, also known as vine robots or soft growing robots are soft, pressure-driven devices that extend by everting from the tip whilst offering a promising option by enabling frictionless advancement and potentially pain-free procedures. We examine the key challenges and opportunities in adapting eversion robots for clinical endoscopic use, focusing on material selection, actuation, steering, and payload delivery. From the literature, thermoplastic polyurethane emerges as the most viable material for the robot's sleeve due to its airtightness, biocompatibility, suitability for heat or ultrasonic welding, and availability in highly flexible thin layers. Tip-steering mechanisms are identified as the most effective strategies for navigation, allowing high flexibility without increasing the wall thickness of the robot, as required in alternative approaches using distributed actuation mechanisms. The review also evaluates strategies for integrating functional tools at the tip of the robot, concluding that cap-free designs provide superior adaptability to the varying colon diameter, preserve compressibility, and keep tip friction to a minimum, unlike cap-based payload delivery methods. By consolidating current research and identifying pathways for innovation, this review supports the development of eversion soft robots as a next-generation solution for minimally invasive colorectal diagnostics and therapy.

The hair growth is a highly controlled biological process, governed by the cycles of the hairs in anagen (growth), catagen (regression) and telogen (rest period). Breaks in it could lead to hair thinning and loss, that is why a response there's certainly a need for effective treatment. Current methods such as topical minoxidil, oral finasteride and modern techniques including platelet-rich plasma therapy or hair transplantation work by improving the functioning of hair follicles to prolong their growth phase. In this instance, the aim of this article is to mainly review about emerging mechanobiological strategies such as electrical stimulation, microneedling, microcurrent therapy conjugated with nanotechnology, low-frequency techniques that provide a context for futuristic non-invasive approaches.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting over ten million people worldwide. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and gait disturbances. Current treatments focus on alleviating symptoms and slowing down brain degeneration, but no cure exists, leading to a progressive decline in patients' quality of life. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a powerful technique for developing constructs that engineer neural tissues with complexities mimicking physiological conditions. These constructs can serve as vehicles for controlled drug delivery and potential substitutes for neurodegeneration. This article aims to compile new research data and review the current state of PD models engineered by 3D bioprinting, focusing on the desired biochemical features of bioinks for cell protection during printing, cell behavior, and differentiation into 3D constructs. Additionally, it discusses the physical, mechanical, and chemical characterization of bioprinted scaffolds and the importance of post-printing assessment to ensure printability, shape fidelity, appropriate construct degradation, and extracellular matrix production rates for developing complex 3D bioprinted constructs. Finally, it proposes opportunities for models that can be used to study novel therapeutics and immunomodulatory responses in tissues engineered for PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Emerging evidence suggests that adipose tissue is not just a fat depot but a metabolically active organ that plays a central role in connecting obesity with its comorbidities. Understanding the complex interactions between adipocytes and neighboring cell types in obesity requires models that accurately replicate adipocyte behavior within their natural environment. Three-dimensional (3D) adipocyte cultures mimic the native tissue microenvironment by incorporating the spatial architecture as well as cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions presentin vivo, offering improved platforms for (patho)physiological adipose tissue modeling. 3D models of adipose tissue dysfunction enable the study of complex cellular crosstalk, such as adipocyte cancer cell interactions in breast, colorectal, bone, and pancreatic cancers; epicardial and pericardial adipocyte-myocardial cell dynamics in obesity-related cardiac dysfunction; and adipocyte-hepatocyte interactions in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, among other critical pathophysiological processes. In this review, we first discuss 3D models of adipose tissue and current strategies for mimicking the obesogenic microenvironment, including dietary stimulation of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, as well as the incorporation of oxygen gradients, proinflammatory cytokines, and immune cells. Secondly, we examine 3D co-culture platforms that incorporate disease-associated/dysfunctional adipocytes with various cell types, such as cancer cells, cardiac cells, hepatocytes, immune cells, endothelial cells (EC), and fibroblasts, to model intercellular and interorgan crosstalk in obesity. Lastly, we provide insights into enhancing the physiological relevance of dysfunctional adipose tissue models and their co-culture systems while discussing future directions in tissue engineering aimed at improving clinical translation and reducing obesity related complications and mortality.

Cellular biophysical properties are increasingly linked to disease development, including muscular dystrophy, cancer, glaucoma, and other conditions. Transcription profiles of various types have been utilized to elucidate the relationship between genes and their regulatory functions. While spatial transcriptomics creates high-resolution maps of gene regulation in tissues, it does not capture the mechanically coordinated responses of cells based on their transcriptional profiles and cell locations. Mechanobiology, on the other hand, studies how cells perceive and respond to forces but lacks genomic information. In this paper, we explore the emergence of an integrative platform called spatial mechano-transcriptomics. This method combines spatial transcriptomic and mechanical data from the same cells within a timeframe suitable for diagnostic procedures. Spatial mechano-transcriptomics examines the relationship between physical properties, including cell membrane stiffness, and differences in the cell's transcription profile, which could be used to predict disease states. Integrating spatial and mechanical observations has the potential to revolutionize precision diagnostics and lead to the development of new therapeutics, resulting in significant advances in biomedical research.

Chemical cues have been extensively explored in tissue engineering (TE). However, biophysical cues, such as electrical stimulation (ES) have recently gained attention for their capacity to enhance stem cell (SC) viability, proliferation, and differentiation. This scoping review focused on the impact of space and methods of ES parameters, including voltage, electric field (EF), current, frequency, and duration, when SCs are seeded on scaffolds for TE applications. The review's PICOT question was: 'What is the optimal parameter space of external ES on SCs seeded on a scaffold in anin vitrocell culture?' Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, publications were systematically searched and selected from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to April-2025. The predefined inclusion criteria required that publications: employed ES, involved the use of SCs, included seeding SCs on a scaffold, and were conducted in anin vitroexperimental setting.65 publications covering ES and SCs have been incorporated, acknowledging the interdisciplinary challenges in this research domain. This scoping review synthesises the ES literature, highlights challenges, and proposes optimal parameters for SCs in TEs. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating conductive scaffolds with ES. Specifically, results indicate that moderate EF intensities i.e. (<200 V m^-1) protocols under direct coupling stimulation enhance key physiological processes in SCs. These results introduce the therapeutic potential of integrating ES with TE, particularly in neural regeneration, cardiac repair, and wound healing. Achieving that relies on optimising ES parameters to effectively translatein vitrofindings into clinically viable regenerative therapies and contribute to the development of more effective ES strategies and lay the groundwork for future translational research in TE and regenerative medicine.

Artificial intelligence-based radiogenomics has emerged as a promising approach for precision medicine in lung cancer. By integrating medical imaging, genomics, and clinical data, radiogenomics enables non-invasive prediction of key oncogenic driver mutations, exploration of associations between imaging features and gene expression, and development of prognostic models in lung cancer management. Machine learning and deep learning techniques have been applied to predict the mutation status of genes such as epidermal growth factor receptor and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, which are crucial for personalized treatment strategies. Radiogenomic studies have identified significant correlations between radiomic features and gene clusters, providing insights into tumor heterogeneity and biological pathways. Moreover, radiogenomics has shown potential in predicting treatment responses, recurrence, and overall survival in lung cancer patients. However, challenges remain in standardization, comprehensive validation, model interpretability, ethnic diversity, and the construction of multi-omics databases. With the advancement of artificial intelligence and the expansion of multimodal databases, future research should focus on solving these challenges to improve the clinical value and generalizability of radiogenomic models, thus playing a greater role in personalized medicine for cancer.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common circulatory condition that leads to reduced blood flow to the limbs, often resulting in limb ischemia which can severely impact a patient's quality of life and increase the risk of amputation. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are critical in managing PAD-associated limb ischemia. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for PAD and limb ischemia. We explored both non-invasive and invasive diagnostic techniques including ankle-brachial index, duplex ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography and emerging technologies like molecular imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy. Therapeutic strategies discussed include pharmacological treatments such as antiplatelet agents and statins, endovascular interventions like angioplasty and stenting as well as advanced options such as gene and stem cell therapies. Emerging treatments including non-thermal plasma and extracellular vesicle therapy are also highlighted for their regenerative potential. We have also addressed the challenges of current approaches, including diagnostic limitations, barriers to new therapies and cost considerations aimed at improving outcomes for PAD patients.

Melanin, a widespread natural biopigment, has attracted growing attention owing to its multifunctional properties and potential in novel biomaterials. This review addresses the classification, biological sources, and extraction methodology of natural melanin from animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria, focusing on its physicochemical properties and bioactivities in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Melanin's broadband ultraviolet and near-infrared absorbance, strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and photothermal conversion efficiency allow its incorporation in photothermal therapy, radioprotection, and wound healing platforms. Moreover, melanin's antimicrobial and antiviral activities that inhibit a diverse array of pathogens indicate its usefulness in surface disinfection and infection prevention. Current advancements in melanin-containing nanoformulations, hydrogels, and microneedle patches highlight their versatility in drug delivery, molecular imaging, and tissue regeneration. Importantly, eco-friendly extraction and utilization of natural melanin advance environmentally friendly approaches in the field of biomedical technology. This review highlights natural melanin's promise as a safe, biocompatible, and multifunctional agent, supporting its use in biomedical applications that address current healthcare challenges.

Skeletal muscles play a pivotal role in facilitating and stabilizing joint movement, retaining body posture, maintaining temperature, and enabling storage and release of nutrients. While most skeletal muscle injuries are benign and can heal via simple home remedial measures, serious muscle injuries due to excessive tension/torsional forces and volumetric muscle loss (VML) caused by trauma or infection often require surgical intervention. Functional free muscle transfer (FFMT) by harvesting healthy muscle tissue and grafting into the damaged site (i.e. autografts) is the current clinical gold standard; however, FFMT is associated with a myriad of limitations including donor site morbidity, infection, and suboptimal tissue regeneration. Skeletal muscle tissue engineering (SMTE) has made giant strides as a promising alternative option for treating VML injuries by developing viable tissue scaffolds that mimic the organized microarchitecture of native tissue, guide myoblast/myotube alignment, and promote skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. In this review, new advancements in the methodology and fabrication of 3D printed/bioprinted scaffolds for skeletal muscle repair and regeneration are discussed. Further, recent studies that employ novel 4D biofabrication approaches using external stimuli (i.e. magnetic field, electric field, temperature, humidity) to guide time-based shape shifting of printed scaffolds towards achieving tissue-mimicking cellular organization and function are highlighted. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are presented for further development and clinical translation of 4D printed scaffolds for SMTE applications.