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

The measurement of small bowel length (SBL) is crucial in clinical contexts such as surgical planning, assessment of nutritional absorption and management of conditions like short bowel syndrome (SBS) and Crohn's disease (CD). However, the literature reports substantial variations in measurements of average SBL, influenced by a multitude of methodological and patient-specific factors. The present review provides a comprehensive analysis of existing methodologies for SBL measurement, including intraoperative and radiologic approaches, detailing their strengths, limitations, and sources of error. The key factors influencing measurement variability are discussed, including methodological differences related to the measurement tool (e.g. intraoperative vs. imaging-based), bowel preparation process (e.g. stretching of the bowel), starting reference points. Additionally, inter-individual characteristics (e.g. height, BMI, sex) and population-specific factors (e.g. patients with SBS or CD) are assessed for their contribution to SBL variability. The aim pertains to informing clinical practice by providing a critical evaluation of measurement techniques and variability factors that impair standardized measurements of SBL to support research for clinical practice.

Articular cartilage exhibits a remarkable mechanical and biological performance, which allows it to withstand high stresses and strains with minimal deformation, lasting decades of continuous use without failure. Upon damage, its self-repair is naturally difficult, being its regeneration a serious challenge today with current therapies failing in restoring the natural environment of this tissue. The present review delves deeply into the biomechanical functioning of articular cartilage, giving special attention to the interplay between its structure and composition with its mechanical behaviour at both tissue and cellular levels. The mechanisms by which articular cartilage responds to injury are highlighted to comprehend how this tissue is naturally damaged and how it could be regenerated, considering its native functioning. The current options for clinical evaluation and treatment are summarized. Drawing inspiration from the natural environment of articular cartilage and the mechanisms responsible for its health homeostasis, the application of optical and acoustic stimulation is proposed as mechanobiological solutions for promoting cartilage regeneration, followed by a final discussion on its current challenges and future perspectives. This review highlights the articular cartilage mechanical and biological functioning at both tissue and cellular level, elucidating strategies and challenges of articular cartilage regeneration in clinical research.

Articular cartilage is a porous, soft tissue present in the synovial joints that distributes the load and lubricate the joint for smooth body movements. Arthritis or joint diseases lead to cartilage degeneration. However, the triggering factors of these joint diseases are still strongly debated, with uncertainties about the key mechanisms and the mechanochemical and biological interactions that make this a very complex interdisciplinary problem. Nonetheless, mechanical stresses and improper lubrication are widely accepted as important contributors to cartilage degeneration. Hence, this review paper focuses on the friction, lubrication, and biomechanical aspects that affect cartilage function and are, therefore, linked to its degeneration. Further, cartilage lubrication theories that have been proposed to study ultra-low friction of cartilage will be discussed. Over the past decade, there has been significant advancement in understanding cartilage rehydration and how different activities keep cartilage lubricated; these will be reviewed together with the advances in experimental and modelling techniques that have enabled recent breakthroughs in our understanding. The need for new and improved methodologies in experimental and modelling work to deepen our understanding of cartilage biomechanics across the scales, as well as its evolution and degeneration will be discussed. Finally, with the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in scientific research, this paper explores the avenues in which AI and ML can contribute to enhancing the ongoing research on cartilage. .

The use ofE. colifor the expression of various collagen-like triple helical protein constructs has continued to develop significantly, and certain commercially made proteins are now available. The use of auxotroph designs to assist in the expression of hydroxylated proteins is an important development. A range of other new constructs have been described, including those that contain a segment of a natural collagen sequence and those that are based on collagen-like proteins from prokaryotes, especially the Scl2 protein fromStreptococcus pyogenes. The other constructs that have gained increased attention are those where multiple copies, often 16, of a small native collagen sequence are expressed as tandem repeated sequences, with these being of particular interest for biomedical applications. Ascertaining which construct is being used, however, can create difficulties when the same acronym is used for different constructs, and many are frequently described as 'humanized' even though no sequence changes have been included to make the construct resemble a human sequence more closely.

Could the next major advancement in cancer therapy stem from utilizing the body's own cells to precisely deliver potent anti-cancer agents directly to tumors? This innovative strategy, known as cell-drug conjugates (CDCs), represents a transformative approach to targeted cancer treatment by leveraging the inherent biological properties of cells. Leveraging the inherent biological properties of cells, these conjugates enable highly specific drug delivery and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Through mechanisms such as chemotaxis and immune evasion, CDCs can transport anticancer agents across biological barriers and selectively accumulate within the tumor microenvironment, facilitating precision therapy. Various cell types, including red blood cells, stem cells, and immune cells, serve as potential carriers in these systems, each possessing unique biological characteristics and antitumor ability. At present, there are few reviews on the preparation and function of CDCs in cancer therapy. This review systematically explores CDC applications in cancer therapy, including targeting mechanisms, fabrication strategies,in vivopharmacology, and clinical advancements. Furthermore, the review examines the technical challenges associated with this innovative drug delivery and therapeutic strategy, while also evaluating its potential for clinical translation.

Building upon the extensive body of work in inertial, viscoelastic, and elasto-inertial microfluidics-collectively classified as flow-induced particle migration microfluidics (FIPMM)-this review delivers an exhaustive synthesis of theoretical foundations and practical advancements in the field. The focus is centered on leveraging microfluidic platforms for the effective separation and manipulation of nanoscale particles such as exosomes. Highlighting the unique advantages and practical challenges of these methods, the review bridges the gap between theory and application. By exploring the interplay of inertial and elastic forces, this work demonstrates the potential for enhanced resolution, throughput, and scalability in particle separation without the need for chemical labeling. In addition, it addresses key limitations such as device fabrication constraints, material properties, and operational reproducibility, providing strategic information to researchers and engineers. By addressing these challenges, this review intends to guide new entrants in the field and contribute to the general advancement of this area of research.

As an emerging additive manufacturing technique, three-dimensional bioprinting enables precise control over the fabrication of tissue replacements, surpassing the limitations of conventional biofabrication methods. However, the successful production of functional bioprinted constructs remains challenging due to the complex interplay of numerous process parameters. The finite element method (FEM) has proven to be a powerful computational tool in biomedical research, offering a means to simulate and optimize various aspects of the bioprinting process. This review systematically examines the diverse applications of FEM across the three key stages of extrusion-based bioprinting-pre-printing, printing, and post-printing-one of the most widely adopted bioprinting technologies. FEM enables the prediction and optimization of tissue construct properties before fabrication by simulating bothin vitroandin vivoloading conditions, providing valuable insights into critical yet experimentally inaccessible parameters, such as internal stress distributions and mechanical deformations. By enhancing the understanding of these factors, FEM contributes to the development of mechanically stable and biologically functional bioprinted structures. Additionally, FEM-driven simulations facilitate the optimization of bioprinting parameters, reducing material consumption, improving reproducibility, and accelerating the design process. Despite its significant contributions, existing FEM tools remain constrained in their ability to capture the highly dynamic and multi-scale nature of bioprinting completely. Future advancements should enhance the accurate representation of real-time cell-matrix interactions, bioink dynamics, and the progressive maturation of bioprinted constructs. By refining FEM simulations and embedding them into adaptive bioprinting workflows, this computational approach has the potential to drive transformative innovations in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and organ fabrication.

Hand exoprosthesis are commonly assumed as a promising approach to help people regain independence after upper limb losses. Injury-related data from recent years highlights the need to continue developing solutions to increase end-user acceptance. Within this scope, the present review aims to provide up-to-date information related on advancements and current trends in hand exoprosthesis development. Following a PRISMA methodology, 60 studies were included in this review covering a different range of actuation strategies and design approaches. The main features of the devices developed in the literature are also presented in detail. Concerning actuation strategies, linkage-driven and tendon-pulley mechanisms are the most common approaches presented in the literature, however different strategies such as twisted-string actuators differential mechanisms are also proposed. In turn, pneumatic and hydraulic actuation approaches are also presented as soft alternatives to electric motors. Passive elements such as springs or clutch mechanisms are frequently employed to achieve underactuation in these devices. 3D Printed technologies are also suggested as alternatives to the most conventional manufacturing methods. By covering all these topics, the present review is meant to provide useful insights into future developments in this field. End-user-oriented continuous improvement and the development of highly anthropomorphic solutions are still current challenges, that should be addressed in upcoming developments. This work was developed in the scope of the project 'NerveRepack-Intelligent neural system for bidirectional connection with exoprostheses and exoskeletons', which has received funding from the Horizon Europe RIA programme under grant agreement N^∘101112347.

Artificial intelligence (AI) incorporation into healthcare has proven revolutionary, especially in radiotherapy, where accuracy is critical. The purpose of the study is to present patterns and develop topics in the application of AI to improve the precision of anatomical diagnosis, delineation of organs, and therapeutic effectiveness in radiation and radiological imaging. We performed a bibliometric analysis of scholarly articles in the fields starting in 2014. Through an examination of research output from key contributing nations and institutions, an analysis of notable research subjects, and an investigation of trends in scientific terminology pertaining to AI in radiology and radiotherapy. Furthermore, we examined software solutions based on AI in these domains, with a specific emphasis on extracting anatomical features and recognizing organs for the purpose of treatment planning. Our investigation found a significant surge in papers pertaining to AI in the fields since 2014. Institutions such as Emory University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center made substantial contributions to the development of the United States and China as leading research-producing nations. Key study areas encompassed adaptive radiation informed by anatomical alterations, MR-Linac for enhanced vision of soft tissues, and multi-organ segmentation for accurate planning of radiotherapy. An evident increase in the frequency of phrases such as 'radiomics,' 'radiotherapy segmentation,' and 'dosiomics' was noted. The evaluation of AI-based software revealed a wide range of uses in several subdisciplinary fields of radiation and radiology, particularly in improving the identification of anatomical features for treatment planning and identifying organs at risk. The incorporation of AI in anatomical diagnosis in radiological imaging and radiotherapy is progressing rapidly, with substantial capacity to transform the precision of diagnoses and the effectiveness of treatment planning.

Optical coherence elastography (OCE) is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures the biomechanical properties of materials and tissues. This systematic review focuses on the applications of OCE in the anterior segment of the eye, including the cornea, iris, and crystalline lens, and its clinical relevance in diagnosing and managing ocular diseases. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA framework to identify studies published between 2014 and 2024. The review included studies that reported intrinsic biomechanical properties of anterior segment tissues measured using OCE. Databases searched included Scopus, Pub Med, and IEEE Xplore. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found that OCE has been used to measure intrinsic biomechanical parameters such as Young's modulus and shear modulus in ocular tissues. OCE has been utilised to assess corneal stiffness in keratoconus, lens elasticity in presbyopia and cataract formation, and iris biomechanical changes under different lighting conditions. The studies demonstrated that OCE could detect subtle biomechanical changes associated with ocular diseases and measure treatment efficacy, such as collagen crosslinking for keratoconus management. The findings highlight the potential of OCE to enhance clinical diagnostics and patient care by providing detailed insights into the biomechanical properties of ocular tissues. However, variability in measurement techniques, the complexity of the method and reliance on animal models limit the current clinical translation of OCE. Standardised measurement protocols and further development andin vivovalidation are needed to overcome these barriers. OCE shows promise as a valuable non-invasive tool for high-resolution assessments of tissue biomechanics, which can subsequently support the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. Future research should focus on standardising OCE methods and integrating them into clinical practice to fully realise their potential in improving patient outcomes.