CFD investigations of a shape-memory polymer foam-based endovascular embolization device for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

The hemodynamic and convective heat transfer effects of a patient-specific endovascular therapeutic agent based on shape-memory polymer foam (SMPf) are evaluated using computational fluid dynamics studies for six patient-specific aneurysm geometries. The SMPf device is modeled as a continuous porous medium with full expansion for the flow studies and with various degrees of expansion for the heat transfer studies. The flow simulation parameters were qualitatively validated based on the existing literature.

3D-printing of dipyridamole/thermoplastic polyurethane materials for bone regeneration.

Tissue engineering combines biology and engineering to develop constructs for repairing or replacing damaged tissues. Over the last few years, this field has seen significant advancements, particularly in bone tissue engineering. 3D printing has revolutionised this field, allowing the fabrication of patient- or defect-specific scaffolds to enhance bone regeneration, thus providing a personalised approach that offers unique control over the shape, size, and structure of 3D-printed constructs.

Navigation Training for Persons With Visual Disability Through Multisensory Assistive Technology: Mixed Methods Experimental Study.

Background: Visual disability is a growing problem for many middle-aged and older adults. Conventional mobility aids, such as white canes and guide dogs, have notable limitations that have led to increasing interest in electronic travel aids (ETAs). Despite remarkable progress, current ETAs lack empirical evidence and realistic testing environments and often focus on the substitution or augmentation of a single sense.

Paramagnetic salt and agarose recipes for phantoms with desired T1 and T2 values for low-field MRI.

Tissue-mimicking reference phantoms are indispensable for the development and optimization of magnetic resonance (MR) measurement sequences. Phantoms have greatest utility when they mimic the MR signals arising from tissue physiology; however, many of the properties underlying these signals, including tissue relaxation characteristics, can vary as a function of magnetic field strength. There has been renewed interest in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at field strengths less than 1 T, and phantoms developed for higher field strengths may not be physiologically relevant at these lower fields.

Processing and properties of graphene-reinforced polylactic acid nanocomposites for bioelectronic and tissue regenerative functions.

An in-situ polymer-solution-processing approach enables the efficient production of uniform graphene-reinforced polylactic acid (G-PLA) nanocomposites with notable physical and biomedical properties. The approach effectively enhances the interfacial bonding between graphene and PLA by creating graphene dangling bonds and defects during exfoliation. As a result, an 182 % increase in Young's modulus and an 85 % increase in tensile strength can be achieved in G-PLA.

A biosensory μvessel-gravity device for advancing vascular analysis in space medicine.

Studying vascular responses to microgravity (MG) poses significant challenges in space medicine due to the limitations of conventional cell culture and animal models. To address these challenges, we have developed an innovative biosensory μvessel-gravity device that integrates organ-on-a-chip technology, 3D printing, and a 3D clinostat. This device enables cell interaction monitoring and flow shear stress modeling, thereby allowing accurate blood vessel cell sensory to changed mechanical environment.

Stabilizing Metal Coating on Flexible Devices by Ultrathin Protein Nanofilms.

The significant modulus difference between a metal coating and a polymer substrate leads to interface mismatches, seriously affecting the stability of flexible devices. Therefore, enhancing the adhesion stability of a metal layer on an inert polymer substrate to prevent delamination becomes a key challenge. Herein, an ultrathin protein nanofilm (UPN), synthesized by disulfide-bond-reducing protein aggregation, is proposed as a strong adhesive layer to enhance adhesion between polymer substrate and metal coating.

A Real-Time Approach for Assessing Rodent Engagement in a Nose-Poking Go/No-Go Behavioral Task Using ArUco Markers.

Behavioral neuroscience requires precise and unbiased methods for animal behavior assessment to elucidate complex brain-behavior interactions. Traditional manual scoring methods are often labor-intensive and can be prone to error, necessitating advances in automated techniques. Recent innovations in computer vision have led to both marker- and markerless-based tracking systems.

Exploring Biomineralization Processes Using In Situ Liquid Transmission Electron Microscopy: A Review.

Liquid transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a newly established technique broadly used to study reactions in situ. Since its emergence, complex and multifaceted biomineralization processes have been revealed with real-time resolution, where classical and non-classical mineralization pathways have been dynamically observed primarily for Ca and Fe-based mineral systems in situ. For years, classical crystallization pathways have dominated theories on biomineralization progression despite observations of non-traditional routes involving precursor phases using traditional- and cryo-TEM.

Determining the efficacy of ExThera Seraph100 blood filtration in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer through the liquid biopsy.

Background: Cancer becomes lethal as it spreads from the primary site to the rest of the body. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are biomarkers of disease progression and have been associated with decreased overall survival. Blood filtration is a novel concept for removing CTCs from circulation to improve patient prognosis.

Rescue of mitochondrial dysfunction through alteration of extracellular matrix composition in barth syndrome cardiac fibroblasts.

Fibroblast-ECM (dys)regulation is associated with a plethora of diseases. The ECM acts as a reservoir of inflammatory factors and cytokines that mediate molecular mechanisms within cardiac cell populations. The role of ECM-mitochondria crosstalk in the development and progression of cardiac disorders remains uncertain.

Housing and Husbandry Factors Affecting Zebrafish () Novel Tank Test Responses: A Global Multi-Laboratory Study.

The reproducibility crisis in bioscience, characterized by inconsistent study results, impedes our understanding of biological processes and global collaborative studies offer a unique solution. This study is the first global collaboration using the zebrafish () novel tank test, a behavioral assay for anxiety-like responses. We analyzed data from 20 laboratories worldwide, focusing on housing conditions and experimental setups.

Electrospun PCL Nerve Wrap Coated with Graphene Oxide Supports Axonal Growth in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are a debilitating problem, resulting in diminished quality of life due to the continued presence of both chronic and acute pain. The current standard of practice for the repair of PNIs larger than 10 mm is the use of autologous nerve grafts. Autologous nerve grafts have limitations that often result in outcomes that are not sufficient to remove motor and sensory impairments.

Rapid low-cost assembly of modular microvessel-on-a-chip with benchtop xurography.

Blood and lymphatic vessels in the body are central to molecular and cellular transport, tissue repair, and pathophysiology. Several approaches have been employed for engineering microfabricated blood and lymphatic vessels , yet traditionally these approaches require specialized equipment, facilities, and research training beyond the capabilities of many biomedical laboratories. Here we present xurography as an inexpensive, accessible, and versatile rapid prototyping technique for engineering cylindrical and lumenized microvessels.

Design, fabrication, and calibration of a micromachined thermocouple for biological applications in temperature monitoring.

This paper presents a microneedle thermocouple probe designed for temperature measurements in biological samples, addressing a critical need in the field of biology. Fabricated on a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) wafer, the probe features a doped silicon (Si)/chrome (Cr)/gold (Au) junction, providing a high Seebeck coefficient, rapid response times, and excellent temperature resolution. The microfabrication process produces a microneedle with a triangular sensing junction.

Microbiome-induced increases and decreases in bone matrix strength can be initiated after skeletal maturity.

Recent studies in mice have indicated that the gut microbiome can regulate bone tissue strength. However, prior work involved modifications to the gut microbiome in growing animals and it is unclear if the same changes in the microbiome, applied later in life, would change matrix strength. Here we changed the composition of the gut microbiome before and/or after skeletal maturity (16 weeks of age) using oral antibiotics (ampicillin + neomycin).

Tricuspid valve leaflet remodeling in sheep with biventricular heart failure: A comparison between leaflets.

Tricuspid valve leaflets are dynamic tissues that can respond to altered biomechanical and hemodynamic loads. Each leaflet has unique structural and mechanical properties, leading to differential strains. We hypothesized that these intrinsic differences drive heterogeneous, disease-induced remodeling between the leaflets.

Comprehensive Study of Mechanical, Electrical and Biological Properties of Conductive Polymer Composites for Medical Applications through Additive Manufacturing.

Conductive polymer composites are commonly present in flexible electrodes for neural interfaces, implantable sensors, and aerospace applications. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a widely used additive manufacturing technology, where conductive filaments frequently contain carbon-based fillers. In this study, the static and dynamic mechanical properties and the electrical properties (resistance, signal transmission, resistance measurements during cyclic tensile, bending and temperature tests) were investigated for polylactic acid (PLA)-based, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-based, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based, and polyamide (PA)-based conductive filaments with carbon-based additives.

Inferring the metabolic rate of zebrafish from ventilation frequency.

Fish schooling has attracted the interest of the scientific community for centuries. Energy savings have been long posited to be a key determinant for the emergence of schooling patterns. Yet, current methodologies do not allow the precise quantification of the metabolic rate of specific individuals within the school, typically leaving researchers with only a single, global measurement of metabolic rate for the collective.

Quantifying physical degradation alongside recording and stimulation performance of 980 intracortical microelectrodes chronically implanted in three humans for 956-2246 days.

Motivation: The clinical success of brain-machine interfaces depends on overcoming both biological and material challenges to ensure a long-term stable connection for neural recording and stimulation. Therefore, there is a need to quantify any damage that microelectrodes sustain when they are chronically implanted in the human cortex.

Methods: Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we imaged 980 microelectrodes from Neuroport arrays chronically implanted in the cortex of three people with tetraplegia for 956-2246 days.

Ten Years of the Synthetic Biology Summer Course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Summer Course on Synthetic Biology, established in 2013, has emerged as a premier platform for immersive education and research in this dynamic field. Rooted in CSHL's rich legacy of biological discovery, the course offers a comprehensive exploration of synthetic biology's fundamentals and applications. Led by a consortium of faculty from diverse institutions, the course structure seamlessly integrates practical laboratory sessions, exploratory research rotations, and enriching seminars by leaders in the field.