Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Immersive technology, such as extended reality, holds promise as a tool for educating ophthalmologists about the effects of low vision and for enhancing visual rehabilitation protocols. However, immersive simulators have not been evaluated for their ability to induce changes in the oculomotor system, which is crucial for understanding the visual experiences of visually impaired individuals. This study aimed to assess the REALTER (Wearable Egocentric Altered Reality Simulator) system's capacity to induce specific alterations in healthy individuals' oculomotor systems under simulated low-vision conditions...

Introduction: The treatment of skip-level cervical degenerative disease (CDD) with no degenerative changes observed in the intervening segment (IS) is complicated. This research aims to provide a reference basis for selecting treatment approaches for noncontiguous CDD. Methods: To establish accurate finite element models (FEMs), this study included computed tomography (CT) data from 21 patients with CDD (10 males and 11 females) for modeling. The study primarily discusses four cross-segment surgical approaches: upper (C3/4) anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and lower (C5/6) cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), FA model; upper CDA (C3/4) and lower ACDF (C5/6), AF model; upper ACDF (C3/4) and lower ACDF (C5/6), FF model; upper CDA (C3/4) and lower CDA (C5/6), AA model...

Due to high proliferative capacity, multipotent differentiation, immunomodulatory abilities, and lack of ethical concerns, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are promising candidates for clinical application. Currently, clinical research on DPSCs is in its early stages. The reason for the failure to obtain clinically effective results may be problems with the production process of DPSCs. Due to the different preparation methods and reagent formulations of DPSCs, cell characteristics may be affected and lead to inconsistent experimental results...

The striatum plays a crucial role in studying epilepsy, as it is involved in seizure generation and modulation of brain activity. To explore the complex interplay between the striatum and epilepsy, we engineered advanced microelectrode arrays (MEAs) specifically designed for precise monitoring of striatal electrophysiological activities in rats. These observations were made during and following seizure induction, particularly three and 7 days post-initial modeling. The modification of graphene oxide (GO)/poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)/platinu-m nanoparticles (PtNPs) demonstrated a marked reduction in impedance (10...

Insufficient initial vascularization plays a pivotal role in the ineffectiveness of bone biomaterials for treating bone defects. Consequently, enhancing the angiogenic properties of bone repair biomaterials holds immense importance in augmenting the efficacy of bone regeneration. In this context, we have successfully engineered a composite hydrogel capable of promoting vascularization in the process of bone regeneration. To achieve this, the researchers first prepared an aminated bioactive glass containing zinc ions (AZnBg), and hyaluronic acid contains aldehyde groups (HA-CHO)...

Large bone defect regeneration remains a major challenge for orthopedic surgeons. Tissue engineering approaches are therefore emerging in order to overcome this limitation. However, these processes can alter some of essential native tissue properties such as intermolecular crosslinks of collagen triple helices, which are known for their essential role in tissue structure and function. We assessed the persistence of extracellular matrix (ECM) properties in human fascia lata (HFL) and periosteum (HP) after tissue engineering processes such as decellularization and sterilization...

The treatment of bone tissue defects remains a complicated clinical challenge. Recently, the bone tissue engineering (BTE) technology has become an important therapeutic approach for bone defect repair. Researchers have improved the scaffolds, cells, and bioactive factors used in BTE through various existing bone repair material preparation strategies. However, due to insufficient vascularization, inadequate degradation, and fibrous wrapping, most BTE scaffolds impede new bone ingrowth and the reconstruction of grid-like connections in the middle and late stages of bone repair...

The tissues or organs derived decellularized extracellular matrix carry immunogenicity and the risk of pathogen transmission, resulting in limited therapeutic effects. The cell derived dECM cultured in vitro can address these potential risks, but its impact on wound remodeling is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) extracted from adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) in skin regeneration. Methods: ADSCs were extracted from human adipose tissue. Then we cultivated adipose-derived stem cell cells and decellularized ADSC-dECM for freeze-drying...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to test the hypothesis that breathing can be directly linked to postural stability and psychological health. A protocol enabling the simultaneous analysis of breathing, posture, and emotional levels in university students is presented. This aims to verify the possibility of defining a triangular link and to test the adequacy of various measurement techniques. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Twenty-three subjects (9 females and 14 males), aged between 18 and 23 years, were recruited...

Portable measurement systems using inertial sensors enable motion capture outside the lab, facilitating longitudinal and large-scale studies in natural environments. However, estimating 3D kinematics and kinetics from inertial data for a comprehensive biomechanical movement analysis is still challenging. Machine learning models or stepwise approaches performing Kalman filtering, inverse kinematics, and inverse dynamics can lead to inconsistencies between kinematics and kinetics. We investigated the reconstruction of 3D kinematics and kinetics of arbitrary running motions from inertial sensor data using optimal control simulations of full-body musculoskeletal models...

Introduction: This paper presents the Reconfigurable Multi-Terrain Adaptive Casualty Transport Aid (RMTACTA), an innovative solution addressing the critical need for rapid and safe pre-hospital casualty transport in industrial environments. The RMTACTA, leveraging the Watt II six-bar linkage, offers enhanced adaptability through six modes of motion, overcoming the limitations of traditional stretchers and stretcher vehicles by facilitating navigation across narrow and challenging terrains. Methods: The RMTACTA's design incorporates two branching four-bar mechanisms to form a compact, reconfigurable Watt II six-bar linkage mechanism...

The ability to manipulate cellular function using an external stimulus is a powerful strategy for studying complex biological phenomena. One approach to modulate the function of the cellular environment is split proteins. In this method, a biologically active protein or an enzyme is fragmented so that it reassembles only upon a specific stimulus. Although many tools are available to induce these systems, nature has provided other mechanisms to expand the split protein toolbox. Here, we show a novel method for reconstituting split proteins using magnetic stimulation...

The effective use of oxygen as an alloying element in Ti alloys is attractive due to the reduction of production cost and the increase in strength and hardness of the alloy. Although the oxygen addition in a Ti alloy increases strength and hardness, it may induce brittleness. An appropriate combination of alloying elements and thermomechanical treatment must be clarified for the use of oxygen as an alloying element. Ti-(0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0)Mo-(0, 1.5, 3.0)O alloys were developed, and their microstructure and mechanical properties were examined...

3D structures are crucial to biological function in the human body, driving interest in their in vitro fabrication. Advances in shape-morphing materials allow the assembly of 3D functional materials with the ability to modulate the architecture, flexibility, functionality, and other properties of the final product that suit the desired application. The principles of these techniques correspond to the principles of origami and kirigami, which enable the transformation of planar materials into 3D structures by folding, cutting, and twisting the 2D structure...

The demand for highly robust and metabolically versatile microbes is of utmost importance for replacing fossil-based processes with biotechnological ones. Such an example is the implementation of Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365 as a novel platform organism for the production of value-added products such as 2,3-butanediol or exopolysaccharides. For this, a complete genome sequence is the first requirement towards further developing this host towards a microbial chassis. A genome sequencing project has just been reported for P...

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been widely adopted as a standard for treating complicated acute and high-risk uncomplicated Stanford Type-B aortic dissections. The treatment redirects the blood flow towards the true lumen by covering the proximal dissection tear which promotes sealing of the false lumen. Despite advances in TEVAR, over 30% of Type-B dissection patients require additional interventions. This is primarily due to the presence of a persistent patent false lumen post-TEVAR that could potentially enlarge over time...

Codon optimization has evolved to enhance protein expression efficiency by exploiting the genetic code's redundancy, allowing for multiple codon options for a single amino acid. Initially observed in E. coli , optimal codon usage correlates with high gene expression, which has propelled applications expanding from basic research to biopharmaceuticals and vaccine development. The method is especially valuable for adjusting immune responses in gene therapies and has the potenial to create tissue-specific therapies...

Radio frequency (RF) hyperthermia focuses on raising the target area temperature to a value exceeding 45°C. Collagen is stimulated when the temperature rises to 45°C at the dermal layer, resulting in skin tightening. However, most studies on RF hyperthermia have focused on tumor ablation or using electrodes to radiate an electromagnetic field, which is highly inefficient. This study proposed a non-invasive RF hyperthermia skin-tightening system with a compact metamaterial-filled waveguide aperture antenna...

This study developed a new burn wound dressing based on core-shell nanofibers that co-deliver antibiotic and antioxidant drugs. For this purpose, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-chitosan (CS)/poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) core-shell nanofibers were fabricated through co-axial electrospinning technique. Antibiotic levofloxacin (LEV) and antioxidant quercetin (QS) were incorporated into the core and shell parts of PEO-CS/PLGA nanofibers, respectively. The drugs could bond to the polymer chains through hydrogen bonding, leading to their steady release for 168 h...

Succinic acid (SA), one of the 12 top platform chemicals produced from biomass, is a precursor of various high value-added derivatives. Specially, 1 mol CO2 is assimilated in 1 mol SA biosynthetic route under anaerobic conditions, which helps to achieve carbon reduction goals. In this review, methods for enhanced CO2 fixation in SA production and utilization of waste biomass for SA production are reviewed. Bioelectrochemical and bioreactor coupling systems constructed with off-gas reutilization to capture CO2 more efficiently were highlighted...