Biophysics and bioengineering

Editor's choice

PSU aspiration bioprinted on the bottom of a glass Petri dish

Suction forces enable precise bioprinting

Could bacterial toxins be our next antibiotics?

Scientists map the path by which a novel type of antibacterial agent is imported into bacteria

Nanoparticles target the most dangerous prostate tumours

Nanoparticle-based contrast agents could both image and attack the nerve networks that make some prostate cancers especially aggressive

Latest news

Physics joins the fight against the coronavirus, philosophical differences of physics and chemistry, escape to an exotic exoplanet

COVID-19: how physics is helping the fight against the pandemic

Photo of the transceiver circuit next to a rolled-up version of the circuit inside a capsule

Millimetre-scale transceiver boosts ingestible sensors

Transverse arch puts a spring in your step, biomechanics study reveals

Curvature across foot plays a crucial role in how humans walk and run

A nanosensor to detect epileptic seizures

Highly sensitive device is the first to detect changes in potassium ion levels in the brains of freely moving mice

Microneedle patch combines cold plasma and immunotherapy to treat melanoma

A patch that delivers immune checkpoint inhibitors and cold plasma directly to tumours could boost immune response and kill cancer cells

Protein aggregation goes catalytic

Mathematical model describes how proteins self-assemble into the amyloid fibrils associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's

Smart band-aid senses and treats bacterial infections

A new paper-based adhesive plaster detects the presence of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant bacteria in wounds and treats them accordingly

Birds learn from watching TV, eye-catching science images and levitating blood

Excerpts from the Red Folder

Reports on biofabrication

Taking a tiger’s pulse, mending a broken heart and dancing your PhD

Excerpts from the Red Folder

Tina Tylek, Jürgen Groll and Carina Blum

Precision scaffolds tailor biomaterials to promote wound healing

Box-shaped 3D tissue scaffolds cause human macrophages to switch into a pro-healing type, for use in biomaterial-based wound dressings

Cells thrive in blood-based bioink

3D bioprinted structures made with human platelet-derived bioink are particularly hospitable to cells, promoting proliferation without the need for animal products

3D bacterial biofilms help tackle antimicrobial resistance crisis

With antimicrobial resistance rising worldwide, 3D printed bacterial biofilms could provide a key weapon to aid the discovery of novel therapeutic targets

Hydrogel to repair heart proves safe to inject in humans

A first-in-human trial demonstrates the safety of an injectable hydrogel that aims to restore cardiac function following a heart attack

Quick-gelling inks allow high-resolution bioprinting

Multi-component tissue scaffolds with fine structural detail are now possible, offering unprecedented control over cellular development

Biomedical engineering

Our biomedical engineering collection provides the latest research and books facilitating timely and impactful discussions between scientists, engineers, and clinicians.

Videos

Integrated system offers new insights into molecular interactions

Tracking proton therapy with acoustic waves

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Brain injury diagnosed with a finger prick and an optofluidic chip

An optofluidic device uses Raman spectroscopy to detect a biomarker in blood associated with traumatic brain injury

Novel perfusion machine can keep livers alive for a week

A team from Zurich has developed a new perfusion machine that can keep donor livers alive outside of the body for seven days

Biodegradable guide can repair gaps in damaged nerves

A biodegradable synthetic nerve guide embedded with growth-promoting proteins can regenerate long sections of damaged nerves

A gloved hand holding a small vial full of polymerl vial

Light activation offers non-invasive removal of medical implants

Devices incorporating a light-sensitive hydrogel break down inside the body when exposed to light from an ingestible LED capsule

Bone marrow-on-a-chip models damage and disease

Human bone marrow chip provides a reliable model to study bone marrow damage by radiation, drugs and disease

AI algorithm detects single cancer cells throughout an entire mouse body

A novel deep-learning algorithm automatically detects tiny metastases and determines which ones are targeted by a potential drug

The remarkable progress in 3D bioprinting is now allowing scientists to fabricate artificial tissues and organs that could one day be implanted into the human body. This series of reports offers an insight into some of the most exciting recent advances, many of which were originally published in the IOP Publishing journal Biofabrication.