Bioengineering News and Research

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Organ-on-chip model advances study of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only impact an individual's health but also result in multibillion-dollar economic losses worldwide.

3 Apr 2026

Nanotube membrane injector enables precise transfer of cytoplasmic contents between cells

Cells are not isolated units; they continuously exchange proteins, genetic material, and even entire organelles with their neighbors.

3 Apr 2026

High-dose flu vaccine linked to lower Alzheimer’s disease risk

A UTHealth Houston physician's visit to a local public health building sparked community awareness and inspired a new research idea.

1 Apr 2026

Restoring tissue stiffness may reduce inflammation in gum disease

Periodontitis is a serious chronic inflammatory form of gum disease that affects millions worldwide. It can lead to tooth loss and the destruction of supporting bone.

31 Mar 2026

HOBIT device improves oxygen supply for drug-producing cells

Implanting living cells as long-term drug producers could transform treatment for numerous diseases, but it is difficult to house the tiny workers in quantities high enough to ensure dosage needs are met while also keeping the cells alive and thriving.

27 Mar 2026

ATLAS platform enables realistic study of metastatic cancer clusters

Metastasis, the spread of cancer from a primary tumor to other parts of the body, is difficult to study in the lab, in part because researchers lack reliable ways to recreate the conditions cancer cells encounter as they travel through the bloodstream.

26 Mar 2026

Redesigned lipid nanoparticles improve mRNA delivery to lymph nodes

Penn Engineers have redesigned a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the delivery vehicles behind mRNA vaccines, to steer the particles toward lymph nodes while reducing off-target delivery to the liver.

24 Mar 2026

New tool helps identify fake medicines through pill dissolution patterns

Fake news can be tricky to spot, but spotting fake drugs just got a little easier. Researchers have devised a low-cost way to help distinguish legitimate medications from counterfeit ones.

19 Mar 2026

New nanoparticle therapy overcomes T cell exhaustion in solid tumors

Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new type of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) that could one day serve as a universal immunotherapy for cancers that form solid tumors, including common variants such as cancers of the breast, liver and colon.

18 Mar 2026

New approach developed to visualize proteins at unprecedented scale and sensitivity

Proteins, one of the smallest building blocks of life on Earth, hold promise for answering some of biology's biggest questions.

18 Mar 2026

Modified lipid nanoparticles boost mRNA vaccines while reducing side effects

The most common side effects of mRNA vaccines like the COVID-19 shot are well known: soreness, mild fever and general malaise.

17 Mar 2026

Implantable device boosts immune cells to fight cancer effectively

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment by harnessing the body's own immune system to fight disease.

17 Mar 2026

Scientists turn plastic waste into Parkinson’s drug levodopa using engineered bacteria

Researchers engineered a two-strain microbial system that converts PET-derived terephthalic acid into levodopa, overcoming key bottlenecks in transport and enzyme inhibition. The proof-of-concept process achieves high yields under mild conditions and demonstrates a potential route for upcycling plastic waste into valuable pharmaceuticals.

17 Mar 2026

Using machine learning to identify individuals at risk for intimate partner violence

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a series of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that uses machine learning to identify individuals who may be at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) using information from their electronic medical records (EMRs).

13 Mar 2026

Lifelong tracking of fish reveals early behavioral signals of aging

Scientists tracking the entire life of the African turquoise killifish have discovered that behavior alone can predict whether an animal will live a long or short life.

12 Mar 2026

Adding three simple amino acids boosts mRNA and CRISPR delivery

Lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, best known as the delivery vehicle for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines received by billions of people, are now at the center of a much larger medical revolution.

12 Mar 2026

Scientists uncover how the immune system actively builds food tolerance

Food allergies are serious and, for some, potentially deadly. And yet, despite decades of research into allergies and what causes them, very little is known about why the vast majority of people are able to tolerate foods that can sicken or even kill others.

11 Mar 2026

Simplified nanoparticles "educate" the immune system to find and destroy disease-causing cells

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have developed a simplified version of biodegradable nanoparticles that can "educate" the immune system to find and destroy disease-causing cells throughout the body.

11 Mar 2026

New biotech partnership aims to accelerate stem cell therapies for heart disease

A new biotech company forged through an Australian and Danish partnership will accelerate treatments for children and adults with heart disease. Harnessing cellular therapies, the company aims to conduct human clinical trials within three to five years.

10 Mar 2026

New CRISPR technique boosts mitochondrial function to treat heart failure

After a heart attack, the heart struggles to recoup and maintain energy. One third of patients develop heart failure as a result ⎯ a condition that impacts 6.8 million Americans and carries a high lifetime risk with 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. expected to develop the condition during their lifetime.

9 Mar 2026