A team led by scientists has designed and tested a 3D-printed metamaterial that can manipulate light with nanoscale precision. Their designed optical element focuses light to discrete points in a 3D helical pattern.
Read moreResearchers have developed a new method that reveals the unique fluorescence patterns produced by individual cells in mixtures of bacteria, yeast and fungi. They combined confocal microscopy with micro-spectroscopy to determine the fluorescence signatures from different types of microbes. They trained machine learning systems to analyze the images and identify different individual cells and cell-types automatically, even those with very similar shapes and sizes.
Read moreResearchers have developed 3-dimensional human tissue culture models of pediatric and adult brain cancers in a brain-mimicking microenvironment, that includes brain-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) — the complex network of proteins and amino acids with bound sugars that not only provides support for surrounding neural tissue, but also helps to guide cell growth and development. The development represents a significant advancement for the study of brain tumor biology and pharmacological response.
Read moreChemists have found that deliquescent minerals, which dissolve in water they absorb from humid air, can assist the construction of proteins from simpler building blocks during cycles timed to mimic day and night on the early Earth.
Read moreCurrent biology research relies on the ability to purify cell types using antibodies or transgenic constructs. However, antibody availability is often limited, and genetic manipulation is labor intensive or sometimes impossible. To date, no universal method exists to enrich for cell types without a priori knowledge of cell type markers. Here, we propose GateID, a computational method that combines single-cell transcriptomics with FACS index sorting to purify cell types using only native cellular properties.
Read moreMany potential pharmaceuticals end up failing during clinical trials, but thanks to new research, biological molecules once considered for cancer treatment are now being repurposed as organic semiconductors for use in chemical sensors and transistors.
Read moreA new 3D structure for growing cell cultures could enable doctors to test medications on model tumors grown from a patient's own cells, according to a team of engineers and cancer researchers.
Read moreResearchers have devised a way to accurately estimate the weight of free-living whales using only aerial images taken by drones.
Read moreScientists have taken a major step to address the challenge of engineer tissues organized like native tissues. They have demonstrated a new method to fabricate scaffolds presenting spatially organized cues to control cell behavior locally within one material.
Read moreIn a proof-of-concept experiment, researchers say they have successfully used microscopic human-made particles to predict the severity of patients' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measuring how quickly the particles move through mucus samples. The technique, say the researchers, could eventually help doctors deliver more effective treatments sooner.
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