Skip to main content

News Archive

News Archive - Liezel Labios

3D Printed Implant Promotes Nerve Cell Growth to Treat Spinal Cord Injury

January 14, 2019

For the first time, researchers at University of California San Diego have used rapid 3D printing technologies to create a spinal cord, then successfully implanted that scaffolding, loaded with neural stem cells, into sites of severe spinal cord injury in rats.

3D Printed Implant Promotes Nerve Cell Growth to Treat Spinal Cord Injury

January 14, 2019

For the first time, researchers at University of California San Diego have used rapid 3D printing technologies to create a spinal cord, then successfully implanted that scaffolding, loaded with neural stem cells, into sites of severe spinal cord injury in rats.

Hardware-Software Co-Design Approach Could Make Neural Networks Less Power Hungry

December 19, 2018

Engineers have developed a neuroinspired hardware-software co-design approach that could make neural network training more energy-efficient and faster. Their work could one day make it possible to train neural networks on low-power devices such as smartphones, laptops and embedded devices.

Easy to Use 3D Bioprinting Technique Creates Lifelike Tissues From Natural Materials

November 28, 2018

Bioengineers have developed a 3D bioprinting technique that works with natural materials and is easy to use, allowing researchers of varying levels of technical expertise to create lifelike tissues. The goal is to make human organ models that can be used for drug screening and ex vivo studies.

Bioengineers Awarded $14M from NIH to Build Digital Maps of Brain, Other Organs at Single-Cell Level

November 2, 2018

Kun Zhang, professor of bioengineering at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, has received $14 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health to build 3D, digital single-cell maps of the human brain and organs in the respiratory and urinary systems. The work aims to provide a deeper understanding of the functions and malfunctions of organs in the human body at the level of individual cells.

Machine Learning Identifies Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Tuberculosis-Causing Bacteria

October 25, 2018

Researchers have trained a machine learning algorithm to identify and predict which genes make infectious bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The approach was tested on strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis—the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) in humans. It identified 33 known and 24 new antibiotic resistance genes in these bacteria. The approach could be used to predict resistance in other infection-causing pathogens.

Flowing Salt Water Over This Super-Hydrophobic Surface Can Generate Electricity

October 3, 2018

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a super-hydrophobic surface that can be used to generate electrical voltage. When salt water flows over this specially patterned surface, it can produce at least 50 millivolts. The proof-of-concept work could lead to the development of new power sources for lab-on-a-chip platforms and other microfluidics devices. It could someday be extended to energy harvesting methods in water desalination plants, researchers said.

Wearable Ultrasound Patch Monitors Blood Pressure Deep Inside Body

September 12, 2018

A new wearable ultrasound patch that non-invasively monitors blood pressure in arteries deep beneath the skin could help people detect cardiovascular problems earlier on and with greater precision. In tests, the patch performed as well as some clinical methods to measure blood pressure. Applications include real-time, continuous monitoring of blood pressure changes in patients with heart or lung disease, as well as patients who are critically ill or undergoing surgery.

Neutrophil Nanosponges Soak up Proteins That Promote Rheumatoid Arthritis

September 3, 2018

Engineers have developed neutrophil “nanosponges” that can safely absorb and neutralize a variety of proteins that play a role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Injections of these nanosponges effectively treated severe rheumatoid arthritis in two mouse models. Administering the nanosponges early on also prevented the disease from developing. The nanosponges are nanoparticles of biodegradable polymer coated with the cell membranes of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.

These Tags Turn Everyday Objects Into Smart, Connected Devices

August 16, 2018

Engineers have developed printable metal tags that could be attached to plain objects, like water bottles, walls or doors, and turn them into "smart" Internet of Things devices. The tags can also be fashioned into paper-thin control panels that can be used to remotely operate WiFi-connected speakers, smart lights and other smart home appliances. The metal tags are made from patterns of copper foil printed onto paper-like materials and disturb WiFi signals when touched.
Category navigation with Social links