Med-X最新文献

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as modular and potent vehicles for nucleic acid delivery, offering a potentially promising new strategy for cancer therapy. This study investigates how LNP elasticity, modulated through variations in sterol lipid structure and sterol lipid molar ratio, affects LNP endocytosis and mRNA transfection in liver (HepG2), ovarian (OVCAR8), and lung (H1299) cancer cell lines. All LNP formulations were characterized for size, polydispersity index, and mRNA encapsulation efficiency and subsequently assessed for mRNA transfection in HepG2, OVCAR8, and H1299 cancer cells. In vitro screening showed that LNP elasticity influences mRNA transfection across all three cell types. Specifically, LNPs of intermediate stiffness enhanced mRNA transfection in HepG2 and OVCAR8 cells whereas LNPs with low stiffness improved mRNA transfection in H1299 cells. Mechanistic endocytosis studies showed that clathrin-mediated and lipid raft-mediated endocytosis pathways contribute to LNP uptake in all three cell lines. These findings highlight the promise of tuning LNP elasticity to enhance mRNA delivery to cancer cells and potentially improve the therapeutic efficacy of LNPs for cancer therapy applications.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44258-026-00082-w.

In nature, many organisms, such as mussels, geckos, tree frogs, octopuses, and salamanders, have evolved remarkable bioadhesion strategies, that enable them to attach to wet environments, climb vertical or inverted surfaces, and capture preys. These strategies rely on chemical interactions mediated by secreted bioadhesives as well as physical forces, including but not limited to friction, van der Waals interactions, capillary forces, and vacuum suction, arising from specialized micro- and nanostructures. Chemical bioadhesives, composed of proteins, polysaccharides, or other macromolecules, facilitate strong, reversible or irreversible adhesion to wet or dynamic surfaces, as exemplified by mussel byssal threads and tree frog toe pad mucus. These adhesives act through mechanisms such as covalent bonding, metal coordination, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. This review outlines recent advances in both chemical and physical bioadhesion strategies. We examine the adhesion principles used by mussels, geckos, tree frogs, octopuses, and other organisms that secrete adhesive chemicals, emphasizing the roles of micro- and nanostructures, interfacial forces, and soft contact mechanics. We also present design strategies for creating artificial adhesives inspired by these biological systems and describe their applications in regenerative medicine. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future directions in bioinspired and chemically based adhesion.

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Linear RNA-based therapeutics such as messenger RNAs, antisense oligonucleotides, and small interfering RNAs are limited by susceptibility to nuclease degradation, reduced in vivo stability, and potential immunogenicity, which hinder their broader clinical applications. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a type of single-stranded RNA molecule characterized by a covalently closed circular structure formed through back-splicing. Due to their resistance to exonuclease-mediated degradation and relatively decreased innate immune activation, circRNAs represent a versatile RNA tool capable of long-lasting protein expression. Endogenous circRNAs regulate gene expression via miRNA sponging and protein interactions and, in select cases, support cap-independent translation. Dysregulated circRNAs have been implicated in cancer, metabolic disease, and inflammation. Recent technological advances have enabled efficient engineering of synthetic circRNAs, incorporating optimized components for enhanced circularization, purification, and translational performance. In addition, progress in delivery platforms, including lipid nanoparticles, viral vectors, and biomimetic carriers, has expanded the therapeutic potential of circRNAs across oncology, infectious diseases, and immune modulation. Here, we summarize the biological features and therapeutic applications of circRNAs, highlight strategies to overcome manufacturing and delivery challenges, and discuss the future opportunities for unlocking the clinical potential of engineered circRNA therapeutics.

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Mental disorders disturb the cognition, emotion, and behavior of a diverse patient population, and can reduce their quality of life and even cause death. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, challenges remain in achieving objective understanding, accurate assessment, and timely intervention for personalized conditions. Here, we review the recent development of intelligent sensing devices and systems for advancing the diagnosing, monitoring, and managing of mental disorders, with a special emphasis on personalized mental healthcare. We first introduce the mechanisms and clinical symptoms of mental disorders and related diagnostic principles. Then, we discuss the working principle and application of wearable sensors and systems to track various physiological parameters and markers for long-term monitoring, early screening, and treatment evaluation. Furthermore, we highlight recent emerging advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital health and give perspectives on their integration with sensing technologies to address the emergent challenges of personalized mental healthcare. We believe innovative intelligent sensing technologies may significantly improve the patient's quality of life, enhance the efficiency and robustness of current healthcare systems, and reduce the socioeconomic burden for mental disorders and other diseases.

The ability of liquid metals (LMs) to recover from repeated stretching and deformation is a particularly attractive attribute for soft bioelectronics. In addition to their high electrical and thermal conductivity, LMs can be actuated, potentially enabling highly durable electro-mechanical and microfluidics systems for applications such as cooling, drug delivery, or reconfigurable electronics. In particular, continuous electrowetting (CEW) phenomena can actuate liquid metal at relatively low voltage and affordable power requirements for wearable systems (~ < 10 V, ~ 10 - 100 µW) by inducing a surface tension gradient across the LM. However, sustaining LM actuation remains challenging due to factors such as electrolyte depletion, polarity changes in multi-electrode systems, and limitations related to LM composition. Here, we demonstrate LM actuation in a circular conduit for prolonged durations of at least nine hours. We enabled sustained actuation by sequentially applying short, direct current (DC) pulses through a multi-electrode system based on the dynamics of LM actuation. As a proof of concept, we also demonstrated the ability of LM to transport electrically conducting, non-conducting, and magnetic materials within a microchannel and show the liquid metal actuation system can be potentially miniaturized to the size of a wearable device. We envision that with further miniaturization of the device architectures, our CEW platform can enable future integration of low-voltage electro-mechanical systems into a broad range of wearable form factors.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44258-025-00052-8.

Swallowing impairments, such as dysphagia, pose significant health risks, including aspiration pneumonia, especially in vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly. Traditional diagnostic methods like videofluoroscopy and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing have limitations, including radiation exposure and discomfort. This study explores the potential of photoacoustic imaging as a non-invasive alternative for detecting swallowing events. Utilizing a 10 mg/mL charcoal solution as a contrast agent, we conducted both ex-vivo and in-vivo experiments using pig models. The ex-vivo tests on pig cadavers validated the system's ability in detecting charcoal flow in the airway. Subsequent in-vivo experiments on live pigs, conducted with synchronized videofluoroscopy, demonstrated photoacoustic's potential in seeing the same structure as videofluoroscopy. Our preliminary investigation indicates that photoacoustic imaging could offer a safer, more accurate method for dysphagia assessment, particularly in pediatric settings.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44258-025-00062-6.

In contemporary medical technologies, the necessity for efficient, precise, and real-time health monitoring and management is becoming increasingly critical with the prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population. Traditional wired sensors and active wireless sensors continue to present numerous problems in practical applications, including complex structures, substantial size, frequent battery replacements, and an elevated risk of infection. Passive and wireless inductor-capacitor (LC) sensors are emerging as significant candidates to address these challenges. These sensors are typically constructed with a simple structure comprising a capacitor and an inductor, operating through magnetic coupling with external reading devices, thereby eliminating the necessity for batteries, connection wires, and peripheral circuits. This review commences with a succinct overview of the theoretical foundations, analyzing equivalent components and operational modes. It subsequently investigates sensor technologies by examining various types of sensors, including pressure, strain, humidity, temperature, and chemical sensors. Through the introduction of two primary scenarios-wearable and implantable-the review elucidates diverse advancements and requirements pertinent to biomedical applications. It concludes with a discussion of challenges and potential solutions to facilitate future developments in this field.

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Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are essential in transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain, and their impairment has been linked to glaucoma and various neuro-ophthalmic diseases. In vivo imaging of RGC morphology and functionality is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of retinal disease caused by RGC degeneration and their responses to treatments. This review provides a comprehensive overview of optical technologies suitable for in vivo RGC imaging. First, we compare scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, optical coherence tomography, and two-photon imaging and discuss their effectiveness in quantifying RGC damage in retinal disorders. Then, we discuss how functional vascular imaging techniques and specialized fluorophores, such as capQ and GCaMP, can be exploited to provide deeper insights into the physiology of RGCs. Lastly, we highlight the clinical translation of these imaging modalities, emphasizing handheld devices and clinical workflows to improve the image acquisition process. We also highlight the emerging role of machine learning, which automates tasks such as segmentation and disease classification to improve the efficiency of large data analysis.

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This perspective derives from the presentations and discussions on mechanobiology at the 2025 Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Conference in San Diego. Mechanobiological processes play critical roles in tissue development, regeneration, and disease progression. Recent advances in engineering, biology, and medicine have enabled the translation of mechanobiology discoveries into clinical practice, giving rise to the emerging field of mechanomedicine. The development and application of engineering technology and tools have provided new insights into how mechanical cues regulate immune cell response, stem cell differentiation, cell migration, and cell metabolism. In this perspective, we highlight exciting discoveries and innovative tools in mechanobiology research, and discuss challenges that must be overcome to truly bridge the gap between mechanobiology and mechanomedicine.

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Light-field imaging is an emerging paradigm in biomedical optics, offering the unique ability to capture volumetric information in a single snapshot by encoding both the spatial and angular components of light. Unlike conventional three-dimensional (3D) imaging modalities that rely on mechanical or optical scanning, light-field imaging enables high-speed volumetric acquisition, making it particularly well-suited for capturing rapid biological dynamics. This review outlines the theoretical foundations of light-field imaging and surveys its core implementations across microscopy, mesoscopy, and endoscopy. Special attention is given to the fundamental trade-offs between imaging speed, spatial resolution, and depth of field, as well as recent advances that address these limitations through compressive sensing, deep learning, and meta-optics. By positioning light-field imaging within the broader landscape of biomedical imaging technologies, we highlight its unique strengths, existing challenges, and future potential as a scalable and versatile tool for biological discovery and clinical applications.

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