Category Archives: BioEngineering

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (AP) - The future is now at UMass Dartmouths bioengineering lab, where students and staff are working on things that were once the stuff of science fiction. And theyre doing it in a lab that allows them the space and equipment to do cutting-edge research in a field thats the fastest-growing major at UMass Dartmouth. I think its changed dramatically, said Nick Macedo, 21, a senior working on cell cultures in the lab that was inaugurated last September on the second floor of the former textile building. Previously, a group of bioengineering students would huddle around a teacher in a small space. Now they have individualized teaching because everyone gets their own spot and instruments, Macedo said. Its the only place on campus where Macedo said he can work on cell and tissue cultures, a major skill in todays world that will make him more attractive in the job market or when he applies for graduate school. The old lab was shared with other majors and did not have the space and equipment the new one has, said Ph.D. scholar Abdulrahman Kehail, 27, whose research is focused on producing bioplastics from bacteria. It has a lot of windows … Continue reading →

New research shows bacteria can use tiny magnetic particles to effectively create a 'natural battery.' According to work published in journal Science on 27 March, the bacteria can load electrons onto and discharge electrons from microscopic particles of magnetite. This discovery holds out the potential of using this mechanism to help clean up environmental pollution, and other bioengineering applications. According to study leader Dr James Byrne (Tbingen): "The geochemistry is interesting in itself, but there are also potentially useful implications which may derive form this work. The flow of electrons is critical to the existence of all life and the fact that magnetite can be considered to be redox active opens up the possibility of bacteria being able to exist or survive in environments where other redox active compounds are in short supply in comparison to magnetite. In our study we only looked at iron metabolizing bacteria, but we speculate that it might be possible for other non-iron metabolizing organisms to use magnetite as a battery as well -- or if they can be made to use it, through genetic engineering. But this is something that we do not know yet." Researchers from the University of Tbingen, the University of … Continue reading →

New research shows bacteria can use tiny magnetic particles to effectively create a 'natural battery.' According to work published in journal Science on 27 March, the bacteria can load electrons onto and discharge electrons from microscopic particles of magnetite. This discovery holds out the potential of using this mechanism to help clean up environmental pollution, and other bioengineering applications. The European Association of Geochemistry is highlighting this work as especially interesting. According to study leader Dr James Byrne (Tbingen): "The geochemistry is interesting in itself, but there are also potentially useful implications which may derive form this work. The flow of electrons is critical to the existence of all life and the fact that magnetite can be considered to be redox active opens up the possibility of bacteria being able to exist or survive in environments where other redox active compounds are in short supply in comparison to magnetite. In our study we only looked at iron metabolizing bacteria, but we speculate that it might be possible for other non-iron metabolizing organisms to use magnetite as a battery as well - or if they can be made to use it, through genetic engineering. But this is something that we do … Continue reading →

March 25, 2015 These bacteria are NERDS. (Credit: Thinkstock) Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com @BednarChuck Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have created a robotic germ by placing a humidity sensor on a bacterial spore. This is what they are calling the first-ever example of nanoscale bioengineering involving these minute, one-celled reproductive units. Here, the spore reacts actively to humidity; and the reaction is translated to an electronic response from the interfaced graphene quantum dots. (Credit: Berry Research Laboratory at UIC) The research is the latest entry in the first generation of bio-electromechanical devices designed to combine living organism with nonliving technology to conduct research and solve a variety of different problems by using miniature machines too small for the naked eye to see. [STORY: 'Warhead' molecule hunts down deadly bacteria] The UIC researchers, who described their work in a recent issue of the journal Scientific Reports, believe that their discovery could ultimately lead to the evolution of next-generation bio-derived microarchitectures, probes for cellular/biochemical processes, biomicrorobotic-mechanisms, and membranes for micromechanical actuation. NERD alert! Their nanobot, the Nano-Electro-Robotic Device (NERD), and lead investigator/UIC associate professor of chemical engineering Vikas Berry explained that he and his colleagues created it by taking … Continue reading →

The use of technology to solve medically important problems is increasing the demand for engineers who are also properly trained in basic medical science and human biology. This fusion of knowledge is known as bioengineering. The London Paralympic Games 2012 were a fantastic showcase for the work of bioengineers, from the prostheses that powered athletes such as Brazils Alan Fonteles Oliveira, to the sport-specific wheelchair that Great Britains David Weir used to win four Paralympic golds. Prostheses and medical devices are just one part of this rapidly growing field, which combines engineering innovation with diagnosis and treatment of health problems. The opportunities this presents are as diverse as the field itself, from medical devices such as pacemakers to brainmachine interfacing and from imaging technologies such as CT and MRI to artificial organs. We collaborate closely with other departments and with industry partners in the chemical, energy (oil, gas and renewable), healthcare and processing industries. This ensures that all of our teaching and research is underpinned by the latest interdisciplinary thinking and real-world experience. Imperials Department of Bioengineering is a world leader in its field, with expertise in a wide range of areas including robotics and humanmachine interaction, the mechanics of … Continue reading →

Educating a new generation of scholars who will be equally facile in biomedicine and engineering is our goal. Our curriculum is designed so that engineering techniques and biomedical problems are taught together as much as possible. We are seeking outstanding graduate students who are committed to the discipline of bioengineering to join our program. See more information about the graduate program. Although primarily a graduate-level department, pre-approved B.S. majors in Bioengineering, Biomechanical Engineering and Biomedical Computation can be arranged through the School of Engineering. See more information about the Bioengineering Undergraduate Program. We also have a coterminal degree available for outstanding Stanford undergraduates who wish to complete a MS degree in bioengineering. Any prospective student interested in meeting with the Student Services Office should email bioengineering@stanford.edu at least 2 business days in advance to make an appointment. The Student Services Office cannot guarantee availability for drop-in visitations. See more information about the coterminal BS/MS degree. See our graduation festivities on our graduation webpage. Current list of MS and PhD students. Students who entered in 14-15 Students who entered in 13-14 Go here to see the original: Education - Department of Bioengineering - Stanford ... … Continue reading →

Revolution Bioengineering Chat Join PLOS Synbio Community Editor Aakriti Jain for a Google Hangout Q A session next Tuesday, March 24 at 9 AM EST with Keira Havens and the Revolution Bioengineering team. Revolution Bio is. By: PLOS Video Channel … Continue reading →

Alexis Pea 16, Bioengineering Alexis is as passionate about her college experience as she is about her future in bioengineering. Hear about her experiences at Syracuse University's College of Engineering and Computer Science. By: SyracuseEngineer … Continue reading →

What's in store for the future of industrial bioprocessing for medical therapies, which involves the use of living organisms or cells to create drugs or other agents? Will the batch or continuous bioprocessing platform dominate biomanufacturing of human therapeutics down the road? Three pioneers in the field address these questions in an upcoming issue of Biotechnology and Bioengineering. With batch bioprocessing, components are transferred as a batch from one holding vessel or processing equipment to the next, while with continuous bioprocessing, there is a continuous flow like an assembly line. Dr. Matthew Croughan notes that we will never require a biopharmaceutical plant that truly needs to be continuous on a capacity basis. "We will never need to process 50,000 barrels--8 M liters--or more per day, like a continuous oil refinery," he said. Dr. Konstantin Konstantinov and Dr. Charles Cooney stress that while we shouldn't close existing batch operations, methods are likely to evolve around continuous bioprocessing. Therefore, the development of this new platform should be given serious consideration. ### This study is published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of … Continue reading →

Christopher Jewell, an assistant professor in the University of Maryland Fischell Department of Bioengineering, was awarded a three-year, $250,000 grant from the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy to develop gene therapy to promote cancer immunity, the university and the alliance announced Monday. Jewell's research could create vaccine "depots" among the lymph nodes, specialized tissues that control responses against disease and infection. The alliance is a nonprofit that sponsors promising research into cell and gene therapies to battle cancer. Jewell is one of two grant recipients this year and among 46 since 2001 from the alliance, which has a goal of replacing radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, while turning cancer into a manageable, treatable disease. The Stamford, Conn.-based group has handed out more than $25 million in funding for the cause. View post: Maryland researcher wins grant to study alternative cancer therapy … Continue reading →