Biotechnology Engineering Research Articles

Born of frustration: the emergence of Camelina sativa as a platform for lipid biotechnology.

The emerging crop Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (camelina) is a Brassicaceae oilseed with a rapidly growing reputation for the deployment of advanced lipid biotechnology and metabolic engineering. Camelina is recognised by agronomists for its traits including yield, oil/protein content, drought tolerance, limited input requirements, plasticity and resilience. Its utility as a platform for metabolic engineering was then quickly recognised, and biotechnologists have benefited from its short life cycle and facile genetic transformation, producing numerous transgenic interventions to modify seed lipid content and generate novel products. The desire to work with a plant that is both a model and crop has driven the expansion of research resources for camelina, including increased availability of genome and other "-omics" data sets. Collectively the expansion of these resources has established camelina as an ideal plant to study the regulation of lipid metabolism and genetic improvement. Furthermore, the unique characteristics of camelina enables the design-build-test-learn cycle to be transitioned from the controlled environment to the field. Complex metabolic engineering to synthesize and accumulate high levels of novel fatty acids and modified oils in seeds, can be deployed, tested and undergo rounds of iteration in agronomically relevant environments. Engineered camelina oils are now increasingly being developed and used to sustainably supply, improved nutrition, feed, biofuels and fossil fuel replacements for high-value chemical products. In this review, we provide a summary of seed fatty acid synthesis and oil assembly in camelina, highlighting how discovery research in camelina supports the advance of metabolic engineering towards the predictive manipulation of metabolism to produce desirable bio-based products. Further examples of innovation in camelina seed lipid engineering and crop improvement are then provided, describing how technologies (e.g., genetic modification (GM), gene editing (GE), RNAi, alongside GM and GE stacking) can be applied to produce new products and denude undesirable traits. Focusing on the production of long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in camelina, we describe how lipid biotechnology can transition from discovery to a commercial prototype. The prospects to produce structured triacylglycerol with fatty acids in specified stereospecific positions are also discussed, alongside the future outlook for the agronomic uptake of camelina lipid biotechnology.

Chemical reactions with the Casson nanofluid flow by the bioconvective behavior of microorganisms over a spinning disc.

This study examines the behavior of the Casson nanofluid bioconvection flow around a spinning disc under various influences, including gyrotactic microorganisms, multiple slips, and thermal radiation. Notably, it accounts for the reversible nature of the flow and incorporates the esterification process. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of reversible chemical reactions on the flow behavior of a Casson nanofluid in the presence of bioconvective microorganisms over a spinning disc. Specifically, the study seeks to understand how the non-Newtonian rheology of Casson fluids, enhanced by nanoparticles, affects heat and mass transfer and how bioconvection driven by motile microorganisms impacts the reaction kinetics and fluid dynamics. The significance of studying chemical reactions in Casson nanofluid flow with bioconvective microorganisms over a spinning disc lies in its broad applicability to fields such as chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental science, and nanotechnology. Using the right variables to change the nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) that govern the problem into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is a key step toward finding numerical solutions. Using numerical methods such as the bvp4c approach, the study explores the solutions to these intricate equations. Key focus areas include assessing the impacts of different parameters on the thermal field, nanoparticle concentration, and microbiological field. Graphical representations provide information on the velocity, temperature, concentration, and microorganism profiles, elucidating the underlying physical effects. Furthermore, the study evaluates the wall shear stress, the local Nusselt number, the local Sherwood number, and the local motile density number, providing graphical explanations to elucidate these phenomena. Notably, it highlights the distinction in the rate of the motile density number between reversible and irreversible flows concerning Brownian motion and Peclet number. The findings of the theoretical simulations have significant implications for biotechnology and thermal engineering, offering dynamic insights into practical applications within these fields.

Emerging bioengineering breakthroughs in precision diagnosis and therapy for endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are debilitating gynecological conditions that severely affect the quality of life of women. Traditional diagnostic and treatment methods, including laparoscopic surgery and hormonal therapy, face significant limitations such as incomplete lesion detection, high recurrence rates, and adverse side effects. Emerging bioengineering technologies offer promising solutions for precise diagnosis and therapy of these diseases. Advances in biomarker detection through electrochemical immunosensors, including specific molecular markers like cytokines and growth factors, have improved their early diagnosis. Innovative imaging techniques, such as near-infrared fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and photoacoustic imaging, enhance lesion visualization and surgical precision. In therapeutic applications, bioengineered drug delivery systems enable targeted therapy by modifying drug carriers with ligands targeting highly expressed receptors in endometriotic lesions. Such strategies could improve drug accumulation at target sites and reduce damage to healthy tissues. Integrating external energy (including lasers, focused ultrasound, and magnetic fields) with nanoplatforms offers key benefits for treating endometriosis and adenomyosis, allowing precise delivery of energy-responsive molecules to lesions and minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Additionally, novel approaches, such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, ferroptosis induction, and synthetic lethal activation, offer new avenues for effective treatment of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Significantly, this paper discusses the advantages of precision diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in preserving the fertility of women of reproductive age. This review highlights the potential of bioengineering breakthroughs to transform the diagnosis and management of endometriosis and adenomyosis, emphasizing their role in advancing precision medicine and improving women's health.

Bridging the gap between tumor and disease: Innovating cancer and glioma models.

Recent advances in cancer biology and therapeutics have underscored the importance of preclinical models in understanding and treating cancer. Nevertheless, current models often fail to capture the complexity and patient-specific nature of human tumors, particularly gliomas. This review examines the strengths and weaknesses of such models, highlighting the need for a new generation of models. Emphasizing the critical role of the tumor microenvironment, tumor, and patient heterogeneity, we propose integrating our advanced understanding of glioma biology with innovative bioengineering and AI technologies to create more clinically relevant, patient-specific models. These innovations are essential for improving therapeutic development and patient outcomes.

The hidden impact of bullying and harassment in biotechnology and biomedical engineering

The adverse effects of academic bullying and harassment, which are longstanding issues within academic environments, on industry sectors have been inadequately addressed. This commentary explores the detrimental impacts of bullying and harassment in the biotech and biomedical engineering industries, including reduced employee morale, increased turnover, impaired collaboration, and hindered innovation.

EMHD flow and heat transport in cross ternary nanofluid with gyrotactic microorganisms: A case study on thermophoretic particle deposition

The study of ternary nanofluids has gained significant interest in engineering and biomedical applications due to their enhanced thermal conductivity and heat transfer properties. This research specifically focuses on electromagnetic hydrodynamic (EMHD) flow and heat transport in cross-flow ternary nanofluids containing gyrotactic microorganisms, where thermophoretic particle deposition plays a key role. Efficient thermal management and targeted particle deposition are crucial in advanced applications, including solar collectors and biomedical devices. This research presents a comprehensive investigation into the Marangoni convective flow of kerosene oil containing ternary nanoparticles Gra,MgO,andSiO2 over a sheet with significant impact of thermal conductivity varies linearly with temperature. Also, the work utilized the Cross model to capture the shear-thinning features of TNFs, describing their non-Newtonian performance. System of PDEs are achieved and reduced to ODEs using appropriate variables. The spectral collocation method based on Appell-Changhee polynomials was utilized to solve ODEs. The results show that the thermal distribution improves for growing values of exponential heat source and thermal radiation parameter. An increase in the nanoparticle volume fraction parameter reduces the velocity distribution, while the temperature distribution displays an opposite effect. These findings support applications in bioengineering and medical technologies, where precise control of flow and thermal properties is essential.

Strategies for applying noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to treat psychiatric disorders

With the continuous development of science and technology, medical science, and bioengineering technology, various neuromodulation techniques, such as electrical, magnetic, acoustic, and optical modalities, are rapidly emerging in the therapeutic regime of psychiatric disorders. How to choose the appropriate noninvasive brain stimulation techniques for different psychiatric disorders and their clinical features is becoming a practical dilemma in clinical setting. In this paper, by describing the complex pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and the limitations of existing therapeutic approaches on psychiatric disorders, combining with the characteristics of different neuromodulation techniques, we propose a new strategy of combined noninvasive brain stimulation to intervene in psychiatric disorders: high-intensity stimulation modulating the whole brain without inducing epilepsy should be as the basic treatment of psychiatric disorders, applying low-intensity stimulation with the advantage of specific targets/brain regions to modulate the residual symptoms or/and single symptom, and for refractory and acute psychiatric disorders, ECT/MECT is preferred for rapid symptom control; different noninvasive brain stimulation techniques can be combined with pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, which will provide a new idea for the future development of this field.

A PBL strategy for incorporating 3D cell culture into the classrooms of undergraduate biotechnology engineering students

ABSTRACT Background In Mexico, the undergraduate curriculum in biological, biomedical and related sciences only gives hands-on experience in 2D cell culture due to its low cost and ease of implementation. These traditional lecture-based cell culture courses are often limited to routine learning methods and fail to demonstrate alternative culture strategies that would be needed to realistically mimic the processes occurring within the human body and be used to solve relevant medical problems. The use of 3D cell culture, on the other hand, makes it possible to recreate a microenvironment similar to that of living tissue, which is extremely useful for physicochemical studies. Moreover, the incorporation of problem-based learning (PBL) techniques to teach 3D cell culture has the potential to greatly enhance student learning. Purpose The objective of the work herein was to evaluate the success of implementing a 3D cell culture technique using the PBL method of teaching. Sample In this pilot study, eight students attended a traditionally structured cell culture course to learn cell culture techniques (control group), and six students were taught using a PBL model. Design and methods The activities were carried out either with the guidance of an instructor (traditional learning) or through an autonomous search for information (PBL).3D cell culture and scaffold printing exercises were incorporated into the course schedule, fostering in our students the ability to solve real world problems within a team. Results With the PBL teaching method, students displayed a slight tendency to better interpret and discuss their results (P = 0.436). Conclusion This pilot study highlights the usefulness of self-learning through a PBL system and warrants larger-scale research to better examine the potential benefits of incorporating a PBL strategy for teaching 3D cell culture in undergraduate biotechnology engineering laboratories.

Engineering Solutions for Drug Delivery System

This paper examines the evolution of engineering solutions in drug delivery systems, emphasizing the role of nanotechnology in overcoming current challenges in precision medicine. It addresses key challenges in drug delivery, including targeting specificity, minimizing adverse effects, and enhancing the efficiency of drug carriers. Both top-down and bottom-up engineering approaches are examined, with case studies highlighting successful applications in cancer therapy, gene delivery, and implantable devices. The paper also investigates future trends, such as smart and active delivery systems, and discusses the interdisciplinary collaboration required for these advances. By integrating material science, bioengineering, and pharmaceutical technology, this research presents innovative solutions aimed at improving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing toxicity. Keywords: Drug delivery systems, Nanotechnology, Top-down engineering, Bottom-up engineering, Gene therapy, Smart drug delivery.

Directional intermodular coupling enriches functional complexity in biological neuronal networks

Hierarchically modular organization is a canonical network topology that is evolutionarily conserved in the nervous systems of animals. Within the network, neurons form directional connections defined by the growth of their axonal terminals. However, this topology is dissimilar to the network formed by dissociated neurons in culture because they form randomly connected networks on homogeneous substrates. In this study, we fabricated microfluidic devices to reconstitute hierarchically modular neuronal networks in culture (in vitro) and investigated how non-random structures, such as directional connectivity between modules, affect global network dynamics. Embedding directional connections in a pseudo-feedforward manner suppressed excessive synchrony in cultured neuronal networks and enhanced the integration-segregation balance. Modeling the behavior of biological neuronal networks using spiking neural networks (SNNs) further revealed that modularity and directionality cooperate to shape such network dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate that for a given network topology, the statistics of network dynamics, such as global network activation, correlation coefficient, and functional complexity, can be analytically predicted based on eigendecomposition of the transition matrix in the state-transition model. Hence, the integration of bioengineering and cell culture technologies enables us not only to reconstitute complex network circuitry in the nervous system but also to understand the structure-function relationships in biological neuronal networks by bridging theoretical modeling with in vitro experiments.

Brassica Vegetables - An Undervalued Nutritional Goldmine

Abstract The genus Brassica includes six species and over 15 types of vegetables that are widely cultivated and consumed globally. This group of vegetables is rich in bioactive compounds, including glucosinolates, vitamins (such as vitamin C, folate, tocopherol, and phylloquinone), carotenoids, phenols, and minerals, which are crucial for enriching diets and maintaining human health. However, the full extent of these phytonutrients and their significant health benefits remain to be fully elucidated. This review highlights the nutrient compositions and health advantages of Brassica vegetables and discusses the impacts of various processing methods on their nutritional value. Additionally, we discuss potential strategies for enhancing the nutrition of Brassica crops through agronomic biofortification, conventional breeding, and biotechnological or metabolic engineering approaches. This review lays the foundation for the nutritional improvement of Brassica crops.

A Case Study of an Antibiotic Discovery Laboratory Autonomous Learning Assignment—An Evaluation of Undergraduate Students’ Disciplinary Bias

Current higher education trends are moving towards interdisciplinary curricula to provide new tools for solving complex issues. However, course design and learning tracks still create divisions between scientific disciplines. This study aimed to evaluate the disciplinary bias of second-year undergraduate students of biotechnology engineering in the organic chemistry laboratory class through a laboratory setting involving blended disciplines. An experiment on antibiotic discovery that integrates parallel and combinatorial organic chemistry syntheses with microbiology techniques was chosen. As a part of an activity, students had free choice in designing the arrangement of the organic compounds and the two bacterial species by setting up the layout for a 96-well plate. The study visually analyzed students’ plate layouts (n = 74) according to discipline classification and the spatial arrangements of organic compounds (e.g., products and libraries). The results identified four themes that are suggested to reflect students’ vertical, lateral, and interdisciplinary thinking, as most were found to be in the procedural knowledge range and between Bloom’s application and analysis dimensions. Using this study’s thematic analysis methodology in chemistry and related educational fields can provide a pedagogical reflective tool and advance personalized teaching and interdisciplinarity.

The effect of platelet-rich fibrin on the biological properties of urothelial cells

Urethral reconstruction presents a challenging issue in urology, primarily due to the limited availability of alternative materials for repair. The advancement of bioengineering technology has brought new hope to researchers, with a focus on the selection of appropriate biological scaffolds and seed cells. In order to find an ideal alternative material, we used platelet-rich fibrin as the bioscaffold and urothelial cells as the seed cells, meanwhile, we intended to investigate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin on the biological properties of urothelial cells. We transformed and characterised induced pluripotent stem cells into urothelial cells and prepared platelet-rich fibrin. Platelet-rich fibrin was cultured in a complex with urothelial cells to observe the effect of platelet-rich fibrin on the proliferation and migration ability of urothelial cells. The results showed that the induced pluripotent stem cells were successfully transformed into urothelial cells, platelet-rich fibrin was regularly arranged in cords, with platelets and other structures distributed between them, and the proliferation and migration of urothelial cells were significantly increased. These results suggested that platelet-rich fibrin is biocompatible with urothelial cells and it promotes the proliferation and migration of urothelial cells, which lays a good foundation for its use as an alternative material for urethral repair.

A Study on Vegetation Restoration and Ecological Rehabilitation of Mine Slopes Based on Bioengineering Technology

This paper studies the application of bioengineering technology for vegetation restoration and ecological rehabilitation of mine slopes. Bioengineering technology is a comprehensive engineering technology that uses living plants and other auxiliary materials to construct slope structures, and realizes the stability, vegetation restoration and ecological rehabilitation of the slopes. Then, the paper reveals the principle and mechanism of bioengineering technology, which is mainly to use the parts of plants, such as roots, stems and leaves, to reinforce, fix and protect the slope soil, and to improve and regulate the slope ecosystem. The paper further explores the methods and techniques of bioengineering technology, and studies and summarizes the specific methods and techniques of plant selection, configuration, planting and management of bioengineering technology. Finally, the paper points out the problems and challenges of bioengineering technology, such as the imperfection of theory and method, the limitation of application and promotion, the deficiency of monitoring and management, and the uncertainty of social and environmental impact, and suggests further research and exploration of bioengineering technology. The paper concludes that bioengineering technology is a promising technology for vegetation restoration and ecological rehabilitation of slopes.

Право человеческого эмбриона и плода на биобезопасность: актуальные вопросы правопонимания и правового регулирования

The article examines topical issues of legal understanding and legal regulation of the right of the human embryo and fetus to biosafety. The idea of forming the legal status of the human embryo and fetus is put forward, similar to the status of a born child with fundamental rights to life, health, dignity and biosafety. The assessment of the established legal approaches to solving such problems as the legal nature of the human embryo and fetus, their right to protection of their natural biological existence and development; protecting embryos and fetuses from abuse of biotechnology and genetic engineering. The author considers it important in the modern legal regulation of the use of biotechnologies to find a balance between rationality and humanism, which allows treating the embryo and fetus as a person, in respect of which an appropriate system of legal protection is being built against modern biological threats and challenges caused, among other things, by the unregulated development of biotechnologies.

Paul B. Preciado’s queer hospital: healthcare architectures for pleasure, transformation and subversion

ABSTRACT This article brings the contemporary philosopher Paul B. Preciado’s work on queer sexuality and embodiment into close contact with his work on architecture, asking how Preciado’s work can help us to reconceptualize the design of clinical spaces and environments to care more effectively for queer and non-normative bodies. In Testo Junkie (2013), Preciado explores how the body is constructed in advanced capitalism as a work of both social construction and bio-technological engineering. The focus of Pornotopia (2014), meanwhile, is the specific role played by architecture in the construction of modernity’s bodies, genders and sexualities. Across both works, Preciado dialogs closely with Michel Foucault, showing how normative genders and sexualities are actively produced and policed through the complex interplays between social, biomedical, technological and architectural forces and structures. Preciado, however, goes one step further, exploring how we might “hack” these same structures and use biomedical technologies and architectural concepts to emancipate the bodies and desire from normative constraints, thus liberating the body’s true capacities for pleasure and transformation. Reading Preciado alongside interdisciplinary scholarship on queer healthcare design, this article questions investigates how “hacking” clinical architecture through queer interventions can transform the sensory landscapes of healthcare.

Electromagnetic-responsive targeted delivery scaffold technology has better potential to repair injured peripheral nerves: a narrative review

Peripheral nerve injury with long size defects has been an urgent clinical challenge. With the development of bioengineering, nanotechnology and additive manufacturing technologies, biologic delivery systems have gradually shown great potential for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. The main problem of general biologic delivery systems is that the loading capacity of biologics is positively correlated with the release rate, and it is more difficult to achieve long-term stable release of high biologics-loaded scaffolds; thus, it is not possible to carry out full-cycle targeted therapy for peripheral nerve injury sites. To solve these problems, the mechanisms of common neurotrophic factors, bioelectrical signals and biomagnetic signals for repairing peripheral nerve injury are discussed in this paper. Moreover, this review summarizes the mechanism of electroactive and magnetoresponsive materials that have significant ability to repair peripheral nerve injury to promote nerve regeneration and provides an overview of the biologic delivery mechanism for repairing peripheral nerve injury in different structural dimensions. It was finally concluded that electromagnetic responsive targeted delivery scaffolds (four-dimensional scaffolds) have good peripheral nerve repair ability, which provides guidance for the clinical application of targeted therapy for peripheral nerve injury.

Construction of An Artificial Photosynthesis System with A Single CdS QDs-Ferritin Hybrid Molecule.

Establishing artificial photosynthesis systems in a simple but effective manner to mitigate the greenhouse effect and address the energy crisis remains challenging. The combination of photocatalysis technology with bioengineering is an emerging field with great potential to construct such artificial photosynthesis systems, but so far, it has barely been explored in this area. Herein, an artificial photocatalysis platform is constructed with high CO2 conversion and H2O splitting capability by integration of CdS QDs into the intra-subunit interface of H-type ferritin (Marsupenaeus japonicus), a natural ferroxidase through protein interface redesign. The crystal structure of the synthesized CdS QDs with engineered ferritin molecules as bio-templates confirmed the design at an atomic level. Notably, upon absorbing desirable visible light (≈420nm), such a single CdS-ferritin hybrid molecule is able to selectively catalyze the reduction of CO2 into HCOOH (≈90%), meanwhile catalyzing the oxidation of H2O into O2 in an aqueous environment. The O2 production rate reached to 180µmolg-1h-1, and the HCOOH output hit almost 800µmolg-1h-1. This work advances the utilization of the four-helix bundle structure for crafting artificial photosynthesis systems, facilitating the seamless integration of bioengineering and photocatalysis technology.

Preferentially expressed endosperm genes reveal unique activities in wheat endosperm during grain filling

BackgroundBread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) endosperm contains starch and proteins, which determine the final yield, quality, and nutritional value of wheat grain. The preferentially expressed endosperm genes can precisely provide targets in the endosperm for improving wheat grain quality and nutrition using modern bioengineering technologies. However, the genes specifically expressed in developing endosperms remain largely unknown.ResultsIn this study, 315 preferentially expressed endosperm genes (PEEGs) in the spring wheat landrace, Chinese Spring, were screened using data obtained from an open bioinformatics database, which reveals a unique grain reserve deposition process and special signal transduction in a developing wheat endosperm. Furthermore, transcription and accumulation of storage proteins in the wheat cultivar, XC26 were evaluated. The results revealed that 315 PEEG plays a critical role in storage protein fragment deposition and is a potential candidate for modifying grain quality and nutrition.ConclusionThese results provide new insights into endosperm development and candidate genes and promoters for improving wheat grain quality through genetic engineering and plant breeding techniques.

Therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in skin wound healing.

Wound healing is a complicated obstacle, especially for chronic wounds. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes may be a promising cell-free approach for treating skin wound healing. Exosomes can accelerate wound healing by attenuating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, cell proliferation, extracellular matrix production and remodeling. However, many issues, such as off-target effects and high degradation of exosomes in wound sites need to be addressed before applying into clinical therapy. Therefore, the bioengineering technology has been introduced to modify exosomes with greater stability and specific therapeutic property. To prolong the function time and the local concentration of exosomes in the wound bed, the use of biomaterials to load exosomes emerges as a promising strategy. In this review, we summarize the biogenesis and characteristics of exosomes, the role of exosomes in wound healing, and the therapeutic applications of modified-exosomes in wound healing. The challenges and prospects of exosomes in wound healing are also discussed.