Biomedical Engineering Tissue Engineering

How does an embryo reliably "compute" its form - "cell by cell" - using only local interactions and mechanics, yet produce a precise global body plan? I’m excited to share our Nature Methods paper "MultiCell: geometric learning in multicellular development", presenting #AIxBiology research led by Haiqian Yang and the result of a great collaboration with ming guo, George Roy, Tomer Stern, Anh Nguyen and Dapeng Bi. A long-standing challenge in developmental biology is to predict how thousands of cells collectively self-organize as tissues fold, divide, and rearrange. In MultiCell, we represent a developing embryo as a dual graph that unifies two complementary views of tissue mechanics with single-cell resolution: cells as moving points (granular) and cells as a connected foam (junction network). This lets the model learn dynamics from both geometry and cell–cell connectivity. On whole-embryo 4D light-sheet movies of Drosophila gastrulation (~5,000 cells), our model predicts key cell behaviors and the timing of events, including junction loss, rearrangements, and divisions with high accuracy, at single-cell resolution. Beyond prediction, the same representation supports robust time alignment across embryos and offers interpretable activation maps that highlight the morphogenetic "drivers" of development. The broader goal is a foundation for cell-by-cell forecasting in more complex tissues, and eventually for detecting subtle dynamical signatures of disease. Kudos to the team for this inspiring collaboration with brilliant researchers to push the boundary of AI for biology! Citation: Yang, H., Roy, G., Nguyen, A.Q., Buehler, M.J., et al. MultiCell: geometric learning in multicellular development. Nature Methods (2025), DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02983-x Code/data links are in the manuscript.

You lie there quietly. A moment ago, everything was normal. A step. A fall. A sharp interruption the body never warns you about. And suddenly… nothing feels the same anymore. Pain. Shock. Disbelief. A fracture is never just structural—it is emotional disruption in real time. For decades, the response has been familiar. Metal plates. Screws. Open surgery. Long recovery. Sometimes even a second operation to remove what once held you together. Healing, but through invasion. Now imagine a different approach. Not reconstruction through force. But restoration through biological alignment. Researchers at Zhejiang University have developed a bio-inspired bone adhesive known as Bone-02. Still early-stage. Still under clinical evaluation. But already widely discussed in orthopedic biomaterials research. Inspired by oyster adhesion mechanisms, it is designed to function in wet, dynamic environments—exactly like the human body during trauma. The material is injected into fracture sites and begins bonding bone fragments within minutes. Not hours. Not days. Minutes. In early clinical reports, surgeons have achieved fracture stabilization through minimal incisions (~3 cm), reducing surgical exposure and hardware dependency. The material is designed to gradually resorb as natural bone regeneration takes over. No plates. No screws. No planned removal surgery. Just guided healing architecture. Preliminary clinical applications (reported in early cohorts of >100 patients) describe stable fixation and recovery progression, with larger controlled trials still ongoing to validate long-term outcomes and safety profiles. What makes this concept significant is not only speed. It is philosophy. A shift from mechanical fixation to biologically integrated repair. From replacing structure… to enabling regeneration. Bone is not inert. It is constantly remodeling tissue—responsive, adaptive, alive. And perhaps the real shift is this: Medicine moving from external reconstruction to internal cooperation. For patients, this could mean less surgical trauma, reduced hospitalization burden, and a faster return to mobility and identity after injury. A fracture is never just physical. It interrupts life continuity. And anything that shortens the distance between injury and wholeness deserves attention. We are entering an era where healing is becoming less about intervention intensity… and more about biological intelligence. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals and peer-reviewed clinical data for medical interpretation. #MedicalInnovation #Orthopedics #Biomaterials #RegenerativeMedicine #Healthcare #Innovation #MedTech #FutureOfMedicine #ScienceNews #Healing #InnovationInHealthcare #Health

‼️ A remarkable milestone in regenerative medicine has been reached. A human kidney grown in a lab is no longer theoretical. It’s beginning to function. Scientists at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, including leading researchers like Dr. Ryuichi Morizane, are advancing the development of lab-grown kidney tissue that demonstrates real physiological function, filtering blood and producing urine. Using stem cells, these teams have successfully guided the formation of complex kidney organoids that go beyond structural mimicry. These systems are beginning to replicate essential biological processes, signaling a shift from theoretical models to functional bioengineered organs. The implications are profound. With millions worldwide facing kidney failure and a persistent shortage of donor organs, this breakthrough opens the door to a future of personalized, lab-grown transplants, reducing wait times, minimizing rejection risk, and fundamentally reshaping how we approach organ failure. While still in early stages, ongoing work is focused on scaling these systems, improving long-term viability, and preparing for clinical translation. In a newly published Nature study led by Murat Tekguc with contributions from Ryuji Morizane, scientists engineered vascularized kidney organoids capable of filtration-like behavior in living systems, marking one of the clearest steps yet toward replicating true kidney function. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gNuPbBQz In parallel, work published in Cell Stem Cell is advancing kidney assembloids, integrating filtration units with collecting duct systems, a critical step toward producing urine-like output. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g8R2JfPR And at Cincinnati Children’s, researchers have solved a key biological bottleneck by developing functional “plumbing” connections, enabling early-stage waste flow through engineered kidney tissue. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gBqgJuvy #RegenerativeMedicine #StemCells #Bioengineering #OrganTransplant #MedicalInnovation #FutureOfHealth #Biotech #PrecisionMedicine

An axolotl lost its leg. Four weeks later, it had a new one—bones, nerves, muscles, skin. Perfect. Think about that. For decades, scientists assumed this kind of regeneration was unique to salamanders. A biological trick humans could never access. Then researchers cracked the axolotl genome. What they found rewrote the story. What we assumed about human healing: ↳ Once tissue is damaged, it scars over permanently ↳ Regenerative capacity disappears after embryonic development ↳ Complex regrowth requires biological machinery humans don't have ↳ Limbs, hearts, spinal cords—once lost, gone forever What the research shows instead: ↳ Humans share the same Shox gene that directs limb growth in axolotls ↳ Retinoic acid signaling pathways—key to regeneration—exist in both species ↳ The basic architecture for complex regrowth is conserved across vertebrates ↳ The code is there. It's just not activated. Here's the part that stopped me: The primary barrier isn't missing genes. It's scar tissue. When humans are injured, our bodies prioritise rapid sealing over regrowth. Scarring effectively silences the regenerative program that axolotls keep running. Scientists are now investigating how to bypass this "scar barrier"—reactivating dormant pathways involving genes like Catalase and FETUB that could reprogram wound sites toward regeneration instead of scarring. The ripple effect: A decoded genome proves the machinery exists 10 pathways identified = targets for intervention 100 patients in trials = we learn if humans can regenerate At scale = spinal cord injuries, organ damage, and joint destruction become treatable—not terminal Picture someone with a severed spinal cord. Today: permanent paralysis. Tomorrow: cells that remember how to rebuild. We spent decades accepting that human bodies only scar. A better question: what if our cells were waiting for permission to regenerate? Follow me, Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld, for stories where science rewrites what we thought was permanent. ♻️ Share if you believe the future of medicine is already written in our genome—we just need to learn how to read it. Resource: Nowoshilow, S., Schloissnig, S., Fei, J. F., Dahl, A., Pang, A. W., Pippel, M., & Tanaka, E. M. (2018). The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators. Nature.

Scientists in California have achieved a breakthrough by growing human skin that includes fully functioning sweat glands something medical researchers have attempted for decades. Traditional artificial skin can protect wounds, but it lacks crucial biological features such as sweating, sensation, and elasticity. This new bioengineered skin behaves much more like real human tissue, capable of regulating temperature and adapting to the body as it heals. What makes this development remarkable is the level of complexity achieved in the lab. The engineered skin can integrate with nerves and blood vessels, allowing it to connect naturally with the patient’s body. Functioning sweat glands not only help with cooling but also support healthy tissue maintenance and prevent overheating — an essential part of normal skin physiology that burn victims often lose. This advancement offers life-changing potential for millions of people who suffer from severe burns or require reconstructive surgery. Instead of grafts that merely cover wounds, future patients could receive skin that restores real biological function. Researchers believe this milestone is one step on the path toward creating fully regenerative organs, bringing science closer to rebuilding complex human tissues from scratch. Dr. Mridul Tiwari BAMS | Root-Cause Healer Integrating Ayurveda with Modern Clinical Science Lucknow, India #RegenerativeMedicine #Bioengineering #MedicalBreakthrough #BurnTreatment #FutureOfHealth #doctormridultiwari

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an innovative joint injection that promotes the regrowth of knee cartilage, potentially eliminating the need for total knee replacement surgery. Knee osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration are leading causes of pain, reduced mobility, and surgical intervention among adults. Traditional treatments often culminate in costly replacement procedures, generating significant revenue for orthopedic practices. The injection is designed to stimulate cartilage regeneration by delivering growth factors, stem cells, or biologic agents directly into the joint. Early trials have shown promising results, with patients experiencing reduced pain, improved joint function, and evidence of new cartilage formation on imaging studies. By repairing cartilage naturally, the therapy may delay or entirely prevent the need for invasive surgery. This breakthrough not only represents a major advancement in regenerative medicine but also carries implications for healthcare economics. As fewer patients require knee replacement, orthopedic procedure revenues may decline, shifting the focus toward biologic therapies and preventive care. While results are encouraging, experts emphasize the need for larger clinical trials to confirm long term effectiveness, safety, and durability of cartilage regrowth. Patients should consult medical professionals to determine suitability and ensure comprehensive management of joint health. If validated, this joint injection could transform orthopedic care, offering a non invasive alternative for millions of individuals with cartilage degeneration worldwide.

🔬 A New Era in Medicine: First-Ever 3D-Printed Windpipe Implanted in Cancer Survivor In a groundbreaking medical achievement, South Korean scientists have successfully implanted a 3D-printed trachea (windpipe) into a patient — marking a world-first and redefining the future of regenerative medicine. The patient, a woman who had lost a part of her windpipe due to thyroid cancer surgery, became the recipient of this bioengineered miracle. The artificial trachea was developed using bio-ink composed of the patient's own living cells — including cartilage and mucosal cells — combined with a biodegradable polymer scaffold (PCL). This scaffold not only provided mechanical strength but also allowed the body to regenerate its own tissue around it. What makes this even more astonishing? ✅ No immunosuppressants were needed. Since the trachea was built from the patient’s own cells, her body accepted it naturally. ✅ Healthy blood vessels formed within 6 months, a critical sign of integration and healing. ✅ The patient regained normal function without the usual complications of transplant rejection. Led by Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and T&R Biofab, this achievement is being hailed as a major milestone in personalized medicine and bioprinting technology. The future is no longer dependent solely on donors — it's now being printed, cell by cell. This opens the door for the possibility of 3D-printed lungs, kidneys, even hearts — tailored for the individual, reducing waitlists, and eliminating the risk of rejection. We are witnessing the dawn of a medical revolution where organs won’t just be donated… they’ll be designed. #RegenerativeMedicine #3DPrinting #HealthcareInnovation #Biotech #FutureOfMedicine #MedicalBreakthrough #OrganTransplant 🪻Ram Sharma 🪻

Pleased to share that our most recent collaborative work with colleagues from the University of Southampton, the The University of Manchester, and Sheffield Hallam University titled "Ceramic-based piezoelectric material reinforced 3D printed polycaprolactone bone tissue engineering scaffolds" was published by Materials & Design. ➡️ Recent studies confirm the piezoelectricity of human bone, sparking interest in biocompatible and biodegradable piezoelectric scaffold development. These scaffolds mimic native bone by matching its mechanical properties and piezoelectric behaviour i.e., generating local electrical stimulation under mechanical stress, or generating mechanical response under external electrical stimulation, thereby modulating cellular activity, accelerating cell proliferation and differentiation, ultimately speeding up the regeneration process. Although polymer-based piezoelectric materials offer high reproducibility for 3D scaffolds, their piezoelectric performance falls short of ceramic alternatives. While lead zirconate titanate (PZT) exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties, the haz- ardous nature of lead limits biomedical applications. Consequently, this research proposes novel lead-free Bi1/ 2Na1/2TiO3-based (BNT) piezoelectric materials, namely, direct piezoelectric ceramics (DPC) (>50 % d33 enhancement compared to undoped BNT) and converse piezoelectric ceramics (CPC) (>200 % Smax enhancement compared to undoped BNT), with properties optimized for bone tissue engineering (BTE). 3D BTE scaffolds are designed and fabricated considering biocompatible and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) incorporating DPC and CPC as functional fillers. Comparative evaluations against hydroxyapatite (HA), a well-accepted bio- ceramic for clinical applications, are conducted for surface, mechanical, and biological properties. Results proved the incorporation of both DPC and CPC promotes the mechanical properties (88.6 % enhancement compared to neat PCL) and cell proliferation rate (46.3 % improvement compared to HA). Notably, hybrid scaffolds combining both PCL/DPC and PCL/CPC in a cascade manner also outperformed PCL/HA (by 7.4 %) in osteogenic differentiation, indicating promising potential for future studies. This work is part of a long term collaboration with Dr Weiguang Wang on bone tissue engineering. Thanks to the other co-authors Yanhao Hou, Ge Wang, Hareem Zubairi, Mustafa Tuğrul Uçan, David Hall, and Antonio Ferreira 👏 #bonetissueengineering; #piezoelectricscaffolds; #ceramics, #polymers #scaffolds; #biomaterials; #3Dprinting; #additivemanufacturing; #collaboration; #research; #innovation

I woke up to this news that: Scientists Just Solved Organoids' Biggest Problem! I’m happy to share highlights from a new Science paper by Dr. Oscar Abilez, Dr. Huaxiao 'Adam' Yang, Dr. Joseph C. Wu, and colleagues, a leap forward for organoid technology and regenerative medicine! What Did They Do? Stanford researchers have created the first heart and liver organoids with integrated, functional blood vessels. This solves a critical bottleneck: until now, organoids could only grow a few millimeters before their centers died from lack of oxygen and nutrients. With built-in vasculature, these mini-organs can grow larger, mature further, and better mimic real human tissues. How Did They Do It? *The team meticulously optimized a “recipe” of growth factors and signaling molecules, guiding pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into not just heart or liver cells, but also endothelial and smooth muscle cells that self-organize into branching blood vessels. *Their protocol mirrors early embryonic development, allowing the organoids to achieve a cellular complexity similar to a 6.5-week-old human embryonic heart, including beating function! Why Is This Important? *Better Disease Models: Vascularized organoids allow researchers to study early human development and test how drugs impact organ growth and blood vessel formation. *Personalized Medicine: These models can be tailored from patient-derived stem cells, paving the way for individualized drug testing and disease modeling. *Regenerative Therapies: In the future, vascularized cardiac organoids could be implanted to repair damaged heart tissue, offering a more complete cellular environment than current cell therapies Clinical Context As Dr Joseph C. Wu notes, ongoing clinical studies are already injecting lab-grown cardiomyocytes into patients with heart dysfunction. But real heart tissue is much more complex, containing blood vessels, pericytes, fibroblasts, and more. Vascularized organoids could one day provide all these cell types in a single, implantable tissue patch, dramatically improving integration and function. What’s Next? The team aims to: *Grow organoids longer to assess their maturation and size limits *Further refine the recipes to include immune and blood cells *Adapt this vascularization approach to other organs, moving closer to true “mini-organs” for research and therapy A huge CONGRATULATIONS to the entire Stanford team! References: https://lnkd.in/gmYc-cX9 https://lnkd.in/gbntyWgN https://lnkd.in/g-YT5wdU