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Bioengineering
Targeted prenatal therapy addresses long-standing gap in health equity
Penn engineers have developed a successful delivery system of mRNA to placental cells to treat preeclampsia at its root.
New insights into the mechanisms of tumor growth
A team of researchers led by the School of Arts & Science’s Wei Guo characterize the molecular pathways that play a major role in tumorigenesis, findings that could lead to better diagnostic tools for cancer and new targeted therapies.
RNA lipid nanoparticle engineering stops liver fibrosis in its tracks
A successful lipid nanoparticles drug delivery system targets notoriously hard-to-target activated fibroblasts in the liver.
OCTOPUS, an optimized device for growing mini-organs in a dish
With OCTOPUS, Dan Huh’s team expands organoid research with a platform superior to conventional gel droplets, allowing researchers to replicate biological systems outside of the body.
New cell characterization method hints at reasons for resistance to cancer therapies
Penn experts have developed new analysis tool that combines a cell’s unique gene expression data with information about the cell’s origins. The method can be applied to identify new cell subsets throughout development and better understand drug resistance.
Penn Libraries dedicates Holman Biotech Commons
The Commons serves as a collaborative resource for researchers in the health sciences, providing the latest tools and technologies to further health care research and equality.
Deconstructing the mechanics of bone marrow disease
A new understanding of how mechanical features of bone marrow affect resident immune cells in a fibrotic cancer points to future therapeutic strategies for cancers and fibrotic diseases.
Shapeshifting microrobots can brush and floss teeth
In a proof-of-concept study, researchers from the School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science shows that a hands-free system could effectively automate the treatment and removal of tooth-decay-causing bacteria and dental plaque.
Bioengineering technology keeps track of living cells and tissues
A new chemistry technique developed by Jina Ko, assistant bioengineering professor, and colleagues allows for a wider range of fluorescent markers to be added to individual cells without damaging them in the process.
A new method could enable a patient’s own antibodies to eliminate their tumors
A team of researchers at Penn Engineering has developed a new methodology to help differentiate tumors from healthy, normal tissues.
In the News
Can your personal medical devices be recycled?
A lab at the School of Engineering and Applied Science led the development of a COVID test made from bacterial cellulose, an organic compound.
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Scientists think they’re on the verge of breaching the blood-brain barrier
Michael Mitchell of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues have constructed a model that could potentially allow drug transporters to bypass the blood-brain barrier.
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How severed cockroach legs could help us ‘fully rebuild’ human bodies
David Meaney of the School of Engineering and Applied Science oversees an undergraduate bioengineering lab that uses cockroach legs to teach students to work with human prostheses.
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Herniated discs could be repaired with biologic patch one day, researchers say
Preclinical research by Robert Mauck of the Perelman School of Medicine, Thomas Schaer of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ana Peredo, a Ph.D. graduate of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, reveals how a biologic patch activated by natural motion could become a key tool for repairing herniated discs in the back and relieving pain.
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Thanks, Neanderthals: How our ancient relatives could help find new antibiotics
A study by César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues used AI to recreate molecules from ancient humans that could be potential candidates for antimicrobial treatments.
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Why CAR T cell therapy is the cancer killer the world needs now
Research from Michael Mitchell of the School of Engineering and Applied Science has developed a new method to stop cytokine release during CAR T cell therapy, preventing some of its more dangerous side effects.
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