Printing Blood Vessels With Sugar

We can grow the tissue, but how do we feed it?

Printing kidneys on an inkjet printer filled with human cells? Yeah, we can do that. Old hat. Using Lego robots to grow human bones in the lab? Pssh. Easy.

One of the roadblocks in creating human tissue on demand is ensuring that it will stay alive inside the recipient’s body. And to do that it needs blood vessels. If you were to drop a hunk of cells in your body, assuming your immune system didn’t eat it up, you’d be hard pressed to get good bloodflow to the middle. Tumors also have this problem, incidentally.

Those previous technologies aren’t easy by any means, as much as I like to joke, but as they grow more routine we need a way to get blood vessels into these lab-grown tissues. Why not print your organ on a scaffold of pre-grown blood vessels?

That’s what this Penn group has in mind. By creating a scaffold of sugar polymers using a 3-D printer, and then pouring a cell solution over the top, they can create precise plumbing systems on demand. The cells form into vessels, and the polymers dissolve away. If these scaffolds are sent to other “tissue factories”, we could grow that kidney with the blood vessels already installed!

Science, you’re amazing.

(↬ Boing Boing)

Source: Boing Boing

fuckyeahmolecularbiology: Lego, Eat Your Heart Out Single-stranded DNA has already proven itself to be a useful addition to the nanotechnologist’s toolbox. Blocks of DNA have been programmed to automatically build themselves into nanoscopic structures; a very long strand can be intricately folded into complex 3D shapes through a process known, appropriately, as DNA origami. Scientists hope that eventually, the DNA programmes could be sophisticated enough to churn out miniscule therapeutic devices that could work inside the body, and even be used to do highly specific tasks, like ferrying drugs to specific sites. Usually, the long, single-stranded DNA required comes from a virus, which raises the possibility that the body could attack the structures - but not anymore. Peng Yin and colleagues at Harvard University have designed a similar technology that relies entirely on synthetic DNA - no viruses allowed. “Our structures could be made to be highly biocompatible,” he says. Instead of folding one long strand of viral DNA, Yin’s team designed short, synthetic DNA strands that can fold into a small tile. (And I mean seriously small - just 7 by 3 nanometres). “Each tile acts like a Lego block,” says Yin. Tiles automatically interlock with neighbouring tiles that carry a complementary DNA sequence. This means that with a bit of forward planning, the team could design a complete set of tiles that lock together to create more than 100 shapes - including any letter of the alphabet.  Scientists hope that synthetic DNA shapes could dodge the immune system, buying them more time to shuttle drugs to the right tissue. Yin believes they could be the future: The body’s own therapeutic system, designed by our cells and for our cells. To read the original article, published in Nature, click here. Image, top: The alphabet generated by Yin and colleagues during their experiment. Image, bottom: Another set of images generated by Yin and colleagues, showing the infinite variety of shapes the DNA can combine into and detailing the advantages for targeted therapeutics. Images, centre line: A computer rendering of how the DNA might fold into the tile structure.
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fuckyeahmolecularbiology: Lego, Eat Your Heart Out Single-stranded DNA has already proven itself to be a useful addition to the nanotechnologist’s toolbox. Blocks of DNA have been programmed to automatically build themselves into nanoscopic structures; a very long strand can be intricately folded into complex 3D shapes through a process known, appropriately, as DNA origami. Scientists hope that eventually, the DNA programmes could be sophisticated enough to churn out miniscule therapeutic devices that could work inside the body, and even be used to do highly specific tasks, like ferrying drugs to specific sites. Usually, the long, single-stranded DNA required comes from a virus, which raises the possibility that the body could attack the structures - but not anymore. Peng Yin and colleagues at Harvard University have designed a similar technology that relies entirely on synthetic DNA - no viruses allowed. “Our structures could be made to be highly biocompatible,” he says. Instead of folding one long strand of viral DNA, Yin’s team designed short, synthetic DNA strands that can fold into a small tile. (And I mean seriously small - just 7 by 3 nanometres). “Each tile acts like a Lego block,” says Yin. Tiles automatically interlock with neighbouring tiles that carry a complementary DNA sequence. This means that with a bit of forward planning, the team could design a complete set of tiles that lock together to create more than 100 shapes - including any letter of the alphabet.  Scientists hope that synthetic DNA shapes could dodge the immune system, buying them more time to shuttle drugs to the right tissue. Yin believes they could be the future: The body’s own therapeutic system, designed by our cells and for our cells. To read the original article, published in Nature, click here. Image, top: The alphabet generated by Yin and colleagues during their experiment. Image, bottom: Another set of images generated by Yin and colleagues, showing the infinite variety of shapes the DNA can combine into and detailing the advantages for targeted therapeutics. Images, centre line: A computer rendering of how the DNA might fold into the tile structure.
Zoom Info
fuckyeahmolecularbiology: Lego, Eat Your Heart Out Single-stranded DNA has already proven itself to be a useful addition to the nanotechnologist’s toolbox. Blocks of DNA have been programmed to automatically build themselves into nanoscopic structures; a very long strand can be intricately folded into complex 3D shapes through a process known, appropriately, as DNA origami. Scientists hope that eventually, the DNA programmes could be sophisticated enough to churn out miniscule therapeutic devices that could work inside the body, and even be used to do highly specific tasks, like ferrying drugs to specific sites. Usually, the long, single-stranded DNA required comes from a virus, which raises the possibility that the body could attack the structures - but not anymore. Peng Yin and colleagues at Harvard University have designed a similar technology that relies entirely on synthetic DNA - no viruses allowed. “Our structures could be made to be highly biocompatible,” he says. Instead of folding one long strand of viral DNA, Yin’s team designed short, synthetic DNA strands that can fold into a small tile. (And I mean seriously small - just 7 by 3 nanometres). “Each tile acts like a Lego block,” says Yin. Tiles automatically interlock with neighbouring tiles that carry a complementary DNA sequence. This means that with a bit of forward planning, the team could design a complete set of tiles that lock together to create more than 100 shapes - including any letter of the alphabet.  Scientists hope that synthetic DNA shapes could dodge the immune system, buying them more time to shuttle drugs to the right tissue. Yin believes they could be the future: The body’s own therapeutic system, designed by our cells and for our cells. To read the original article, published in Nature, click here. Image, top: The alphabet generated by Yin and colleagues during their experiment. Image, bottom: Another set of images generated by Yin and colleagues, showing the infinite variety of shapes the DNA can combine into and detailing the advantages for targeted therapeutics. Images, centre line: A computer rendering of how the DNA might fold into the tile structure.
Zoom Info
fuckyeahmolecularbiology: Lego, Eat Your Heart Out Single-stranded DNA has already proven itself to be a useful addition to the nanotechnologist’s toolbox. Blocks of DNA have been programmed to automatically build themselves into nanoscopic structures; a very long strand can be intricately folded into complex 3D shapes through a process known, appropriately, as DNA origami. Scientists hope that eventually, the DNA programmes could be sophisticated enough to churn out miniscule therapeutic devices that could work inside the body, and even be used to do highly specific tasks, like ferrying drugs to specific sites. Usually, the long, single-stranded DNA required comes from a virus, which raises the possibility that the body could attack the structures - but not anymore. Peng Yin and colleagues at Harvard University have designed a similar technology that relies entirely on synthetic DNA - no viruses allowed. “Our structures could be made to be highly biocompatible,” he says. Instead of folding one long strand of viral DNA, Yin’s team designed short, synthetic DNA strands that can fold into a small tile. (And I mean seriously small - just 7 by 3 nanometres). “Each tile acts like a Lego block,” says Yin. Tiles automatically interlock with neighbouring tiles that carry a complementary DNA sequence. This means that with a bit of forward planning, the team could design a complete set of tiles that lock together to create more than 100 shapes - including any letter of the alphabet.  Scientists hope that synthetic DNA shapes could dodge the immune system, buying them more time to shuttle drugs to the right tissue. Yin believes they could be the future: The body’s own therapeutic system, designed by our cells and for our cells. To read the original article, published in Nature, click here. Image, top: The alphabet generated by Yin and colleagues during their experiment. Image, bottom: Another set of images generated by Yin and colleagues, showing the infinite variety of shapes the DNA can combine into and detailing the advantages for targeted therapeutics. Images, centre line: A computer rendering of how the DNA might fold into the tile structure.
Zoom Info

fuckyeahmolecularbiology:

Lego, Eat Your Heart Out

Single-stranded DNA has already proven itself to be a useful addition to the nanotechnologist’s toolbox. Blocks of DNA have been programmed to automatically build themselves into nanoscopic structures; a very long strand can be intricately folded into complex 3D shapes through a process known, appropriately, as DNA origami. Scientists hope that eventually, the DNA programmes could be sophisticated enough to churn out miniscule therapeutic devices that could work inside the body, and even be used to do highly specific tasks, like ferrying drugs to specific sites.

Usually, the long, single-stranded DNA required comes from a virus, which raises the possibility that the body could attack the structures - but not anymore. Peng Yin and colleagues at Harvard University have designed a similar technology that relies entirely on synthetic DNA - no viruses allowed.

“Our structures could be made to be highly biocompatible,” he says.

Instead of folding one long strand of viral DNA, Yin’s team designed short, synthetic DNA strands that can fold into a small tile. (And I mean seriously small - just 7 by 3 nanometres). “Each tile acts like a Lego block,” says Yin. Tiles automatically interlock with neighbouring tiles that carry a complementary DNA sequence. This means that with a bit of forward planning, the team could design a complete set of tiles that lock together to create more than 100 shapes - including any letter of the alphabet.

 Scientists hope that synthetic DNA shapes could dodge the immune system, buying them more time to shuttle drugs to the right tissue. Yin believes they could be the future: The body’s own therapeutic system, designed by our cells and for our cells.

To read the original article, published in Nature, click here.

Image, top: The alphabet generated by Yin and colleagues during their experiment.

Image, bottom: Another set of images generated by Yin and colleagues, showing the infinite variety of shapes the DNA can combine into and detailing the advantages for targeted therapeutics.

Images, centre line: A computer rendering of how the DNA might fold into the tile structure.

Robot Exoskeletons Will Make Us all Superhumans

Maybe Ripley’s suit from Aliens isn’t so far-fetched after all? Tokyo University of Science has developed these strength-aiding robotic exoskeletons, nearly doubling the lifting capacity of the wearer.

I promise this is not Prometheus viral marketing. Great detailed test-run over at New Scientist.

Previously: Ekso Bionics debuts this amazing exosuit to aid the paralyzed in regaining movement. Stunning engineering.

(via The Creators Project)

Source: thecreatorsproject.com

I'm that guy...

Meet the guy who made your potato chip bag so hard to open. A manufacturing engineer challenged with a not-so-simple problem, a pretty nifty solution, and today we have lots of spilled chips.

“I’m that guy. The guy that everyone hates. The guy who made it so difficult to open your bag of potato chips.

It was my first job right out of school. I was working for Hercules Chemical, a company that no longer exists although you have to blame that on some one else. I was in the Packaging Films Group, making multilayer polypropylene films for food packaging. The film had a heat-seal adhesive on one side of the polypropylene base. One of our larger clients used our films to make potato chip bags.”


Check out the full tale here. Also be sure to see this slo-mo video of the chip-filling machine he describes (which is more complicated than you’d imagine, but for good reason). How else do you turn a sheet of plastic-coated foil into chip bags in mere seconds while precisely filling each one to within a percent of the target weight?

Watch A Tiny Rube Goldberg Machine That Makes Postcards

Melvin holds the distinction of being the world’s smallest Rube Goldberg machine (although I have no idea who is keeping track of this kind of thing). I’m a sucker for this kind of whimsical engineering (I’ve featured Rube Goldbergs silly, historical and incredible before).

Melvin completes a simple task: He prepares postcards. But he does a little more, too. Traveling the world in two suitcases, he snaps a photo of anyone watching and posts it to his Facebook page. Just like a real traveler! Snapping pics, sharing with friends, and writing home.

(via Co.Design)

Source: fastcodesign.com

Finally, a Robot That Wants to Build You a House Instead of Terrify You

MIT engineers are at it again, building amazing things that do amazing things. The Mediated Matter Group has been training the bot to weave intricate structures in the style of silkworms. They even named it CNSILK!

Think of the implications for design and construction! Weaving pattern that no human hands could manage.

And it’s certainly better than these big bear bots or small crawly bots or really fast running bots that I’m pretty sure are the first phase of SKYNET..

(↬ Co.Design)

Source: fastcodesign.com

Dangerously Beautiful: New Self-Guided Bullets The beautiful path tracing across the twilight desert above is not a firefly. It’s actually an LED streaking across the sky. Only that LED’s attached to a new self-guided bullet developed by Sandia Labs. It has the ability to make 30 flight adjustments per second to zero in on a laser target over a mile away. It can be fired out of traditional guns to within 8 inches of a target at a half mile’s distance. There’s a really frightening and deadly beauty to all of this. On one hand, it’s a truly amazing feat of modern engineering. On the other hand, couldn’t they have made a self-guided butterfly instead? It reminds me of the awful 1980’s film Runaway starring Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons, who were decades ahead of Sandia in the guided bullet department. Previously: If the bullets aren’t bad enough, check out these cute-for-now-but-wait-until-they-get-a-weapon robots jumping and flying/playing music like never before. (↬ Co.Design, image by SandiaLabs)
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Dangerously Beautiful: New Self-Guided Bullets

The beautiful path tracing across the twilight desert above is not a firefly. It’s actually an LED streaking across the sky.

Only that LED’s attached to a new self-guided bullet developed by Sandia Labs. It has the ability to make 30 flight adjustments per second to zero in on a laser target over a mile away. It can be fired out of traditional guns to within 8 inches of a target at a half mile’s distance.

There’s a really frightening and deadly beauty to all of this. On one hand, it’s a truly amazing feat of modern engineering. On the other hand, couldn’t they have made a self-guided butterfly instead?

It reminds me of the awful 1980’s film Runaway starring Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons, who were decades ahead of Sandia in the guided bullet department.

Previously: If the bullets aren’t bad enough, check out these cute-for-now-but-wait-until-they-get-a-weapon robots jumping and flying/playing music like never before.

(↬ Co.Design, image by SandiaLabs)

Source: fastcodesign.com

A Car Gets Deconstructed Into Visual Data

Ryoji Ikeda has taken a Honda Civic and distilled it down to pure data. Structure, motion, tuning and other data are reinterpreted to become something of a living engineering diagram. It’s beautiful stuff, considering the subject is a machine.

Using the entire data set of a Honda Civic, Ikeda created an audiovisual composition on a three screen projection where the car is broken down and transformed into a series of data visualizations and sound pieces—generative blueprints—where numbers and images cascade across the screens. “It’s like a human, the many organs in it, and that inspired me,” says Ikeda in the video when talking about the car.

(via The Creators Project)

Source: thecreatorsproject.com

Scientists Use LEGO Robots To Grow Bones

It’s official. Your science is boring, and these people’s is awesome. Michelle Oyen’s lab at Cambridge has been working on growing bones using scaffolds and chemical engineering. It’s a painstaking process that involves hours and hours of dips in various bone-making chemicals in order to get a final product. Sounds like a job for a robot, right?

It turns out that Lego Mindstorm kits can do the job just fine, and for far cheaper than most robots. They plan on expanding their use to other projects in the near future.

This is so unfair. I mean, not only are they building bones in a lab, which is awesome, but they get paid to play with Legos! On second thought, maybe my childhood has provided me with a new resumé entry?

(ᔥ Co.Design)

Source: fastcodesign.com

Girls in STEM It’s not a secret that women (and pretty much any minority group) have uphill battle after uphill battle facing them when it comes to succeeding in math, science and engineering fields. Some of these are explicit (like the tilted playing field of the tenure system, which could take 100 years to level out), and some are more obscured (like the quiet social pressures that push them away from science). But what is clear is that it does not have to be the case. I was really struck by this infographic’s ability to capture how quickly and precipitously women drop out of many fields of science once social pressures begin to take over.  I hope that projects like ScienceCheerleader, IAmScience, DoubleXScience and This Is What A Scientist Looks Like (<- bonus points if you can find me on that one) can continue to make this image a relic of the past and not a picture of the future. (ᔥ EngineeringDegree.net, click here for enlargification)
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Girls in STEM

It’s not a secret that women (and pretty much any minority group) have uphill battle after uphill battle facing them when it comes to succeeding in math, science and engineering fields. Some of these are explicit (like the tilted playing field of the tenure system, which could take 100 years to level out), and some are more obscured (like the quiet social pressures that push them away from science). But what is clear is that it does not have to be the case.

I was really struck by this infographic’s ability to capture how quickly and precipitously women drop out of many fields of science once social pressures begin to take over. 

I hope that projects like ScienceCheerleader, IAmScience, DoubleXScience and This Is What A Scientist Looks Like (<- bonus points if you can find me on that one) can continue to make this image a relic of the past and not a picture of the future.

(ᔥ EngineeringDegree.net, click here for enlargification)

Source: engineeringdegree.net