Category Biology/Biotechnology

Overcoming Cardiovascular disease with a Magnetically-Steerable Guidewire Microrobot

Concept map of attachable guidewire microrobot developed by Professor Hongsoo Choi ‘s team in the Department of Robotics Engineering at DGIST.
Credit: Copyright DGIST

DGIST research team succeeded in developing a microrobot that can reach the accurate location of cardiovascular disease such as the Chronic Total Occlusion by moving and steering the microrobot towards a desired direction inside complicated blood vessels. This research is expected to increase the success rate of treatment and shorten the time of cardiovascular disease surgery.

DGIST announced on February 27 that Professor Hongsoo Choi’s team in the Robotics Engineering Department developed the ‘Magnetically Controlled Microrobot’ that can enhance the success rate of CTO treatment among myocardial infarctions through a...

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Dental Fillings could Last Twice as Long

Carmem Pfeifer, D.D.S., Ph.D. from the OHSU School of Dentistry is working to develop a filling material that is two times more resistant to breakage than standard fillings.
Credit: OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

New material could mean fewer trips to the dentist’s office, scientists report. A compound used to make car bumpers strong and protect wood decks could prevent return visits to the dentist’s office. A team of researchers with the OHSU School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon, have created a filling material that’s two times more resistant to breakage than standard fillings, according to a study published by the journal Scientific Reports. The new filling uses the additive thiourethane, which is also in protective coatings for cars and decks.

The team also has developed an adhesi...

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Scientists Rejuvenate Stem Cells in the Aging Brain of Mice

Scientists from the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg and from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have been able to rejuvenate stem cells in the brain of aging mice. The revitalized stem cells improve the regeneration of injured or diseased areas in the brain of old mice. The researchers expect that their approach will provide fresh impetus in regenerative medicine and facilitate the development of stem cell therapies.
Credit: University of Luxembourg

Scientists have been able to rejuvenate stem cells in the brain of aging mice. The revitalised stem cells improve the regeneration of injured or diseased areas in the brain of old mice...

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Spider Silk could be used as Robotic Muscle

The experimental setup used to study the behavior of spider dragline silk. The cylindrical chamber at center allowed for precise control of humidity while testing the contraction and twisting of the fiber.
Credit: Photo courtesy of the researchers

Unusual property of the ultrastrong material could be harnessed for twisting or pulling motions. Researchers have found that spider silk produces a strong twisting motion when exposed to humidity, and may be usable for future artificial muscles or actuators. Spider silk, already known as one of the strongest materials for its weight, turns out to have another unusual property that might lead to new kinds of artificial muscles or robotic actuators, researchers have found.

The resilient fibers, the team discovered, respond very strongly to ...

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