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Our dedicated editorial team works year-round to present you with high-quality content from the medical technology branch on our industry portal COMPAMED.de.

Whether you are interested in high-tech medical products, innovative technologies, or medical research - with us you will find well-founded articles that will help you stay up to date. Our editorial team closely follows the latest trends, medical advances and technologies.

Editorial articles cover a wide range of topics, including manufacturing of components and finished products, manufacturing equipment, components, modules, OEM equipment, electrical and electronical komponents, micro tech products, rwa materials, adhesives and software/ IT solutions, among many others. We offer in-depth analysis, expert interviews and informative articles and videos to help you better understand the complexities of the medical world.

We pride ourselves on being a trusted source of information for the medical industry and look forward to keeping you informed throughout the year.

Latest editorial news from the five COMPAMED sphere

Image: Close-up of a WFIRM gyroid-shaped construct on a blue-gloved hand; Copyright: WFIRM

Bioprinting research makes history when it soars to the ISS

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) will make history this month when the first bioprinted solid tissue constructs soar to the International Space Station (ISS) on board the next all private astronaut mission by commercial space leader Axiom Space.

Image: Barnika Chakraborty, Professor Rainer Adelung and Dr Leonard Siebert; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

New sensors for healthier indoor air

People spend an average of 22 hours a day indoors, where furniture, carpets or wall paints can release harmful solvents over time. The scientists in the international doctoral programme "SENNET" aim to detect such pollutants. They want to develop reliable sensors based on special, porous materials.

Image: Researchers taking a picture of a sample on the transmission electron microscope; Copyright: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / D. Müller

Iron oxide nanoparticles for medical applications

How to further improve the special magnetic properties of nanoparticles by microstructure design has been investigated by a team at TU Bergakademie Freiberg using analytical high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Image: New cleanroom for microchip production; Copyright: DTU/ERIK Arkitekter/Tegnestuen Kontekst

DTU builds new cleanroom for microchip production

DTU is expanding its cleanroom facilities to meet the high demand for microchips from companies and researchers. The expansion will also strengthen the development of quantum computers, which are based on research and development of new chips.

Image: Demonstrator for the counterfeit-proof Smart ID barcode system is tested on a smartphone; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP

SmartID – Detect product piracy quickly

In the SmartID project, scientists at Fraunhofer are developing a counterfeit-proof barcode system for authenticity verification simply by using a smartphone without accessing a database.

Image: Close up: Multisensory stamp and forming parts on a white background; Copyright: Fraunhofer IST

Multisensory tools for digital process monitoring

The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST presents innovative solutions for real-time data acquisition directly in the running process.

Image: A smart bandage rests on a gloved finger; Copyright: Caltech

'Smart' bandages monitor wounds and provide targeted treatment

A new kind of smart bandage developed at Caltech may make treatment of chronic wounds easier, more effective, and less expensive. These smart bandages were developed in the lab of Wei Gao, assistant professor of medical engineering, Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator, and Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar.

Image: Four people pose next to a technical apparatus,Dr. Philip Wollmann, Dr. Wulf Grählert, Oliver Throl and Livia Szathmáry (from left); Copyright: Amac Garbe/Fraunhofer IWS

Sharp hyperspectral eye for chip production

Precise two-dimensional analysis of high-tech layers in microelectronics, battery factories or even in the automotive sector approaches within reach. A measuring system developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS.

Image: nerve cell on a blue background; Copyright: claudioventrella

Nanoparticle-based deep brain stimulation can treat Parkinson's disease

With the onset of an aging population, the annual incidence of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease is escalating rapidly. One of the various therapeutic approaches for such diseases is deep brain stimulation. Recently, a research team at POSTECH developed a new technique for administering electrical stimulation to the brain without the need for implanted electrodes.

Image: Two men assemble parts in a clean room; Copyright: FBH/P. Immerz

Speeding up diagnostics! Entangled photon pairs to help fighting cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and the most feared disease in aging Western societies, representing the greatest challenge to modern medicine. Since cancer cannot be prevented, early and differentiated detection is extremely important for rapid intervention and cure.

Image: Shape of a bird in the center of several concentric shells; Copyright: Kai Melde, MPI for Medical Research

Creating 3D objects with sound

Scientists from the Micro, Nano and Molecular Systems Lab at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials at Heidelberg University have created a new technology to assemble matter in 3D. Their concept uses multiple acoustic holograms to generate pressure fields.

Image: Graphic of a nanoparticle with attached blood proteins on their way into a cell; Copyright: MPI-P.

In the core of the cell: New insights into the utilization of nanotechnology-based drugs

Novel drugs are based on drug transport using nanoparticles. Whether this drug transport is negatively influenced by an accumulation of blood proteins on the nanoparticle’s surface was not clarified for a long time. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now followed the path of such a particle into a cell using a combination of several microscopy methods.

Image: Macro image of a human green eye; Copyright: Kohanova

Better manufacturing and storage of retinal implants

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative eye condition. It is the most frequent cause of blindness in humans. In most cases, the chronic progression of the retinal condition is not curable. Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a new method for the production and clinical application of stem-cell-based retinal implants.

Image: Screen-printed electrodes held by a gloved hand; Copyright: Washington State University

Screen-printing method can make wearable electronics less expensive

The glittering, serpentine structures that power wearable electronics can be created with the same technology used to print rock concert t-shirts, new research shows.

Image: Raytracing simulation of the LPBF process; Copyright: Fraunhofer IWM

Additive manufacturing – simulated from start to finish

Additive manufacturing of tools using a laser powder bed fusion process offers a great number of advantages. That said, it can be difficult to determine the optimal process parameters. For the first time, researchers at Fraunhofer are now simulating the process at the microstructure level in order to identify direct correlations between the workpiece properties and the selected process parameters.

Image: micro needle patch for the wearable; Copyright: UC San Diego

Multi-tasking wearable continuously monitors glucose, alcohol, and lactate

Imagine being able to measure your blood sugar levels, know if you've had too much to drink, and track your muscle fatigue during a workout, all in one small device worn on your skin. Engineers at the UC San Diego have developed a prototype of such a wearable that can continuously monitor several health stats – glucose, alcohol, and lactate levels – simultaneously in real-time.

Image: Dilip Chalissery develops the process technology for 4D printing at Fraunhofer IAP; Copyright: sevens+maltry photographers

4D printing: heat shrinks printed objects

Printed polymers that change shape once in a predefined way when heated? This is now possible thanks to a 4D printing technology developed in the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials CPM. The extent of the change in shape of the printed objects is drastic: they can shrink by up to 63 percent.

Image: 3D printing of Fraunhofer ILT lettering; Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen, Germany

Conquering the third dimension

Extreme High-speed Laser Material Deposition EHLA, developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, is considered an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional cladding processes. It offers significant advantages, particularly for coating metallic components that are subject to extreme stress and, therefore, need to be protected from corrosion and wear.

Image: Virus infection tests; Copyright: Fraunhofer IGB

Indoor Air: How to Eliminate Viruses Effectively

How can viruses be effectively eliminated from indoor air? This question is now becoming more important as fall approaches. Efficient indoor air purification is essential, especially in schools. Fraunhofer researchers are investigating and optimizing various filter and air purification techniques in the AVATOR project.

Image: Smart displays that show information through fabric; Copyright: University of Waterloo

Smart displays that show information through fabric may be the next wave of wearable tech

Researchers have developed an innovative display that shows information through clothes and other fabrics. The new technology, which the researchers are calling PocketView, uses LED lights to display basic information. It can function as a stand-alone piece of tech or could be incorporated into existing or next-generation smart devices.

Image:a man in a white coat makes adjustments to a system; Copyright: Jürgen Jeibmann/Fraunhofer IWS

Clean air at all times

Metal processing with lasers and plasma releases many different pollutants into the ambient air. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, together with partners, has developed a filter system that efficiently removes these substances from the air. T

Image: Ion track nanotechnology from GSI Materials Research creates a highly sensitive nanopore; Copyright: GSI/FAIR

New sensor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses based on GSI nanotechnology

Easy and fast detection of viruses are crucial in a pandemic. Based on single-nanopore membranes of GSI, an international interdisciplinary team of researchers developed a test method that detects SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, without sample pretreatment, with the same sensitivity as a qPCR test, and in only 2 hours. On top, the sensor can distinguish infectious from non-infectious corona viruses.

Image: Textile electronics at your fingertips: At the opening of the Textile Prototyping Lab, the new devices could be tested live; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

E-textiles: So hot right now!

Fraunhofer IZM and the weißensee academy of art in Berlin have opened a unique open innovation lab for prototyping textile electronics. Fitted with the latest in high-tech equipment and machines, the Textile Prototyping Lab (TPL) can turn e-textile visions into real fabrics and garments with its interdisciplinary team of scientists and artists.

Image: Several nested squares grabbed by one hand; Copyright: Courtesy of Stefanie Mueller, Jun Gong, Olivia Seow, Cedric Honnet, et. al

3D-printed objects that sense how a user is interacting with them

MIT researchers have developed a new method to 3D print mechanisms that detect how force is being applied to an object. The structures are made from a single piece of material, so they can be rapidly prototyped. A designer could use this method to 3D print “interactive input devices,” like a joystick, switch, or handheld controller, in one go.

Image: a woman breathing into a white machine; Copyright:Nynke Wijbenga

Electronic nose can sniff out when a lung transplant is failing

An electronic “nose” is capable of detecting with 86% accuracy when a lung transplant is beginning to fail, according to research presented at the ‘virtual’ European Respiratory Society International Congress today.

Image: Antenna packages for 6G; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

6G is right around the corner

The digital world is booming and has long since become part of everyday life in industry and society. More recent developments such as autonomous driving, telemedicine, but also private use require ever higher rates to transmit large amounts of data in real time. 6G should help with this: The aim is to transmit 1,000 GB/s and reduce latency to a tenth compared to 5G.

Image: Four men in a bright room: Prof. Jens Krzywinski in conversation with the directors of the participating Fraunhofer institutes; Copyright: Christin Scholz / Fraunhofer IVI

Establishing design as integral component in research and development

In its various disciplines and manifestations, design is increasingly gaining importance in Fraunhofer's research. Supporting this trend, the three Fraunhofer Institutes IVI, IWS and IWU in Dresden, together with Technische Universität Dresden, are establishing the "DesignLab for Applied Research" on behalf of the research community.

Image: Close up rolls of iron sheet in industrial hall; Copyright: Yakov_Oskanov

Forming technology and data science

The University of Bayreuth is participating in the DFG priority programme "Data-driven process modeling in forming technology" with a new interdisciplinary research project. The project is concerned with two processes that are intertwined in the industrial production of many functional components: shear cutting and collar drawing.

Image: A woman in work clothes and with a headset is standing in front of a demonstrator of a production machine; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT / Anika Bödecker

Intuitive machine control using speech recognition

Fraunhofer researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a speech recognition solution for use in industrial manufacturing. The system works reliably even in noisy environments and can be flexibly adapted to the user’s needs.

Image: A slide with blood - left and an arm to which a spray is applied - right.; Copyright: Anna Lena Lundqvist/Chalmers

New spray fights infections and antibiotic resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks antibiotic resistance as one of the top ten threats to global health. A group of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are now presenting a new spray that can kill even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and that can be used for wound care and directly on implants and other medical devices.

Image: Graphic of a nanoparticle striked by a blue and red light beam; Copyright: MPI-P

How optical microscopes allow detailed investigations of nanoparticles

It sounds like trying to scan a vinyl record with a hammer: Light is actually too "coarse" to image small particles on the nanometer scale. However, in their project "Supercol" – funded by the European Union – scientists want to achieve just that: The investigation of nanoparticles with light.

Image: Super-miniaturized IoT sensor; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

World's smallest impedance spectroscopy system in form of a pill

Imagine a scenario where you simply just throw in a pill to identify an error—this is now one step closer to reality thanks to the work done by researchers at Fraunhofer IZM in cooperation with Micro Systems Technologies (MST) and Sensry GmbH. As small as a piece of candy, the waterproof IoT sensor can reliably measure the properties of liquids even in hard-to-reach places.

Image: Microelectronics assembly industrial factory - interior and group of workers; Copyright: astakhovyaroslav

SEMECO revolutionizes the medical electronics industry

The project partners in the BMBF's SEMECO future cluster are convinced that the future of medical technology lies in the combination of digital innovation, safety and improved approval processes.

Image: A human brain organoid (red) grows on the hammock-like structure of a mesh MEA; Copyright: Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine

Microelectrode array: hammock for brain organoids

Novel microelectrode array system enables long-term cultivation and electrophysiological analyses of brain organoids.

Image: Functional model of capsule; Copyright: SIAT

Capsule X-ray dosimeter for real-time radiotherapy monitoring

In radiotherapy, precision in targeting tumor tissue while minimizing damage to healthy tissue is crucial. Monitoring the dose of radiation delivered and absorbed in real-time, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, poses significant difficulty.

Image: ARC trial participant in active therapy: ARC Therapy is designed to deliver targeted, programmed spinal cord stimulation; Copyright: ONWARD Medical NV

Kick-off: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network "ReWIRE"

Through ReWIRE, next-generation scientists will be trained to develop translational breakthrough therapeutic solutions for patients with paralysis caused by traumatic spinal cord injuries.

Image: Detailed images of neurons in a mouse brain; Copyright: Anna Maria Reuss (USZ) & Fabian Voigt (UZH)

Scallop eyes as inspiration for new microscope objectives

Neuroscientists at the University of Zurich have developed innovative objectives for light microscopy by using mirrors to produce images. Their design finds correspondence in mirror telescopes used in astronomy on the one hand and the eyes of scallops on the other.

Image: Picture of the complete sensor with a PDMS well of 100 μl volume for the drop test; Copyright: HZDR/Sandoval Bojorquez

Nanobiosensor developed for detecting SARS-CoV-2

Infection and immunity status of the population are considered key parameters for handling pandemics. For this purpose, detecting antigens and antibodies is of great importance. The devices currently used for this purpose - what are known as point-of-care (POC) devices- are one option for rapid screening.

Image: Novel chitosan particles and encapsulation technologies; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPK / Larissa Klassen

New technologies for producing mRNA-based pharmaceuticals

mRNA-based vaccines have been one of the key elements in the fight against the coronavirus. The technology was originally developed for cancer therapy and can be used to treat many diseases. Together with partners, Fraunhofer IPK is now researching how mRNA therapeutics and other medication can be better produced and more effectively applied.

Picture: Toddler with blond hair and a cochlear implant; Copyright: envato/ Satura_

ERC Proof of Concept Grant for Tobias Moser

Auditory neuroscientist of the University Medical Center Göttingen receives additional funding by the European Research Council. His project "OptoWave" concentrates on optimizing the optical cochlear implant for the application in hearing impaired people.

Image: Hand with a glove is holding a rectangle chip with the words "Xie Lab" on it; Copyright: Georgia Tech

New ultrafast water disinfection method more environmentally friendly

Having safe drinking water is vital for public health, but traditional methods of disinfection cause their own environmental problems. Chlorine is cheap and easy to use in centralized water systems, but at the expense of harmful chemical byproducts.

Image: Representation of a human forearm, with muscles, tendons and bones, around which microimplants are visible distributed; Copyright: WILDDESIGN GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

A new generation of microimplants

They are barely the size of a thumbnail, able to communicate with each other and respond to each other, and designed to make life easier for people with functional limitations. We are talking about a new generation of interactive microimplants developed by the innovation cluster INTAKT.

Image: Patient testing a brain-computer interface to control an exoskeleton hand; Copyright: AG Klinische Neurotechnologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Controlling neural exoskeletons more precisely with diamond sensors

Brain-computer interfaces are able to restore some mobility to paralyzed people by controlling exoskeletons. However, more complex control signals cannot yet be read from the head surface because conventional sensors are not sensitive enough. A collaboration of Fraunhofer IAF, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Stuttgart and other industrial partners has taken up this challenge.

Image: Microresonators made of germanium; Copyright: NTNU

Influenza or a cold? A new technology can help

Is it COVID or the flu? A diagnosis without having to leave the house, just by looking at your smart home device? So far, no. But researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed a microresonator for the long-wave infrared spectrum that could enable new technologies, particularly for particle detection and spectroscopic chemical identification.

Image: 3D-printed lattices in three different sizes before and after pyrolysis; Copyright: Tohoku University

Micro-engineered electrodes could cut battery manufacturing costs

New, easily fabricated, high performance carbon microlattice electrodes could soon be used to make cheaper batteries powered by readily available sodium ions.

Image: A cell cultured on top of the nanowire scaffold.; Copyright: 2022 KAUST; Heno Hwang

Bone formation comes down to the nanowire

A nanotechnology platform developed by KAUST scientists could lead to new treatments for degenerative bone diseases.

Image: Organ-on-chip system; Copyright: Johannes Dornhof, Andreas Weltin

Organ-on-chip system enables monitoring of 3D tumour tissue

A research team around Dr. Andreas Weltin, Dr. Jochen Kieninger and Johannes Dornhof from the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg has developed a system that, among other things, makes it possible to study the development of tumour cells outside the human body in a three-dimensional environment.

Image: Florian Schmieder checks the prototype of a complex in vitro diagnostic cartridge; Copyright: ronaldbonss.com/Fraunhofer IWS

Lab-on-chip systems: From prototype to series production in no time

It is used millions of times a day all over the world: as a portable miniature laboratory, the Corona antigen rapid test is currently clearly demonstrating the potential of lab-on-chip systems. Analysis within a very short time is of immense importance, especially during a pandemic. Ever more of these miniature medical systems are being used in diagnostics.

Image: Roman Czech, Stefan Radl and Bernhard Damberger; Copyright: Cleanroom Technology Austria

"Coronavirus-proof" interiors: new measuring method documents movements of infectious aerosols

With the method co-developed by TU Graz, virus movements in indoor spaces can be simulated easily and cost-effectively. The method helps to implement measures in rooms that significantly reduce the risk of transmission via the air.

Image: Camera image showing an array of 9 spatial light modulators immersed in the organic active layer; Copyright: Capasso Lab/Harvard SEAS

Bridging optics and electronics

Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in collaboration with a team from Washington University, have developed a simple spatial light modulator made from gold electrodes covered by a thin film of electro-optical material that changes its optical properties in response to electric signals.

Image: A scanning electron microscope image shows a cell-size robotoc swimmer that can be powered and steered by ultrasound waves; Copyright: Cornell University

Inspired by bacteria and sperm, scientists make micro-robot swimmers

Scientists at Cornell University have created cell-size robots that can be powered and steered by ultrasound waves. Despite their tiny size, these micro-robotic swimmers – whose movements were inspired by bacteria and sperm – could one day be a formidable new tool for targeted drug delivery.

Image: Tip of the index finger with the transparent golden biosupercapacitor; Copyright: Research Group Prof. Dr. Oliver G. Schmidt

Smallest biosupercapacitor provides energy for biomedical applications

Research team from Chemnitz University of Technology, IFW Dresden, and IPF Dresden presents biocompatible energy storage device for sensor applications in blood vessels.

Image: graphic of the heart with the device; Copyright: Northwestern University/George Washington University

First-ever transient pacemaker harmlessly dissolves in body

Researchers at Northwestern and George Washington (GW) universities have developed the first-ever transient pacemaker -- a wireless, battery-free, fully implantable pacing device that disappears after it's no longer needed.

Image: Graphic showing how the sensor is placed under the skin. A naked mouse or rat can be seen; Copyright: ill./©: Nanobiotechnology Group, JGU Department of Chemistry

Medical diagnostics: Tattoo made of gold nanoparticles

Color changes of gold nanoparticles under the skin reveal concentration changes of substances in the body.

Image: a hand wearing the device like a ring; Copyright: Xiao Lab

Wearable device turns the body into a battery

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new, low-cost wearable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery.

Image: PhD student Maja Struczynska with the model of a single fibrinogen molecule; Copyright: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

Specially coated titanium reduces risk of clots on prostheses

An international research team led by the german University of Jena has now developed a promising approach to significantly reducing blood clotting on the heart valve material titanium.

Image: Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel and Vanessa Trossmann in a laboratory for the microscopic examination of cell structures; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

Regenerative medicine: cell-specific properties of novel spider silk materials

Materials made of spider silk can be specifically modified or processed in such a way that living cells of a certain type adhere to them, grow and proliferate. This has been discovered by researchers at the University of Bayreuth under the direction of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel.

Image: the three-in-one hybrid material "Smartskin", which closely resembles human skin; Copyright: Lunghammer - TU Graz

Smart artificial skin in application check stage

The smart skin developed by Anna Maria Coclite has many potential applications – from robotics and cosmetic surgery to prosthetics. With an ERC Proof of Concept Grant, the researcher is now exploring its possible practical applications.

Image: Aligner made of shape memory polymers; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP

Smart materials for aligner therapy

Clinically effective, custom-made, discreet and comfortable - the demands on aligners for the therapy of malocclusions are high. This also applies to the material of these orthodontic splints. A team has now developed a highly innovative material that enables completely new treatment concepts and reduces costs. The scientists focused on polymers with shape memory properties.

Image: Group photo of the project partners in Sevilla / Spain; Copyright: DECHEMA e.V.

Recovery of battery metals - project launch of Metallico

How can battery metals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel be recycled in a sustainable way? This question is in the focus of the new EU project METALLICO, in which DECHEMA is also involved. 23 partners from nine countries will optimize five innovative processes for the recovery of those metals and subsequently demonstrate these in case studies on an industrially relevant scale.

Image: Symbol image for artificial intelligence; Copyright: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay

Using AI to design innovative materials

Advanced materials become increasingly complex due to the high requirements they have to fulfill regarding sustainability and applicability. Dierk Raabe and colleagues reviewed the use of artificial intelligence in materials science and the untapped spaces it opens if combined with physics-based simulations.

Image: Biopolyester food packaging; Copyright: MPI-IS

Sustainability for biodegradable artificial muscles

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, at Johannes Kepler University and at University of Colorado Boulder developed fully biodegradable, high-performance artificial muscles. Their research project marks another step towards green technology becoming a lasting trend in the field of soft robotics.

Image: Schematic diagram of the construction of biomolecular glass and its unique properties; Copyright: XING Ruirui

Researchers develop biodegradable, biorecyclable glass

A research group led by Prof. YAN Xuehai from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a family of eco-friendly glass of biological origin fabricated from biologically derived amino acids or peptides.

Image:three rolls of lingin in gold and black; Copyright: DITF

Carbon fibers based on wood

The DITF have developed a sustainable and cost-saving process to produce carbon fibers from lignin. This is an inexpensive raw material that is available in large quantities and is a waste product in paper production. The process offers high energy-saving potential and is particularly environmentally friendly. It uses natural, renewable raw materials and does not require solvents.

Image: Photograph of the semitransparent hydrogel used in this study; Copyright: Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023

Healing the brain: hydrogels enable neuronal tissue growth

Synthetic hydrogels were shown to provide an effective scaffold for neuronal tissue growth in areas of brain damage, providing a possible approach for brain tissue reconstruction.

Image: A smiling man with blue shirt, short grey hair and glasses is standing at the sea - Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer; Copyright: Laura Schirrmeister

Degradation of plastic waste using newly developed biocatalysts

The plastic materials polyurethane and polyvinyl alcohol can now be degraded under mild conditions with the help of enzymes as biocatalysts. Scientists from the University of Greifswald have developed corresponding methods together with the German company Covestro and teams from Leipzig and Dublin, as recently published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., in two separate articles.

Image: An active fiber fabricated by the thermal drawing; Copyright: Sato et al

Navigating complex biological systems with smart fibers

Instrumenting integrative actuators and sensors within a single active device at the microscale is constrained by current manufacturing technologies. Now, a team of researchers has developed a flexible polymer-based actuatable fiber which is capable of being integrated with smart materials and biosensing composite materials.

Image: Electrospun Renacer® membrane (5x5cm); Copyright: Fraunhofer ISC

Bioresorbable membrane for healing internal and external wounds

Fraunhofer researchers have succeeded in using the bioresorbable silica gel Renacer® to produce an electrospun membrane that is neither cytotoxic to cells nor genotoxic. This model mimics fibrous structures found in connective tissue and is therefore particularly suitable for regenerative applications, such as for improved wound healing.

Image: Man with dark hair and beard in lab coat wears blue disposable gloves, safety goggles and holds a small container in his hand - Amir Sheikhi; Copyright: Kelby Hochreither/Penn State

Novel microneedle bandage could save lives

Secondary, uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic injury is the leading cause of death of Americans from ages one to 46. Amir Sheikhi, assistant professor of chemical engineering and of biomedical engineering at Penn State, has a plan to change that with a novel microneedle patch that can immediately stop bleeding after injury.

Image: Bio-granules and bio-filaments; Copyright: Fraunhofer WKI | Manuela Lingnau

Bio-based flame retardants for bioplastics

Researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI and the Fraunhofer IAP, in collaboration with industrial partners, have achieved initial success in the development of bio-based flame retardants in bioplastics. In the future, it could therefore be possible to utilize plastics in electronics and electrical engineering that consist of 100 percent bio-based materials.

Image: six gray blocks with different densities lie on a metal plate; Copyright: LZH

DFG research group develops customized dental implants

The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) is working on more durable, particularly well-fitting dental implants as part of a DFG research group. The scientists want to use Additive Manufacturing to produce titanium implants with an innovative lattice structure.

Image: Man wearing a big facemask; Copyright: Adapted from ACS Nano 2021, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06204

AI-driven dynamic face mask adapts to exercise, pollution levels

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people have grown accustomed to wearing face masks, but that doesn’t mean the masks are always comfortable. Now, researchers have developed a dynamic respirator that modulates its pore size in response to changing conditions, such as exercise or air pollution levels, allowing the wearer to breathe easier when the highest levels of filtration are not required.

Image: yellow-black larva with net; Copyright: AVČR Biological Center

Together to the new bioadhesive

The EU is funding cross-border research at the University of Bayreuth and the AVČR with around € 670,000. The Biomaterials research grous are beneficiaries of the INTERREG programme. The object of the project is to research bioadhesive proteins produced by insect larvae in water bodies, in order to explore the possibilities of industrial production of such bioadhesives.

Image: A piece of white wound dressing in a hand with a glove; Copyright: Fraunhofer IMWS

Customized wound dressings made from tropoelastin

Customized, biomedically applicable materials based on tropoelastin are being developed in a joint project by Skinomics GmbH from Halle, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS.

Image: a purple tangle of single strands; Copyright: © 2021 KAUST; Xavier Pita

Building a better biosensor polymer

Wearable electronics that adhere to skin are an emerging trend in health sensor technology for their ability to monitor a variety of human activities, from heart rate to step count. But finding the best way to stick a device to the body has been a challenge.

Image: left the nanofilter in a hand. On the right the filter under the microscope; Copyright: Yun Shen

Coronavirus: Nanofiber filter captures almost 100% of aerosols

A filter made from polymer nanothreads blew three kinds of commercial masks out of the water by capturing 99.9% of coronavirus aerosols in an experiment.

Image: A hand pulls off a transparent "plaster" from the right forearm; Copyright: Anna-Lena Lundqvist/Chalmers

Wounds: New material can protect against resistant bacteria

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new material that prevents infections in wounds - a specially designed hydrogel, that works against all types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones. The new material offers great hope for combating a growing global problem.

Image: Smiling woman with black blazer, glasses, and blond hair in a laboratory – Dr. Julia Westermayr; Copyright: Swen Reichhold

AI: new method for targeted design of molecules

Engineering novel molecules and materials with specific properties can yield significant advances for industrial processes, drug discovery and optoelectronics. However, the search for novel molecules and materials is comparable to looking for a needle in a haystack, since the number of molecules in chemical space is of the unimaginable order of 10 to the power of 60.

Image: Rong Yang works with an initiated chemical vapor deposition system in her lab; Copyright: Charissa King-O’Brien | Cornell University

Engineers to advance nanomedicine manufacturing using AI

A novel combination of artificial intelligence and production techniques could change the future of nanomedicine, according to Cornell researchers using a new $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to revolutionize how polymer nanoparticles are manufactured.

Image: Raster animation of a human head sticking out of a tablet, robotic arms work on its brain; Copyright: Petra Ritter / BIH

EU project to establish AI and robotics in healthcare

The EU project TEF-Health aims to test and validate innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics solutions for the healthcare sector and accelerate their path to market.

Image: 3D microscopic image of an optical LED-based cochlear implant (blue LEDs in gray silicone encapsulation) with hair cells (orange) and auditory nerve (blue/green); Copyright: Daniel Keppeler, UM

Better hearing with optical cochlear implants

Understanding spoken words, developing normal speech - cochlear implants enable people with profound hearing impairment to gain a great deal in terms of quality of life. However, background noises are problematic, they significantly compromise the comprehension of speech of people with cochlear implants. The team led by Tobias Moser is therefore working to improve cochlear implants.

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Besides the editorial business news, in each of the five magazine-like COMPAMED spheres you will find company new and thematically prepared background articles, interviews, statements, video reports or photo galleries from the healthcare industry and medical technology. MEDICA also offers five sphere with information from the supplier industry for you.

MANUFACTURING & DEVICES

SERVICE & DEVICE

MICRO TECH

MATERIALS

IT IN TECH

MEDICA

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