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Image: Semiconductor hydrogel placed into a vessel with tweezers hold in gloved hands; Copyright: UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering / John Zich

UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering / John Zich

Hydrogel semiconductor bridges bioelectronics and living tissue

27.11.2024

Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a unique hydrogel semiconductor with properties ideal for medical applications. This new material offers seamless integration with tissue, paving the way for advanced bioelectronic devices in implants and non-surgical applications.
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Image: Fluorine-free coatings for medical technology applications; Copyright: Fraunhofer IFAM

Fraunhofer IFAM

PFAS replacement in medical technology: solutions for safe surfaces

08.11.2024

The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM has developed alternatives to perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) that can also be used in medical technology. PFAS, known as the “poisons of the century”, are difficult to break down and will be banned in the EU in the future.
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Image: Intraocular lens implant held with a surgical instrument

The next generation of visual implants

30.10.2024

There are almost 40 million blind people worldwide, with a further 124 million suffering from visual impairment. Researchers have long been looking for ways to at least partially restore sight to make everyday life easier for those affected. With the miniaturization of technology and improved data transmission and evaluation, visual implants are increasingly coming into focus.
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Image: Person holding the antiviral coating material with tweezers; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Kiel University

Julia Siekmann, Kiel University

New production method for an antiviral coating

07.10.2024

Researchers at Kiel University (CAU) have investigated and compared six biomedical coating materials to understand their interactions with cells, skin and viruses.
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Image: A 1 cent coin in front of which the light stimulator is held for size comparison; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS, Sebastian Lassak

Fraunhofer IPMS, Sebastian Lassak

OLED-on-CMOS technology: New approach for light sources

04.10.2024

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Natural Sciences (MPI-NAT) are developing OLED-on-CMOS-based optical stimulators for future cochlear implants as part of the “NeurOpto” project. The technology promises more precise optical stimulation for neurosensory therapies.
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Illustration of the place in the knee where the implant is inserted; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties

Fraunhofer IAP / Jadwiga Galties

3D bioprinting: Personalized implants for cartilage therapy

02.10.2024

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) are developing 3D printing inks with the body's own cartilage cells for personalized cartilage implants. The research is intended to create new treatment options for cartilage damage and strengthen the innovative power of Lusatia.
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Image: The gold electrodes under an electron microscope; Copyright: Yasar TB et al. Nature Communications 2024

Yasar TB et al. Nature Communications 2024

Gold electrodes measure brain activity precisely and gently

16.09.2024

Researchers at ETH Zurich, led by Professor Mehmet Fatih Yanik, have developed ultra-flexible brain probes that measure brain activity precisely and gently. In the long term, these new probes should contribute to the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases and advance research into brain processes such as memory storage.
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Image: A tiny microchip containing the brain-machine interface; Copyright: EPFL

EPFL

An entire brain-machine interface on a single chip

10.09.2024

Researchers at EPFL have developed a new miniaturized brain-machine interface (BMI) that enables direct brain-to-text communication on extremely small silicon chips. This technology could offer people with severe motor impairments, such as ALS or spinal cord injuries, improved communication capabilities.
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Image: Mobile heart pump with connections at the top; Copyright:COMPAMED

COMPAMED

Out-of-body communication via Bluetooth antennas

09.09.2024

Many medical devices utilize software designed to meet the special requirements of current regulation. The software developer CODIALIST GmbH in Berlin (Germany) supports various customers in the MedTech sector. We spoke to Dr. Dominik Karch about the exciting projects they have conducted and the challenges within this business area.
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Image: A person speaks on a stage at the COMPAMED Suppliers Forum 2023; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / Andreas Wiese

Messe Düsseldorf / Andreas Wiese

COMPAMED Suppliers Forum: From medical manufacturing to circular economy

07.08.2024

COMPAMED, the leading international trade fair for the medical technology supplier industry, will take place in Düsseldorf from November 11 to 14, 2024. The COMPAMED Suppliers Forum by Devicemed offers a special opportunity to present your own expertise.
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Image: Edith Perret, woman with lab coat and long blonde hair, sits in a laboratory and smiles at the camera; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Smart fibers for precise drug delivery

22.07.2024

Local drug delivery over a longer period of time: this is one of the challenges that doctors face when treating wounds and inflammations. Empa researchers have now developed a promising solution: “liquid core fibers” that contain drugs inside them and can deliver them precisely over a longer period of time.
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Image: The flag of the European Union; Copyright: Pexels/Alexey Larionov

Pexels/Alexey Larionov

Innovation over production – Europe in a balancing act

12.07.2024

Companies around the world are relocating their production to Asia. Although final production often takes place in their own country, many of the components come from countries in Central or South East Asia. In order to remain competitive, the EU has created various instruments to promote innovative ideas and modern technologies from which medical technology suppliers can also benefit.
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Image: Individual modules of the

Fraunhofer IBMT

Fraunhofer ZSI presents innovative modular principle for ultrasonic sensors

10.07.2024

With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.
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Image: A cuboid-shaped metal box with threaded holes for the production of nanoparticles; Copyright: B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH

B. Bobusch/FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH

FDmiX platform increases serial production of high-quality nanoparticles

02.07.2024

With the development of the Fraunhofer Dynamic Mixing Technologies (FDmix) platform, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK and FDX Fluid Dynamix GmbH have achieved a milestone in nanoparticle production.
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Image: With a bang, Maria Pappa, Mayor of St.Gallen, officially opens the Health Innovation Hub with confetti in front of an audience; Copyright: Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG/Karin Tanner

Switzerland Innovation Park Ost AG/Karin Tanner

Innovation Health Hub combines inspiration with medical innovation

17.06.2024

The grand opening of the Health Innovation Hub at Switzerland Innovation Park Ost (SIPO) laid an important foundation stone for future innovations in the field of healthcare. The hub serves as a platform for networking experts from research and industry to jointly drive forward innovative projects in the areas of wearables, health monitoring and disease prevention.
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Image: A doctor with a beard and glasses holds a resorbable stent close to the camera; Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH

Karin Kaiser/MHH

Latest generation of self-dissolving stents conquers hearts

11.06.2024

There is new hope for patients with narrowed coronary arteries: a self-dissolving stent has been implanted for the second time worldwide at Hannover Medical School (MHH). This innovative stent, which dissolves over time once it has done its job, promises considerable advantages over conventional vascular stents, especially for younger patients.
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Picture: Numerous metal sensors hanging next to instrument panels in a factory for the manufacture of special appliances; Copyright: Envato/YouraPechkin

Envato/YouraPechkin

Sensors – hidden heroes?

10.06.2024

They monitor, transmit and control – sensors in medical technology. Hardly any device can do without them. For most people, their health at some point in their lives will depend on whether sensors are doing their job properly. But how diverse are their applications in medical devices?
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Image: 3D printer as preview image to the video

From dental crowns to prostheses: The versatile world of 3D printing

10.06.2024

Discover the dimensions of 3D printing in our latest video, which shows the possibilities of current printer models and highlights the diverse areas of application in the field of medical technology. Whether dentistry or orthopaedics, 3D printers can be used in a wide range of applications and the medical technology sector would be unthinkable without them.
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Image: Close-up of a miniature sensor for ventilators on a blue background; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPM

Fraunhofer IPM

Sensor takes breathing gas measurement to a new level

10.06.2024

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM) have now developed an innovative sensor that measures the oxygen content directly in the breath and thus provides precise and continuous values.
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Image: A data center with many servers; Copyright: Envato/MegiasD

Envato/MegiasD

Artificial intelligence: unlimited possibilities or unstoppable resource drain?

27.05.2024

Within medical technology, AI programs are swiftly being implemented - from relieving doctors of work to detecting cancerous tumors at an early stage. AI is also playing an increasingly important role for medical technology suppliers. It can control, monitor and optimize manufacturing processes for components and materials.
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Image: Close-up of a magnetic sensor and a prosthetic hand; Copyright: Qant

Qant

Q.ANT magnetic field sensor: New quantum sensor technology for prosthesis control via nerve signal

14.05.2024

The innovative magnetic field sensor from Q.ANT, a German quantum technology company, opens up far-reaching possibilities for prosthesis control and sensor technology in medical technology and beyond.
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Image: Two hands holding a 3D-printed bolt; Copyright: Envato/Tatiana_Mara

Envato/Tatiana_Mara

Innovation in 3D: Laser Powder Bed Fusion

08.05.2024

An innovative 3D printing process is breaking down traditional manufacturing boundaries and opening up unimagined possibilities from aerospace to medical technology: laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). In our interview, Tim Lantzsch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT explains current applications of this promising additive manufacturing technology.
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Image: A smiling Ottobock employee processes a blank with patches made of flax fibers; Copyright: Ottobock

Ottobock

Ottobock presents GreenLine: Sustainable materials for medical technology

08.05.2024

The trend towards sustainable products and materials is also finding its way into medical technology. With the new GreenLine product range, Ottobock, one of the leading providers of medical technology solutions, offers prosthetists and orthotists and their patients innovative solutions that combine the need for more ecological materials with consistent functionality.
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Image: The surface of a circuit board is processed by a micro precision device; Copyright: INP

INP

New plasma printing technology enables surface modification in the micrometre range

06.05.2024

Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) have developed a plasma printing technology that enables the precise modification of surfaces on an extremely small scale.
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Image: Products from the 3D printer on a black background; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Miracle material: cellulose aerogel combines sustainability with high-tech

24.04.2024

Researchers at Empa in Switzerland have developed a new type of material that combines several pioneering properties: the cellulose aerogel is biodegradable, can be printed in three dimensions and also offers excellent thermal insulation.
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Image: Sensors on a cable with power supply; the implant on a pink background; Copyright: Northwestern University

Northwestern University

Real-time bladder fullness: new technology for bladder dysfunction

15.04.2024

Researchers at Northwestern University (USA) have developed an implant that monitors bladder fullness in real time. The battery-free, flexible device is attached to the bladder wall and transmits the data to a smartphone app.
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Image: Various 3D-printed small parts lying on a table; Copyright: beta-web GmbH / Messe Düsseldorf

PolyPrint: better therapies, fewer side effects – 3D printing for individualized medication

12.04.2024

The start-up goatAM wants to commercialize 3D printing technology for pharmaceuticals. goatAM CEO Tilmann Spitz and Dr. Julian Quodbach from Utrecht University explain the advantages of the process, why the individual dosing of drugs in 3D printing makes sense and how the properties of the polymers influence the release of the drugs.
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Image: Implant shaft under 3D printer; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

ninelutsk / Envato

Biomimetic adhesive for tissue and bone from the 3D printer

02.04.2024

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation have developed a tissue adhesive based on the model of the mussel. The printable dopamine-based tissue adhesive can even be printed on curved, uneven surfaces.
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Image: Man with black hair and dark-rimmed glasses wearing a light blue top; Copyright: PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF YONGLONG XIE/RICE UNIVERSITY

Rice physicist receives NSF CAREER award to advance quantum technology

21.03.2024

Yonglong Xie, Rice University physics assistant professor, receives the NSF CAREER Award, a $888,555 grant, fueling his research on magnons, quantum entities in magnetic materials, to revolutionize quantum technology. Xie's work shapes future quantum devices and sensors.
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Image: The picture shows on the right three brown examples of hydrogel. To the left, there is a transparent hydrogel; Copyright: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

New hydrogel for seawater desalination and medical therapies

18.03.2024

Researchers at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) have developed a thermosensitive hydrogel with multifaceted applications, including seawater desalination using solar energy and the creation of advanced biomedical adhesives for semi-invasive therapies and medical diagnostics.
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Image: Mobile heart pump with connections at the top; Copyright: Excor Active

Excor Active

Software for medical technology

11.03.2024

Many medical devices utilize software designed to meet the special requirements of current regulation. The software developer CODIALIST GmbH in Berlin (Germany) supports various customers in the MedTech sector. We spoke to Dr. Dominik Karch about the exciting projects they have conducted and the challenges within this business area.
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Image: This image shows how a waver is produced by a machine.

Advancements in microchip manufacturing: new plasma technology

29.02.2024

Plasma scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have made advancements in microchip manufacturing. Their latest research, highlighted in a recent peer-reviewed publication, aims to enhance production efficiency and streamline manufacturing processes. This development holds the potential to revitalize the American chip industry.
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Image: This graphic visualizes the PA sensing instrument´s theoretical procedure; Copyright: Khan et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.29.1.017002.

Khan et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.29.1.017002

Photoacoustic sensing instrument for tissue diagniostics

15.02.2024

In the pursuit of enhancing clinical diagnostics, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore have unveiled a new tool—a compact and cost-effective photoacoustic (PA) sensing instrument designed for biomedical tissue diagnosis. This development improves diagnostic practices, patient care and outcomes, offering rapid and accurate insights into breast tissue characterization.
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Image: A doctor looks at a brain scan on a monitor. You can see her profile and part of her shoulder; Copyright: envato

envato

New technology for brain cancer visualization

31.01.2024

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a groundbreaking microscopy technology known as decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath). This innovative method allows for the visualization of previously unseen details in human brain tissue, opening new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer.
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Image: Graphic representation of the encapsulation of the mRNA active ingredient in the automated screening system as part of the RNAuto research project; Copyright: Fraunhofer IESE

Fraunhofer IESE

Automated production of mRNA therapeutics

31.01.2024

The price of a drug is not only dependent on the raw materials used, but is also determined by the manufacturing process. High prices are charged for some cancer drugs in particular, as they can only be produced in small quantities at great expense. Keyword: mRNA therapeutics.
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Image: Various hearing aids lie on a tray, hands reach for them from all four sides; Copyright: ninelutsk / Envato

ninelutsk / Envato

The smallest technology for powerful hearing experiences

14.12.2023

From conversations with friends or colleagues to plays and lectures – modern hearing devices enable many people to participate in everyday life. However, the smallest components are needed to ensure that the devices function optimally and cause as few complications as possible for the users. Let’s take a look at the microtechnology in these hearing aid devices.
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Image: Biomechanical carbon hand prosthesis for disabled people on the table in the office, another white prosthesis in the background; Copyright: ionadidishvili

ionadidishvili

Hand prostheses: Artificial intelligence makes gripping more intuitive

14.12.2023

A better understanding of muscle activity patterns in the forearm supports a more intuitive and natural control of artificial limbs. This requires a network of 128 sensors and artificial intelligence based techniques.
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Image: A microscopic image of the newly developed fibers; Copyright: Washington State University

Washington State University

Conductive, cotton-based fiber for smart textiles

12.12.2023

A single strand of fiber developed at Washington State University has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of a polymer, called polyaniline. The newly developed material showed good potential for wearable e-textiles.
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Image: A printer applies the dopamine-based tissue adhesive to the three-dimensional titanium shaft of a hip joint; Copyright: Fraunhofer CMI

Fraunhofer CMI

Inspired by mussels: printable adhesives for tissues and bones

07.12.2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer IAP have been working alongside the Fraunhofer IGB and the Fraunhofer CMI to develop a tissue adhesive that can help avoid early replacement of prostheses in the future.
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Image: Prof. Martin Bertau (left) and doctoral student Paul Scapan with safety glasses in the laboratory; Copyright: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel

TU Bergakademie Freiberg / Andreas Hiekel

Basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay

06.12.2023

PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon (PFAS = perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds). As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins", whose hazardous residues only degrade very slowly in the environment.
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Image: Used auto parts warehouse worker checks inventory in warehouse; Copyright: coffeekai

coffeekai

Recycling model for the plastics industry

30.11.2023

Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer from Leuphana University Lüneburg and his colleague Prof Dr Hans-Josef Endres from Leibniz University Hanover want to develop a sustainable recycling model for the plastics industry.
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Image: Printing the support frame using a 3D printer; Copyright: bellaSeno

bellaSeno

3D printing: composite material for bone healing

28.11.2023

After a bone fracture, some patients experience healing disorders. To enable effective treatment in these cases, the Fraunhofer Institute IFAM (Germany) is researching a new composite material for use in the operating theater as part of the SCABAEGO joint project.
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Image: Prof. Pavel Jungwirth; Copyright: Tomáš Belloň / IOCB Prague

Tomáš Belloň / IOCB Prague

Computer model of the ear may help to improve cochlear implants

28.11.2023

Professor Pavel Jungwirth and his colleagues from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the cochlear implant company MED-EL, based in Austria, have come up with a complete computer model of the ear. It can be used to simulate hearing of mammals including humans from the outer ear all the way to the auditory nerve.
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Image: Anatomical model of human pancreatitis; Copyright: JoPanwatD

JoPanwatD

Pancreas: nanoparticles for optimized cancer therapy

22.11.2023

Researchers from Göttingen and Karlsruhe have developed a new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer. The innovative method promises to be able to treat the disease in a more targeted way and with fewer side effects in the future. The therapy is now to be optimized for clinical application as quickly as possible.
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Image: A man in a suit speaks into a microphone in front of a blue wall; Copyright: beta-web GmbH / Messe Düsseldorf

The future of material processing: FemtoGLASS for glass and sapphire at COMPAMED 2023

13.11.2023

At COMPAMED 2023, Aurimas Vrubliauskas from WOP/Workshop of Photonics shows us FemtoGLASS, a new device for laser cutting technology, in the video. It can be used to process glass and sapphire - perfect for research and production, from microfluidics to micro-optics.
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Image: A Person (Felix Thelen) working in a lab; Copyright: RUB, Marquard

RUB, Marquard

Autonomous measuring instruments systematically detect new materials

31.10.2023

Despite highly specialized methods that can simultaneously produce a range of materials on a single sample and then measure them automatically, every minute counts when analyzing them: because days or even weeks can pass before the characterization of a sample is complete. The new algorithm can be integrated into existing measuring instruments to boost their efficiency significantly.
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Image: Researcher takes thin films with tweezers; Copyright: imagesourcecurated

imagesourcecurated

New method for manufacturing tailor-made semiconductor thin films

25.10.2023

In order to produce thin organic semiconductor films automatically and with well-defined properties, researchers – led by Leibniz IPHT in Jena, Germany – have developed a new technological approach for depositing thin films with high molecular precision.
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Image: A prosthetic hand and a human hand almost touch. Based on Michelangelo's

atercorv

The new Center for Bionic Intelligence Tübingen Stuttgart

18.10.2023

Scientists from the University of Stuttgart, the University of Tübingen, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics are conducting research on intelligent bionic systems that will aid understanding and treatment of certain diseases of the central nervous system.
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Image: Various plastic waste on a pile; Copyright: Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Nick Fewings / Unsplash

Plastic production via advanced recycling lowers GHG emissions

17.10.2023

Producing new plastic by advanced recycling of post-use plastic (PUP), instead of fossil-based production, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and increase the U.S. recycling rate, according to research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.
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Image: Close-up of a sensor bracelet demonstrator; Copyright: Fraunhofer IBMT

Fraunhofer IBMT

Bidirectional control of prosthetic hands using ultrasonic sensors

12.10.2023

Researchers at Fraunhofer are working as part of an EU research project to improve control of prosthetic hands down to individual fingers.
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Image: Photo of a car interior. A man sits behind the wheel and operates a screen; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT/Anika Bödecker

Fraunhofer IDMT/Anika Bödecker

Vital data: the whole body on the radar

04.10.2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT in Oldenburg have developed a new method for collecting and analyzing vital signs from the human body by using radar.
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Image: Person holding a sensor in hands; Copyright: Kate Myers/Penn State

Kate Myers/Penn State

Wearable sensor for continuous analysis of sweat

03.10.2023

Continuous monitoring of sweat can reveal valuable information about human health, such as the body’s glucose levels. However, wearable sensors previously developed for this purpose have been lacking, unable to withstand the rigors or achieve the specificity needed for continuous monitoring. Now, the research team has created a novel wearable patch that may be up to the task.
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Image: The transverse link with imprinted force sensor measures the stresses acting in the application at any time; Copyright: Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen.

Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen

Integrated sensor technology: the next step in additive manufacturing

28.09.2023

Trends such as Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things are making the precise recording of the condition of machines and components increasingly important. To face the challenges in collecting sufficient data, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has developed a sensor infrastructure for smart industrial applications and implemented it using additive manufacturing processes.
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Image: Dr. Marina Dziuba in the laboratory with bacterial cultures to produce magnetic nanoparticles; Copyright: Christian Wißler/UBT

Christian Wißler/UBT

EXIST funding for bacterial magnetic nanoparticles

27.09.2023

BioMagnetix uses bacterial magnetic nanoparticles as innovative materials for biomedical applications. The founding team aims to develop and continuously improve high-quality and highly functional magnetic nanoparticles for imaging techniques and therapeutic purposes, such as cancer treatment.
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Image: A glass press in a production room enables the automated production of high-precision optical glass components; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPT

Fraunhofer IPT

Research: automated series production of optics with new glass press

21.09.2023

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in Aachen has expanded its machinery with a new system for the automated molding of high-precision optical glass components.
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Image: Schematic structure of a sensor for the detection of viral pathogens; Copyright: TUD

TUD

Diagnostics: pioneering approaches for the detection of viral antigens

20.09.2023

Scientists from the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at TU Dresden (TUD) have made considerable progress in the development of highly innovative solutions for the detection of viral pathogens in two studies they presented recently.
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Image: A blue 3D printed bandage on a hand; Copyright: Faraz Faruqi and Stefanie Mueller

Faraz Faruqi and Stefanie Mueller

AI-driven tool to personalize 3D-printable models

19.09.2023

MIT researchers developed a generative-AI-driven tool that enables the user to add custom design elements to 3D models without compromising the functionality of the fabricated objects. A designer could utilize this tool, called Style2Fab, to personalize 3D models of objects using only natural language prompts to describe their desired design.
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Image: The ball shapes are bacteria and the “sheet” is black phosphorus, under the microscope at RMIT University; Copyright: Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University

Aaron Elbourne and colleagues, RMIT University

Ultrathin nanotech promises to help tackle antibiotic resistance

14.09.2023

Researchers have invented a nano-thin superbug-slaying material that could one day be integrated into wound dressings and implants to prevent or heal bacterial infections.
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Image: An employee with a hairnet and smock stands at a complex high-tech system in a green-lit room; Copyright: TU Dresden/IHM

TU Dresden/IHM

Project for microelectronics resarch in Germany launched

13.09.2023

The BMBF-funded project “Forschungslabore Mikroelektronik Deutschland (ForLab)” brings together 14 German universities active in microelectronics research. Through the ForLab project, they were able to invest in new facilities that will open up new areas of research.
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Image: dr Margarethe Hauck (right) and Lena Saure, wearing glasses and a white coat, test the hydrogel in the laboratory; Copyright: Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

Muscles for soft robots inspired by nature

07.09.2023

A research team from the Department of Materials Science at Kiel University (CAU) has now developed a new material based on a hydrogel that functions similarly to a muscle. The soft material can be reduced and enlarged in a controlled manner within a short time and could thus take on motion tasks in soft robotics, for example.
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Image: some computer mouse shells made of printed wood fiber on a table; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Wood instead of plastic? The dream of sustainable products

06.09.2023

In our everyday life, the desire to use sustainable products instead of those made of plastic is common and can usually be implemented well. But what about medical technology manufacturers? Could they do without plastics at all in order to become more sustainable? After all, they often use a lot of electronics.
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Image: Ian Nicholls is standing in a laboratory; Copyright: Joakim Palmqvist

Joakim Palmqvist

Advanced biosensors to detect tumors, viruses and bacterial diseases

05.09.2023

Linnaeus University is partnering with industry and healthcare to develop advanced biosensors, investing SEK 35 million in a project aimed at faster and cost-effective diagnoses of aggressive lung cancer, viral, and bacterial diseases, potentially enabling self-testing at home.
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Image: a 1-cent coin looks huge alongside a microchip lying next to it; Copyright: RUB

RUB

Hardware Trojans in microchips: "The sky's the limit"

29.08.2023

They are secretly reading sensitive patient data or remotely switching off devices in intensive care units: while companies and private individuals are now well aware of software Trojans - never download an app or program without checking it - many companies or hospitals face a completely different threat. Namely, that the Trojans come into the house on the backs of the hardware.
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Image: Associate Professor Lee Seok Wo holding up the flexible battery that is as thin as a human cornea.; Copyright: NTU Singapore

NTU Singapore

Micrometres-thin battery could power smart contact lenses

24.08.2023

Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses.
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Image: A technical drawing with 3 inputs and one output; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

Fraunhofer IZM

Future chips: using magnetic effects in electrons for a hundredfold reduction in power consumption

23.08.2023

SPIDER project: Using spinwave technology, EU consortium led by Fraunhofer IZM aims to cut computer chip power consumption by 100x. Magnon-based approach promises energy-efficient computing. Project runs till May 2026 with €3M funding.
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Image: In the picture you can see a lotus leaf with water two hands in gloves and the product. ; Copyright: National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore

Nature-inspired pressure sensing technology aims to transform healthcare and surgical robots

22.08.2023

NUS researchers have developed 'eAir', an innovative pressure sensor inspired by the lotus leaf effect. This sensor could revolutionize minimally invasive surgeries by providing tactile feedback to surgeons and improve patient experiences in monitoring intracranial pressure. Its unique design enhances precision and reliability, potentially transforming various medical applications.
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Image: Dr. Hu Tang, first author of the study, in front of a high-pressure press at the Bavarian Research Institute; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler.

UBT / Chr. Wißler.

New glass with supreme toughness

17.08.2023

Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, together with partners in China and the USA, have produced an oxide glass with unprecedented toughness.
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Image: A man holds a glass object with a glove.; Copyright: Jean Lachat

Jean Lachat

Smallest known way to guide light invented

15.08.2023

Scientists at the University of Chicago found a glass crystal just a few atoms thick can trap and carry light - and could be used for applications.
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Image: A graphic of blood cells flowing within the body.; Copyright: iLexx

iLexx

Noninvasive technology tests for malaria without a blood sample

10.08.2023

Yale researchers and CytoAstra develop cytophone, a laser-ultrasound platform for noninvasive malaria detection. Funding from Gates Foundation supports prototype development and testing in Burkina Faso. Improved sensitivity offers promising diagnosis and treatment potential, bypassing emerging antigen test challenges.
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Image: Light-activatable liquid metal nanostimulant in cancer therapy; Copyright: Eijiro Miyako from JAIST

Eijiro Miyako from JAIST

Cancer photoimmunotherapy: novel liquid metal nanoparticles

09.08.2023

JAIST researchers create liquid metal nanoparticles (PEG-IMIQ-LM) for cancer treatment, merging photothermal therapy and immunotherapy. Disintegration delivers immunomodulants and tracks cancer cells in real-time. Immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances cancer removal. Promising for future cancer theranostics, with clinical trials anticipated in a decade.
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Image: Graphic of a processor on a mainboard on the processor is a brain graphically recorded; Copyright: iLexx

iLexx

Materials for AI: more brainpower for hardware and software

08.08.2023

Researchers are developing neuromorphic materials to optimize adaptive algorithms for autonomous driving and more. These materials resemble brain structure, enabling faster and more efficient algorithm responses. Supported by Volkswagen Foundation with €1 million, the team aims to apply the approach to hardware.
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Image: A patient is wheeled into a CT scanner. The patient smiles; Copyright: AZ-BLT

AZ-BLT

New imaging technology for a quick look inside a human being

03.08.2023

Physicists at the University of Würzburg have succeeded in making a new imaging technique ready for use on humans. Radioactive markers and radiation are not necessary for this.
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Image: Image: A man wearing VR glasses and an exoskeleton glove sits in front of a laptop; Copyright: seventyfourimages

seventyfourimages

Brain-Computer-Interface: Focus on diamond-based quantum sensors

28.07.2023

In the NeuroQ project, a consortium from research and industry wants to develop sensitive sensors that enable better control of neural exoskeletons and prostheses under everyday conditions. Dr. Jan Jeske from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF told us what role artificial diamonds play in this.
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Image: Close-up of a boy with a healed minor cut after surgical tape stitches; Copyright: ellinnur

ellinnur

Biomaterials: toolbox for the development of bioadhesives

27.07.2023

The team of Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheibel, Chair of Biomaterials at the University of Bayreuth, has compiled a current overview of the state of research on protein-based bioadhesives.
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Image: A man working with a 3D printer; Copyright: Patrick Mansell/Penn State

Patrick Mansell/Penn State

Grant to facilitate high-speed bioprinting of bones, tracheas, organs

26.07.2023

Developing technology to quickly and efficiently bioprint human tissues at scale is the goal of a new project led by Penn State researchers. When fully developed, the technology will be the first to enable the fabrication of scalable, native tissues such as bones, tracheas and organs.
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Image: A man stands in front of a monitor showing the atomistic structure of a polymer with carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms; Copyright: UBT / Chr. Wißler

UBT / Chr. Wißler

Digital AI system for tailoring polymers

25.07.2023

Prof. Dr. Christopher Kuenneth together with research partners in Atlanta, USA, have now developed a digital system that promises extraordinarily high economical, technological and ecological benefits: from around 100 million theoretically possible polymers, their system can precisely select those materials that have an ideal property profile for targeted applications at unprecedented speed.
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Image: Intelligent rubber material that adapts to ambient humidity. This wristband shows the material's ability to adapt, in this case, to wrist movements.; Copyright: University of Stuttgart, FSM-Lab

University of Stuttgart, FSM-Labor

Intelligent rubber materials

20.07.2023

Autonomously switchable polymer materials have recently been developed by materials scientists at the University of Stuttgart and pharmacists at the University of Tübingen.
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Image:  Doctoral candidate Lukas Hiendlmeier working on the self-folding electrodes; Copyright: Andreas Heddergott / TUM

Andreas Heddergott / TUM

Electrodes: 4D printing for nerve stimulation

18.07.2023

Specific nerves may be stimulated artificially, for example to treat pain. The finer the nerves, the more difficult it is to attach the required electrodes. Researchers have now developed flexible electrodes produced with 4D printing technology. On contact with moisture, they automatically fold and wrap themselves around thin nerves.
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Image: Image showing the preparation of hydrogels that enhance the viability of NK cells; Copyright: KIMM

KIMM

3D bioprinting technology to be used for removing cancer cells

13.07.2023

KIMM develops the world’s first 3D bioprinting technology that enhances the function of NK immune cells. The new technology is expected to improve effectiveness of cancer treatment.
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Image: Symbol image for a proof-of-concept air quality monitor that can detect live SARS-CoV-2 virus; Copyright: Joseph Puthussery

Joseph Puthussery

Biosensing: air monitor can detect COVID-19 variants

12.07.2023

Scientists are looking at ways to surveil indoor environments in real time for viruses. By combining recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a real-time monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants in a room in about 5 minutes.
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Image: Dynamics of the molecular precursor in the nanochannel during the MOCVD process (left in the picture) and typical SEM cross-sectional view; Copyright: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology

Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology

Functional surface refinement: control of growth dynamics of finest tin layers

11.07.2023

Nanometer-scale coatings with functional materials play an important role in many sensory, electronic and photonic applications. An international team of researchers – coordinated by Leibniz IPHT in Jena, Germany – has succeeded for the first time in observing novel growth effects of tin coatings on silicon nanometer-structured surfaces.
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Image: A scientist in lab uniform inspects a smooth surface; Copyright: StreetOncamara_From_Twenty20

StreetOncamara_From_Twenty20

NOVA project: next generation of antimicrobial coating technologies

06.07.2023

Researchers develop and test highly efficient, environmentally friendly and stable antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) coating technologies in the NOVA project.
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Image: The Collembola Tetrodontophora bielanensis in its natural habitat; Copyright: Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden/NATURE

Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden/NATURE

Bionics: What makes cholesterol-containing surfaces so repulsive?

04.07.2023

Living organisms use powerful physical principles to control interactions at their surfaces. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Leipzig University and TU Dresden have now discovered why cholesterol-containing surfaces can exhibit greatly reduced attachment of proteins and bacteria.
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Image: Group picture of 16 people, the Newlife consortium at Fraunhofer IZM in Berlin; Copyright: Fraunhofer IZM

Fraunhofer IZM

Pregnancy: intelligent patch for remote monitoring

29.06.2023

A patch equipped with highly sensitive electronics is meant to collect and evaluate vital data. In addition, the sensors will be integrated into baby clothing in order to improve the future of medical monitoring for newborns with the highest level of data security.
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Image: Sarah Du, Ph.D., inventor and an associate professor; Copyright: Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University

Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University

U.S. patent for portable tool to diagnose and monitor sickle cell disease

28.06.2023

In the United States, sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 people and about 2 million Americans carry this genetic mutation. The most common and serious problems caused by sickle cell disease are anemia, pain and organ failure – stroke affects about 10 out of 100 children who have this disease. The national median life expectancy for people who have sickle cell disease can reach up to age 50.
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Image: Fraunhofer IAF’s wide-field magnetometer; Copyright: Fraunhofer IAF

Fraunhofer IAF

Materials science: fast magnetic imaging with diamond-based quantum sensor technology

27.06.2023

Microscopic imaging of magnetic fields, enabled by quantum sensing, allows the measurement of the unique magnetic fingerprint of objects. This opens the door for fundamentally new applications in various fields such as materials testing or biomedicine. The system offers a unique compromise of sensitivity, resolution and speed.
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Image: The hydrogel composite is demonstratively stretched by Alexandre Anthis; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Sensor patch for abdominal surgery

22.06.2023

Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have developed a plaster with a sensor function to ensure that wounds in the abdomen remain tightly closed after an operation.
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Image: A person sits at a laser scanning microscope for tumor delineation; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPMS

Fraunhofer IPMS

Micro scanners in medicine: flexible for customized applications

20.06.2023

The potential of micro scanners in medical technology is immense. Their small size, low weight and high energy efficiency make them ideal for mobile use. More than 200 different micro scanner designs have been developed at Fraunhofer IPMS to meet customer-specific requirements.
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Image: Six artificial fingerprint patterns with different properties to visualise individual fluorescence and topography; Copyright: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces / Dr Felix Loeffler

Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces / Dr Felix Loeffler

Product safety: anti-counterfeiting through laser printing

15.06.2023

A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) has developed a method that could make it more difficult to counterfeit products in the future. The new and patented method makes it possible to produce unique, non-copyable fluorescent patterns quickly, environmentally friendly and at low costs.
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Image: Microscope image: Magnetic nanoparticles bind specifically to the spherical bacteria which are about 1 µm in size; Copyright: Empa

Empa

Antibiotics crisis: rapid test for sepsis with nanoparticles

13.06.2023

For Qun Ren, every minute counts. The Empa researcher and her team are currently developing a diagnostic procedure that can detect life-threatening blood poisoning caused by staphylococcus bacteria rapidly.
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Image: a woman and a man stand in front of a machine with helmets around their heads. The woman points to it with a finger; Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT / Anika Bödecker

Fraunhofer IWU

Speech recognition for machine control

12.06.2023

Controlling a machine by giving specific spoken commands? Fraunhofer speech recognition software makes it possible.
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Image: Two men and two women pose on the floor with funny gestures in front of a projector screen; Copyright: MPI of Biochemistry

MPI of Biochemistry

Optics: Ångström-resolution fluorescence microscopy

08.06.2023

A breakthrough in fluorescence microscopy has been achieved by the research group of Ralf Jungmann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich.
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Image: R2R printed electronic components on paper ; Copyright: K. Selsam/Fraunhofer ISC

K. Selsam/Fraunhofer ISC

CircEl-Paper: Recyclable paper-based electronics

06.06.2023

Billions of tons of electronic waste are produced in the EU every year. With a novel approach, the new EU project "CircEl-Paper" could sustainably improve the recycling process for electronics in the future.
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Image: Woman with glasses and gray-brown hair, Carole Planchette, stands by a pillar; Copyright: Fotogenia - Renate Trummer

Fotogenia - Renate Trummer

Tissue Engineering: TU Graz revolutionises production of biocompatible microfibres

01.06.2023

Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated.
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Image: PhD student Maja Struczynska with the model of a single fibrinogen molecule; Copyright: Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

Jens Meyer/Uni Jena

Specially coated titanium reduces risk of clots on prostheses

25.05.2023

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

Fraunhofer IZM

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

23.05.2023

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

astakhovyaroslav

SEMECO revolutionizes the medical electronics industry

18.05.2023

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

WFIRM

Bioprinting research makes history when it soars to the ISS

17.05.2023

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

Julia Siekmann, Uni Kiel

New sensors for healthier indoor air

16.05.2023

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

UBT / Chr. Wißler.

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

11.05.2023

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.
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Image:  the three-in-one hybrid material

Lunghammer - TU Graz

Smart artificial skin in application check stage

09.05.2023

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

TU Bergakademie Freiberg / D. Müller

Iron oxide nanoparticles for medical applications

04.05.2023

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

Fraunhofer IZM

6G is right around the corner

03.05.2023

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

Fraunhofer IAP

SmartID – Detect product piracy quickly

27.04.2023

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

Fraunhofer IAP

Smart materials for aligner therapy

25.04.2023

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

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine

Microelectrode array: hammock for brain organoids

20.04.2023

Novel microelectrode array system enables long-term cultivation and electrophysiological analyses of brain organoids.
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Image: Functional model of capsule; Copyright: SIAT

SIAT

Capsule X-ray dosimeter for real-time radiotherapy monitoring

19.04.2023

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

DECHEMA e.V.

Recovery of battery metals - project launch of Metallico

18.04.2023

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

Gerd Altmann / Pixabay

Using AI to design innovative materials

11.04.2023

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.
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Graphic: an overview of a room with medical equipment in a hospital; copyright: envato

envato

Artificial intelligence in medicine: "There are many ways to make mistakes"

06.04.2023

It assists many physicians and is designed to make their lives easier: Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen an increased use and widespread adoption in healthcare settings. As such, it helps analyze X-ray and CT images or supports chronic disease management, for example. But how trustworthy is AI software?
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Image: ARC trial participant in active therapy: ARC Therapy is designed to deliver targeted, programmed spinal cord stimulation; Copyright: ONWARD Medical NV

ONWARD Medical NV

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

06.04.2023

Through ReWIRE, next-generation scientists will be trained to develop translational breakthrough therapeutic solutions for patients with paralysis caused by traumatic spinal cord injuries.
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Image: Detailed images of neurons in a mouse brain; Copyright: Anna Maria Reuss (USZ) & Fabian Voigt (UZH)

Anna Maria Reuss (USZ) & Fabian Voigt (UZH)

Scallop eyes as inspiration for new microscope objectives

04.04.2023

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.
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Image: Biopolyester food packaging; Copyright: MPI-IS

MPI-IS

Sustainability for biodegradable artificial muscles

28.03.2023

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

XING Ruirui

Researchers develop biodegradable, biorecyclable glass

22.03.2023

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.
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Image: Several quick test lying next to each other; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

Modern Point of Care Diagnostics: "Decentralization is key to success"

22.03.2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has set off a boom in point-of-care diagnostics. But where is diagnostic testing headed and how much will digital technologies come into play? Felix Kurth answered these and other questions in an interview. The biosystems engineer works at CSEM – a Swiss technology innovation center.
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Image: Novel chitosan particles and encap­sulation technologies; Copyright: Fraunhofer IPK / Larissa Klassen

Fraunhofer IPK / Larissa Klassen

New technologies for producing mRNA-based pharmaceuticals

21.03.2023

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.
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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

Christin Scholz / Fraunhofer IVI

Establishing design as integral component in research and development

16.03.2023

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

DITF

Carbon fibers based on wood

14.03.2023

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

Satoshi Tanikawa, et al. 2023

Healing the brain: hydrogels enable neuronal tissue growth

08.03.2023

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

claudioventrella

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

07.03.2023

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

FBH/P. Immerz

Speeding up diagnostics! Entangled photon pairs to help fighting cancer

01.03.2023

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.
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Image: Hand with a glove is holding a rectangle chip with the words

Georgia Tech

New ultrafast water disinfection method more environmentally friendly

23.02.2023

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

Swen Reichhold

AI: new method for targeted design of molecules

22.02.2023

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

Fraunhofer IWM

Creating 3D objects with sound

15.02.2023

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

Laura Schirrmeister

Degradation of plastic waste using newly developed biocatalysts

14.02.2023

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

Sato et al

Navigating complex biological systems with smart fibers

09.02.2023

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

Fraunhofer ISC

Bioresorbable membrane for healing internal and external wounds

08.02.2023

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.
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Image: Wound dressing with sensor applied; Copyright: phwt

phwt

Wound dressing with sensor monitors healing process

06.02.2023

Is the wound healing or is it infected? Physicians must change the bandage to find out because wounds are covered with non-transparent dressings. What happens under the wound dressing is a “black box”. Armin Haas and Professor Kai-Uwe Zirk want to change that. COMPAMED.de asked them about their approach.
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Image: A piece of electrospun nonwoven fabric made from biotechnologically produced tropoelastin; Copyright: Fraunhofer IMWS

Fraunhofer IMWS

Tropoelastin: The quest for innovative materials for wound care treatment and management

06.02.2023

In a joint research project that ended at the end of 2021, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems, the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and Skinomics GmbH examined whether a structural protein is suitable as a wound dressing material.
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Image: Patient testing a brain-computer interface to control an exoskeleton hand; Copyright: AG Klinische Neurotechnologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

AG Klinische Neurotechnologie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Controlling neural exoskeletons more precisely with diamond sensors

01.02.2023

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

Anna Lena Lundqvist/Chalmers

New spray fights infections and antibiotic resistance

31.01.2023

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.
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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

Kelby Hochreither/Penn State

Novel microneedle bandage could save lives

26.01.2023

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.
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