Volume 1 Issue 6, June 2023

Bidirectional neuromorphic brain interfaces, based on interconnecting brain networks with artificial spiking neural networks, aim to optimize neural prostheses to help people with paralysis to regain autonomy. Their emergence questions the concept of human subjectivation, the continuous process by which we become and remain the subject of our life.

Pancreatic islet transplantation stands to enable patients with type 1 diabetes to become insulin-independent. However, the number of islets required to achieve insulin independence is not yet well-defined and depends on the transplantation approach. Here, we contextualize a ‘rule of thumb’ estimate of the islet quantities required for transplantation, and discuss the estimate’s practical implications.

The Spark M-20 is a nanotechnology-based, handheld device that detects toxic methanol in beverages and sanitizers, which may soon also be applied for intoxication screening in human breath. Here, we share our pathway and experiences during the translation of this university-originated innovation into a commercial product that today is serving customers in 23 countries on 6 continents.

An article in Nature Biomedical Engineering reports a simple and hardware-independent peptide-mediated delivery method for the CRISPR-mediated engineering of T cells.

An article in Science Robotics reports an in situ deployable electrode system, actuated with a soft robotic mechanism, that can be surgically implanted and cover large areas of the cortex.

Neurological disorders or traumatic events that cause hand paralysis considerably limit our ability to proactively interact with our surroundings. This Review discusses neuroprosthetic solutions to restore voluntary hand movements by bypassing the neural lesion.

Therapeutic nanoparticle and biomaterial systems can be specifically designed to deliver drugs for the treatment of women’s health-related conditions. This Review discusses the engineering and optimization of delivery technologies for women’s health applications, including vaginal infections, reproductive tract disorders, pregnancy conditions and congenital disorders.

Plant-based recombinant protein production has the power to ensure rapid and global-scale deployment of biopharmaceuticals. This Review discusses genetic tools and systems for the plant-based production and engineering of biopharmaceuticals, including vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell activities can be remotely controlled to provide spatiotemporal precision of CAR T cell activity and improve the safety of cellular immunotherapies. This Review discusses physical and chemogenetic stimuli and the combination of stimuli-responsive nanotechnologies with immuno-engineering to design controllable CAR T cell therapies.