MODULE - 5
TRENDS IN BIOENGINEERING
Muscular and Skeletal Systems as scaffolds, scaffolds and tissue engineering, Bioprinting
techniques and materials. Electrical tongue and electrical nose in food science, DNA origami
and Biocomputing, Bioimaging and Artificial Intelligence for disease diagnosis. Bioconcrete.
Bioremediation. Biomining.
Skeletal System as Scaffold
Scaffold-based tissue engineering is a field that aims to create artificial scaffolds to support
the growth and regeneration of tissues and organs.
Tissue engineering is a wide range of applications that repairs or replaces the portion of
damaged bones, cartilage, blood vessel, skin.
Components of tissue engineering
Cell: Active Stem Cells
Scaffold: Metals, Ceramics, Polymers.
Signalling molecules: Growth factors – Hormone, Protein, Collagen.
Isolation of Stem cell: Stem cells are typically obtained from the patient and then isolated
and expanded in culture.
Seeding onto scaffold: The stem cells from the bone are then seeded onto a scaffold, such as
a polymer, ceramic, hydrogel. The scaffold provides a framework for the cells to grow and
differentiate into new tissue.
Proliferation and tissue formation: Once the cells are seeded onto the scaffold, they
undergo differentiation. The cells also begin to organize and form new tissue.
Implantation into patient: The scaffold is removed and cells are then implanted into the
patient to promote the growth of new, functional tissue.
Muscle Cells as Scaffold
Scaffold-based tissue engineering is a field that aims to create artificial scaffolds to support
the growth and regeneration of tissues and organs.
Components of tissue engineering
Cell: Active Stem Cells
Scaffold: Metals, Ceramics, Polymers.
Signalling molecules: Growth factors – Hormone, Protein, Collagen.
Isolation of muscle cells: Muscle cells are typically obtained from the patient and then
isolated and expanded in culture.
Seeding onto scaffold: The muscle cells are then seeded onto a scaffold, such as a polymer,
ceramic, hydrogel. The scaffold provides a framework for the cells to grow and differentiate
into new tissue.
Proliferation and tissue formation: Once the cells are seeded onto the scaffold, they
undergo differentiation. The cells also begin to organize and form new muscle.
Implantation into patient: The scaffold is removed and cells are then implanted into the
patient to promote the growth of new, functional muscle.
What is bioprinting?
3D bioprinting is a technology where bioinks, mixed with living cells, are printed in 3D to
construct natural tissue-like three-dimensional structures.
The Basic Steps of Bioprinting Process
Preparation of the bioink
The bioink used in bioprinting is a mixture of cells, growth factors, and other biological
materials that are formulated to promote cell growth and tissue formation.
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Design of the tissue structure
The tissue structure to be printed is designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
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Printing
The bioprinter dispenses the bioink in a controlled manner, layer by layer, to build up the
final tissue structure.
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Incubation
After printing, the tissue is incubated in a controlled environment, such as a cell culture
incubator, to promote cell growth and tissue formation.
Bioprinting techniques
There are several bioprinting techniques, including inkjet, extrusion, and laser-assisted
printing.
Inkjet assisted printing
In Inkjet-Assisted 3D Printing, tiny droplets of material are deposited onto a build platform
using an inkjet head. The droplets are then cured using UV light or heat, depending on the
material.
Advantages: Use of wider range of materials, creation of complex geometries with high
precision and speed.
Disadvantages: Limited resolution of inkjet head, cost.
Applications: Aerospace, automotive and biomedical.
Extrusion assisted printing
Extrusion assisted printing is a 3D printing technique that uses a secondary material to
support the main printing material.
Advantages: Faster printing times,greater precision, and ability to print complex designs.
Disadvantages: Expensive,finding right biomaterial is a challenge
Applications: Medical industry (custom implants), Aerospace industry (Light-weight and
complex parts)
Laser assisted printing
Laser-assisted bioprinting utilizes laser energy to precisely deposit bioinks onto a substrate.
The bioink is placed on an energy-absorbing layer, and the laser creates a pressure wave that
propels the bioink onto the substrate in a controlled manner.
Advantages: High precision,high speed, and minimal cell damage.
Disadvantages:Scalability, reproducibility, and long-term stability.
Applications: Organ-on-a-chip system, implantable tissues, and drug screening.
ELECTRICAL TONGUE
The electrical tongue is a device used in food science to analyze the taste and flavor of food
and beverages.
It works by measuring the electrical conductivity, impedance, and capacitance of a food or
beverage sample, which are related to the concentration of ions in the sample and the texture
of the sample.
Bio-materials used in e-tongue
Polymer: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene oxide(PEO) used as substrate or matrix
material.
Metal oxide: Tin dioxide (SnO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO)
Carbon Nanotubes: Carbon nanotubes are small tubes made of carbon atoms that have high
electrical conductivity and sensitivity to changes in ion concentration
Dendrimers: Dendrimers are synthetic, branched nanostructures that can be functionalized
with specific receptors or enzymes to target specific tastes
Microfluidic devices: Microfluidic devices, which are small devices that can manipulate
small volumes of fluid, are being used in the development of electrical tongue sensors.
Advantages of Electrical Tongue Technology
Non-invasive: The electrical tongue is a non-invasive technology.
Objective analysis: The electrical tongue provides a numerical representation of the taste
and flavor of a food or beverage sample, which is less subjective than human taste testing.
Cost-effective: The electrical tongue is a relatively low-cost technology compared to other
methods of food and beverage analysis, such as human taste testing.
Electrical nose
The electrical nose is a technology used in food science for the analysis and characterization
of food and beverage aromas and flavors.
The sensors in the electrical nose work by measuring the changes in electrical resistance or
capacitance that occurs when the sensors are exposed to volatile organic compounds.
Each sensor in the array is designed to respond to a specific range of volatile organic
compounds, and the combination of signals from all of the sensors allows for the analysis of
the overall aroma and flavor profile of a sample.
Bio-materials used in e-nose
Polymer: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene oxide(PEO) used as substrate or matrix
material.
Metal oxide: Tin dioxide (SnO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO)
Carbon Nanotubes: Carbon nanotubes are small tubes made of carbon atoms that have high
electrical conductivity and sensitivity to changes in ion concentration
Dendrimers: Dendrimers are synthetic, branched nanostructures that can be functionalized
with specific receptors or enzymes to target specific tastes
Microfluidic devices: Microfluidic devices, which are small devices that can manipulate
small volumes of fluid, are being used in the development of electrical nose sensors.
Advantages of Electrical Nose in Food Science
Rapid Analysis: The electrical nose can provide rapid and objective analysis of food and
beverage aromas and flavors, making it an important tool for quality control and product
development.
Objective Analysis: The electrical nose provides an objective measurement of food and
beverage aromas and flavors, reducing the potential for human error or subjective bias.
Repeatability: The electrical nose provides consistent and repeatable results, making it a
reliable tool for product development and quality control.
Cost-Effective: The electrical nose is a cost-effective alternative to traditional sensory
analysis methods, as it can perform large numbers of analyses in a relatively short amount of
time.
DNA ORIGAMI
DNA Origami is a technique in nanotechnology that involves folding DNA molecules into
specific shapes.
The process involves using a long, single strand of DNA, called the scaffold, to guide the
folding of short, complementary DNA strands, called staples, into a desired shape.
APPLICATIONS
• Nanoscale Manufacturing
• Drug Delivery
• Biosensors
• Biomedical Imaging
• Gene therapy
• Bio catalysis
Self-Healing Bio-concrete
Self-healing bio-concrete is a type of concrete that incorporates microorganisms, such as
Bacillus fragments, into the mixture, along with calcium lactate as a nutrient source. The
microorganisms are activated when the concrete cracks, and they produce calcium carbonate,
which fills in the cracks and repairs the concrete. This process is known as bio-
mineralization.
Self-healing Process
Mix Bacillus bacteria and calcium lactate with concrete
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Bacteria remain dormant within the concrete
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Concrete cracks
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Water and oxygen enter the crack
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Bacteria become activated
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Activated bacteria produce calcium carbonate
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Calcium carbonate fills in the cracks
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Concrete is repaired and structural integrity is restored
Advantages of Self-Healing Bioconcrete
Increased durability
Improved sustainability
Reduced maintenance costs
Increased longevity
Bio Computing
Bio-computing refers to the use of biological systems, such as cells, enzymes, and DNA, for
computing and information processing. This field combines the principles of computer
science, biology, and engineering to create novel systems for computing and data storage.
Technological Importance
Computational power: Bio-computing systems have the potential to provide new levels of
computational power, as they can perform complex tasks and calculations using biological
processes.
Data storage: Bio-computing systems can be used to store and process large amounts of
data, as DNA has a high information density consider that a single gram of DNA can
theoretically store up to 215 petabytes (1 petabyte = 1 million gigabytes) of data] and can be
easily synthesized and amplified.
Medical applications: Bio-computing systems can be used to develop new diagnostic and
therapeutic approaches in medicine, such as biosensors and gene therapies.
Environmental monitoring: Bio-computing systems can be used to monitor and track
environmental conditions, such as air and water quality, in real-time.
Energy efficiency: Bio-computing systems are energy-efficient, which is becoming
increasingly important as we face the challenge of climate change and the need to reduce our
energy consumption.
Bio-imaging for Disease Diagnosis
Bio-imaging is the use of imaging technologies to visualize biological processes and
structures in living organisms.
Technological Importance
Improved accuracy: Bio-imaging technologies can provide high-resolution images of the
body's internal structures, which can help healthcare professionals to identify subtle changes
and make accurate diagnoses.
Early detection: Bio-imaging can be used to detect diseases in their early stages, when they
are often more treatable. This can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.
Cost-effectiveness: Bio-imaging technologies are relatively low-cost, which makes them
accessible to a wider range of patients.
Artificial intelligence for Disease diagnosis
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the field of disease diagnosis by
providing healthcare professionals with more accurate and efficient tools for identifying and
treating various conditions.
Advantages
Image analysis: AI algorithms can analyze medical images, such as X-rays, CT scans, and
MRIs, to detect signs of diseases.
Data analysis: AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of patient data, such as electronic
health records, to identify patterns and trends that may indicate a disease. This type of data
analysis is known as predictive analytics.
Diagnosis: AI algorithms can be used to diagnose diseases by evaluating symptoms, test
results, and other patient information. AI algorithms can help healthcare professionals make
faster and more accurate diagnoses, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.