Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Tumor immune mechanobiology","authors":"Guhan Qian ,&nbsp;Hongrong Zhang ,&nbsp;Christopher D. Zahm ,&nbsp;Paolo P. Provenzano","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) are not only biochemically complex niches but also mechanically dynamic landscapes that profoundly shape transformed, stromal, and immune cell behavior. This review presents established and emerging insights into the mechanobiology of the stroma and immune cells, particularly cytotoxic T cells, that are extremely promising candidates for anti-tumor immunotherapy. We discuss how complex stromal dynamics and stromal targeting therapies (i.e., antifibrotic, mechanotransduction, and targeting physical properties of the tumor) can enhance immune infiltration and increase susceptibility to immunotherapies. Likewise, mechanical TME features such as stiffness, viscoelasticity, and ECM alignment directly influence T cell infiltration and function through mechanotransduction pathways, including YAP, Rho, and integrin signaling, which can be manipulated to enhance T cell function in solid tumors. We additionally highlight emerging needs to capture spatiotemporal information that are essential for developing design criteria for next-generation “physically optimized” immunotherapies for solid tumor environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100651"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The dynamic tumor extracellular matrix: Biophysical cues, cellular crosstalk, and disease progression","authors":"Omkar Joshi ,&nbsp;Hellyeh Hamidi ,&nbsp;Mathilde Mathieu ,&nbsp;Johanna Ivaska","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The interplay between diverse cell types and their extracellular matrix (ECM) is fundamental for multicellular life. The ECM is a complex meshwork of fibrillar proteins and soluble factors. Cells and their surrounding ECM interact bidirectionally, whereby cells deposit their tissue-specific ECM and remodel it enzymatically and by exerting contractile forces. The ECM in turn modulates cellular functions like gene expression, proliferation, and motility. A careful balance of this interaction is key for homeostasis, and is lost during cancer progression. Different cell types constituting a tumor including cancer and stromal cells, contribute to an imbalanced cell-ECM crosstalk within the tumor. Cumulatively, this leads to a tumor ECM characterized by particular features like increased stiffness and viscoelasticity, altered alignment, bundled fibers, etc. In this review, we discuss the advances in our understanding of the tumor ECM architecture and the multicellular interactions that help achieve it, with a special focus on increasing granularity in disentangling the contributions of individual tumor ECM features in disease progression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100652"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rewriting the epigenome: CRISPR tools for biological discovery and therapeutics","authors":"Christian P. Otero ,&nbsp;Lei S. Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The eukaryotic epigenome plays a central role in regulating gene expression, cellular identity, and development through dynamic, multilayered biochemical modifications to DNA, histones, and chromatin architecture. Disruption of these regulatory mechanisms contributes to a wide range of human diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and immunological conditions. Targeted epigenome editing offers promising discovery and therapeutic strategies by enabling the correction of aberrant epigenetic states without the need for permanent changes to the DNA sequence. The catalytically inactive CRISPR-Cas (dCas) molecule fused to epigenetic effector domains has emerged as a versatile platform for programmable, locus-specific modulation of chromatin states. These CRISPR-based epigenetic editors can deposit or remove desired epigenetic marks and alter three-dimensional genome organization to fine-tune gene expression with high specificity. Recent developments have expanded the CRISPR epigenome editing toolbox by introducing new effector domains, improving multiplexing capabilities, and enabling large-scale genetic screening, leading to novel insights into the functional genomics across various cellular contexts. However, clinical translation remains challenged by inefficient delivery and suboptimal editing efficacy <em>in vivo</em>. This review highlights recent advances in CRISPR-based epigenetic editing, with a focus on applications in primary cells, new tool development, and the translational potential of epigenome modulation for safe, durable, and precise therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100658"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of artificial intelligence in usability testing and its potential impact on designing inclusive medical devices and digital health tools","authors":"Selena Lombardi,&nbsp;Enid Montague","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poorly designed medical devices and digital health tools can disproportionately affect their accessibility, adoption, and effectiveness for marginalized populations, such as older adults and Black and Indigenous people of colour. Inequalities in adoption and adherence to these medical technologies can be influenced by their usability; therefore, usability testing throughout all stages of development is significant to ensure that these solutions are safe, efficient, and easy to use for diverse user populations. However, traditional usability testing methods are often resource-intensive and inconsistent, raising concerns about their effectiveness, especially for addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. With the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in usability testing, questions remain about its ability to represent the perspectives of marginalized populations. This narrative review of 35 articles examined the current state of AI integration into usability testing processes, its usefulness and ease of use for evaluating the usability of medical devices and digital health tools, and its potential impact on including marginalized community perspectives. 20 articles provided AI-informed usability testing tools exclusively for digital products, such as mobile applications. These tools primarily supported usability analysts by automating specific usability testing tasks, such as identifying usability issues, performing sentiment analysis, and scoring interfaces. Three studies demonstrated AI’s use in simulating human participants or replacing evaluators under specific conditions. However, equity considerations were limited: 16 studies did not address how their tools would impact equitable usability testing practices, and 12 provided limited acknowledgment in their discussion sections. Only three sources in the literature explicitly explored AI-supported usability tools with marginalized communities. While AI-informed usability tools show promise for formative evaluations of digital health tools, their application in diverse contexts remains limited. Future priorities include validating on-the-market and literature AI-supported usability tools with various healthcare solutions and user groups, aligning AI-informed usability practice development with usability analyst workflows, and integrating equity considerations into usability testing frameworks. Developing guidelines for both traditional and AI-informed usability methods through collaboration with experts from AI, human factors, medical, and ethics fields is critical to ensuring equitable outcomes in medical device and digital health tool evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100655"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Future of transdermal nanomedicine","authors":"Ali Zarrabi,&nbsp;Francesco Trotta","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100653","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100653"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Next generation technologies for CRISPR-based epigenome and transcriptional modulation","authors":"Rithu K. Pattali ,&nbsp;Nikita S. Divekar ,&nbsp;James K. Nuñez","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Technologies for editing epigenetic modifications and controlling transcription in mammalian cells have revolutionized targeted gene perturbation, functional genomics, and basic research. By avoiding the generation of DNA breaks, epigenome editing serves as a safe and precise approach for altering gene expression and has emerged as a promising platform for therapeutic applications. The advent of CRISPR has contributed significantly to the expansion of the existing toolkit for programmable modulation of epigenetic and transcriptional states. This review highlights recent discoveries in engineering novel tools for epigenome editing and transcriptional modulation through rational design, high throughput screening methods, and mutational scans, which leverage the endogenous reservoir of chromatin and transcriptional effectors for targeted gene repression and activation. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of epigenome modulators and highlight the key challenges that need to be addressed to improve their safety and efficacy. Advancing our understanding of the complex mechanisms driving gene expression and overcoming current limitations will pave the way for the development of novel technologies that advance fundamental research and translational applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100654"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial intelligence-powered biomedical imaging: Recent achievements and challenges","authors":"Ashkan Ebadi ,&nbsp;Alexander Wong","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2026.100650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, there have been remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, particularly in their application to biomedical imaging. This integration has opened up new possibilities for early and improved diagnosis, automation, and interoperability across various medical applications. This review explores the key developments in AI-driven biomedical imaging, examining the techniques and applications that have evolved. We highlight recent enhancements in various areas, such as early-stage diagnostics and explainability. Additionally, we address the challenges and limitations while shedding light on potential research directions to further integrate AI into clinical imaging, thereby enhancing patient-centered care. By synthesizing these key advancements and ongoing challenges, we aim to underscore AI's potential to transform biomedical imaging practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100650"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From “high” to “how many”: How quantifying receptor abundance links genotype, environment, and therapeutic response","authors":"Yingye Fang,&nbsp;P.I. Imoukhuede","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For decades, cell surface receptor localization has been described in qualitative terms— “high”, “low”, or “absent”—yet these descriptors mask the quantitative reality that cells can display anywhere from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of receptors, with functional consequences. This Review describes how quantifying receptor abundance transforms our understanding of cellular function and therapeutic response. We evaluate current methods for absolute receptor quantification, explore how environmental and genetic factors control receptor numbers, demonstrate how these measurements enable predictive computational models, and establish therapeutic thresholds based on precise molecular counts. Moving from asking whether receptors are present to measuring exactly how many exist, we can finally connect molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes with mathematical precision.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100646"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Porous scaffolds for in vitro modelling and monitoring of the extracellular matrix","authors":"Emma L. Sumner ,&nbsp;Ruth E. Cameron ,&nbsp;Serena M. Best ,&nbsp;Róisín M. Owens","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animal studies have long been considered the gold standard for studying disease and analysing drug efficacy in preclinical research. However, the use of animals for studying human systems is now more commonly regarded as ethically questionable, expensive and a poor predictor of human cell response, leading to the widespread movement towards the replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs) of animal testing in research. This perspective provides an overview of the benefit of moving away from animal models to more sustainable three dimensional (3D) <em>in vitro</em> culture systems and introduces current materials for modelling the extracellular matrix. We will focus primarily on the application of porous scaffolds as we progress from materials that simply support cell hosting to materials such as conducting polymers that are also able to monitor the health of cells grown on their surface.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100633"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent progress in multifunctional MXene quantum dots for cancer therapy","authors":"Raj Kumar ,&nbsp;Aresh Sahu ,&nbsp;Keshaw Ram Aadil ,&nbsp;Yogendra Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Ajeet Kaushik","doi":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cobme.2025.100635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>MXenes quantum dots (MQDs), nanostructures that exhibit tailored physicochemical characteristics of MXenes with the features of quantum dots, are emerging as exceptional agents for various therapeutic applications. Considering a wide range of features, MQDs are a promising platform for photothermal, photodynamic, chemodynamic, catalytic, sonodynamic, and combination therapies, as well as bioimaging capabilities, offering effective cancer treatment options. A good control over photoluminescence, surface reactivity, and biocompatibility makes MQDs a novel, multifunctional nanocarrier for developing efficient drug delivery systems for photothermal cancer therapy with higher efficacy and fewer adverse effects. However, there is a need to explore this class of material and conduct more systematic studies to establish these materials as an efficient system for cancer therapy. In this direction, presented comprehensive report highlight the latest advancements in multifunctional MQD-based treatment modalities for cancer management. Along with the trends, the associated challenges and future perspectives are also carefully discussed in this article.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36748,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100635"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}