Author: Nature Biomedical Engineering

Targeting the PIEZO1 pathway boosts T cell antitumour cytotoxicity

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 27 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01189-4The mechanical sensor PIEZO1 regulates the traction force that is critical for cytotoxic T cells to target tumour cells. This finding creates…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 27 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01189-4

The mechanical sensor PIEZO1 regulates the traction force that is critical for cytotoxic T cells to target tumour cells. This finding creates avenues for enhancing the efficacy of T cell-targeted immune therapies.

Mineralized bacteria as an immunotherapy agent against various cancer types

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 27 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01192-9By coating manganese dioxide on the surface of fixed bacteria, we obtained mineralized bacteria with the ability to potently activate multipl…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 27 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01192-9

By coating manganese dioxide on the surface of fixed bacteria, we obtained mineralized bacteria with the ability to potently activate multiple immune signalling pathways. Immunotherapy with mineralized bacteria suppressed various types of cancer in multiple animal models, eliciting both immune memory and abscopal antitumour effects.

Methods, techniques, assays and protocols

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 25 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01199-2Applied biomedical research needs more of them to be more broadly useful, reproducible and robust.

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 25 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01199-2

Applied biomedical research needs more of them to be more broadly useful, reproducible and robust.

Affinity maturation of CRISPR-engineered B cell receptors in vivo

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 20 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01184-9CRISPR–Cas12a was used to directly replace mouse antibody variable chain genes with human versions in primary B cells. The edited cells under…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 20 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01184-9

CRISPR–Cas12a was used to directly replace mouse antibody variable chain genes with human versions in primary B cells. The edited cells underwent affinity maturation in vivo, improving the potency of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies without loss of bioavailability. Affinity maturation of edited cells also enables new vaccine models and adaptive B cell therapies.

How to appeal well

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 21 February 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01182-xAppealing against an editor’s negative decision is likely to be more fruitful when considering the basis of the editorial assessment and o…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 21 February 2024; doi:10.1038/s41551-024-01182-x

Appealing against an editor’s negative decision is likely to be more fruitful when considering the basis of the editorial assessment and offering ways forward.

Subcutaneous pancreatic islet transplantation without immunosuppression

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 25 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01158-3Cellular encapsulation holds promise for immunosuppression-free pancreatic islet transplantation. However, long-term graft survival remain…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 25 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01158-3

Cellular encapsulation holds promise for immunosuppression-free pancreatic islet transplantation. However, long-term graft survival remains a challenge, especially at the subcutaneous site. We harnessed temporary, controlled, inflammation-induced neovascularization to create a modified subcutaneous cavity that supports long-term survival and function of a customized islet encapsulation device without immunosuppression.

Engineering cell-derived extracellular vesicles for gene therapy

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 22 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01167-2Many genetic therapies are limited by a lack of methods for delivering them to target cells in the body. We have developed technologies to…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 22 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01167-2

Many genetic therapies are limited by a lack of methods for delivering them to target cells in the body. We have developed technologies to engineer biological nanovesicles to load therapeutic proteins, target recipient immune cells and deliver Cas9 to knock out CXCR4 in primary human T cells.

Multimodal evidence suggests the linearity of brain dynamics at the macroscale

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 21 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01127-wWe compared a range of linear and nonlinear models based on how accurately they could describe resting-state functional magnetic resonance…

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 21 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01127-w

We compared a range of linear and nonlinear models based on how accurately they could describe resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and intracranial electroencephalography dynamics in humans. Linear autoregressive models were the most accurate in all cases. Using numerical simulations, we demonstrated that spatiotemporal averaging has a critical and robust role in this linearity.

Streamlining point-of-care assays

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 15 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01173-4When designing diagnostic assays intended for point-of-care use, more attention should be given to simplicity of operation.

Nature Biomedical Engineering, Published online: 15 December 2023; doi:10.1038/s41551-023-01173-4

When designing diagnostic assays intended for point-of-care use, more attention should be given to simplicity of operation.