In the era of miniaturization, the advent of sensors and chips is rapidly increasing for systematic investigation, monitoring and diagnosing unprecedented diseases in preclinical and clinical research. Early-stage detection demands a miniaturized platform/ artificial model in clinical laboratories and healthcare centers. This enables us to investigate and study the physiological processes of the samples and the drug's efficacy on them in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. The technology of chip systems is rapidly evolving in an attempt to bridge the gaps between preclinical and clinical studies, as well as their wide applications in research laboratories in low-resource settings. Emerging research is focusing on 3D cell culture in microfluidic devices in order to facilitate the uniform distribution of nutrients and in-vitro investigation for assessing various biological processes and phenomena due to limitations in conventional 2D cell culture. It is crucial to understand extensively the significant parameters associated with the development of microfluidic chips for culturing and forming uniform 3D cell masses. The goal of this review is to highlight the various on-chip models that offer precise control over the size of 3D aggregates and their respective microenvironment, making them suitable for drug screening and delivery in therapeutic applications. Additionally, the manuscript discusses the design considerations and feasible microfabrication techniques for generating tumor models, organoids, or organ-on-chips, and the respective computational parameters that govern nutrient flow and permeation, growth conditions, and the microenvironment, cultivating the state-of-the-art microfluidic chips for 3D cell culture.

A commercial cotton gauze bandage (CGB) is a thin, absorbent medical dressing material made of woven cotton fabrics, designed to dress wounds, absorb blood, and secretions, and protect against injuries. It is also used to secure other therapeutic ointments, promoting faster and cleaner healing, making it a common choice at homes and medical places. However, it is used alongside antibiotics (ointments) to prevent post-dressing infections and additional oral medications are also included to control pain and promote wound healing. Moreover, repetitive dressing causes mechanical debridement during removal and poses a challenge, often resulting in delayed healing. So, in this current research, we have surface-engineered a commercial cotton gauze bandage with bioactive agents to provide localized drug delivery, reduce local discomfort and minimize risk of infections following dressing application at a wound site. For this purpose, an electrospun mat of curcumin-loaded polycaprolactone-based nanofibers (Cu-PCL NFs) has been applied on top of the modified chitosan-coated cotton gauzes (CS-CG), which will subsequently provide antimicrobial properties by releasing loaded curcumin from the polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous mat. The surface-modified dressing efficiently maintained the sterility of wound environment, reducing local pain by exhibiting anti-adhesive interaction with the wound bed. This was significantly evidenced by the low force requirement for its removal as compared to that of the commercial gauze. Additionally, this dressing provided an antibacterial, nanofibrous interface with sustained drug release that altogether promoted faster and infection-free healing process. This approach is designed for the development of a biomedical microdevice, offering potential benefits towards modern wound treatment, overcoming the traditional dressings improving patient outcomes.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is widely used in additive manufacturing, yet printed components often exhibit poor mechanical performance due to process-induced microstructural defects. This study investigates the influence of key printing parameters, particularly print-bed temperature, on the process–structure–property relationship in polylactic acid (PLA). Mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile testing, and microstructural features were analyzed by optical microscopy and FE-SEM. Thermal behavior was examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealing that increasing bed temperature reduces cold crystallization and promotes partial in-situ crystallization. An optimal condition at 70 °C produced the highest tensile strength, attributed to enhanced interlayer diffusion near the glass transition temperature and reduced void formation. FE-SEM observations confirmed improved filament fusion at elevated temperatures. The experimental dataset was also used to train a machine learning model to predict mechanical performance from process parameters. This integrated approach provides valuable insights into optimizing FDM printing for improved structural integrity and reliability.

Saliva-based detection is emerging as one of the most promising noninvasive biosensing platforms for disease diagnosis, particularly for glucose monitoring in diabetes management. As diabetes continues to affect millions worldwide, its burden is disproportionately higher among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, where access to traditional blood-based diagnostics is often limited. Current self-monitoring practices typically involve finger-prick blood sampling, a method that is both painful and inconvenient, discouraging frequent testing. In contrast, salivary glucose (SG) biosensing platforms offer a painless, affordable, and accessible alternative, particularly suited to a resource-limited setting. Glucose present in saliva serves as a key biomarker, providing a convenient medium for monitoring and sensing this chronic condition. This review examines the correlation between salivary and blood glucose (BG) levels, with a particular focus on the physiological time lag between them, which can affect the accuracy of real-time biosensing. We evaluate current devices and biosensor technologies designed for SG detection, focusing on their working principles, detection ranges, sensitivities, and associated engineering and clinical challenges. In addition, recent innovations such as enzyme-based biosensors and portable diagnostic kits are discussed for their potential to transform diabetes care and enhance healthcare accessibility across diverse populations.

Eggshell (ES) wastes have been ranked as the 15th food industry pollution due to the ever-increasing regular consumption of primary dietary products, eggs. Management and treatment of tons of discarded eggshells produced daily on a global scale are realized to be a predicament, and an immediate solution must be advocated to address the pollution. This sets a tone for the recyclability of this biowaste in a myriad of fields, like nanotechnology, biomedical, and environmental pollution control. Calcium carbonate in the shells makes it a safe precursor for producing calcium oxide as a nanomaterial by the top-down approach - calcination. This paper highlights a facile way to procure waste eggshell-derived metal oxide nanoparticles with reproducibility and recyclability. Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles (CaO NPs) obtained at two different calcination temperatures for optimization and this was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, DLS, and Zeta Potential analyzer. CaONPs are less-studied metal oxide nanoparticles but hold promising applications in different fields. Hence, there is a scope for further investigation on the non-toxic, non-hazardous CaO NPs obtained facilely - an effort to minimize and regulate food wastes.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a powerful approach in healthcare to augment the functionalities of patient-specific medical products and surgical tools. One such area of the healthcare industry is surgical planning and procedures, where the benefits of AM can revolutionize the industry. AM technologies, commonly known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, can change the conventional surgical methodology from the "open-detect-operate-close" mode to the "detect-open-operate-close" mode. However, the use of 3D printing in surgical planning has been hampered by the limited availability of literature reports thoroughly examining the advantages and drawbacks of this technology in clinical settings. Hence, this review explores the widespread use of additive manufacturing, multi-materials, metamaterials, 4D printing, and artificial intelligence in surgical planning for complex surgical procedures of the spine and in orthopedics, dentistry, cardiology, gynecology, and neurology. This review focuses on meticulously adjusting the lattice structure of metamaterials during 3D printing to achieve specific mechanical properties. It further delves into 4D printing to achieve dynamic capabilities in 3D printed models for better integration with the host tissue. Furthermore, it highlights the key aspects of combining AM with artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) models in healthcare to automate 3D model production and thereby reduce human intervention. This comprehensive review offers bioengineers, clinical scientists, and clinicians a platform to explore AM and its potential for addressing pre- and post-surgical operation challenges, providing valuable insights for biomedical engineering and healthcare advancements.

Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as a transformative technology in transdermal drug delivery, offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional hypodermic needles. The current work focuses on design and optimization of hollow microneedle arrays, engineered for precise and efficient drug delivery. Utilizing advanced simulation tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics (R) and Autodesk Fusion 360T, we investigated various microneedle geometries to access their their mechanical properties, and drug delivery capabilities. Emphasis is placed on optimizing structural integrity and fabrication processes to enhance drug delivery efficiency. The study also examines the impact of microneedle design on skin penetration depth aiming to maximize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing patient discomfort. Thus, this work contributes to the development of next-generation transdermal delivery systems, potentially revolutionizing patient care by offering a minimally invasive, highly effective, drug administration method.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the efficiency and superiority of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) was established as molecular diagnostics for screening and diagnosis of covid-19 infected individuals. To perform the NAAT-based diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious individuals, logistics of the samples from rural/remote areas emerged as a great challenge. The success of a NAAT is primarily due to its reliance on transport media, such as Viral Transport Media (VTM), Universal Transport Media (UTM), etc. for the storage of viral samples. These transport media requires cold-chain storage and transport facilities to avoid degradation of viral samples. These facilities are not only expensive but also cause significant delay in the process of diagnosis and treatment in infrastructure and resource-limited countries/geographies. Therefore, in the current work, a new tool named BioSampler device has been designed, fabricated and evaluated for the storage and transport of viral samples in a dried format without losing its potency for any NAATs. The proposed BioSampler device provides a stable microenvironment for the storage of COVID-19 RNA samples at temperatures up to 30 °C and relative humidity of 50

Most ophthalmic drugs are administered topically due to ease of application, formulation versatility, and patient compliance. However, less than 10 % of the applied dose reaches the posterior segment, primarily due to the diffusional barrier of the corneal epithelium. Conventional permeability assessments rely on excised animal corneas, which not only raise ethical concerns but also suffer from poor reproducibility and limited correlation to human physiology. To address these limitations, a bioinspired reverse slippery liquid-infused porous surface (r-SLIPS) membrane was developed as a novel in-vitro corneal model for passive drug diffusion. A freestanding, self-assembled phosphatidylcholine (PC)-infused electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibrous membrane, termed the biomimetic lipid-polymer composite membrane (BLCM), was fabricated to emulate the multilayered architecture and amphiphilic surface of the native corneal epithelium. Morphological, spectroscopic, and wettability analyses confirmed homogeneous lipid distribution and hydrophilic surface chemistry. Permeation studies with hydrophilic (gentamicin sulphate), amphoteric (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride), and lipophilic (miconazole nitrate) model drugs revealed a strong correlation between apparent permeability and LogP, indicating a lipid-partition-driven diffusion mechanism. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses demonstrated micelle- or vesicle-assisted transport across the membrane, with drug-lipid complex formation and disassembly occurring during permeation. Notably, the PC layer encapsulated lipophilic drugs into transient micellar structures, facilitating translocation across the nanofibrous scaffold. The resulting flux values corroborated with those obtained using excised goat corneas (p > 0.05). With excellent stability, scalability, and biomimetic performance, the BLCM offers an ethical, reproducible, and physiologically relevant platform for ocular drug permeability screening and early-stage pharmaceutical development.

This paper reports the designing of a low-cost paper-based lateral flow immunoassay kit for rapid, non-invasive salivary Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma biomarker detection. The shows promising initial results for early detection of same in low-resource settings.

Paper microfluidics-based tools have emerged as low-cost, portable diagnostics platform; yet they face challenges when used for whole blood sample analysis. Whole blood samples cause pore clogging, phase separation, and reduced wicking on the porous media during lateral transport; this leads to poor quality of mixing, which is an inherently diffusion driven phenomenon. This study investigates the manipulation of fluid flow behavior in a microporous matrix (filter paper) to enhance mixing efficiency in lateral flow devices. By exploring various design parameters, specifically the curvature of a microporous paper strip, and the wettability characteristics of backing layers, we aimed to manipulate the fluid flow behavior within these systems. Experiments demonstrated that curved paper strips significantly increase fluid velocity compared to traditional straight paper strips, with an average velocity increase of 65%. The backing layer's wettability—hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or ambient air proved to play a critical role, affecting fluid flow behavior and velocity. The hydrophilic surface facilitated improved fluid movement due to the lower contact angles and reduced drag resistance, while the hydrophobic surfaces posed greater resistance. Additionally, the degree of curvature and radius of the strips were crucial factors influencing fluid velocity, with lower degrees and radii enhancing the fluid flow rate. The curvature assisted asymmetry on the paper strip allowed larger interface propagation on the porous matrix, which led to better mixing by transverse dispersion of analytes. Further investigation into mixing efficiency was further analyzed using food dye and methylene blue in skimmed milk solutions, revealing the significance of curved paper strip and different configuration of fluid introduction points. These findings provide valuable insights into improved mixing processes in porous media, optimizing paper-based microfluidic device designs, potentially overcoming current limitations in scaling and accuracy, and advancing their practical application in diagnostics.

Implantable or minimally invasive biosensors suffer from biofouling, which limits their functionality and lifetime postimplantation. To address this issue, hydrophilic coating of hydrogels and self-assembled monolayers have been used to slow down the process of biofouling. This, in addition to a regular manual calibration, can lead to reliable sensor functionality and lifetime at the cost of user/patient compliance and comfort. To address the problem of repeated calibrations and to study the effect of biofouling on the electrode-electrolyte interactions, we explore the link between the degradation of sensitivity and the changes in impedance parameters of iridium oxide-based pH sensors coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel layers. Results indicate that coating IrOx-based pH sensors with PVA hydrogel layers leads to reduced open-circuit potential (OCP) drift which, in turn, leads to easier and more accurate measurements. It also leads to reduced degradation in sensitivity over time. In the presence of a PVA hydrogel layer, the sensitivity degradation follows an approximately linear trend compared to the sigmoidal degradation curve in the absence of PVA hydrogel. Furthermore, it was also observed that with the reduction in sensitivity, the change in internal resistance and double-layer capacitance readings from in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements over days also reduced, establishing a link between sensitivity and EIS parameters in metal-oxide-based pH sensors. In addition to highlighting the efficacy of PVA layers in reducing biofouling, the impact of PVA on the sensitivity and EIS parameters of the sensor and the relationship between sensitivity and EIS parameters are also presented, which may aid in in situ autocalibration of sensors.

This study presents cost-effective graphene nail polish ink for lateral flow assay device. Optimizing layer thickness yields high conductivity on different surfaces. This mechanically robust film can potentially be used for making flexible electronic devices.

The rising number of patients with chronic wounds resulting from conditions like diabetes, infections, and surgical wounds has led to serious health crises and social burdens. Chronic wounds are associated with altered physiological factors, creating a unique microenvironment marked by elevated inflammation, alkaline pH, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Conventional occlusive wound dressing strategies cause wound debridement during the necessary evil of periodic replacement. This leads to compromised tissue integrity, local pain, and dependence on topical ointments and antibiotics. However, these treatments are inefficient in addressing the complexity of chronic wounds. To overcome these challenges, the current work explores how smart biomaterials and devices have impacted chronic wound care. This review outlines the effect of dysregulation of wound microenvironmental factors mainly ROS, inflammation, and bacterial infection and their interplay in the healing process. Thereafter the mechanism of alteration brought about by the smart biomaterials within the chronic wound microenvironment that expedite the healing are discussed.Furthermore, latest advancements in smart biomaterials and devices specifically designed for wound management, that effectively restore the ideal microenvironment are also included. The incorporation of smart materials into wound care practices can transform treatment strategies, enhancing patient recovery while improving their quality of life.

Antibiotics are currently the life saviour against bacterial infections. However, due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, new challenges of antimicrobial resistance have emerged in the 21st century. Nanomaterials have traversed a long-way and they are currently looked upon as a viable alternative to the antibiotics for topical applications during wound dressing. Therefore, in the current study, we presented a successful synthesis of nanoceria (CeO2) coated nanofiber patch through a dip-coating process using a supersaturated cerium chloride solution for wound dressing applications. SEM and AFM imaging of the nanofibrous patch have confirmed a homogeneous and rough (Rq(nm) of 11.976) surface coating by nanoceria (CeO2). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the presence of CeO2 in a polycrystalline cubic fluorite phase on the nanofiber surface. The prepared nanofibers exhibited potent antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) model pathogens through topological and redox mechanisms. The mechanism of action was verified by bacterial colony forming unit analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and FE-SEM imaging, which showed antibacterial activity through bacterial cell membrane disruption. These results offer a promising proof-of-concept of the above method for the development of rough nanofiber-based wound bandages and patches that can prevent infections without relying on antibiotics. This is particularly significant as the world is facing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to traditional antibiotics.

Musculoskeletal disorders are on the rise, and despite advances in alternative materials, treatment for orthopedic conditions still heavily relies on biometal-based implants and scaffolds due to their strength, durability, and biocompatibility in load-bearing applications. Bare metallic implants have been under scrutiny since their introduction, primarily due to their bioinert nature, which results in poor cell-material interaction. This challenge is further intensified by mechanical mismatches that accelerate failure, tribocorrosion-induced material degradation, and bacterial colonization, all contributing to long-term implant failure and posing a significant burden on patient populations. Recent efforts to improve orthopedic medical devices focus on surface engineering strategies that enhance the interaction between cells and materials, creating a biomimetic microenvironment and extending the service life of these implants. This review compiles various physical, chemical, and biological surface engineering approaches currently under research, providing insights into their potential and the challenges associated with their adoption from bench to bedside. Significant emphasis is placed on exploring the future of bioactive coatings, particularly the development of smart coatings like self-healing and drug-eluting coatings, the immunomodulatory effects of functional coatings and biomimetic surfaces to tackle secondary infections, representing the forefront of biomedical surface engineering. The article provides the reader with an overview of the engineering approaches to surface modification of metallic implants, covering both clinical and research perspectives and discussing limitations and future scope.

Over eight million surgical procedures are conducted annually in the United Stats to address organ failure or tissue losses. In response to this pressing need, recent medical advancements have significantly improved patient outcomes, primarily through innovative reconstructive surgeries utilizing tissue grafting techniques. Despite tremendous efforts, repairing damaged tissues remains a major clinical challenge for bioengineers and clinicians. 3D bioprinting is an additive manufacturing technique that holds significant promise for creating intricately detailed constructs of tissues, thereby bridging the gap between engineered and actual tissue constructs. In contrast to non-biological printing, 3D bioprinting introduces added intricacies, including considerations for material selection, cell types, growth, and differentiation factors. However, technical challenges arise, particularly concerning the delicate nature of living cells in bioink for tissue construction and limited knowledge about the cell fate processes in such a complex biomechanical environment. A bioink must have appropriate viscoelastic and rheological properties to mimic the native tissue microenvironment and attain desired biomechanical properties. Hence, the properties of bioink play a vital role in the success of 3D bioprinted substitutes. This review comprehensively delves into the scientific aspects of tissue-centric or tissue-specific bioinks and sheds light on the current challenges of the translation of bioinks and bioprinting.

INTRODUCTION:Mucormycosis, popularly known as the black fungus, has become a worldwide concern in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, causing increased morbidity and death in immunocompromised people. Due to multi-drug resistance and the limited number of antifungals, surgical interventions, ‎including the excision of infected tissue, remain a standard treatment option‎. Surgical treatment usually results in the loss of organs or their function, long-term intensive care, and a significant risk of reinfection during the procedure. A comprehensive approach is needed to treat the disease, and nanomaterials can be a powerful alternative therapeutic approach. AREAS COVERED:We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the keywords 'emerging role of nanomaterials,' and 'combating COVID-19-related mucormycosis,' and reviewed the related research paper. Antifungal nanomaterials and their delivery can significantly impact the treatment of COVID-19-related fungal infections like mucormycosis. However, the therapeutic options for mucormycosis are limited and drug resistance is also reported. EXPERT OPINION:The current review encompasses a detailed overview of the recent developments in antifungal/antiviral nanomaterials and the properties of these therapeutic nanomaterials that may contribute to formulating an efficient strategy against invasive mucormycosis. Further extensive research is needed to develop nano-based therapeutics for the management of mucormycosis-viral coinfection with a definitive end-point.

Blood collection from patients and its analysis for pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is well established process hospitals and pharmaceutical industries. However, the challenge arises when blood need to be collected from a remote location, away from well-equipped laboratories, that lacks on-demand availability of paramedic staffs, necessary tools and required infrastructure like cold storage and transport. To circumvent the above problems, in the current work, we have developed a device for microsampling of blood in dried state. The device comprises of a fluid absorbing polyacrylamide cryogel matrix having a defined pore-size and porosity. It showed consistent blood sampling irrespective of hematocrit volume and facilitated quick drying. Further, these cryogels could draw 30 mu l of blood drops spiked with different concentration of drugs consistently. The cryogels having the dried blood were taken for the extraction of drugs through solvent phase extraction. Our results suggested that recovery of the drugs like caffeine and metronidazole from blood was comparable with the conventional method. Thus, our device could be potentially used for PK, PD and TDM studies overcoming the challenges of convention blood collection.