Just like all the streams of science and engineering, biological sciences have also evolved. Bioengineering is one such stream: an amalgamation of medicine, biology, chemistry, engineering, nanotechnology, and computer science.
Bioengineers are at the forefront of scientific discovery, creating innovative medical devices, vaccines, disease management products, robots, artificial human organs, and algorithms to improve human health worldwide.
Let’s delve deep for insights on this exciting and fast-emerging field of bioengineering. Below are some of the hottest bioengineering R & D trends happening in 2020, which will continue to evolve into the next decade.
1. Tissue engineering
Tissue engineering helps millions of people who are impaired, either due to an accident or by birth. Bioengineers have been working to mass-produce human organs and simplify the process.
One such process is bioprinting, which in principle is very similar to 3D printing, but instead of plastic, it uses “bio-inks” made up of human cells.
Cells are printed on a thin layer and accumulate in transplantable living tissue or body parts. Researchers worldwide have tasted success using a special 3D printer to create tissue that grows when transplanted into rodents.
2. Transdermal patch
Transdermal patches have come a long way since they were used as a way to eliminate nicotine addiction. Improvements in structure, materials, and delivery mechanisms have enabled a variety of applications.
Instead of being taken orally or by injection, these compounds are released from hundreds of biodegradable microneedles in patches that barely penetrate the skin.
When the stinger melts, the drug is slowly released into the body. Such patches will be the new norm in the coming years, helping those people who get terrified by the sight of a syringe.
3. Wearable device
Flexible, waterproof, stretchable sensors, wires, and electronics can be 3D printed or woven into fabrics. Wearable technology is becoming more versatile and can monitor multiple health parameters such as pulse rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure. These parameters can also be sent to the healthcare facility in real-time.
Moreover, smart clothing uses a special polymer that opens as needed to control body temperature and humidity. This clothing technology can drastically reduce building heating and cooling costs.
4. Nanorobots
Researchers are enthusiastic about designing nano-sized robots that are small enough to enter the bloodstream and perform certain tasks such as killing cancer cells.
Nanorobot designs include DNA-based structures that contain drugs that fight cancer that bind only to specific proteins found in cancer tumours. After installation, the robot releases the drug into the tumour.
By delivering medicines exactly where they are needed, the body is not toxic and overloaded, side effects are reduced, and the patient’s experience is improved.
It might sound like a plot from a sci-fi movie, but scientists have already found early success in this technology. Millions of patients will find freedom from multiple ailments around the world using this futuristic nanorobots technology.
5. Microbubbles
Researchers are always looking for ways to target particular cells to avoid damage to healthy cells or tissues. One of the unique approaches is microbubbles, which are very small micron-sized particles filled with gas.
These drug-filled microbubbles can be injected into the body and distributed to the target cells of the body. The drug can be released by breaking the microbubbles with an ultrasonic beam to release the drug as per the need.
Microbubbles can also be treated with substances that attach to the tumour without the need for ultrasound, which means they will play a pivotal role in different kinds of cancers.
6. Organ-on-a-Chip
Chip technology makes it possible to build microscale models that simulate in vitro human physiology. Organs-on-chips are used to study tissue and organ behaviour in small but fully functional sample sizes to understand better tissue behaviour, disease progression, and drug interactions.
For example, the inflammatory process can be studied to determine how inflammation is triggered and its value as an early warning indicator of the underlying medical condition, including autoimmune reactions. Other physiological processes being studied on the chip include thrombosis, the mechanical load on joints, and ageing.
Future trends
As can be seen from the above, miniaturization, material innovation, personalized medicine, and 3-D modelling are some of the key engineering trends that biomedical researchers are eager to incorporate into their designs.
These technologies open up many new design options that were not possible with traditional manufacturing methods. The doors to new technologies are just opening up in bioengineering, and it could not have been a better time to pursue a course in this exciting new field.
Courses offered at MIT School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research.
Graduate Course:
Bachelor of Technology in Bioengineering – 4 years
Post Graduate Course:
Integrated Masters Program in Bioengineering – 5 years
Both (B.tech and Integrated M. Tech. in Bioengineering
PhD course
Why Choose MIT School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research?
MIT School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research (MIT BIO), MIT-ADT University offers several compelling reasons for you to study here. Some of the reasons are enumerated below:
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