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Olawumi MA, Oladapo BI, Ikumapayi OM, and Akinyoola JO
The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2023 Dec 20; Vol. 905, pp. 167109. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 16.
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In a world grappling with environmental challenges and the need for sustainable manufacturing practices, the convergence of 3D printing and recycling emerges as a promising solution. This research paper explores the potential of combining these two technologies and comprehensively analyses their synergistic effects. The study delves into the printability of recycled materials, evaluating their suitability for 3D printing and comparing their performance with conventional materials. The environmental impact of 3D printing with recycled materials is examined through a sustainability analysis and a life cycle assessment of recycled 3D printed objects. The findings reveal significant benefits, including enhanced resource efficiency, waste reduction, and customisation possibilities. The research also identifies challenges and opportunities for scaling up the use of recycled materials in 3D printing, highlighting the importance of collaboration, innovation, and regulations. With potential applications spanning various industries, from prototyping to construction and healthcare, the implications of this research are far-reaching. By embracing sustainable practices, industry collaboration, and innovation, the integration of 3D printing and recycling can pave the way for a more sustainable future, where resource conservation, circularity, and customised production are at the forefront of manufacturing.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing for financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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Pozzobon V, Otaola F, Arnoudts C, and Lagirarde J
Bioresource technology [Bioresour Technol] 2023 Dec; Vol. 389, pp. 129807. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 30.
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Reactive Oxygen Species, Printing, Three-Dimensional, Polyesters, Acrylates, Methacrylates, and Chlorella vulgaris
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3D printing represents a key enabling technology in designing photobioreactors. It allows rapid prototyping of complex geometries at an affordable price. Yet, no study dealt with the biocompatibility of 3D printing material with microalgae. Thus microalga Chlorella vulgaris was cultivated in contact with different 3D printing materials (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styren - ABS, PolyCarbonate Blend - PC-Blend, PolyLactic acid - PLA, and acrylate methacrylate resin). Cell status was analyzed using flow cytometry, fluorometry, and pigment profiling. Results revealed that acrylate methacrylate resin material inhibits growth, a constant rise in intracellular reactive oxygen species, and a decrease in photosynthetic apparatus functioning. On the contrary, ABS, PC-Blend, and PLA led to nominal perfromances. Nevertheless, PLA was the only material that did not induce an early onset of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Therefore, resin can be ruled out as photobioreactor material, ABS and PC-Blend could be used after a curation period, and PLA induces no detectable perturbations by the means used in this study.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
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Magno G, Zampieri F, and Zanatta A
Omega [Omega (Westport)] 2023 Dec; Vol. 88 (2), pp. 410-424. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 10.
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Humans, Cemeteries, and Cremation history
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The cremation has been documented since prehistoric times and it was a common funerary custom until the advent of Catholicism. Falling into disuse, during XVII-XVIII centuries there were new movements to bring it back according to modern criteria, mainly due to hygienic reasons and cemeteries overcrowding. This also led to the prototyping of new crematory ovens to improve the ancient open-air pyre. Lodovico Brunetti was the first to carry out a crematory experimental research in the modern countries. Since Brunetti's studies were based on the study of ancient cremations, a comparison with a modern experience of reconstruction of archaeological cremation is presented to evaluate the validity of his crematorium oven. Furthermore, the social and religious aspects related to Brunetti's inventions and the revitalization of cremation shows how tools and technologies and also the cultural environment have evolved over the years, effectively accepting the cremation practice as an alternative to inhumation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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4. Codesign of remote data collection for chronic management of pediatric home mechanical ventilation. [2023]
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Foster CC, Kaat AJ, Shah AV, Hodgson CA, Hird-McCorry LP, Janus A, Swanson P, Massey LF, De Sonia A, Cella D, Goodman DM, Davis MM, and Laguna TA
Pediatric pulmonology [Pediatr Pulmonol] 2023 Dec; Vol. 58 (12), pp. 3416-3427. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 13.
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Humans, Child, Child, Preschool, Carbon Dioxide, Ventilators, Mechanical, Monitoring, Physiologic methods, Respiration, Artificial methods, and Home Care Services
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Introduction: Outpatient monitoring of children using invasive home mechanical ventilation (IHMV) is recommended, but access to care can be difficult. This study tested if remote (home-based) data collection was feasible and acceptable in chronic IHMV management.
Methods: A codesign study was conducted with an IHMV program, home nurses, and English- and Spanish-speaking parent-guardians of children using IHMV (0-17 years; n = 19). After prototyping, parents used a remote patient monitoring (RPM) bundle to collect patient heart rate, respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2 ), and ventilator pressure/volume over 8 weeks. User feedback was analyzed using qualitative methods and the System Usability Scale (SUS). Expected marginal mean differences within patient measures when awake, asleep, or after a break were calculated using mixed effects models.
Results: Patients were a median 2.9 years old and 11 (58%) took breaks off the ventilator. RPM data were entered on a mean of 83.7% (SD ± 29.1%) weeks. SUS scores were 84.8 (SD ± 10.5) for nurses and 91.8 (SD ± 10.1) for parents. Over 90% of parents agreed/strongly agreed that RPM data collection was feasible and relevant to their child's care. Within-patient comparisons revealed that EtCO 2 (break-vs-asleep 2.55 mmHg, d = 0.79 [0.42-1.15], p < .001; awake-vs-break 1.48, d = -0.49 [0.13-0.84], p = .02) and RR (break-vs-asleep 16.14, d = 2.12 [1.71-2.53], p < .001; awake-vs-break 3.44, d = 0.45 [0.10-0.04], p = .03) were significantly higher during ventilator breaks.
Conclusions: RPM data collection in children with IHMV was feasible, acceptable, and captured clinically meaningful vital sign changes during ventilator breaks, supporting the clinical utility of RPM in IHMV management.
(© 2023 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
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Rasmussen LG, Nielsen RO, Kallestrup P, Hawkins J, and Ryom K
Scandinavian journal of public health [Scand J Public Health] 2023 Dec; Vol. 51 (8), pp. 1258-1265. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 02.
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Humans, Feasibility Studies, Sports, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior, and Health Promotion
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Aim: This paper describes the design of the 'Move More' study, which aims to develop and assess the feasibility of a social-prescribing intervention to increase physical activity among physically inactive Danes.
Background: Physical inactivity constitutes a public-health challenge in Denmark. Social prescribing may be a promising tool to tackle physical inactivity by linking physical activity support from general practitioners with community-based activities in sports clubs, as this may help physically inactive citizens become more physically active. Given the range of stakeholders and behaviours required for social prescribing of physical activity, an intervention that harnesses this approach may constitute a complex intervention. The methods and decisions made in the stages of developing complex interventions are seldom reported. The present study enabled us to describe how co-creation can be used in a pragmatic development process for a complex intervention that considers the needs of stakeholders and the conditions of the delivery context.
Methods: The study is based on the core elements of the development and feasibility phases of the Medical Research Council Framework for Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions. Additionally, it is informed by a framework for the co-creation and prototyping of public-health interventions, drawing from a scoping review, stakeholder consultations and co-creation workshops. Ultimately, a feasibility study will be conducted to refine the programme theory by introducing the proposed intervention in case studies.
Perspectives: The study will result in a prototype intervention manual and recommendations for implementation of an adapted social-prescribing intervention targeting physical inactivity in Denmark.
Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
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6. Iterative prototyping based on lessons learned from the falloposcope in vivo pilot study experience. [2023]
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Rocha AD, Drake WK, Rice PF, Long DJ, Shir H, Walton RHM, Reed MN, Galvez D, Gorman T, Heusinkveld JM, and Barton JK
Journal of biomedical optics [J Biomed Opt] 2023 Dec; Vol. 28 (12), pp. 121206. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 12.
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Female, Humans, Pilot Projects, Endoscopes, Fallopian Tubes, Ovarian Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, and Ovarian Neoplasms pathology
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Significance: High grade serous ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecological cancer, and it is now believed that most cases originate in the fallopian tubes (FTs). Early detection of ovarian cancer could double the 5-year survival rate compared with late-stage diagnosis. Autofluorescence imaging can detect serous-origin precancerous and cancerous lesions in ex vivo FT and ovaries with good sensitivity and specificity. Multispectral fluorescence imaging (MFI) can differentiate healthy, benign, and malignant ovarian and FT tissues. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals subsurface microstructural information and can distinguish normal and cancerous structure in ovaries and FTs.
Aim: We developed an FT endoscope, the falloposcope, as a method for detecting ovarian cancer with MFI and OCT. The falloposcope clinical prototype was tested in a pilot study with 12 volunteers to date to evaluate the safety and feasibility of FT imaging prior to standard of care salpingectomy in normal-risk volunteers. In this manuscript, we describe the multiple modifications made to the falloposcope to enhance robustness, usability, and image quality based on lessons learned in the clinical setting.
Approach: The ∼ 0.8 mm diameter falloposcope was introduced via a minimally invasive approach through a commercially available hysteroscope and introducing a catheter. A navigation video, MFI, and OCT of human FTs were obtained. Feedback from stakeholders on image quality and procedural difficulty was obtained.
Results: The falloposcope successfully obtained images in vivo . Considerable feedback was obtained, motivating iterative improvements, including accommodating the operating room environment, modifying the hysteroscope accessories, decreasing endoscope fragility and fiber breaks, optimizing software, improving fiber bundle images, decreasing gradient-index lens stray light, optimizing the proximal imaging system, and improving the illumination.
Conclusions: The initial clinical prototype falloposcope was able to image the FTs, and iterative prototyping has increased its robustness, functionality, and ease of use for future trials.
(© 2023 The Authors.)
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Ríos-Hernández M, Jacinto-Villegas JM, Zemiti N, Vilchis-González AH, Padilla-Castañeda MA, and Debien B
The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery : MRCAS [Int J Med Robot] 2023 Dec; Vol. 19 (6), pp. e2572. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 06.
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Humans, Computer Simulation, User-Computer Interface, Clinical Competence, Spinal Puncture, and Students, Medical
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Background: Lumbar puncture is an essential medical procedure whose objective is to obtain cerebrospinal fluid. Lumbar puncture is considered a complex procedure, mainly for novice residents who suffer from stress and low confidence, which may result in harm to the patient.
Methods: The LPVirSim, has been developed in four stages: i) requirements analysis through user-centred design; ii) prototyping of the virtual environment and the haptic component; iii) preliminary tests with Ph.D. students and physicians using two haptic devices (Omega.7 and Sigma.7); iv) a user study where physicians evaluated the usability and user experience.
Results: The LPVirSim integrates non-technical skills and the possibility of representing different patients for training. Usability increased from 61.76 to 68.75 in the preliminary tests to 71.43 in the user study.
Conclusions: All the results showed good usability and demonstrated that the simulator arouses interest and realistically represents a Lumbar puncture, through the force and visual feedback.
(© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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Buck B, Wingerson M, Whiting E, Snyder J, Monroe-DeVita M, and Ben-Zeev D
JMIR mental health [JMIR Ment Health] 2023 Nov 30; Vol. 10, pp. e50522. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 30.
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Background: Caregivers play a critical role in the treatment and recovery of youth and young adults at risk for psychosis. Caregivers often report feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and lacking in resources. Mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to provide scalable, accessible, and in-the-moment support to caregivers. To date, few if any mHealth resources have been developed specifically for this population.
Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct user-centered design and testing of an mHealth intervention to support early psychosis caregivers.
Methods: We conducted a multiphase user-centered development process to develop the Bolster mobile app. In phase 1, a total of 21 caregivers were recruited to participate in a qualitative needs assessment and respond to an initial prototype of the Bolster platform. Content analysis was used to identify key needs and design objectives, which guided the development of the Bolster mobile app. In phase 2, a total of 11 caregivers were recruited to participate in a 1-week field trial wherein they provided qualitative and quantitative feedback regarding the usability and acceptability of Bolster; in addition, they provided baseline and posttest assessments of the measures of distress, illness appraisals, and family communication.
Results: In phase 1, participants identified psychoeducation, communication coaching, a guide to seeking services, and support for coping as areas to address. Live prototype interaction sessions led to multiple design objectives, including ensuring that messages from the platform were actionable and tailored to the caregiver experience, delivering messages in multiple modalities (eg, video and text), and eliminating a messaging-style interface. These conclusions were used to develop the final version of Bolster tested in the field trial. In phase 2, of the 11 caregivers, 10 (91%) reported that they would use Bolster if they had access to it and would recommend it to another caregiver. They also reported marked changes in their appraisals of illness (Cohen d=0.55-0.68), distress (Cohen d=1.77), and expressed emotion (Cohen d=0.52).
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to design an mHealth intervention specifically for early psychosis caregivers. Preliminary data suggest that Bolster is usable, acceptable, and promising to improve key targets and outcomes. A future fully powered clinical trial will help determine whether mHealth can reduce caregiver burdens and increase engagement in services among individuals affected by psychosis.
(©Benjamin Buck, Mary Wingerson, Erica Whiting, Jaime Snyder, Maria Monroe-DeVita, Dror Ben-Zeev. Originally published in JMIR Mental Health (https://mental.jmir.org), 30.11.2023.)
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Lee J, Chadalavada SC, Ghodadra A, Ali A, Arribas EM, Chepelev L, Ionita CN, Ravi P, Ryan JR, Santiago L, Wake N, Sheikh AM, Rybicki FJ, and Ballard DH
3D printing in medicine [3D Print Med] 2023 Nov 30; Vol. 9 (1), pp. 34. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 30.
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Background: Medical three-dimensional (3D) printing has demonstrated utility and value in anatomic models for vascular conditions. A writing group composed of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Special Interest Group on 3D Printing (3DPSIG) provides appropriateness recommendations for vascular 3D printing indications.
Methods: A structured literature search was conducted to identify all relevant articles using 3D printing technology associated with vascular indications. Each study was vetted by the authors and strength of evidence was assessed according to published appropriateness ratings.
Results: Evidence-based recommendations for when 3D printing is appropriate are provided for the following areas: aneurysm, dissection, extremity vascular disease, other arterial diseases, acute venous thromboembolic disease, venous disorders, lymphedema, congenital vascular malformations, vascular trauma, vascular tumors, visceral vasculature for surgical planning, dialysis access, vascular research/development and modeling, and other vasculopathy. Recommendations are provided in accordance with strength of evidence of publications corresponding to each vascular condition combined with expert opinion from members of the 3DPSIG.
Conclusion: This consensus appropriateness ratings document, created by the members of the 3DPSIG, provides an updated reference for clinical standards of 3D printing for the care of patients with vascular conditions.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)
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Bai H, Olson KNP, Pan M, Marshall T, Singh H, Ma J, Gilbride P, Yuan YC, McCormack J, Si L, Maharjan S, Huang D, Qian X, Livermore C, Zhang YS, and Xie X
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) [Adv Sci (Weinh)] 2023 Nov 30, pp. e2304332. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 30.
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Microfluidic 3D cell culture devices that enable the recapitulation of key aspects of organ structures and functions in vivo represent a promising preclinical platform to improve translational success during drug discovery. Essential to these engineered devices is the spatial patterning of cells from different tissue types within a confined microenvironment. Traditional fabrication strategies lack the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and rapid prototyping capabilities required for industrial applications, especially for processes involving thermoplastic materials. Here, an approach to pattern fluid guides inside microchannels is introduced by establishing differential hydrophilicity using pressure-sensitive adhesives as masks and a subsequent selective coating with a biocompatible polymer. Optimal coating conditions are identified using polyvinylpyrrolidone, which resulted in rapid and consistent hydrogel flow in both the open-chip prototype and the fully bonded device containing additional features for medium perfusion. The suitability of the device for dynamic 3D cell culture is tested by growing human hepatocytes in the device under controlled fluid flow for a 14-day period. Additionally, the study demonstrated the potential of using the device for pharmaceutical high-throughput screening applications, such as predicting drug-induced liver injury. The approach offers a facile strategy of rapid prototyping thermoplastic microfluidic organ chips with varying geometries, microstructures, and substrate materials.
(© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)
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Jiang H, Abdullah AM, Ding Y, Chung C, L Dunn M, and Yu K
Materials horizons [Mater Horiz] 2023 Nov 27; Vol. 10 (12), pp. 5508-5520. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 27.
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3D printing allows for moldless fabrication of continuous fiber composites with high design freedom and low manufacturing cost per part, which makes it particularly well-suited for rapid prototyping and composite product development. Compared to thermal-curable resins, UV-curable resins enable the 3D printing of composites with high fiber content and faster manufacturing speeds. However, the printed composites exhibit low mechanical strength and weak interfacial bonding for high-performance engineering applications. In addition, they are typically not reprocessable or repairable; if they could be, it would dramatically benefit the rapid prototyping of composite products with improved durability, reliability, cost savings, and streamlined workflow. In this study, we demonstrate that the recently emerged two-stage UV-curable resin is an ideal material candidate to tackle these grand challenges in 3D printing of thermoset composites with continuous carbon fiber. The resin consists primarily of acrylate monomers and crosslinkers with exchangeable covalent bonds. During the printing process, composite filaments containing up to 30.9% carbon fiber can be rapidly deposited and solidified through UV irradiation. After printing, the printed composites are subjected to post-heating. Their mechanical stiffness, strength, and inter-filament bonding are significantly enhanced due to the bond exchange reactions within the thermoset matrix. Furthermore, the utilization of the two-stage curable resin enables the repair, reshaping, and recycling of 3D printed thermosetting composites. This study represents the first detailed study to explore the benefits of using two-stage UV curable resins for composite printing. The fundamental understanding could potentially be extended to other types of two-stage curable resins with different molecular mechanisms.
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Becker-Haimes EM, Brady M, Jamison J, Jager-Hyman S, Reilly ME, Patel E, Brown GK, Mandell DS, and Oquendo MA
Implementation science communications [Implement Sci Commun] 2023 Nov 24; Vol. 4 (1), pp. 148. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 24.
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Background: Clinicians often report that their own anxiety and low self-efficacy inhibit their use of evidence-based suicide prevention practices, including gold-standard screening and brief interventions. Exposure therapy to reduce clinician maladaptive anxiety and bolster self-efficacy use is a compelling but untested approach to improving the implementation of suicide prevention evidence-based practices (EBPs). This project brings together an interdisciplinary team to leverage decades of research on behavior change from exposure theory to design and pilot test an exposure-based implementation strategy (EBIS) to target clinician anxiety to improve suicide prevention EBP implementation.
Methods: We will develop, iteratively refine, and pilot test an EBIS paired with implementation as usual (IAU; didactic training and consultation) in preparation for a larger study of the effect of this strategy on reducing clinician anxiety, improving self-efficacy, and increasing use of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and the Safety Planning Intervention in outpatient mental health settings. Aim 1 of this study is to use participatory design methods to develop and refine the EBIS in collaboration with a stakeholder advisory board. Aim 2 is to iteratively refine the EBIS with up to 15 clinicians in a pilot field test using rapid cycle prototyping. Aim 3 is to test the refined EBIS in a pilot implementation trial. Forty community mental health clinicians will be randomized 1:1 to receive either IAU or IAU + EBIS for 12 weeks. Our primary outcomes are EBIS acceptability and feasibility, measured through questionnaires, interviews, and recruitment and retention statistics. Secondary outcomes are the engagement of target implementation mechanisms (clinician anxiety and self-efficacy related to implementation) and preliminary effectiveness of EBIS on implementation outcomes (adoption and fidelity) assessed via mixed methods (questionnaires, chart-stimulated recall, observer-coded role plays, and interviews).
Discussion: Outcomes from this study will yield insight into the feasibility and utility of directly targeting clinician anxiety and self-efficacy as mechanistic processes informing the implementation of suicide prevention EBPs. Results will inform a fully powered hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to test EBIS' effect on implementation and patient outcomes.
Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT05172609 . Registered on 12/29/2021.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)
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13. 3D Printable Drug Delivery Systems: Next-generation Healthcare Technology and Regulatory Aspects. [2023]
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Saxena A and Malviya R
Current pharmaceutical design [Curr Pharm Des] 2023 Nov 23. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 23.
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A revolutionary shift in healthcare has been sparked by the development of 3D printing, propelling us into an era replete with boundless opportunities for personalized DDS (Drug Delivery Systems). Precise control of the kinetics of drug release can be achieved through 3D printing, improving treatment efficacy and patient compliance. Additionally, 3D printing facilitates the co-administration of multiple drugs, simplifying treatment regimens. The technology offers rapid prototyping and manufacturing capabilities, reducing development timelines and costs. The seamless integration of advanced algorithms and artificial neural networks (ANN) augments the precision and efficacy of 3D printing, propelling us toward the forefront of personalized medicine. This comprehensive review delves into the regulatory frontiers governing 3D printable drug delivery systems, with an emphasis on adhering to rigorous safety protocols to ensure the well-being of patients by leveraging the latest advancements in 3D printing technologies powered by artificial intelligence. The paradigm promises superior therapeutic outcomes and optimized medication experiences and sets the stage for an immersive future within the Metaverse, wherein healthcare seamlessly converges with virtual environments to unlock unparalleled possibilities for personalized treatments.
(Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)
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McIntyre D, Lashkaripour A, Arguijo D, Fordyce P, and Densmore D
Lab on a chip [Lab Chip] 2023 Nov 21; Vol. 23 (23), pp. 4997-5008. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 21.
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Droplet generation is a fundamental component of droplet microfluidics, compartmentalizing biological or chemical systems within a water-in-oil emulsion. As adoption of droplet microfluidics expands beyond expert labs or integrated devices, quality metrics are needed to contextualize the performance capabilities, improving the reproducibility and efficiency of operation. Here, we present two quality metrics for droplet generation: performance versatility, the operating range of a single device, and stability, the distance of a single operating point from a regime change. Both metrics were characterized in silico and validated experimentally using machine learning and rapid prototyping. These metrics were integrated into a design automation workflow, DAFD 2.0, which provides users with droplet generators of a desired performance that are versatile or flow stable. Versatile droplet generators with stable operating points accelerate the development of sophisticated devices by facilitating integration of other microfluidic components and improving the accuracy of design automation tools.
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Wang Z, Gong Y, Evans ML, Yan Y, Wang S, Miao N, Zheng R, Rignanese GM, and Wang J
Journal of the American Chemical Society [J Am Chem Soc] 2023 Nov 21. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 21.
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This study combines machine learning (ML) and high-throughput calculations to uncover new ternary electrides in the A 2 BC 2 phases, density functional theory calculations were used to compute the maximum value of the electron localization function, indicating that 42 are potential electrides. A model was then trained on this data set and used to predict the electride behavior of 14,437 hypothetical compounds generated by structural prototyping. Then, the stability and electride features of the 1254 electride candidates predicted by the model were carefully checked by high-throughput calculations. Through this tiered approach, 41 stable and 104 metastable new P 4/ mbm space group. Starting from a library of 214 known A 2 BC 2 phases, density functional theory calculations were used to compute the maximum value of the electron localization function, indicating that 42 are potential electrides. A model was then trained on this data set and used to predict the electride behavior of 14,437 hypothetical compounds generated by structural prototyping. Then, the stability and electride features of the 1254 electride candidates predicted by the model were carefully checked by high-throughput calculations. Through this tiered approach, 41 stable and 104 metastable new A 2 BC 2 electrides were predicted. Interestingly, all three kinds of electrides, i.e., electron-deficient, electron-neutral, and electron-rich electrides, are present in the set of predicted compounds. Three of the most promising new electrides (two electron-rich, Nd 2 ScSi 2 and La 2 YbGe 2 , and one electron-deficient Y 2 LiSi 2 ) were then successfully synthesized and characterized experimentally. Furthermore, the synthesized electrides were found to exhibit high catalytic activities for NH 3 synthesis under mild conditions when Ru-loaded. The electron-deficient Y 2 LiSi 2 , in particular, was seen to exhibit a good balance of catalytic activity and chemical stability, suggesting its future application in catalysis.
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Khalid GM and Billa N
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) [Materials (Basel)] 2023 Nov 20; Vol. 16 (22). Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 20.
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Surgical site infections (SSIs) may result from surgical procedures requiring a secondary administration of drugs at site or systemically in treating the infection. Drug-eluting sutures containing antimicrobial agents symbolise a latent strategy that precludes a secondary drug administration. It also offers the possibility of delivering a myriad of therapeutic agents to a localised wound site to effect analgesia, anti-inflammation, or the deployment of proteins useful for wound healing. Further, the use of biodegradable drug-eluting sutures eliminates the need for implanting foreign material into the wound, which needs to be removed after healing. In this review, we expound on recent trends in the manufacture of drug-eluting sutures with a focus on the hot-melt extrusion (HME) technique. HME provides a solvent-free, continuous one-step manufacturing conduit for drug-eluting sutures, hence, there is no drying step, which can be detrimental to the drug or suture threads and, thus, environmentally friendly. There is the possibility of combining the technology with additive manufacturing platforms to generate personalised drug-loaded implantable devices through prototyping and scalability. The review also highlights key material requirements for fabricating drug-eluting sutures by HME, as well as quality attributes. Finally, a preview of emerging drug-eluting sutures and advocacy for harmonisation of quality assurance by regulatory authorities that permits quality evaluation of novelty sutures is presented.
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Rozas GMC, Mandujano JMC, Chombo YAF, Rencoret DVM, Mora YMO, Pescarmona MEG, and Torres AJD
Journal of computational biology : a journal of computational molecular cell biology [J Comput Biol] 2023 Nov 20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 20.
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Genetic component assembly is key in the simulation and implementation of genetic circuits. Automating this process, thus accelerating prototyping, is a necessity. We present pyBrick-DNA, a software written in Python, that assembles components for the construction of genetic circuits. pyBrick-DNA (colab.pyBrick.com) is a user-friendly environment where scientists can select genetic sequences or input custom sequences to build genetic assemblies. All components are modularly fused to generate a ready-to-go single DNA fragment. It includes Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and plant gene-editing components. Hence, pyBrick-DNA can generate a functional CRISPR construct composed of a single-guided RNA integrated with Cas9, promoters, and terminator elements. The outcome is a DNA sequence, along with a graphical representation, composed of user-selected genetic parts, ready to be synthesized and cloned in vivo. Moreover, the sequence can be exported as a GenBank file allowing its use with other synthetic biology tools.
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Rethi L, Wong CC, Liu WJ, Chen CY, Jheng PR, Chen CH, and Chuang EY
International journal of biological macromolecules [Int J Biol Macromol] 2023 Nov 18; Vol. 256 (Pt 1), pp. 128091. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 18.
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Bone regeneration is a critical and intricate process vital for healing fractures, defects, and injuries. Although conventional bone grafts are commonly used, they may fall short of optimal outcomes, thereby driving the need for alternative therapies. This research endeavors to explore synergistically designed Hyalo Glass Gel (HGG), and its explicitly for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The HGG composite comprises a modifiable calcium-based bioactive phosphosilicates-incorporated/crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronic scaffold showcasing promising functional characteristics. The study underscores the distinct attributes of each constituent (gelatin (Gel), hyaluronic acid (HA), and 45S5 calcium sodium phosphosilicates (BG)), and their cooperative influences on the scaffold's performance. Careful manipulation of crosslinking methods facilitates customization of HGG's mechanical attributes, degradation kinetics, and structural features, aligning them with the requisites of bone tissue engineering applications. Moreover, the integration of BG augments the scaffold's bioactivity, thereby expediting tissue regenerative processes. This comprehensive evaluation encompasses HGG's physicochemical aspects, mechanical traits rooted in viscoelasticity, as well as its biodegradability, in-vitro bioactivity, and interactions with stem cells. The result obtained underscores the viscoelastic nature of HGG, substantiating its capacity to foster mesenchymal stem cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. Significantly, HGG manifests biocompatibility and adjustable attributes, exhibits pronounced drug (vancomycin) retention abilities, rendering it apt for wound healing, drug delivery, and bone regeneration. Its distinctive composition, tailored attributes, and mimicry of bone tissue's extracellular matrix (ECM) due to its bioactive nature, collectively situate its potential as a versatile biomaterial for subsequent research and development endeavors with compelling prospects in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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Singh K, Rout SS, Krywka C, and Davydok A
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) [Materials (Basel)] 2023 Nov 18; Vol. 16 (22). Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 18.
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A focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) is a powerful tool that is routinely used for scale imaging from the micro- to nanometer scales, micromachining, prototyping, and metrology. In spite of the significant capabilities of a FIB-SEM, there are inherent artefacts (e.g., structural defects, chemical interactions and phase changes, ion implantation, and material redeposition) that are produced due to the interaction of Ga + or other types of ions (e.g., Xe + , Ar + , O + , etc.) with the sample. In this study, we analyzed lattice distortion and ion implantation and subsequent material redeposition in metallic micropillars which were prepared using plasma focus ion beam (PFIB) milling. We utilized non-destructive synchrotron techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray nanodiffraction to examine the micropillars prepared using Xe + ion energies of 10 keV and 30 keV. Our results demonstrate that higher Xe ion energy leads to higher density of implanted ions within the redeposited and milled material. The mixing of ions in the redeposited material significantly influences the lattice structure, causing deformation in regions with higher ion concentrations. Through an X-ray nanodiffraction analysis, we obtained numerical measurements of the strain fields induced in the regions, which revealed up to 0.2% lattice distortion in the ion bombardment direction.
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Wood MD, West NC, Fokkens C, Chen Y, Loftsgard KC, Cardinal K, Whyte SD, Portales-Casamar E, and Görges M
JMIR pediatrics and parenting [JMIR Pediatr Parent] 2023 Nov 17; Vol. 6, pp. e46785. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 17.
- Abstract
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Background: Risk identification and communication tools have the potential to improve health care by supporting clinician-patient or family discussion of treatment risks and benefits and helping patients make more informed decisions; however, they have yet to be tailored to pediatric surgery. User-centered design principles can help to ensure the successful development and uptake of health care tools.
Objective: We aimed to develop and evaluate the usability of an easy-to-use tool to communicate a child's risk of postoperative pain to improve informed and collaborative preoperative decision-making between clinicians and families.
Methods: With research ethics board approval, we conducted web-based co-design sessions with clinicians and family participants (people with lived surgical experience and parents of children who had recently undergone a surgical or medical procedure) at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Qualitative data from these sessions were analyzed thematically using NVivo (Lumivero) to identify design requirements to inform the iterative redesign of an existing prototype. We then evaluated the usability of our final prototype in one-to-one sessions with a new group of participants, in which we measured mental workload with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index (TLX) and user satisfaction with the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ).
Results: A total of 12 participants (8 clinicians and 4 family participants) attended 5 co-design sessions. The 5 requirements were identified: (A) present risk severity descriptively and visually; (B) ensure appearance and navigation are user-friendly; (C) frame risk identification and mitigation strategies in positive terms; (D) categorize and describe risks clearly; and (E) emphasize collaboration and effective communication. A total of 12 new participants (7 clinicians and 5 family participants) completed a usability evaluation. Tasks were completed quickly (range 5-17 s) and accurately (range 11/12, 92% to 12/12, 100%), needing only 2 requests for assistance. The median (IQR) NASA TLX performance score of 78 (66-89) indicated that participants felt able to perform the required tasks, and an overall PSSUQ score of 2.1 (IQR 1.5-2.7) suggested acceptable user satisfaction with the tool.
Conclusions: The key design requirements were identified, and that guided the prototype redesign, which was positively evaluated during usability testing. Implementing a personalized risk communication tool into pediatric surgery can enhance the care process and improve informed and collaborative presurgical preparation and decision-making between clinicians and families of pediatric patients.
(©Michael D Wood, Nicholas C West, Christina Fokkens, Ying Chen, Kent C Loftsgard, Krystal Cardinal, Simon D Whyte, Elodie Portales-Casamar, Matthias Görges. Originally published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting (https://pediatrics.jmir.org), 17.11.2023.)
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