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Our April issue

The many challenges of bioplastics, mechanical forces in organ fibrosis, microneedle biomedical devices, synthetic peptide branched polymers, open-source technology and more

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  • A plate with 3D-printed meat, tomatoes, rice, a glas of milk handed by a robot

    This collection brings together articles discussing the science and societal implications of engineered food, from genome-edited crops and computer-aided food engineering to cellular agriculture, nanotechnology-enabled plant agriculture and agricultural robotics.

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  • Artificial intelligence (AI) is finding its way into healthcare. Therefore, medical students need to be trained to be ‘bilingual’ in both medical and computational terminology and concepts to allow them to understand, implement and evaluate AI-related research.

    • Yosra Magdi Mekki
    • Susu M. Zughaier
    Comment
  • Smart food packaging technologies can actualize real-time, in situ food quality monitoring, increasing food safety and decreasing food waste. Here, we detail challenges that hinder the commercialization of such smart packaging systems and identify opportunities to facilitate their translation from prototype to product.

    • Shadman Khan
    • Zeinab Hosseinidoust
    • Tohid F. Didar
    Down to Business
  • The organic electrochemical transistor stands out as a tool for constructing powerful biosensors owing to its high signal transduction ability and adaptability to various geometrical forms. However, the performance of organic electrochemical transistors relies on stable and seamless interfaces with biological systems. This Review examines strategies to improve and optimize interfaces between organic electrochemical transistors and various biological components.

    • Abdulelah Saleh
    • Anil Koklu
    • Sahika Inal
    Review Article
  • Wound healing mechanisms differ depending on the sex, particularly in chronic wounds. Therefore, sex should be considered in the design of nanomedicine- and biomaterials-based wound healing therapies, both in preclinical and clinical testing.

    • Negar Mahmoudi
    • David R. Nisbet
    • Morteza Mahmoudi
    Comment
  • Neuromodulation and brain–computer interfaces are rapidly evolving fields with distinct origins but with the shared goal of improving the lives of people with neurological and psychiatric disorders or injuries. Their increasing technological overlap provides new opportunities for collaborative work and rapid progress in neurotechnology.

    • Jeffrey Herron
    • Vaclav Kremen
    • David Borton
    Comment
  • Fats and oils are crucial dietary supplements for human health. However, animal fats and palm oil dominate the food industry, with concerns over health and the environment that call for the development of fat alternatives. The fat industry offers a vast market potential, with several startups pioneering new technical solutions and attracting venture capital interest.

    • Enrico Costanzo
    • Giorgia Spigno
    Down to Business
  • Using nanoparticles featuring anisotropic characteristics is a promising approach to developing multifunctional platforms for drug delivery and theranostics. This Review discusses methods to generate anisotropy in nanosystems and strategies to control particle transport, targeting and interaction with cells to overcome biological barriers.

    • Helena Almeida
    • Giovanni Traverso
    • José das Neves
    Review Article
  • Bioplastics have yet to make an impact in addressing plastics pollution. Policy measures, innovation and public discourse are needed to address misconceptions, clarify labelling and ensure their effective end-of-life management.

    Editorial