News

$1.5M NSF grant to launch AI-designed biosensor research project

10/02/2024

To enhance biosensor development via artificial intelligence (AI) and offer STEM education opportunities to K-12 students from underserved communities, the U.S. National Science Foundation recently awarded researchers at Penn State a three-year, $1.5 million grant.  

Self-assembling, highly conductive sensors could improve wearable devices

06/26/2024

To advance soft robotics, skin-integrated electronics and biomedical devices, researchers at Penn State have developed a 3D-printed material that is soft and stretchable — traits needed for matching the properties of tissues and organs — and that self-assembles. Their approach employs a process that eliminates many drawbacks of previous fabrication methods, such as less conductivity or device failure, the team said.

Novel robotic training program reduces physician errors placing central lines

04/17/2024

More than 5 million central lines are placed in patients who need prolonged drug delivery, such as those undergoing cancer treatments, in the United States every year, yet the common procedure can lead to a bevy of complications in almost a million of those cases. To help decrease the rate of infections, blood clots and other complications associated with placing a central line catheter, Penn State researchers developed an online curriculum coupled with a hands-on simulation training to provide trainee physicians with more practice.

Q&A: New technology may help identify neuromotor disease symptoms in infants

04/10/2024

A team of researchers led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, the James L. Henderson, Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) at Penn State, tested the use of wearable sensors paired with a “tiny” machine learning algorithm to automatically monitor and evaluate general movements in infants.

Synthetic material could improve ease and cut cost of gut microbiome research

03/27/2024

A team of Penn State researchers has developed a new synthetic material that could enable scientists to more easily study how microorganisms interact with the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The material might eventually provide a cheaper, more accessible way for researchers to screen drugs that impact gut infections, metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disorders.

GPS nanoparticle platform precisely delivers therapeutic payload to cancer cells

03/11/2024

A newly developed “GPS nanoparticle” injected intravenously can home in on cancer cells to deliver a genetic punch to the protein implicated in tumor growth and spread, according to researchers from Penn State. They tested their approach in human cell lines and in mice to effectively knock down a cancer-causing gene, reporting that the technique may potentially offer a more precise and effective treatment for notoriously hard-to-treat basal-like breast cancers.

Q&A: Sensors that monitor neurological conditions in real time

03/06/2024

A team of researchers led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, the James L. Henderson, Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) at Penn State, created a highly-sensitive and cost-effective sensor to better monitor the concentration in sweat or urine of dopamine and tyrosine, a neurotransmitter and an amino acid that are present in the brain.

Combining novel biomaterial and microsurgery might enable faster tissue recovery

03/05/2024

For soft tissue to recover and regrow, it needs blood vessels to grow to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Sluggish vascularization, however, can slow or even prevent recovery and regrowth of lost or damaged soft tissue after a severe injury or serious illness such as cancer. To speed up the formation and patterning of new blood vessels, Penn State researchers have combined a novel biomaterial with a microsurgical approach used in reconstructive surgery, enabling improved recovery of soft tissue.

3D-printed skin closes wounds and contains hair follicle precursors

03/01/2024

Fat tissue holds the key to 3D printing layered living skin and potentially hair follicles, according to researchers who recently harnessed fat cells and supporting structures from clinically procured human tissue to precisely correct injuries in rats. The advancement could have implications for reconstructive facial surgery and even hair growth treatments for humans.

Dual-energy harvesting device could power future wireless medical implants

02/20/2024

Implantable biomedical devices — like pacemakers, insulin pumps and neurostimulators — are becoming smaller and utilizing wireless technology, but hurdles remain for powering the next-generation implants. A new wireless charging device developed by Penn State scientists could dramatically improve powering capability for implants while still being safe for our bodies, the researchers said.

$4M grant funds project to make robotic prostheses more like biological limbs

01/30/2024
Prosthetic hands that incorporate robotics can perform dexterous self-care tasks, but they are often hard to operate, requiring a user’s constant attention with a limited number of hand functions. With a five-year, $4 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant, Penn State researchers aim to make robotic protheses more useful for people living with amputations. 

Two-channel sensor measures biomarker concentration in sweat

01/04/2024
Sensors applied to the skin hold promise for a non-invasive and low-cost method of identifying key biomarkers in sweat, which could help clinicians make earlier and more accurate diagnoses. Up until now, however, sensors could identify the presence of biomarkers but lacked the ability to accurately detect their concentration in the presence of erratic, intermittent and unpredictable sweat production. 

Health data, faster: Wearable stretchy sensor can process, predict health data

12/18/2023
Engineering researchers created a machine learning platform that can more efficiently analyze and predict datapoints collected by wearables, as reported in Nature Communications. They applied the platform to a new stretchy, wearable throat sensor that records vibrations and electrical muscle impulses from the neck area to monitor a user’s speech and swallowing patterns. 

First rapid tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea exhibit 100% sensitivity

10/25/2023
More than half of the estimated 374 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2020 were either chlamydia or gonorrhea, which are often asymptomatic and co-occurring, according to the World Health Organization. Despite the prevalence, neither disease currently has a clinically available rapid test, but that could change thanks to a Penn State-led research team.

New wearable sensor makes continuous analysis of sweat possible, researchers say

9/27/2023
Continuous monitoring of sweat can reveal valuable information about human health, such as the body’s glucose levels. However, wearable sensors previously developed for this purpose have been lacking, unable to withstand the rigors or achieve the specificity needed for continuous monitoring, according to Penn State researchers. Now, the research team has created a novel wearable patch that may be up to the task.

Tiny bubbles could reveal immune cell secrets and improve treatments

9/20/2023
Macrophages are little cells vital to the immune system and could possibly inform cell-based therapies for a variety of medical conditions. However, realizing the full potential of macrophage therapies relies on being able to see what these cellular allies are doing inside our bodies, and a team of Penn State researchers may have developed a way to watch them do their thing.

NIH grant to facilitate high-speed bioprinting of bones, tracheas, organs

7/20/2023
Developing technology to quickly and efficiently bioprint human tissues at scale is the goal of a new project led by Penn State researchers. When fully developed, the technology will be the first to enable the fabrication of scalable, native tissues such as bones, tracheas and organs.

New ferroelectric material could give robots muscles

6/30/2023
A new type of ferroelectric polymer that is exceptionally good at converting electrical energy into mechanical strain holds promise as a high-performance motion controller or “actuator” with great potential for applications in medical devices, advanced robotics, and precision positioning systems, according to a team of international researchers led by Penn State.

Penn State researchers develop digital test to directly measure HIV viral load

6/20/2023
A Penn State research team has developed a time and cost-efficient digital assay that can directly measure the presence of HIV in single drop of blood. It's the first step in producing a clinical diagnostic tool that can help physicians understand how patients are responding to anti-viral medications and monitor potential progression.

Huanyu “Larry” Cheng invited to Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, post-conference program

5/25/2023
Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, has been selected to attend the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting and the Baden-Württemberg Post Conference Programme 2023.

Low-cost, waterproof sensors may create new health-monitoring possibilities

5/16/2023
A Penn State-led team of researchers has literally put pencil to paper to create an accessible, affordable, waterproof and wearable sensor to monitor multiple vital signals. The team published the details of the pencil-on-paper sensor in Chemical Engineering Journal.

Bio-inspired device captures images by mimicking human eye

5/2/2023
Drawing inspiration from nature, Penn State scientists have developed a new device that produces images by mimicking the red, green and blue photoreceptors and the neural network found in human eyes.

Improved, self-healing medical sensor responds to temperature, adapts to skin

4/18/2023
For wearable electronics to live up to their promise for health care monitoring, they need to do at least two things: transform from rigid to soft to accommodate changing structural needs, and heal their own normal wear-and-tear. With the help of liquid metal and specialized polymers, researchers have developed sensors that can do both.

First rapid test for mpox developed, tech adaptable for other emerging diseases

4/18/2023
The first rapid test for mpox, more commonly known as monkeypox, has been developed by a team of researchers led by Penn State. The selective molecular sensor can detect the virus within minutes, without the use of any high-end instrumental techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Current tests require health care providers to swab lesions and send the samples to labs to be tested, which can take several days.

T-cell vaccine for COVID-19 may last longer than current vaccines

4/13/2023
The current COVID-19 vaccines are designed to trigger an antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is vulnerable to mutations that could make the vaccine less effective over time. Focusing on the T-cell instead, Penn State researchers partnered with Evaxion Biotech on a study that was the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-generated vaccine in a live viral challenge model. Such a vaccine may provide long-lasting immunity against future emerging variants and could be used as a model for other seasonal viral diseases like the flu.

Professor elected fellow of national medical and biological engineering society

3/27/2023
The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has elected a Penn State engineer to its College of Fellows.

Penn State Cancer Institute now using robot to detect lung cancer earlier

3/8/2023
Penn State Cancer Institute is now using a robot-assisted bronchoscopy system that can diagnose lung cancer at its earliest stages. The Monarch Platform robot-assisted bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that is able to reach small nodules better than traditional methods and can lead to earlier diagnosis of lung nodules.

Engineers awarded NIH grant to heal tendon injuries with ultrasound

3/8/2023
Tendon pain or injuries, known as tendinopathies, impact everyone from athletes to manual laborers to others performing daily activities. A controllable, noninvasive method of treatment has remained elusive, but with a four-year, $2,276,850 National Institutes of Health grant, Penn State researchers are planning to change that. The researchers, led by Julianna Simon, Penn State assistant professor of acoustics and of biomedical engineering, aim to create a completely non-invasive, tunable method for treating tendinopathies with focused ultrasound.

3D printing of medical devices focus of $2 million NSF grant

3/3/2023
Additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing, provides the opportunity to create customized medical devices.

Researchers earn $2.3M grant to enhance understanding of rotator cuff injury

3/3/2023
Rotator cuff injuries are the second leading cause of musculoskeletal pain, following lower back pain. Their prevalence increases with age, with individuals over 80 years old at a 64% risk of the injury.

Guarding the genome: Researchers uncover full 3D structure of p53 protein

3/1/2023
The tumor suppressor protein p53, known as "the guardian of the genome," protects the body’s DNA from daily stress or long-term damage by triggering the cells to make repairs or to self-destruct.

Superhydrophobic biosensor could measure sweat vapors on the body

2/23/2023
Sweat contains biomarkers that help doctors make health diagnoses. Wearable sensors can be used to monitor a person’s perspiration rate and provide information about the skin, nervous system activity and underlying health conditions.

Controlled, localized delivery of blood thinner may improve blood clot treatment

1/20/2023
Heparin has long been used as a blood thinner, or anticoagulant, for patients with blood clotting disorders or after surgery to prevent complications.

Novel microneedle bandage could save lives by stopping blood loss from wounds

1/20/2023
A soldier suffers a serious gunshot wound on a remote battlefield or a machinist has a work accident and gets stuck in traffic on the way to the hospital.

Pop-up electrode device could help with 3D mapping of the brain

1/20/2023
Understanding the neural interface within the brain is critical to understanding aging, learning, disease progression and more. 

Controlled, localized delivery of blood thinner may improve blood clot treatment

1/05/2023
Heparin has long been used as a blood thinner, or anticoagulant, for patients with blood clotting disorders or after surgery to prevent complications.

Materials Research Institute accepting proposals for two seed grant projects

12/9/2022
The Materials Research Institute (MRI) offers a series of seed grants to Penn State researchers that encourage high-risk, high-impact collaborative projects across multiple disciplines with great potential for societal benefit.

Stretchable rubber diode opens possibilities for medical, electronic devices

11/30/2022
If you are reading this article on your computer or phone, it is in part thanks to diodes. Diodes — typically rigid electrical components that easily conduct electric current in one direction — are used for a variety of critical electronic functions, from converting AC to DC and converting energy from mechanical to electrical to serving as a switch component that enables digital displays and more.

Patent for first saliva-based concussion test awarded to Penn State and partners

11/17/2022
A saliva-based test that rapidly and accurately diagnoses concussions is expected to be available to physicians in 2023 following a patent awarded to Quadrant Biosciences, Penn State, and the State University of New York by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

High-tech tool to perform low-cost health screening for newborns and mothers

11/8/2022
In 2017, nearly 300,000 women died during or following childbirth, but most of those could have been prevented, according to the World Health Organization. Additionally, four million babies die each year before reaching their first birthday. 

Tiny magnetic particles fight lung cancer cells on command in lab test

10/28/2022
Traditional treatments for lung cancers can have serious side effects throughout the body, but newly developed, highly targeted treatments could reduce damage, according to Penn State researchers.

Stretchy, bio-inspired synaptic transistor can enhance, weaken device memories

9/29/2022
Robotics and wearable devices might soon get a little smarter with the addition of a stretchy, wearable synaptic transistor developed by Penn State engineers.

Novel implantable sensor sniffs out possible signals of osteoarthritis

9/14/2022
If smoke indicates a fire, nitric oxide signals inflammation. The chemical mediator promotes inflammation, but researchers suspect it can do its job too well after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and related injuries and initiate early onset osteoarthritis.

Ceramic material could improve MRIs by enabling faster times, better images

9/7/2022
An academic/enterprise partnership that includes Penn State researchers is developing a new dielectric material to enable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines with shorter scan times and higher image resolutions, good news for cutting the cost of MRI scans for the hospitals and for patients who struggle with MRI-related anxiety.

Penn State awarded $1.6M to study if COVID-19 contributes to cognitive decline

8/25/2022
As populations around the globe age, dementia — often caused by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders — is a growing health issue for older adults worldwide.

New granular hydrogel bioink could expand possibilities for tissue bioprinting

8/24/2022
Every day in the United States, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant, and every nine minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Researchers to develop scaffolding for nerve regeneration with $2.14M NIH grant

8/16/2022
Peripheral nerves are responsible for moving muscles, sensing temperatures and even inhaling and exhaling; yet they comprise fragile fibers vulnerable to disease and injury.

New at-home, saliva-based COVID test as effective as PCR in preliminary analysis

8/5/2022
PCR tests, also called molecular tests or nucleic acid tests, are considered the gold standard in detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that gives rise to COVID-19.

National society recognizes biomedical engineering graduate student

7/13/2022
Sailahari V. Ponnaluri, a doctoral candidate in the Penn State Department of Biomedical Engineering, earned a 2022 Oral Abstract Award from the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO). She was recognized at the annual conference in Chicago on June 9.

Scientists devise method to help prevent hospital infections

6/6/2022
On any given day, one in 31 hospital patients is diagnosed with an infection that developed as a result of care during their hospital stay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Real-time, accurate virus detection method could help fight next pandemic

6/2/2022
A method of highly accurate and sensitive virus identification using Raman spectroscopy, a portable virus capture device and machine learning could enable real-time virus detection and identification to help battle future pandemics, according to a team of researchers led by Penn State.

Career development award to assess risk factors of aneurysm rupture

5/31/2022
Brain aneurysms are dangerous — causing death or neurological deficits if they rupture. But over two-thirds of them are stable, according to a 2016 study. How do practitioners know when to operate and when to leave them alone?

New breathable gas sensors may improve monitoring of health, environment

5/19/2022
Newly developed flexible, porous and highly sensitive nitrogen dioxide sensors that can be applied to skin and clothing have potential applications in health care, environmental health monitoring and military use, according to researchers.

Biodegradable implant could help doctors monitor brain chemistry

3/21/2022
A wireless, biodegradable sensor could offer doctors a way to monitor changes in brain chemistry without requiring a second operation to remove the implant, according to an international team of researchers.

Media mention: Adapting Origami to Create Nanoscopic Medical Tools

3/17/2022
Mary Frecker, head of the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering, Riess Chair of Engineering and director of the Penn State Center for Biodevices, was quoted in an article on WebMD, "How Scientists Adapted an Ancient Art Form to Create Nanoscopic Medical Tools." The article discusses how the 1,000-year-old practice of origami has been applied to cutting-edge technology, including Frecker's work using origami techniques to create a device that could be inserted through an endoscope to treat abdominal tumors.

Transparent ultrasound chip improves cell stimulation and imaging

2/24/2022
Ultrasound scans, best known for monitoring pregnancies or imaging organs, can also be used to stimulate cells and direct cell function. A team of Penn State researchers has developed an easier, more effective way to harness the technology for biomedical applications.

Accepting applications for the Innovation Fellows program

2/17/2022
The Innovation Fellowship at the Penn State College of Medicine is a 12-month, non-clinical program that admits multiple fellows per year on a competitive basis. It is designed to provide qualified young scientific leaders who have an interest in translation, commercialization, and business disciplines to align with an innovative faculty member and further develop a new healthcare invention to address an unmet medical need.

New research advances wearable medical sensors

2/3/2022
Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, is working to improve health monitoring by creating self-powered, environmentally-friendly, wearable sensors that collect data for clinicians while limiting discomfort for patients.

Researchers aim to improve stroke recovery with new granular biomaterials

2/2/2022
Researchers at Penn State and The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation and the University of California Los Angeles are developing novel biomaterials to target post-stroke immune response and promote new blood vessel and axon — the part of the neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell’s processing center — formation at the site of the stroke.

3D-printing surgical implants inspires engineering graduate student

1/5/2022
Advancements in additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing, have the potential to significantly improve health care, allowing for surgical implants to be custom designed for each patient.

Engineer invited to present research at two international conferences

10/25/2021
Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics in Penn State’s College of Engineering, has been selected to present at two invite-only scientific conferences.

Saliva-based COVID-19 test may provide at-home results in 30 minutes

10/15/2021
Current COVID-19 tests require laboratory processing, resulting in potentially sick people going to a lab or waiting days for a diagnosis.

Monitoring glucose levels, no needles required

10/14/2021
Noninvasive glucose monitoring devices are not currently commercially available in the United States, so people with diabetes must collect blood samples or use sensors embedded under the skin to measure their blood sugar levels.

Graphene made with lasers for wearable health devices

9/2/2021
Graphene, hexagonally arranged carbon atoms in a single layer with superior pliability and high conductivity, could advance flexible electronics according to a Penn State-led international research team.

Associate director named for Penn State Center for Biodevices

8/24/2021
The Penn State Center for Biodevices has a new associate director who will further cement its cross-disciplinary goals: Gregory Lewis, associate professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation, with courtesy appointments in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and engineering science and mechanics.

Penn State research teams awarded seed grants to advance biodevices

7/12/2021
Interdisciplinary research teams from across Penn State recently received seed grants from the Penn State Biodevices Seed Grant program and the Grace Woodward Collaborative Research in Engineering and Medicine Grant program to fund their work in advancing biodevices.

Skin and bones repaired by bioprinting during surgery

4/27/2021
Fixing traumatic injuries to the skin and bones of the face and skull is difficult because of the many layers of different types of tissues involved, but now, researchers have repaired such defects in a rat model using bioprinting during surgery, and their work may lead to faster and better methods of healing skin and bones.

Cranial Devices Inc. wins $75,000 in virtual tech tournament

4/22/2021
Invent Penn State’s 2021 virtual Tech Tournament showcased eight of Penn State’s most disruptive innovations and early-stage startups born out of the University's research enterprise.

Stretching the boundaries of medical tech with wearable antennas

3/29/2021
Researchers from Penn State led two international collaborations to prototype a wireless, wearable transmitter while also improving the transmitter design process.

Center for Biodevices sponsors six 2021 capstone design projects

4/8/2021
The Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory will launch its spring 2021 project showcase on April 30, highlighting research collaborative research projects across disciplines.

University-wide COVID-19 response initiative marks a year of solutions, impact

3/29/2021
One year ago, as physicians and administrators at Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center prepared for the impact of COVID-19, a consortium of Penn State researchers joined together to make a positive impact.

MASC: The Power of Teamwork

3/15/2021
In early March 2020, as COVID-19 cases in the U.S. jumped into the tens of thousands, an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers mobilized to address critical shortages of masks, ventilators, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) available to healthcare workers.
(This article appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Research/Penn State magazine.)

Engineering science and mechanics professor named 2021 Scialog Fellow

3/5/2021
Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in Penn State’s Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, has been named a 2021 Scialog Fellow by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement.

FacultyXchange connects biodevices researchers in academia, industry

2/17/2021
The Center for Biodevices in the College of Engineering at Penn State hosted its second annual FacultyXchange on Feb. 10. More than 165 researchers and clinicians attended the virtual event.

Wearable sensor monitors health, administers drugs using saliva and tears

2/1/2021
A new kind of wearable health device would deliver real-time medical data to those with eye or mouth diseases, according to Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.

Engineering students draw inspiration from art to test COVID-19 biodevice

1/6/2021
As a discipline, engineering often challenges students to fuse technical skills with creative design. During the fall semester, a Penn State College of Engineering senior capstone design group took this notion one step further through a collaboration with Bonnie Collura, professor of art and sculpture in the Penn State School of Visual Arts.

Stretchable micro-supercapacitors to self-power wearable devices

12/8/2020
A stretchable system that can harvest energy from human breathing and motion for use in wearable health-monitoring devices may be possible, according to an international team of researchers, led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in Penn State's Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.

A virtual Materials Day maintains a spirit of engagement while social distancing

12/7/2020
When Materials Day 2020 was in the planning stages back in 2019, none of the Materials Research Institute (MRI) faculty and staff involved in developing Penn State’s marquee materials science and engineering event had any thoughts about doing any part of it virtually — until a pandemic hit.

‘Smart Wrap’ implant may help people better control their bladders

11/12/2020
An implantable smart wrap that fits safely and securely around the bladder may one day help people who have under-active bladders, a condition that hinders patients from urinating regularly and comfortably, according to an international team of researchers.

Implantable sensor could measure bodily functions — and then safely biodegrade

11/10/2020
Sensors that monitor a patient’s condition during and after medical procedures can be expensive, uncomfortable and even dangerous. Now, an international team of researchers has designed a highly sensitive flexible gas sensor that can be implanted in the body — and, after it’s no longer needed, safely biodegrade into materials that are absorbed by the body.

Engineering professor receives Frontiers of Materials award

11/9/2020
Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, was recently selected to receive the 2021 Frontiers of Materials Award from The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS).

New bacterial testing method to improve health care, food safety and more

11/2/2020
Detecting viable bacteria is important for various fields, from food safety to medical diagnosis. The existing techniques to conduct antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) — testing that, for example, allows health care providers to prescribe the correct dose of antibiotics for a particular infection — are slow, require skilled personnel or utilize bulky and expensive instruments.

Two-hour sepsis test in development at Penn State

10/29/2020
One in three people who die in U.S. hospitals have sepsis, the body’s extreme response to infection that can lead to multiple organ failure. Diagnosis can take up to five days, but death may take only hours from the initial onset of sepsis.

Faster medical testing possible through graduate student's NSF-funded internship

10/28/2020
To potentially make medical testing faster and more efficient, Denise Widdowson, a doctoral student in the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering, has earned a spot in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) program.

Modeling safer, more effective cardio implant devices

10/26/2020
A Penn State researcher has received a $459,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a computer model that could lead to safer implantable cardiovascular devices.

Novel bioresorbable, tissue-healing surgical device approved by FDA

10/21/2020
A new surgical tendon fixation system that not only re-attaches damaged tissues but also facilitates healing as it is absorbed by the body has been granted 510(k) clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, indicating that the device is “as safe and effective” as other legally marketed devices and is ready to go to market.

Gel instrumental in 3D bioprinting biological tissues

10/16/2020
The eventual creation of replacement biological parts requires fully three-dimensional capabilities that two-dimensional and three-dimensional thin-film bioprinting cannot supply. Now, using a yield stress gel, Penn State engineers can place tiny aggregates of cells exactly where they want to build the complex shapes that will be necessary to replace bone, cartilage and other tissues.

Researchers explore at-home testing method of viral loads for HIV patients

10/15/2020
Development of a new method to monitor the effectiveness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment at home instead of in hospitals is underway by Penn State researchers.

Inexpensive and rapid testing of drugs for resistant infections possible

10/15/2020
A rapid and simple method for testing the efficacy of antibacterial drugs on infectious microbes has been developed and validated by a team of Penn State researchers.

Engineers print wearable sensors directly on skin without heat

10/9/2020
Wearable sensors are evolving from watches and electrodes to bendable devices that provide far more precise biometric measurements and comfort for users. Now, an international team of researchers has taken the evolution one step further by printing sensors directly on human skin without the use of heat.

Self-powered biosensors may open up new paths to medical tracking, treatments

9/10/2020
Wearable and implantable devices are currently used for a variety of functions, including health tracking and monitoring. However, supplying energy usually requires cumbersome batteries and downtime due to recharging.

First Outcomes Day to connect, educate researchers on biodevices

9/9/2020
The Penn State Center for Biodevices, led by the College of Engineering, will hold its first Outcomes Day on Sept. 24.

An improved wearable, stretchable gas sensor using nanocomposites

8/28/2020
A stretchable, wearable gas sensor for environmental sensing has been developed and tested by researchers at Penn State, Northeastern University and five universities in China.

Engineer developing out-of-this-world solutions for COVID-19 challenges

8/13/2020
Xin Ning, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering, specializes in developing materials for use in space. He has now received a National Science Foundation grant to apply his research a little closer to home, with a stretchable sensor and foldable field hospital that could aid in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Living materials webinar partners Penn State, University of Freiburg researchers

8/11/2020
More than 100 registered participants met July 22-23 for a virtual webinar organized by the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems (LiMC ²).

Highly sensitive dopamine detector uses 2D materials

8/7/2020e
A supersensitive dopamine detector can help in the early diagnosis of several disorders that result in too much or too little dopamine, according to a group led by Penn State and including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and universities in China and Japan.

Faculty teams awarded seed grants to fund biodevice development

7/29/2020
Faculty teams from across multiple disciplines recently received Penn State Biodevices Seed Grants and Grace Woodward Collaborative Research in Engineering and Medicine Grants to support work on the development of biodevices.

Simple device monitors health using sweat

6/24/2020
A device that monitors health conditions in the body using a person’s sweat has been developed by Penn State and Xiangtan University researchers, according to Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, Penn State.

Penn State Center for Biodevices mobilizes for COVID-19 response

4/13/2020
Mary Frecker, professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering and the Riess Chair in Engineering at Penn State, felt much of the same trepidation and anxiety that most are grappling with facing the emergence of COVID-19.

Trio of female mechanical engineering professors to lead new research centers

2/25/2020
Three professors from the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering have been selected as the directors of newly announced research centers at the University, where they will continue to make tangible impacts in research and grow the representation of women in STEM leadership.

Engineering professor named director of the Penn State Center for Biodevices

2/14/2020
Mary Frecker, professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Penn State, has been named the Riess Chair in the College of Engineering

Novel endoscopy tool opens new doors for pancreatic cancer treatment

2/6/2019
A significantly more effective, minimally invasive treatment for pancreatic tumors may be on the horizon, thanks to a new endoscopy tool created in the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering.