Biology subjects

Friend, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Friend, J..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Brain organoid computing for robotic decision-making

Biomimicry has inspired the evolution of robotics toward greater autonomy, adaptability, and symbiosis with humans and dynamic environments. However, current robotic systems still face major challenges in recapitulating the high-efficiency decision-making capabilities of the human brain under complex and dynamic conditions. Here, we present Brainobot, a biohybrid robotic system that establishes a brain organoid controller as a high-level robotic decision-making layer for closed-loop embodiment. By leveraging brain organoid reservoir computing, Brainobot interacts with dynamic environments by receiving and processing sensory inputs and generating motor actions. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, Brainobot is implemented in a humanoid robotic system to perform real-world tasks, including object grasping and laser chasing. Interestingly, Brainobot exhibits unique features, including cross-task adaptivity, high computing efficiency, and low energy consumption. Thus, our approach may provide insights for advancing robotic embodiment and understanding biological decision-making.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2026

Transdermal diagnosis and therapy using an integrated acoustofluidic patch

Transdermal biosensing and drug delivery provide convenient, pain-free, and user-friendly solutions for personalized therapy. However, challenges remain in detecting and treating acute diseases, primarily due to current limitations in effective detection of transdermal biomarkers and administration of therapeutics to an individual within a short time window in a real-world environment. Here, we integrate a compact acoustofluidic patch for transdermal sampling, sensing, and delivery in a rapid and automated manner. By leveraging acoustic streaming and 3D-printed microfluidic designs, acoustofluidic sampler and injector modules are assembled for penetration of the skin stratum corneum, precise sampling of skin interstitial fluids, and controlled percutaneous release of therapeutics, respectively. By incorporating an electrochemical sensing module, the integrated patch can be further developed to achieve in situ and rapid detection of transdermal biomarkers and automated transdermal delivery of therapeutics via closed-loop control. As a proof-of-concept application, we demonstrate our approach can detect and reverse life-threatening acute allergic reactions in a mouse model of anaphylaxis by rapid sampling and sensing transdermal histamine followed by automated transdermal delivery of epinephrine. The innovative acoustofluidic patch may enable a new kind of transdermal devices for personalized therapy of various acute diseases.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2026

Sonogenetic control of cardiomyocytes and cardiac pacing using exogenous Transient Receptor Potential A1 channels

Electronic cardiac pacemakers are the standard of care for treating arrhythmias but, even for wireless pacemakers, they require an intracardiac implant procedure and are invasive. Lead-related complications, including life-threatening infections, and limited suitability in pediatric patients restrict pacemaker use. Biological pacing has emerged as a hardware-free alternative, leveraging cell reprogramming approaches to generate pacemaker-like cardiomyocytes. Despite progress, biological strategies face challenges related to complex signaling pathways, intercellular coupling, durability of effect, efficacy, and safety. In addition, once ion channels or cells are implanted, biological pacemakers offer limited real-time programmability, whereas electronic pacemakers enable continuous adjustment of pacing output based on cardiac performance. Here we propose a hybrid approach that combines genetic sensitization with external control by exploring the feasibility of sonogenetic cardiac pacing. We express the ultrasound-sensitive ion channel hsTRPA1 in cardiomyocytes and use noninvasive ultrasound to modulate channel activity and cardiac function. Using calcium imaging, we show that hsTRPA1 potentiates ultrasound-evoked responses in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, cardiac expression of hsTRPA1 in mice increases heart rate in response to ultrasound delivered noninvasively through the intact chest, without evidence of a thermal mechanism under the conditions tested. Together, these results establish a proof of concept for sonogenetic cardiac pacing and define an initial acoustic and genetic parameter space compatible with preserving baseline cardiac function. More broadly, this work positions sonogenetics as a minimally invasive, wireless strategy for cardiac rhythm control and motivates future optimization and safety studies toward translation.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

Extracellular vesicles-based point-of-care testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One promising strategy for detecting and monitoring AD early on is using extracellular vesicles (EVs)-based point-of-care testing; however, diagnosing AD using EVs poses a challenge due to the low abundance of EV-biomarkers. Here, we present a fully integrated organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) that enables high accuracy, speed, and convenience in the detection of EVs from AD patients. We incorporated self-aligned acoustoelectric enhancement of EVs on a chip that rapidly propels, enriches, and specifically binds EVs to the OECT detection area. With our enhancement of pre-concentration, we increased the sensitivity to a limit of detection of 500 EV particles/L and reduced the required detection time to just two minutes. We also tested the sensor on an AD mouse model to monitor AD progression, examined mouse A{beta} EVs at different time courses, and compared them with intraneuronal A{beta} cumulation using MRI. This innovative technology has the potential to diagnose Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases accurately and quickly, enabling monitoring of disease progression and treatment response.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

A network pharmacology approach to assess the comparative pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical excipient trehalose in human, mouse and rat

BackgroundTrehalose is used as a pharmaceutical excipient due to its several desirable pharmacokinetic and historically evident safety features. However, information on the pharmacodynamic properties of trehalose is lacking. Hence this study evaluated the comparative pharmacodynamic properties of trehalose using a network pharmacology approach. Materials and methodsThe specific targets of trehalose in human, mouse and rat were identified from the SwissTargetPrediction database, categorised and compared. The expression profile and subcellular localisation of the targets of trehalose in human was identified and correlated with the affinity of trehalose to these targets to assess its impact on the pharmacodynamic properties of trehalose. The affinity of trehalose to its metabolising enzyme in human, mouse, and rat was assessed by molecular docking and compared. ResultsA significant difference in the target categories and target types of trehalose was observed in human, mouse, and rat. The affinity of trehalose to human (66.03 {+/-} 5.1 M), rat (102.53 {+/-} 11.3 M) and mouse (42.07 {+/-} 5.3 M) trehalase was significantly different. Family A G protein coupled receptors were identified as the major target category of trehalose and cyclin dependent kinase 1 was observed as the high affinity target of trehalose in human and mouse. The correlation of target expression and affinity indicated minimal pharmacodynamic influence under physiological conditions. ConclusionThis study reports the selective targets of trehalose relevant to drug discovery and development protocols and highlights the limitations of rodent models in translating pharmacodynamic analysis of trehalose for development of human therapeutics.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2021

Two parallel pathways are required for ultrasound-evoked behavioral changes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ultrasound has been shown to affect the function of both neurons and non-neuronal cells. However, the underlying molecular machinery has been poorly understood. Here, we show that at least two mechanosensitive proteins act in parallel to generate C. elegans behavioral responses to ultrasound stimuli. We first show that these animals generate reversals in response to a single 10 msec pulse from a 2.25 MHz ultrasound transducer. Next, we show that the pore-forming subunit of the mechanosensitive channel TRP-4, and a DEG/ENaC/ASIC ion channel MEC-4, are both required for this ultrasound-evoked reversal response. Further, the trp-4 mec-4 double mutant shows a stronger behavioral deficit compared to either single mutant. Finally, overexpressing TRP-4 in specific chemosensory neurons can rescue the ultrasound-triggered behavioral deficit in the mec-4 null mutant, suggesting that these two pathways act in parallel. Together, we demonstrate that multiple mechanosensitive proteins likely cooperate to transform ultrasound stimuli into behavioral changes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Microscale concert hall acoustics to produce uniform ultrasound stimulation for targeted sonogenetics in hsTRPA1-transfected cells

The field of ultrasound neuromodulation has rapidly developed over the past decade, a consequence of the discovery of strain-sensitive structures in the membrane and organelles of cells extending into the brain, heart, and other organs. Notably, clinical trials are underway for treating epilepsy using focused ultrasound to elicit an organized local electrical response. A key limitation to this approach is the formation of standing waves within the skull. In standing acoustic waves, the maximum ultrasound intensity spatially varies from near zero to double the mean in one half a wavelength, and can lead to localized tissue damage and disruption of normal brain function while attempting to evoke a broader response. This phenomenon also produces a large spatial variation in the actual ultrasound exposure in tissue, leading to heterogeneous results and challenges with interpreting these effects. One approach to overcome this limitation is presented herein: transducer-mounted diffusers that result in spatiotemporally incoherent ultrasound. The signal is numerically and experimentally quantified in an enclosed domain with and without the diffuser. Specifically, we show that adding the diffuser leads to a two-fold increase in ultrasound responsiveness of hsTRPA1 transfected HEK cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate the diffuser allow us to produce an uniform spatial distribution of pressure in the rodent skull. Collectively, we propose that our approach leads to a means to deliver uniform ultrasound into irregular cavities for sonogenetics.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

Ultrasound mediated cellular deflection results in cellular depolarization

Ultrasound has been used to manipulate cells in both humans and animal models. While intramembrane cavitation and lipid clustering have been suggested as likely mechanisms, they lack experimental evidence. Here we use high-speed digital holographic microscopy (to 100-kHz order) to visualize the cellular membrane dynamics. We show that neuronal and fibroblast membranes deflect about 150 nm upon ultrasound stimulation. Next, we develop a biomechanical model that predicts changes in membrane voltage after ultrasound exposure. Finally, we validate our model predictions using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology on primary neurons. Collectively, we show that ultrasound stimulation directly defects the neuronal membrane leading to a change in membrane voltage and subsequent depolarization. Our model is consistent with existing data and provides a mechanism for both ultrasound-evoked neurostimulation and sonogenetic control.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Targeted millisecond-scale activation of cells using non-invasive Sonogenetics

Ultrasound has been used to non-invasively manipulate neuronal functions in humans and other animals1-4. However, this approach is limited as it has been challenging to target specific cells within the brain or body5-8. Here, we identify human Transient Receptor Potential A1 (hsTRPA1) as a candidate that confers ultrasound sensitivity to mammalian cells. Ultrasound-evoked gating of hsTRPA1 specifically requires its N-terminal tip region and cholesterol interactions; and target cells with an intact actin cytoskeleton, revealing elements of the sonogenetic mechanism. Next, we use calcium imaging and electrophysiology to show that hsTRPA1 potentiates ultrasound-evoked responses in primary neurons. Furthermore, unilateral expression of hsTRPA1 in mouse layer V motor cortical neurons leads to c-fos expression and contralateral limb responses in response to ultrasound delivered through an intact skull. Collectively, we demonstrate that hsTRPA1-based sonogenetics can effectively manipulate neurons within the intact mammalian brain, a method that could be used across species.

neuroscience↗