Living hydrogel-based miniaturized and portable bio-battery developed for precise nerve stimulation
Peer-Reviewed Publication
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A collaborative team from the University of Macau and Nanjing University found, using clinical databases and samples, that the loss of a protein named MFG-E8 in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue is a factor in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), the leading cause of back pain worldwide. They suspected that MFG-E8 is bound to the glycan matrix in the NP tissue, but increasing the enzymes during IDD cleaves the glycans, releasing MFG-E8 and affecting the cell phenotype. Accordingly, they devised a glycan molecule, called GMOC, that is similar to the native glycan matrix but escapes the cleavage from enzymes that cleave the native glycans. They injected GMOC into rat and rabbit models of IDD and observed amelioration of symptoms, providing new insights for developing therapeutic strategies for future IDD treatment. The study was recently published in Nature Communications (https://rdcu.be/ejPlG).
Since its launch in 2015, the journal Engineering has been committed to international academic exchanges and engineering science and technology (EST) innovation. In this editorial, the editors-in-chief reflect on the journal’s decade-long journey. They emphasize the crucial role of EST in human development, from its impact on daily life to its role in driving civilization forward. With a new round of scientific and technological revolution underway, Engineering aims to become a top scholarly journal and a premier platform for international EST academic exchange. The editors express gratitude to those who have supported the journal and look forward to continued collaboration in serving the global academic community and contributing to EST innovation.