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Nature Materials Apr 2024Microactuators provide controllable driving forces for precise positioning, manipulation and operation at the microscale. Development of microactuators using active...
Microactuators provide controllable driving forces for precise positioning, manipulation and operation at the microscale. Development of microactuators using active materials is often hampered by their fabrication complexity and limited motion at small scales. Here we report light-fuelled artificial goosebumps to actuate passive microstructures, inspired by the natural reaction of hair bristling (piloerection) on biological skin. We use light-responsive liquid crystal elastomers as the responsive artificial skin to move three-dimensionally printed passive polymer microstructures. When exposed to a programmable femtosecond laser, the liquid crystal elastomer skin generates localized artificial goosebumps, resulting in precise actuation of the surrounding microstructures. Such microactuation can tilt micro-mirrors for the controlled manipulation of light reflection and disassemble capillary-force-induced self-assembled microstructures globally and locally. We demonstrate the potential application of the proposed microactuation system for information storage. This methodology provides precise, localized and controllable manipulation of microstructures, opening new possibilities for the development of programmable micromachines.
PubMed: 38336868
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01810-6 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024Artificial intelligence is poised to rapidly reshape many fields, including that of skin cancer screening and diagnosis, both as a disruptive and assistive technology.... (Review)
Review
Artificial intelligence is poised to rapidly reshape many fields, including that of skin cancer screening and diagnosis, both as a disruptive and assistive technology. Together with the collection and availability of large medical data sets, artificial intelligence will become a powerful tool that can be leveraged by physicians in their diagnoses and treatment plans for patients. This comprehensive review focuses on current progress toward AI applications for patients, primary care providers, dermatologists, and dermatopathologists, explores the diverse applications of image and molecular processing for skin cancer, and highlights AI's potential for patient self-screening and improving diagnostic accuracy for non-dermatologists. We additionally delve into the challenges and barriers to clinical implementation, paths forward for implementation and areas of active research.
PubMed: 38566925
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1331895 -
Clinics in Plastic Surgery Apr 2024Burns in the elderly are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Frailty is an important indicator of patient health and physiologic reserve. Comorbidities and... (Review)
Review
Burns in the elderly are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Frailty is an important indicator of patient health and physiologic reserve. Comorbidities and typical age-related changes significantly impact the outcomes of elderly burn patients and decisions made during their burn care. It is essential to have early and thorough discussions about the goals of care and rehabilitation plans. Physiologic changes that occur from aging cause slower wound healing and may make operative treatment more challenging, although techniques such as autographing, skin substitutes, and flaps may all play a role in treating this patient population.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Burns; Skin, Artificial; Surgical Flaps; Wound Healing
PubMed: 38429051
DOI: 10.1016/j.cps.2023.11.006 -
Nature Machine Intelligence Dec 2023Skin-interfaced electronics is gradually changing medical practices by enabling continuous and noninvasive tracking of physiological and biochemical information. With...
Skin-interfaced electronics is gradually changing medical practices by enabling continuous and noninvasive tracking of physiological and biochemical information. With the rise of big data and digital medicine, next-generation electronic skin (e-skin) will be able to use artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize its design as well as uncover user-personalized health profiles. Recent multimodal e-skin platforms have already employed machine learning (ML) algorithms for autonomous data analytics. Unfortunately, there is a lack of appropriate AI protocols and guidelines for e-skin devices, resulting in overly complex models and non-reproducible conclusions for simple applications. This review aims to present AI technologies in e-skin hardware and assess their potential for new inspired integrated platform solutions. We outline recent breakthroughs in AI strategies and their applications in engineering e-skins as well as understanding health information collected by e-skins, highlighting the transformative deployment of AI in robotics, prosthetics, virtual reality, and personalized healthcare. We also discuss the challenges and prospects of AI-powered e-skins as well as predictions for the future trajectory of smart e-skins.
PubMed: 38370145
DOI: 10.1038/s42256-023-00760-z -
ACS Applied Bio Materials Aug 2023Skin electrical properties play a significant role in recording biopotentials by using electrophysiological sensors. To test and evaluate sensor systems, it is commonly... (Review)
Review
Skin electrical properties play a significant role in recording biopotentials by using electrophysiological sensors. To test and evaluate sensor systems, it is commonly accepted to employ artificial skin models due to complications associated with testing on living tissues. The first goal of this Review is to provide a systematic understanding of the relation between skin structure and skin electrochemical behavior at an appropriate depth for electrophysiological sensing applications through a focus on skin structure, electrochemical properties of skin, and theoretical models (equivalent circuits) representing skin electrochemical behavior. The second goal is to review artificial skin models mimicking the electrochemical properties of skin and to give suggestions for future studies on relevant skin models based on a comparison between the behavior of skin and that of artificial skin models. The Review aims to help the reader to analyze the relation between the structure, elements of the equivalent circuits, and the resulting impedance data for both skin and artificial skin models.
Topics: Skin, Artificial; Skin; Electric Impedance
PubMed: 37552576
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00356 -
International Wound Journal Sep 2023Fish skin grafting as a new skin substitute is currently being used in clinical applications. Acceleration of the wound healing, lack of disease transmission, and low... (Review)
Review
Fish skin grafting as a new skin substitute is currently being used in clinical applications. Acceleration of the wound healing, lack of disease transmission, and low cost of the production process can introduce fish skin as a potential alternative to other grafts. An appropriate decellularization process allows the design of 3D acellular scaffolds for skin regeneration without damaging the morphology and extracellular matrix content. Therefore, the role of decellularization processes is very important to maintain the properties of fish skin. In this review article, recent studies on various decellularization processes as well as biological, physical, and mechanical properties of fish skin and its applications with therapeutic effects in wound healing were investigated.
Topics: Animals; Wound Healing; Skin Transplantation; Skin, Artificial; Extracellular Matrix; Fishes; Acellular Dermis
PubMed: 36924081
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14158 -
Clinics in Dermatology 2024Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a very powerful new tool that is destined to markedly advance many areas of dermatology, including cosmetic dermatology, oculoplastics,... (Review)
Review
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a very powerful new tool that is destined to markedly advance many areas of dermatology, including cosmetic dermatology, oculoplastics, cancer detection and treatment, dermatopathlogy, and identification of pathogens. Along with these are some special new risks and concerns, however, including ethical considerations, data analysis, interpretation of scientific studies, and recognizing systematic failures and fraud, particularly in generative AI. Each of these issues is reviewed collectively and in turn in this special of Clinics in Dermatology.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Dermatology; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 38181889
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.12.014 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Jul 2023Osseointegrated implants is a surgical treatment permitting a direct skeletal attachment of an external prosthesis. It is a treatment for healthy transfemoral amputated... (Review)
Review
Osseointegrated implants is a surgical treatment permitting a direct skeletal attachment of an external prosthesis. It is a treatment for healthy transfemoral amputated patients who cannot tolerate or use a socket prosthesis, thereby alleviating related issues with poor fit, skin problems or discomfort. This review provides a summary of the indications and contraindications for surgery, the most common implants and reported outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Amputees; Prosthesis Design; Artificial Limbs; Prosthesis Implantation; Osseointegration; Femur; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37539803
DOI: No ID Found