In a significant advancement in bioengineering, researchers at Rice University have developed a novel construction kit for designing custom sense-and-respond circuits within human cells. This breakthrough, published in Science, enables the creation of “smart cells” that can detect specific biological signals—such as inflammation or tumor markers—and trigger targeted therapeutic responses. By leveraging phosphorylation, a natural cellular process, the engineered circuits act like protein-based processors, potentially revolutionizing treatments for complex diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Meanwhile, scientists at Northeastern University have made strides in 3D bioprinting by developing an elastic hydrogel suitable for printing soft living tissues, including blood vessels. This innovation addresses a longstanding challenge in tissue engineering: creating materials that mimic the elasticity of human tissues. The hydrogel supports cell growth and degrades over time, allowing the body to replace it with natural tissue. This advancement brings the medical community closer to the goal of printing functional human organs, potentially transforming regenerative medicine and reducing the reliance on organ transplants .