Band 10, Heft 3

Background/Objective : Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death in the 21st-century society. One of the most common cardiovascular diseases is atherosclerosis, where the accumulation of plaque in blood vessels leads to blockages, increasing the risk of mechanical hemolysis or embolism. Methods : Recent advancements in clinical imaging technologies, including 4D MRI, allow for non-invasive assessments of both blood vessel conditions and blood flow hydrodynamics. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the cardiovascular system have also contributed to a deeper understanding of heart and blood vessel function. In addition to CFD simulations, 3D printing is increasingly used to create realistic models of the cardiovascular system based on medical imaging data, which can be used for further study and testing. Results : The integration of modern medical imaging techniques with CFD simulations offers new opportunities in diagnosing and planning treatment for cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. CFD simulations provide detailed insights into blood flow dynamics within arteries affected by plaque build-up, enabling a more precise understanding of disease progression. In this study, CFD results were validated against micro – particle image velocimetry (µPIV) measurements performed on 3D-printed models of the left coronary artery bifurcation. The comparison showed strong agreement between CFD simulations and PIV measurements, confirming the accuracy of CFD models in replicating real-world blood flow conditions. These results highlight the potential of combining 4D MRI, CFD simulations, and 3D printing for enhancing cardiovascular research and improving clinical outcomes. Conclusion : Modern imaging and CFD simulations offer effective non-invasive methods for diagnosing atherosclerosis-related complications, improving the accuracy of treatment planning.

Nanocomposites, particularly those based on graphene, exhibit considerable ability in energy storage and conversion due to their unique characteristics and simplicity of manufacturing and functionalization. High carrier mobility, rapid charge recombination rate, along with long-term stability are only a few of these materials exceptional qualities. This chapter provides an outline of the recent advances in the nanocomposites and uses of nanocomposites in the disciplines of energy conversion (solar cells) and storage (supercapacitors). This chapter emphasizes the difficulties in using graphene-based materials in solar cells and super-capacitors. Future studies are also suggested to create innovative methods for the design and synthesis of graphene-based nanocomposites, focussing on functionalization strategies, dispersion techniques, and structural optimization.

Hemodialysis (HD) has long been a cornerstone in the renal replacement therapy for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), primarily through conventional in-center HD. Current HD systems in hospitals are bulky, water-demanding, and constrain the mobility and quality of life of ESKD patients. Home HD (HHD) offers the chance of delivering more frequent treatments close to the patient, reducing vascular stress and post-treatment hangover and improving patients’ lifestyles. However, current HHD devices are analogous to hospital machines, requiring significant space, costly renovations, and they are energy and water intensive. Miniaturisation of HD systems depends on the reduction of water consumption, requiring the introduction of a dialysate regeneration unit, that purifies the spent dialysate of uremic toxins (UTs) and recirculates it, cutting down the amount of dialysate needed. This represents a crucial step for the development of a wearable artificial kidney. However, regenerating dialysate poses significant technical challenges as it involves separating a complex mixture under strict biomedical safety and stability requirements. This paper provides an engineering perspective into current research on using nanomaterials for adsorbing UTs from spent dialysate.

Human physiology is a complex system of systems such that it is impossible for clinicians to be able to consider all elements in a diagnosis. Medicine is becoming more quantitative and predictive mathematical models are becoming much more common and are being used to help in diagnosis and treatment. Chemical engineers have much experience of developing and using methodologies to tackle systems analysis for example with chemical manufacturing systems consisting of complex chemistry, fluid flow and collections of connected units. The paper seeks to show parallels with the complex metabolism, blood flow and interconnected systems of organs and how engineering methodologies are needed to make the use of these systems of models to help clinicians make most use of all information available and to manage risks associated with complexity. Examples are drawn from cardiology, cancer and liver disease where some progress has been made.

This chapter highlights challenges and advancements in the production of lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) and their application in nucleic acid-based therapies. Recently, mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 immunization revealed that the use of nucleic acids is a promising strategy to develop treatments at high therapeutic efficiency and reduced side effects. In this context, LNPs emerged as favourable vehicles for nucleic acids delivery (like mRNA and DNA), due to their biocompatibility, bioavailability, and versatility. The four main components employed to produce LNPs loaded with mRNA are: cationic or ionizable lipids, helper lipids, cholesterol, and PEGylated lipids. Several conventional techniques have been proposed over the years to produce this kind of nanoparticles. However, they show many drawbacks that hinder the direct production of vesicles characterized by a nanometric size, high encapsulation efficiency of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and prolonged stability. Processes assisted by supercritical fluids (in particular, supercritical CO 2 ) can represent a sustainable and interesting alternative to produce LNPs without using post-processing steps for solvent removal and size reduction that are time-consuming procedures, lead to a large loss of nucleic acids, and negatively influence the general productivity of the process.

In recent years society has seen significant progress in the development of the glucose sensing field since diabetes mellitus represents the seventh cause of death at global scale. An accurate detection method of glucose concentration can be an effective way to prevent and treat diabetes and other pathologies where glucose is an important biomarker, such as glucagonoma or acromegaly. In this way, glucose sensors play a considerable role in any healthcare system. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of numerous glucose sensors from a chemical engineering perspective. The examined sensors are based on the electrochemical detection principle due to their advantages over other detection methods. The chapter also provides important information related to design aspects and new lines of research on affordable and reliable glucose sensors.