A team of chemists and microbiologists at Michigan State University has developed a groundbreaking all-optical method that can detect the natural vibrational frequencies produced by individual viruses, offering a novel way to identify them. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates how light can be used to detect nanoparticle-scale objects, including viruses, by analyzing the resulting patterns of vibration.

Prior research had shown that when light is directed at tiny objects like nanoparticles, it causes them to vibrate slightly. The vibrations create unique patterns, which can be used to identify different materials. Inspired by this, the Michigan State team wondered if the technique could also be applied to biological agents like viruses and bacteria.

Researchers at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands have developed an innovative 3D-printed brain-like environment designed to mimic the natural growth conditions for neurons. By using tiny nanopillars to replicate the brain’s soft tissue and extracellular matrix fibers, this groundbreaking model aims to provide new insights into how neurons form networks and how neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism, may affect these connections.

Traditional petri dishes used in neuron studies are flat and rigid, which contrasts sharply with the brain’s soft, fibrous environment. To overcome this limitation, the researchers designed nanopillar arrays using a precise 3D laser printing technique known as two-photon polymerization. These nanopillars, which are thousands of times thinner than a human hair, create a structure that tricks neurons into thinking they are growing in a natural, soft, brain-like environment. This setup influences how neurons grow, connect, and mature in ways that traditional petri dishes cannot.

Bioprinting has long been seen as a game-changing technology in fields like regenerative medicine, drug testing, and tissue engineering. However, the high cost of bioprinters has limited access to this powerful tool, especially for researchers and educators with smaller budgets. That’s about to change thanks to the Printess, an affordable modular and open-source bioprinter developed by Stanford University’s Skylar-Scott Lab. Priced at just $250, the Printess is set to democratize bioprinting, making it accessible to a global community of researchers and educators.

Developed by Mark Skylar-Scott and his team, the Printess is a low-cost yet highly capable tool designed for accessibility, customization, and scalability. In contrast to professional-grade bioprinters that can cost anywhere from $10,000 to over $200,000, the Printess removes financial barriers by offering an affordable alternative that allows nearly any lab to incorporate bioprinting into their work.