Stem cells have two distinct characteristics that distinguish them from other cell types. First, they are unspecialized and can self-renew for long periods without significant changes in their general properties. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, stem cells can be induced to differentiate into various specialized cell types. Thus, stem cells hold great promise for regenerative medicine. There are two major types of stem cells: embryonic stem (ES) cells and adult stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in many types of mature tissues such as bone marrow, muscle, fat, and brain.

Fabricated using inexpensive and widely available organic pigments used in printing inks and cosmetics, an artificial retina was developed that consists of tiny pixels like a digital camera sensor on a nanometric scale.

An electronic capsule that measures gases in the gut to revolutionize the diagnosis of gut disorders could be available within four years, following an agreement between RMIT and Atmo Biosciences.

Duke University researchers have developed a handheld probe that can image individual photoreceptors in the eyes of infants. The technology, based on adaptive optics, will make it easier for physicians and scientists to observe these cells to diagnosis eye diseases and make early detection of brain-related diseases and trauma.

Self-powered devices that can be fit directly on human skin or tissue have great potential for medical applications. They could be used as physiological sensors for the real-time monitoring of heart or brain function in the human body. However, practical realization has been impractical due to the bulkiness of batteries and insufficient power supply, or due to noise interference from the electrical supply, impeding conformability and long-term operation.

Traditional handheld surgical tools continue to provide benefits where surgeons need instruments to be more rigid and have strong holding power to withstand complex procedures. The majority of these small handheld devices include tubing technology. Those made with metal can be formed to meet specific needs. Base tubing can be created from drawn tubing or from flat sheets of metal in a patented technique known as rolled-tube technology, which is ideal for creating high volume disposable devices.

The general public might think of the 21st century as an era of revolutionary technological platforms, such as smart-phones or social media. But for many scientists, this century is the era of another type of platform: two-dimensional materials, and their unexpected secrets.

Researchers at Washington State University have developed an implantable, biofuel-powered sensor that runs on sugar and can monitor a body's biological signals to detect, prevent and diagnose diseases.

Motion capture (Mocap) is a technique used in the film industry to digitally track a human actor's movements and precisely transfer those motions to an animated figure. But it has other applications as well. Digitally tracking a person's motions can be used to analyze medical problems such as degenerative disc disease, chronic lower back pain, and scoliosis in adults and children.

Modern medicine has been able to drastically improve the quality of life of the global population. Diseases such as polio, syphilis, tuberculosis, or the plague have been almost eradicated and are successfully treatable or curable. The next milestone for modern medicine is personalized medicine. This novel discipline does not target the broad population, but focuses on the individual for the diagnosis and beyond.