Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary approach focused on the development of innovative bioartificial substitutes for damaged organs and tissues. For skeletal muscle, the measurement of contractile capability represents a crucial aspect for tissue replacement, drug screening and personalized medicine. To date, the measurement of engineered muscle tissues is rather invasive and not continuous. In this context, we proposed an innovative sensor for the continuous monitoring of engineered-muscle-tissue contractility through an embedded technique. The sensor is based on the calibrated deflection of one of the engineered tissue’s supporting pins, whose movements are measured using a noninvasive optical method. The sensor was calibrated to return force values through the use of a step linear motor and a micro-force transducer. Experimental results showed that the embedded sensor did not alter the correct maturation of the engineered muscle tissue. Finally, as proof of concept, we demonstrated the ability of the sensor to capture alterations in the force contractility of the engineered muscle tissues subjected to serum deprivation.

In the last few years, the use of domestic renewable energy solutions has increased, leading to a more widespread use of electrochemical energy storage systems due to their unpredictable nature. Lead acid cells are still the most employed kind of cells in this field. However, lithium-ion cells are considered the most promising approach, and their use is increasing considerably. In this context, we have developed an automated system for characterizing lithium-ion cells, able to reproduce any protocol the cells are subjected to during real applications with renewable energy solutions. Here, we focused on the uncertainty study, particularly determining the relative difference in the measurement of the most critical parameters involved in charging and discharging cycles and the combined uncertainty associated with the measurement of capacity, energy, and energy density. Unlike previous studies, we assess repeatability uncertainty by testing two cells with very different chemistry compositions: one more suitable for renewable energy solutions usage, the lithium iron phosphate – LFP cell, and one more indicated for automotive applications, the polymer ion lithium – POLI cell, performing three consecutive repetitions for each battery. The combined uncertainty was then calculated by combining the repeatability uncertainty with the instrumentation one. After that, we reproduced a 24-hour real scenario of a home solar-based storage system integrated with the grid. We reported an accurate discrimination in the transition between the constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) charge phases, and the correct interruption during the CV charge and the CC discharge cycles. In addition, the system accurately measures the capacity and energy with combined uncertainties generally lower than 2.4 %, regardless of battery type. This study makes an important contribution to the battery energy storage field by providing a combined study between the uncertainties analysis and a practical implementation of lithium-ion cells for real conditions related to renewable energy systems.

Substrate deformation affects the behaviour of many cell types, including bone, skeletal muscle and endothelial cells. Nowadays, in vitro tests are widely employed to study the mechanotransduction induced by substrate deformation. The aim of in vitro systems is to properly reproduce the mechanical stimuli sensed by the tissue in the cellular microenvironment. Accurate strain measurement and control is therefore necessary to ensure the cell senses the proper strain for the entire treatment. Different types of in vitro systems are commercially available or can be custom-designed; however, none of these devices performs a real-time measurement of the induced strains. In this study, we proposed a uniaxial strain device for in vitro cell stimulation with an innovative real-time strain control. The system was designed to induce sinusoidal waveform stimulation in a huge range of amplitude and frequency, to three silicone chambers stretched by a linear actuator. The real-time strain measurement and control algorithm is based on an optical tracking method implemented in LabVIEW 2015, and it is able to adapt the input amplitude to the linear motor, if necessary, hanging the stimulation signal for about 120 ms. Validation of the strain values measured during the real-time tracking algorithm was carried out through a comparison with the digital image correlation (DIC) technique. We investigated the influence of number of reference points and image size on the algorithm accuracy. Experimental results showed that the tracking algorithm allowed for a real-time measurement of membrane longitudinal strains with a relative error of 0.3%, on average, in comparison to the strains measured with DIC in post-processing analysis. We showed a high homogeneity of the strain pattern on the entire chamber base for different stimulation conditions. Finally, as proof of concept, we employed the uniaxial strain device to induce substrate deformation in a human osteosarcoma cell line (SaOS-2). The experimental results showed a consistent change in cell shape in response to the mechanical strain.

Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, are increasingly integrated into domestic systems to address energy scarcity, rising demand, and climate change. However, their intermittent nature requires efficient energy storage systems (ESS) for stability and reliability. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, aimed to evaluate the size and chemical composition of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in household renewable energy applications. A literature search was conducted in Scopus in August 2025 using predefined keywords, and studies published in English from 2015 onward were included. Exclusion criteria included book chapters, duplicate conference proceedings, geographically restricted case studies, systems without chemistry or size details, and those focusing solely on electric vehicle batteries. Of 308 initially retrieved records, 83 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. The majority (92%) employed simulation-based approaches, while 8% reported experimental setups. No formal risk-of-bias tool was applied, but a methodological quality check was conducted. Data were synthesized narratively and tabulated by chemistry, nominal voltage, capacity, and power. Lithium-ion batteries were the most prevalent (49%), followed by lead–acid (13%), vanadium redox flow (3.6%), and nickel–metal hydride (1.2%), with the remainder unspecified. Lithium-ion dominated due to high energy density, long cycle life, and efficiency. Limitations of the evidence include reliance on simulation studies, heterogeneity in reporting, and limited experimental validation. Overall, this review provides a framework for selecting and integrating appropriately sized and composed BESS into domestic renewable systems, offering implications for stability, efficiency, and household-level sustainability. The study was funded by the PNRR NEST project and Sapienza University of Rome Grant.

The measurement of the mechanical properties is a crucial point for new engineered muscle tissues. The final aim is to implant these tissues to substitute or restore the functionality of impaired muscles, so that functional properties as close as possible to the healthy native muscles are required. We developed an engineered skeletal muscle tissue, X-MET, whose strong point is to be created without any endogenous component. This construct is able to contract spontaneously as well as to respond to electrical stimulation. In this work, we developed an experimental system to measure for the first time, the power developed by the X-MET. The power was measured by applying the isovelocity contraction technique. This technique has never been applied on muscle engineered tissues so far, so the aim of this work was to find out the optimal stimulation parameters. Once determined the range of displacement and velocity of shortening for which the X-MET was able to develop power, we proceeded looking at the optimal parameters allowing the production of its maximum power. Preliminary tests showed that the X-MET generates the optimal power when stimulated to shorten 3% of its ideal length at a speed of 0.2 L0/s.

The aim of this work is to analyse the effectiveness of the medical use of the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA) in microsurgical treatment of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors (IMSCTs), with a focus on the thermo-mechanical effects on neighbouring tissues to assess any potential damage. Indeed, CUSA emerges as an innovative solution, minimally invasive tumor excision technique, enabling controlled and focused operations. This study employs a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate the vibratory and thermal interactions occurring during CUSA application. A computational model of a vertebral column segment affected by an IMSCT was developed and analysed using ANSYS 2024 software. The simulations examined strain distribution, heat generation, and temperature propagation within the biological tissues. The FEA results demonstrate that the vibratory-induced strain remains highly localised to the application site, and thermal effects, though measurable, do not exceed the critical safety threshold of 46 °C established in the literature. These findings suggest that CUSA can be safely used within defined operational parameters, provided that energy settings and exposure times are carefully managed to mitigate excessive thermal accumulation. These conclusions contribute to the understanding of the thermo-mechanical interactions in ultrasonic tumour resection and aim to assist medical professionals in optimising surgical protocols.