arXiv subjects

Rosalia Moreddu

Publications and source records attributed to Rosalia Moreddu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optical microelectrode arrays for differential readout of electrical and mechanical signals in cardiac cells

Simultaneous assessment of electrical excitation and mechanical contraction is essential for understanding cardiac cell function, yet these two processes are commonly measured with separate techniques or invasively. Here, changes in cellular electrical activity modulate local charge redistribution in optical microelectrodes and are converted into fluorescence signals, while cell contraction induces membrane displacement that contributes an additional mechanical component to the optical readout. By comparing recordings obtained in beating cells with those acquired after inhibition of contraction, we separate action-potential-associated electrostatic transduction from contractility-driven membrane motion. The approach offers a label-free route to support high-throughput in vitro assays for cardiotoxicity screening and electromechanical sensing. Concurrently, it unfolds the physical mechanisms governing membrane-based optical devices deployed in cardiac cell bioelectronics and mechanics.

q-bio.QM↗

arXiv2026

Oncomorphic neural agent populations for resource-limited sequential learning

Distributed artificial intelligence (AI) often operates under sequential task exposure, uneven compute, and decentralized coordination. Here, we present a cancer-inspired, or oncomorphic, multi-agent framework in which simulated neural agents can replicate, mutate their neural network architecture, migrate across task environments, undergo ecological turnover, and recruit learning/ecological resources from a finite shared reserve. We evaluate the framework in controlled synthetic nonlinear classification environments in which each agent trains only on its local task, allowing population ecology rather than centralized optimization to determine which neural network architectures persist. For various initial conditions, we find that stronger selection increased the endpoint local accuracy of surviving agent populations. Architecture mutation played a state-dependent role: diverse initial populations performed best at low mutation, whereas clonal large-architecture populations benefited from mutation-generated variation. Selection also increased end-of-run multi-task competence, measured by evaluating surviving agents on all environments without additional training. Recruitment and elevated baseline replication reshaped demographic support while prediction quality remained within a narrow band, consistent with redistribution of finite learning resources. Time-resolved entropy and dominance analyses revealed concentration toward successful architectures, while finite training cycles kept agents in a non-asymptotic learning regime. These results provide proof-of-concept mechanistic evidence that oncomorphic population dynamics may offer a route to decentralized adaptation in engineering applications under bounded local resources.

cs.NE↗

arXiv2026

Bioelectrical interfaces beyond excitable cells: cancer, aging, and gene expression modulation

The investigation of biological conductivity has evolved from its classical foundation based on ionic fluxes underpinning cardiac and neuronal excitability to a multifaceted regulator of cellular physiology. Traditional approaches for probing electrical events in living matter focused largely on action potentials recording. However, bioelectricity in non-excitable cells governs key phenomena, including developmental patterning, tissue homeostasis, and disease progression. Pioneering studies implicated endogenous bioelectrics in many aspects of morphogenesis, wound healing, regeneration, and cancer. Early findings laid the groundwork for viewing bioelectricity as a means to influence cell fate, cell cycle progression, differentiation, and senescence. More recently, spatial variations in membrane potential within tumor microenvironments were found to correlate with metastatic potential. In parallel, substantial breakthroughs have been achieved in designing advanced bioelectrical interfaces for the study of neuronal networks and cardiac function. This perspective bridges the engineering and biological domains by examining how such technologies might enable new insights into non-excitable cell electrical events at different scales of operation to ultimately manipulate cellular pathways in cancer reprogramming, anti-aging interventions, and gene expression modulation.

q-bio.QM↗

arXiv2025

Integrated data-driven biotechnology research environments

In the past few decades, the life sciences have experienced an unprecedented accumulation of data, ranging from genomic sequences and proteomic profiles to heavy-content imaging, clinical assays, and commercial biological products for research. Traditional static databases have been invaluable in providing standardized and structured information. However, they fall short when it comes to facilitating exploratory data interrogation, real-time query, multidimensional comparison and dynamic visualization. Integrated data-driven research environments aiming at supporting user-driven data queries and visualization offer promising new avenues for making the best use of the vast and heterogeneous data streams collected in biological research. This perspective article discusses the potential of interactive and integrated frameworks, highlighting the importance of implementing this model in biotechnology research, while going through the state-of-the-art in database design, technical choices behind modern data management systems, and emerging needs in multidisciplinary research. Special attention is given to data interrogation strategies, user interface design, and comparative analysis capabilities, along with challenges such as data standardization and scalability in data-heavy applications. Conceptual features for developing interactive data environments along diverse life science domains are then presented in the user case of cell line selection for in vitro research to bridge the gap between research data generation, actionable biological insight, experimental design, and clinical relevance.

cs.DB↗

arXiv2025

Multilevel classification framework for breast cancer cell selection and its integration with advanced disease models

Breast cancer cell lines are indispensable tools for unraveling disease mechanisms, enabling drug discovery, and developing personalized treatments, yet their heterogeneity and inconsistent classification pose significant challenges in model selection and data reproducibility. This review aims at providing a comprehensive and user-friendly framework for broadly mapping the features of breast cancer types and commercially available human breast cancer cell lines, defining absolute criteria, i.e. objective features such as origin (e.g., MDA-MB, MCF), histological subtype (ductal, lobular), hormone receptor status (ER/PR/HER2), and genetic mutations (BRCA1, TP53), and relative criteria, which contextualize functional behaviors like metastatic potential, drug sensitivity, and genomic instability. It then examines how the proposed framework could be applied to cell line screening in advanced and emerging disease models. By supporting better informed choices, this work aims to improve experimental design and strengthen the connection between in vitro breast cancer studies and their clinical translation.

q-bio.QM↗