前言：科技興趣、超越人類與倫理限制

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English. 人類正處於前所未有的技術高速發展時代。特別是，NBIC技術（納米技術、生物技術、資訊技術和認知科學）彙集起來的發展，使得人類改造自身、進而超越自身的夢想不斷接近現實，但也為我們敲響了倫理學的警鐘：如果我們對生命技術的不斷突破和廣泛應用所牽涉的倫理價值缺乏充分的考量並施以必要的限制，那麼技術就無法得到有利的發展和公平的應用，甚至造成過分追求那些具有不可逆結果或不可逆傷害的生命技術的後果，使得現代生物醫學成為人類幸福的一種“錯誤承諾”。本期的兩篇主題論文以及十六篇評論文章，正是著力於探討這些影響深遠的生命倫理問題。 This issue of the journal contains two thematic papers, namely “Emerging Human Embryo Research Technologies, the 14-day Rule, and the Special Status of the Embryo” by Kirstin R. W. Matthews, Sam Lowe, and Ana S. Iltis, and “A Confucian Reflection on Transhumanism: How to Regulate Our Posthuman Future?” by Wang Jue, in addition to 16 commentary essays on ethical issues associated with rapidly developing biomedical technologies. The authors argue that scientific interests should not be the main driver of technological breakthroughs and applications. Rather, ethical commitments embedded in cultural traditions should play a positive role through public participation in legitimate policymaking.

Enhancing Autonomy, Authenticity And Selecting The Child With The Best Moral Life

In the human enhancement literature, there is a recurrent fear that biomedical technologies will negatively impact the autonomy and authenticity of moral agents, even when the agents would end up having better capacities and an improved life with the aid of these technologies. I will explore several ways in which biomedical enhancement may improve the autonomy of moral agents and try to show that biomedical methods are, all things considered, beneficial to our autonomy and authenticity. I will argue that there are instances when it’s desirable to limit the autonomy of moral agents and that strict regulations are to be put in place if a great number of people will have easy access to powerful, genetic-altering technologies which can impact the life of future children. I will advocate for using assisted reproductive technologies in order to select the child with the best chance of the best moral life and in doing so I will analyse several procreative principles which have been proposed by different scholars in the genetic enhancement debate and try to determine which one would be best to adhere to. Usually, people place high value on the concept of autonomy and there are many cases in which they end up overestimating autonomy in relation to other moral values. While autonomy is important, it’s also important to know how to limit it when reasonable societal norms require it. Sometimes autonomy is defined in strong connection with the concept of authenticity, in the sense that it’s not sufficient for our choices to be autonomous if they are not also authentic. I will try to defend the idea that authenticity can be enhanced as well with the aid of enhancement technologies which can actually prove beneficial in our quest to improve our own self.

Human rights and modern biomedicine: problems and perspectives

The article is devoted to the emerging threats to human rights in the context of the development of biomedical technologies, as well as to the identification of social risks requiring legal resolution in this area. It suggests a human rights model for regulating innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of the article is to analyze legislation in the field of modern biomedicine, genetic engineering, and related innovative technologies. A comparative legal study applied in the work made it possible to substantiate a framework model for regulating modern biomedicine. The main task of such a model is to identify risks affecting fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms. With this approach, the details of regulation are the subject of bylaws or the corresponding prescriptions of professional medical organizations. Methods . The basis of this research was formed by such research methods as analysis of legal regulation, formal legal and comparative legal methods. The main results of the study are to determine the legal links between modern biomedical technologies and the concept of personalized medicine. In fact, the lack of interaction of new advances in biomedicine with the basic provisions of medical care has been revealed. The article proves the need to impose restrictions on the alleged popularization of innovative technologies by persons without medical education, using them for dubious social purposes. The risks of developing updated eugenics have been outlined. The tendency of relativism in consolidating the principles of mutual relations between a person, state, and society has been identified. Conclusions. The development of biomedicine requires an adequate response from the Russian legislation, which does not yet take into account most of its achievements. This creates certain risks for human and civil rights and freedoms. The article substantiates the introduction of bans on the most ethically questionable technologies and experiments. It is proposed to expand the powers of professional medical organizations (including the transfer of some of the regulatory powers to them).

Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: Structures, Synthesis, Magnetic Properties, Surface Functionalization, and Emerging Applications

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are attractive nanomaterials in the field of material science, chemistry, and physics because of their valuable properties, such as soft ferromagnetism, half-metallicity, and biocompatibility. Various structures of Fe3O4 NPs with different sizes, geometries, and nanoarchitectures have been synthesized, and the related properties have been studied with targets in multiple fields of applications, including biomedical devices, electronic devices, environmental solutions, and energy applications. Tailoring the sizes, geometries, magnetic properties, and functionalities is an important task that determines the performance of Fe3O4 NPs in many applications. Therefore, this review focuses on the crucial aspects of Fe3O4 NPs, including structures, synthesis, magnetic properties, and strategies for functionalization, which jointly determine the application performance of various Fe3O4 NP-based systems. We first summarize the recent advances in the synthesis of magnetite NPs with different sizes, morphologies, and magnetic properties. We also highlight the importance of synthetic factors in controlling the structures and properties of NPs, such as the uniformity of sizes, morphology, surfaces, and magnetic properties. Moreover, emerging applications using Fe3O4 NPs and their functionalized nanostructures are also highlighted with a focus on applications in biomedical technologies, biosensing, environmental remedies for water treatment, and energy storage and conversion devices.

Electrosynthesis of Biocompatible Free-Standing PEDOT Thin Films at a Polarised Liquid|Liquid Interface

The versatility of conducting polymers (CPs) facilitates their use in energy conversion and storage, sensor, and biomedical technologies, once processed into thin films. Hydrophobic CPs, like poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), typically require the use of surfactant additives, such as poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), to aid their aqueous processability as thin films. However, excess PSS diminishes CP electrochemical performance, biocompatibility, and device stability. Here, we report the electrosynthesis of PEDOT thin films at a polarised liquid|liquid interface, a method non-reliant on conductive solid substrates that produces free-standing, additive-free, biocompatible, easily transferrable, and scalable 2D PEDOT thin films of any shape or size in a single-step at ambient conditions. We demonstrate the PEDOT thin film’s superior biocompatibility as scaffolds for cellular growth, opening immediate applications in organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) devices for monitoring cell behaviour over extended time periods, bio-scaffolds and medical devices, without the requirement for physiologically unstable and poorly biocompatible PSS.

Human Dignity and Rationality of Modern Medicine in the Aspect of the Biomedical Technologies

Some ethical aspects of the usage of the biomedical technologies in the frame of human bodiness and the relationship of the physician and the sick from the point of human dignity are set forth in the article. Growing tendency of rationalization of medicine and broadening limits of its influence on healthy and diseased organism are highlighted. In particular, it is associated with the introduction in medical practice of different elements of the artificial intellect in the diagnostics and treatment of different diseases, which have found its legislative order in the Edict of the President of the Russian Federation. It challenges the necessity of consideration of this problem in the format of ethics and law with the accent on the dignity of the human as an individual and unique personality. Contradictive character of the usage of different biomedical technologies from the point of science, on the one hand, and human existence – on the other are marked. These positions are regarded in the aspects of the human bodiness and relationships of the physician and the sick. The problem of “vulnerability” of the human body is shown on the example of increase of different biomedical investigations, like experimental medicine and its “commodification”. In this respect, judgement about ontological role of the body in life space and human experience is exposed. In the analysis of the relationships of the physician and the sick through the “prism” of the biomedical technologies special attention is being paid to the change of the subject-object roles in this communicative sphere. As a sequence, technical model is starting dominating in modern medicine. All tye abovementioned ideas reflect transformation of historically assembled traditions of medical and ethical character and strengthening of the ideas of transhumanism when the sick individual loses its uniqueness and is being investigated in the virtual space.

Maintenance and breeding of transgenic mouse strains at the scientific center of biomedical technologies of the FMBA of Russia

In this article, we analyze the specifics of health monitoring and maintenance of transgenic mouse strains. A method for keeping animals in laboratory conditions is discussed, the criteria for inbred crossing of homozygous transgenic mice lines are characterized. The obtained data can be useful for the staff of vivaria in maintaining the transgenic line of mice.

The Role of Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents in Transmural Endoscopic Drainage of Postinflammatory Pancreatic and Peripancreatic Fluid Collections

Rapid development of advanced gastrointestinal endoscopic techniques contributed to the appearance of new biomedical materials including polymers, which are used for the production of different types of endoprostheses. Endotherapy (ET) of postinflammatory pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections (PPFCs) with the use of lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) is an effective method of treatment. This paper describes the high efficacy of ET and its potential complications, which are mostly related to the design of the LAMS used. The high efficacy of LAMS in the transmural drainage of PPFCs is associated with lower safety of treatment. Complications of ET presented in the manuscript are mainly related to endoprosthesis’ construction. This paper presents possible directions of development in the field of transmural LAMSs, which in the future may contribute to the invention of an innovative type of LAMS based on new biomedical technologies. Possibly, subsequent novel endoprosthesis projects, based on the above results, will be able to meet the current needs and requirements associated with endoscopic transmural drainage procedures in cases of postinflammatory PPFCs. The ultimate goal is to improve safety of minimally invasive techniques for treatment of the local consequences of pancreatitis.

Problems of the Biomedical Technologies Development and Directions for their Solution

Biomedical technologies (BMT) is a complex process aimed at developing new biological objects and products from them that can have a preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic effect when used in medical practice. The article describes the development of biomedical technologies, the problems of the development of biomedical technologies, and also describes possible ways to solve them.