Innovative Gel Technology for Protein Storage

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The chapter explores a revolutionary gel technology aimed at cost-effective and efficient storage of protein-based therapeutics like insulin and antibodies, preventing them from damage and ensuring stability for extended periods. It covers an interview with Matthew Gibson, one of the authors of the research paper, discussing the significance of the gel in preserving proteins. The conversation details the challenges in protein preservation, the drawbacks of traditional storage methods, and the experimental successes of using gelator molecules to create unique gel networks to safeguard proteins from aggregation.

01:04 A gel to safely transport proteins

A gel that encases proteins could be a new way to safely transport medicines without requiring them to be kept cold, according to new research. To test it, the team behind the work posted themselves a protein suspended in this gel, showing that it was perfectly preserved and retained its activity, despite being dropped in transit and exposed to varying temperatures. The researchers hope this gel will help overcome the need to freeze protein-based medicines, which can be expensive to do and difficult to maintain during transportation.

Research Article: Bianco et al.

News and Views: Gel protects therapeutic proteins from deactivation — even in the post

08:51 Research Highlights

How an abundance of cicadas led to a host of raccoon activity, and how wine-grape harvest records can be used to estimate historical summertime temperatures

Research Highlight: Massive cicada emergence prompted raccoons to run wild

Research Highlight: Wine grapes’ sweetness reveals Europe’s climate history

11:24 Making a plastic biodegradable

By embedding a plastic with an engineered enzyme, researchers have developed a fully biodegradable material that can be broken down in a home compost heap. Plastic production often requires high temperatures, so the team adapted an enzyme to make it more able to withstand heat, while still able to break down a common plastic called PLA. They hope this enzyme-embedded plastic could replace current single-use items, helping to reduce the huge amount of waste produced each year.

Research Article: Guicherd et al.