Microbial Mineralization with for Selective Lithium Nanoparticle Extraction.

Lithium is a critical mineral in a wide range of current technologies, and demand continues to grow with the transition to a green economy. Current lithium mining and extraction practices are often highly ecologically damaging, in part due to the large amount of water and energy they consume. Biomineralization is a natural process that transforms inorganic precursors to minerals.

Understanding Biomineralization Mechanisms to Produce Size-Controlled, Tailored Nanocrystals for Optoelectronic and Catalytic Applications: A Review.

Biomineralization, the use of biological systems to produce inorganic materials, has recently become an attractive approach for the sustainable manufacturing of functional nanomaterials. Relying on proteins or other biomolecules, biomineralization occurs under ambient temperatures and pressures, which presents an easily scalable, economical, and environmentally friendly method for nanoparticle synthesis. Biomineralized nanocrystals are quickly approaching a quality applicable for catalytic and optoelectronic applications, replacing materials synthesized using expensive traditional routes.

Expediting in vitro characterization of mRNA-based gene therapies via high-content fluorescent imaging.

mRNA-based therapeutics have progressed significantly over the past decade and hold great potential to treat several diseases, including but not limited to cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders. Many mRNA therapeutics are encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which stabilize the mRNA and, following patient administration, transfect target cells to deliver the therapeutic mRNA. Developing reliable and robust in vitro bioassays is critical for expediting early screening of LNP-mRNA formulations, as well as identifying and developing lead candidate drug products.