Articles tagged with Biochemical Engineering
Researchers found that manipulating liquid waves can reduce energy transmission through barriers by up to 60%, with a 1.5-millimeter change in meniscus shape causing significant impact
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
Calin Plesa developed technology to create massive biological datasets at unprecedented speed and scale, enabling the training of powerful machine learning systems. This innovation has accelerated drug development and disease research by uncovering genetic factors behind antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers have discovered a way to selectively create links between sugar molecules, enabling precise control over the stereochemistry of oligosaccharides. This breakthrough could open up new avenues of biomedical research into these versatile molecules, providing access to previously difficult-to-construct oligosaccharides.
Researchers at UC Irvine have identified a combination of naturally occurring compounds - nicotinamide and epigallocatechin gallate - that can restore guanosine triphosphate levels in brain cells. This treatment reversed age-related cellular deficits and improved the brain's ability to clear damaging amyloid protein aggregates.
A Norwegian University of Science and Technology doctoral thesis presents a creative method to remove organic pollutants from wastewater using sunlight and small droplets of oil. The technology uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles to stabilize the oil droplets, which act as tiny chemical reactors to break down pollutants.
A research team led by Professor Joongoo Lee successfully expanded ribosome range to produce ring-shaped backbones in proteins. This breakthrough could open doors to novel therapeutics and advanced biomaterials.
University of Sydney researchers have developed a method to produce ammonia in gas form using electricity, offering a more sustainable alternative to the current Haber-Bosch process. This new approach reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, making it a promising solution for the agricultural and hydrogen industries.
Scientists developed a precise, cost-effective way to make chiral ketones for medicines, agrochemicals, and more using photocatalysis. This approach solves the challenge of reaching remote stereocenters in molecules, allowing for eco-friendly production of valuable chemicals.
Researchers discovered that fungal enzymes cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) can efficiently degrade plant biomass, allowing for the extraction of valuable components. This breakthrough suggests a promising method for using diverse, non-edible plant biomass in biotechnology applications.
Researchers at UC Davis developed a brain-computer interface that translates neural activity into speech in real time. The technology allows individuals with ALS to communicate more naturally and inclusively, with 60% of synthesized words intelligible to listeners.
A new microscope, QIScope, significantly improves bioluminescence imaging by detecting extremely low levels of light. It offers higher sensitivity, improved resolution, and a wider field of view, allowing researchers to track subtle changes in living cells over extended periods.
Researchers have developed a new tool using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to study DNA-lipid interactions. The technique revealed insights into the attachment and integration of DNA nanostructures with lipid membranes, influencing cellular functions such as drug delivery and treatment precision.
Researchers at Hebrew University uncover the mathematical secret behind rose petals' unique shape, discovering MCP incompatibility causes sharp points to form. This discovery opens possibilities for designing self-shaping materials with controlled cusps, mimicking nature's elegance.
A new study finds that ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage in German waters is feasible but with limitations, such as local marine conditions and required materials, energy, and infrastructure. Only five methods were shortlisted for implementation in German North Sea and Baltic waters.
Chemists have confirmed a 67-year-old theory about vitamin B1 by stabilizing a reactive molecule in water. The discovery opens doors to more efficient ways of making pharmaceuticals using cleaner solvents.
Researchers at U-M and Stanford aim to create implantable brain computer interfaces to detect and interpret brain signals, enabling stroke victims to communicate more effectively. The devices will use tiny carbon-based electrodes to record signals from the brain's temporal region and transmit them wirelessly.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed an engineered yeast that can produce record-high yields of D-lactic acid from methanol, a key compound used in biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals. The optimized yeast strain achieves a 1.5-fold boost in production compared to other methanol-based methods.
Researchers developed a sustainable process to recover valuable products from oilcane bagasse, generating multiple product streams. The process recovers anthocyanins and vegetative lipids for natural colorants and biofuel production, making the process more cost-effective and sustainable.
Researchers developed a liquid fertilizer replacing unsustainable chemical fertilizers with organic waste, producing up to 100% of nitrogen and 77% of phosphorus. The method also increases phosphorus solubility by adjusting pH levels.
Jeffrey Hubbell joins NYU Tandon to lead a cross-university collaborative initiative integrating engineering, sciences, and medicine to advance healthcare innovation. The initiative aims to translate scientific discoveries into pioneering treatments through unprecedented investments in faculty, facilities, and programming.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a groundbreaking coating that mimics natural blood vessels to reduce clotting and bleeding risks. The coating's unique properties prevent clot formation without disrupting normal blood functions, offering a promising alternative to high-risk blood thinners.
Researchers developed a novel approach to optimizing siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles using NMR-based molecular-level characterization. Pre-mixed LNPs exhibit superior gene-silencing effects due to a stacked bilayer structure that enhances gene silencing.
A team from Kyushu University has developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to speed up the conversion of fatty acid esters to olefins. This process improves energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide production, offering a more sustainable chemical industry.
Researchers have made significant advances in identifying and applying biomarkers for prostate cancer, paving the way for more targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes. The integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and genomics is also expected to enhance personalized medicine approaches.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed an eco-friendly method to precisely mix fluorine into olefins using natural enzymes and light, offering a more efficient strategy for creating high-value chemicals with potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable fuels and more.
Researchers at Boston University developed an AI model that analyzes speech patterns to predict the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The model achieved an accuracy rate of 78.5% and could potentially revolutionize dementia screening, making it more accessible and efficient.
Researchers developed adhesive hydrogel coatings that eliminate fibrosis, a common issue with medical implants. The coatings bind devices to tissue and prevent the immune system from attacking them.
Researchers at the University of Washington have solved a long-standing chemical mystery in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which allow current to flow in devices like implantable biosensors. The study reveals that OECTs turn on via a two-step process, causing a lag, and off through a simpler one-step process.
Researchers have enhanced microvascular sensitivity using ultrafast ultrasound, capturing the three-dimensional vascular network of renal arteries and veins without contrast agents. This technique reveals sharp decreases in renal blood flow during acute renal failure and chronic vascular degeneration in diabetic nephropathy.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo developed a bio-tagging method using dissolvable microneedle arrays for permanent animal identification. The approach, called 'MAPs,' uses customizable molds to tattoo unique identifiers into the skin, offering a safer and more humane alternative to traditional ear tags or RFID chips.
Researchers create new methods to visualize and understand samples with increased accuracy and sensitivity. The development of photothermal microscopy, also known as VIP microscopy, enables scientists to probe specific chemical bonds in a specimen, allowing them to map molecules at low concentrations without dye labeling.
Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and JBEI developed a simple
Researchers at CSU and the University of St. Andrews created an effective antimicrobial material that slowly releases nitric oxide, killing bacteria and fungus over time.
A team of researchers developed synthetic enzymes that can control the behavior of the signaling protein Vg1, which plays a key role in vertebrate embryonic development. The study uses zebrafish to investigate how Vg1 is formed and found that it must undergo additional processing before it can be activated.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a technology to convert wastewater sludge into potent oil that can replace fossil fuels in planes, ships, and trucks. The hydrothermal liquefaction process produces energy-rich bio crude oil with minimal waste and pollutants.
Researchers propose a hybrid control strategy combining model-based optimization and in-cell feedback control to solve the process-model mismatch issue. This approach enhances the regulation of metabolic toggle switches, leading to increased isopropanol yields and robust microbial material production.
A £1.75m project led by Professor Chenyu Du aims to develop new processes for recovering polyester and cellulose from mixed cotton and polyester fibres. The goal is to create a roadmap towards net-zero for the textiles industry, reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling rates.
Aarhus University's AELECTRA project aims to develop a decentralized technology for producing liquid ammonia from renewable energy. The new process could halve investment costs and enable farmers to produce their own fertilizer or e-fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
Researchers have engineered bacteria to combine natural enzymatic reactions with the carbene transfer reaction, producing new-to-nature carbon products that can be used in biochemicals and advanced biofuels. This breakthrough could reduce industrial emissions by providing sustainable alternatives to chemical manufacturing processes.
A research team from Pohang University of Science & Technology has engineered an artificial kidney to detect adverse drug reactions and provide personalized treatment. The team successfully fabricated a glomerular microvessel-on-a-chip that recapitulates the kidney's filtering function and evaluates its response to various toxins.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a novel electrical method to control and analyze the dynamics of brain protein tau, which underlies many neurodegenerative diseases. The technique allows for real-time observation of the protein's transition from normal function to toxic tangles.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have designed a soft and breathable material that can be worn on the skin without causing discomfort. The material, made from liquid-metal elastomer composite, has integrated antibacterial and antiviral properties to prevent the formation of harmful pathogens.
Researchers at Aarhus University are studying electro-trophic microorganisms that convert green electricity and CO2 into high-value products. The project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms of these microbes, which could lead to breakthroughs in microbiological Power-to-X and novel tools for microbial corrosion prevention.
Rice University scientists identified a new Diels-Alderase enzyme, CtdP, which catalyzes the Diels-Alder reaction with precise stereochemistry control. This discovery could lead to improved pharmaceutical synthesis and development of more effective drugs.
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers Hayley Boigenzahn and John Yin investigated the potential role of the drying process in prebiotic chemistry. They found that amino acids could bond together into peptides during periods of environmental change, such as when a pool of water evaporates.
MU researchers, including Jay J. Thelen and Dong Xu, are exploring genetic modification to increase seed oil production in camelina and pennycress for biofuel use in the aviation industry. The team aims to create a sustainable 'green energy' source as an alternative to petroleum-based fossil fuels.
Assistant Professor SUZUKI Hiroo and colleagues have developed a method to grow highly crystalline TMDCs, such as MoS2 and WS2, using chemical vapor deposition in a stacked substrate configuration. The technique produces samples with large domains and optimal photoluminescence characteristics.
Researchers have discovered that two distantly related RNA viruses perform chemical choreography in strikingly similar ways, forming a symmetrical icosahedral shell. This finding has potential applications in improving pharmaceutical delivery and engineering, as well as understanding protein folding mechanisms.
Researchers have developed an interactive metabolic map of bio-based chemicals, providing a versatile tool for easy assessment and optimization of synthetic pathways. The map enables exploration and analysis of complex networks of biological and/or chemical reactions, facilitating the design and production of desired chemicals.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have created a new type of fuel that has higher energy density than traditional heavy-duty fuels. The biofuel, called POP-FAMEs, is produced by bacteria fed with plant matter and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions when burned.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a system to coat nematodes with hydrogel sheaths that can carry functional cargo. The study found that the sheaths protect the worms from UV light and hydrogen peroxide while allowing them to deliver anti-cancer agents to kill cancer cells in vitro.
Kobe University researchers successfully developed a tyrosine chassis in the yeast Pichia pastoris to produce various useful compounds with high yields. They introduced biosynthesis pathways for resveratrol, naringenin, norcoclaurine, and reticuline, achieving significant improvements in production rates.
Researchers at Rutgers University have created an automated tool to monitor biologic drugs during production, allowing for real-time quality control and enabling the production of biosimilars. The N-GLYcanyzer system can track changes in protein glycosylation and detect potential issues, improving drug safety and efficacy.
A new nanosensor platform uses machine learning to analyze spectral signatures of carbon nanotubes for early detection of ovarian cancer. The approach detects biomarkers and recognizes the cancer itself, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods.
A team of researchers developed a simple yet powerful strategy for creating new enzymes with novel reactivity that can produce valuable chemical compounds. They used photobiocatalysis to repurpose naturally occurring enzymes and achieved an enantioselective biocatalytic reaction.
Researchers developed long-lived biological computers using RNA, which can persist inside cells. Unlike DNA-based devices, these RNA circuits are dependable and versatile, enabling continuous production in living cells.
Researchers developed Inducible Directed Evolution (IDE), a new technique for controlling directed evolution in bacteria, allowing up to 30 gene modifications at a time. This approach enables finely tuned changes to bacteria, making it suitable for biopharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing industries.
Researchers have developed a protein-based gel that can deliver anti-inflammatory growth factor progranulin to affected joints, halting post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) onset and progression. The study found that the gel provides prolonged release of progranulin and inhibits chondrocyte catabolism.