The solid-state biologics are depicted through a graphic showing tablets dissolving in water (left), initiating on-demand biological manufacturing processes (right). The design credit goes to Ehsan Faridi and Ehsan Keshavarzi of Inmywork Studio.
This innovation has promising potential in both medical and scientific fields.
A revolutionary method has been crafted by scientists for the storage of biological components like RNA and proteins in a solid state, resembling a tablet that can be dissolved in water as needed. This avant-garde technique solves existing difficulties in the maintenance and conservation of products derived from living cells, crucial for several scientific and medical investigations.
The materials vital for drug development and diagnostic tools, including mRNA, enzymes, and antibodies, are highly susceptible to changes in environmental conditions while being stored, transported, or used. Mishandling or inappropriate storage can lead to the degradation or loss of functionality of these materials, severely limiting their accessibility, especially in areas with scarce resources or insufficient services.
For instance, the deployment of the Pfizer COVID vaccine was constrained due to the requirement of deep freezing during storage and transportation. More generally, even when refrigeration was available, failures happened in over 10% of instances, leading to annual losses exceeding $35 billion as reported by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.
To counter these major constraints, a novel method for storing biological substances has been devised by researchers at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA. This method opens up immense possibilities for scientific and medical applications.
Usually, when we explore our medicine cabinets, we encounter various forms of pharmaceuticals such as liquids, capsules filled with powders, and tablets. These various forms have demonstrated their significant roles in the storage and utilization of medications.
Except for a few specific cases, biological materials like medications are predominantly stored as frozen or refrigerated liquids and freeze-dried powders. The lack of a tablet-like option has constrained the field, often hindering access to required locations and users.
Dr. Javin Oza, who guided the research on this new storage platform, explained, “The solid-state storage platform revolutionizes how we manage and utilize biological materials, much like how tablets have transformed medication consumption. This unlocks immense potential for current therapies and emerging biotechnologies.”
Traditionally, most biological substances are stored in liquid form and frozen, preserved through an intricate system of refrigeration known as the cold-chain. Progress has been made in recent years in freeze-drying these materials, enhancing their storage and handling, but the practice remains restricted.
The transition to solid-state storage for biologics is an important advancement. Tablets offer distinct benefits in preserving the encapsulated materials. For example, this innovation permits packaging of biological substances into tablets that can be stored at room temperature and dissolved in water when needed, ensuring stability and rapid dissolution.
Dr. Oza likened the innovation to an Alka-Seltzer tablet, stating, “Just drop it into water, mix, and it’s prepared for use.”
In testing the platform, the team showed that complex biologics like cells’ machinery for RNA and protein synthesis can be stored in a solid-state. When mixed with water, these materials reanimate to function as if within a living cell. They even demonstrated the activation of advanced tools like CRISPR after solid-state storage.
This technology showcases potential for broad applications. It can be especially useful for remote locations without cold-chain access, enabling on-site vaccine production or diagnostic testing. Its simplicity also minimizes the necessity for specialized training.
Though further refinements are needed, the researchers believe that adaptations like coatings could make the technology more resilient to extreme conditions. Future improvements might even enable oral consumption of biological medications, like insulin or immunosuppressive treatments, enhancing the lives of many.
The rapid growth of biotechnology means that the impact of this innovation might reach beyond healthcare into biomanufacturing, education, and research. It is also poised to transform global transportation of biologics, even to space, enabling on-demand creation of essential therapies.
Reference: “Development of Solid-State Storage for Cell-Free Expression Systems” by August W. Brookwell, Jorge L. Gonzalez, Andres W. Martinez, and Javin P. Oza, published on 25 July 2023, in ACS Synthetic Biology.
DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00111
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: solid-state storage
What is the breakthrough in solid-state storage for biological materials?
The breakthrough is a novel method developed by researchers at California Polytechnic State University for storing biological substances such as RNA and proteins in a solid form, similar to a pill or tablet. This can be dissolved in water when needed, addressing challenges in preserving and managing products from living cells, vital for medical and scientific research.
How does solid-state storage of biological materials work?
The solid-state storage allows biological materials to be encapsulated in a tablet form that can be stored at room temperature. When needed, the tablet can be added to water and dissolved for on-demand use. This method ensures stability, quick disintegration, and is likened to dropping an Alka-Seltzer tablet into water.
What potential applications does this solid-state storage method have?
The method has wide-ranging applications, including on-site vaccine production in remote locations, diagnostic testing, and the potential for biological medication tablets that can be taken orally. It can be used to overcome limitations in the cold-chain system and may lead to improvements in biomanufacturing, education, research, and global transportation of biologics.
How could this innovation affect healthcare and medication?
The solid-state storage of biologics can revolutionize how biological materials are handled and used. It could make medications like insulin and immunosuppressive treatments available in oral form rather than injections and simplify the storage and transportation of vaccines and other biological products, improving access and quality of life for millions.
Who led the research on the new solid-state storage platform?
Dr. Javin Oza, an associate professor in chemistry and biochemistry, led the research on the new storage platform. The research was conducted at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
What challenges does the solid-state storage method address?
The method addresses prevailing challenges in preserving and managing biological materials, which are notably vulnerable to variations in environmental conditions during storage, transit, and usage. It overcomes limitations like the need for deep freezing and refrigeration, which has caused massive losses and restricted availability, especially in underserved regions.
More about fokus keyword: solid-state storage
- Development of Solid-State Storage for Cell-Free Expression Systems
- California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA
- IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science
5 comments
I read about this in another article. If they pull this off, it’s gonna change medicine as we know it. No more needles for some medications! thats a win in my book
im not a scientist, but this seems really complex. Can anyone explain how it works in simple terms. How can they put living things in a tablet and make it work again?
Wow, this is revolutionary! can’t believe we might be able to store biological materials like this. Imagine the impact on healthcare and far-off regions.
Solid-state storage for biologics? Never heard of that before. But the article makes it sound promising. Maybe we’ll see some real changes in the next few years, go science!
This is realy great news, especialy for places where cold storage is a problem, vaccines and medications can be made more accessable