Researchers have developed a groundbreaking method of storing and handling valuable biological materials that removes the limitations of refrigerated storage. The novel method has potential applications in healthcare and scientific research.
Biological materials that come from human cells, like enzymes, proteins, and antibodies, are crucial to developing new medicines and diagnostic tests. And they're fragile. Extremely temperature-sensitive, they require a constant temperature during storage, handling, and transportation. If not stored or handled correctly, these materials will be inactive, which can be costly.
Most biological materials are stored as liquids or freeze-dried powders and kept at low temperatures for the duration of their shelf life. This is achieved through a complex integrated system of refrigerators and freezers known as the cold chain. This requires a significant investment in equipment and infrastructure, making it expensive to maintain, and makes the cold chain prone to shipping delays, power outages, equipment failure and human error.
Inspired from the home medicine cabinet（储藏柜）， where medications are stored in the form of liquids, powder-filled capsules, and tablets, researchers at California Polytechnic State University have developed a new storage platform based on the humble table t that would enable biological materials to be compressed （压缩） into a solid state.
Tablets provide advantages to the storage and handling of biomaterials that the cold chain doesn't. For one thing, they can be stored at room temperature. And, when they're required, the tablet can be dissolved in water. "Our innovation makes storing and using biomaterials as straightforward as an effervescent tablet （泡腾片）. Just drop it into water, mix, and it's ready to go," said the researcher of the study.
The researchers say their new tablet-based storage and handling method is easy to use and doesn't require special training, making it suitable for many applications. They also see potential uses beyond just improving the storage and handling of biological materials. By modifying（修改） the tablet coatings, this solid-state storage platform could withstand extreme conditions like heat, humidity, and chemicals. These changes might eventually allow injectable medications, such as insulin, to be taken orally.
