Fore more than 22 years, the International Space Station (ISS) has been conducting experiments that take advantage of microgravity in low-earth orbit, enabling new biotech discoveries. Today’s new episode of the I am BIO Podcast explores the potential.
Here's why: Protein molecules crystallize better in space, which helps scientists better understand their structure and develop drugs that interact with them, says Space Tango’s Alain Berenstain.
Here’s how:Space Tango’s CubeLab, a shoebox-sized container for conducting experiments, allows control of temperature, chemicals, moisture, and other factors.
One example: LambdaVision uses CubeLab to layer micro-thin protein coatings potentially to manufacture artificial retinas that may restore vision for people with retinal diseases. Microgravity enables smoother layers, and the small flat retinas ship easily—even from space, says LambdaVision CEO Nicole Wagner.
Going commercial: The ISS will be decommissioned by 2030, but Axiom Space’s Jan Stoudemire says her company is using the ISS docking port to assemble the first commercial space station, which will serve biotechs and other customers.
“Commercial space stations will be critical to the growing space economy, especially as the ISS is decommissioned and governments increasingly turn to the private sector for services,” says BIO CEO Rachel King. “Perhaps space is the next frontier for biotechnology.”
Listen to the episode at www.bio.org/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
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