RPI Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Eat Plastic, Make Multipurpose Spider Silk
For the first time, researchers have used bacteria to “upcycle” waste polyethylene
Self-Built Protein Coatings Could Improve Biomedical Devices
Fouling is a natural phenomenon that describes the tendency of proteins in water to adhere to nearby surfaces. It’s what causes unwanted deposits of protein to form during some food production or on biomedical implants, causing them to fail. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are harnessing this process, which is typically considered a persistent challenge, to develop a versatile and accessible approach for modifying solid surfaces.
Could Plastic-Eating, Silk-Producing Bacteria Be a New Ally in the Fight Against Waste?
Each year tens of millions of tons of plastic are sent to landfills, while another 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean. It’s an exponential problem that requires an environmentally friendly solution.
With NSF Support, Engineers Look for New Ways to Optimize PPE During Pandemic
TROY, N.Y. — An interdisciplinary team of engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is answering a national call for solutions to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) available in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.