Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Alvarez, Mikos elected to Chinese Academy of Engineering

Pedro Alvarez and Antonios Mikos have been elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Rice strategy refines genetic base editors

A new strategy by Rice University scientists seeks to avoid gene-editing errors by fine-tuning specific CRISPR-base editing parameters in advance.

People, papers and presentations for Oct. 4, 2021

People, papers and presentations for Oct. 4, 2021

Modern simulations could improve MRIs

Rice University engineers improve simulations that analyze gadolinium-based contrast agents used in clinical magnetic resonance imaging. More efficient simulations could help make better compounds for imaging technologies.

For some peptides, killing bacteria an inside job

Rice scientists study the dynamics of the immune system’s antimicrobial peptides, which attack and eliminate harmful bacteria. They find peptides that invade bacteria and do their damage from the inside are underrated.

Rice cuts ribbon on Maxfield Hall

Renovation of the historic Mechanical Engineering building, now called Maxfield Hall is complete.

Tweezer grant pleases Rice researchers

Rice researchers have won an NSF grant to acquire a sophisticated optical tweezer microscope to manipulate, measure and monitor micron-scale particles.

‘Smart’ shirt keeps tabs on the heart

Carbon nanotube thread woven into athletic shirts gathered electrocardiogram and heart rate data that matched standard monitors and beat chest-strap monitors. The fibers are flexible and the shirts are machine washable.

Woven nanotube fibers turn heat into power

Carbon nanotubes woven into thread-like fibers and sewn into fabrics become a thermoelectric generator that can turn heat from the sun or other sources into energy.

‘Smart cells’ show promise to treat disease

Laura Segatori wins NIH backing to develop synthetic biological circuits for cells that may someday sense trouble and respond by making just enough of the appropriate drugs.

Enzyme from fungi shows molecules which way to turn

A small fungal enzyme could play a significant role in simplifying the development and manufacture of drugs, according to Rice University scientists.

Quantum dots keep atoms spaced to boost catalysis

Rice engineers use graphene quantum dots to trap transition metals for high atom loading in single atom catalysis.

Solar energy collectors grown from seeds

Rice University engineers have created microscopic seeds for growing remarkably uniform 2D perovskite crystals that are both stable and highly efficient at harvesting electricity from sunlight.

Absorbent aerogels show some muscle

A simple chemical process developed at Rice University creates light and highly absorbent aerogels that can take a beating.

Molecular jiggling has implications for carbon nanotube fibers

New research suggests the jiggling motion of carbon nanotubes suspended in liquid solutions could have implications for the structure, processing and properties of nanotube fibers formed from those solutions.